SOCCER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 August 1926, Page 12

SOCCER

GOAL-GETTING SECR ETS

“Goal-scoring isn’t all a matter of running through- your opponents, and then hammering the- bail home while the- crowd goes off into roars of delight. It’s more a case of being on the -spot, shirking nothing, never giving up, playing for all your worth, keeping at it, though the other fellow seems to be stopping you every time —and remembering you’re just one man in a team (writes " Eddie Harper, a well-known English professional, who recently broke the record for goal-scoring in one season). If I started thinking 1 must get all the goals myself I’m sure Haliiday would soon pass me in what someone described as the goal-getting championship. Many of those goals you hear described as ‘sitters' are really more artistic than the death-or-glory rushes which come off once a month. The fellow who anticipates the next move, and acts by taking up such a position that lie has all the goal to push it, through, is- showing the art of goal-getting better than is the feliow, who hits the ball for all he’s worth somewhere round the middle of the field, and, to his own astonishment, sees it sa'il through high and dry into one corner of the net. Mind you, I’m the last- chap in the world to condemn the opportunist’s goal —a sudden dive from, maybe, twenty yards out, or a quick dash between the hacks, and a hurried calculation <as you loose your shot just before you’re howled over. I’ve got too many goals that way to be cocky about it.' But when you’ve been scoring goals the public are not the only folic to hear about it, and there’s been many a game this season when an opponent has stuck to me all the afternoon like my own shadow — and then goals have been very, very hard to come by. Another thing more or less inevitable is that the forward with something of a reputation is apt to collect more injuries than he would without it. I don’t say this is through vicious opponents, but all the time the fellow who is looking after the goalgetter is saying to himself: ‘This chap mustn’t get- loose’ and does his best to keep you nicely parcelled, and tied up. I know I’ve never had iso many injuries as have come my way this season, particularly lately. Do I think I shall break the League record of 39 goals for the season ? Well, I hope so of course, hut just suppose my next game I was put hors de combat —touch wood! —what then? It’s so much of a gamble. But if I can manage to keep popping ’em in, until I do break David Brown’s record, Eiwcod Park will be the address of the happiest fellow in football.” WEMBLEY CUP FINAL. Bolton and Manchester football enthusiasts are probably -still complaining over what they maintain was most unfair treatment as regards the facilities given them of obtaining tickets for the great Cup Filial at Wembley. Less than 4000 tickets had been allotted to the two centres, said one English writer, and not one 2s ticket was included in the number. Apart- from the number reserved for these teams, most of the tickets left were for the guinea scats. The working men of Bolton and .Manchester could only look at this price, and gave up their idea of going to Wembley. Their disappointment was not eased by knowing that London ticket agencies were offering tickets for sale. Thousands of tickets were also in the hands of usury merchants. They were exploiting the game for their own financial benefit, and it was a. disgrace that such proceedings should be allowed to enter into football. The same proceedings had taken place every year since the final tie was taken to Wembley, where the disposal of tickets was in the hands of the Stadium authorities. It- was evident that the complaints of former years had not been heeded, and, despite the excellent accommodation provided for spectators at the Stadium, there was a strong feeling throughout the country that the people of the provinces would not he sorry if this was the last year of the Wembley Cup Finals. The dual authority of Stadium and Football Association had proved unsatisfactory, and the sooner the Football Association took over the full control the better for everybody. The parent football organisation would not then be able to take shelter behind the fact that- all tickets are sold at the Stadium offices.