SOCCER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 21 August 1926, Page 3

SOCCER

NEWS AND NOTES

(By

“Custodian.”)

There were no competition games on Saturday last, but Hastings United put on a “Veterans versusPresent Team” match. The colts were handicapped by skirts,' but yet they proved too fast for the “Veterans.” The game, presumably, ended in a draw, five goals each, but “Rafferty rules” were the order of the day.

The referee was sometimes seen, but very seldom heard, and skirts and football were very often at variance. The Veterans appear somewhat dissatisfied with the result and are demanding a re-play, but whether they consider they ought to have been overwhelmed or vie 'versa is not certain.

To-day the final for the Hibberd Shield (knock-out) is to be played, and by the time these notes appear, the Shield will either remain with Whakatu another season or be removed to Napier for a spell.

In a casual chat the other day, the topic of “shooting” at goal and the power some players put behind the ball, came up. This brings to mind R. Whittingham, who died last June at the early age of 37. Whittingham (who had played for. Stoke, Blackpool, Bradford City, Chelsea and South Shields) put such power behind the ball, that in a vital match at Gainsboro in 1911-12 when Chelsea won, he knocked the goalkeeper over the line with a drive from 30 yards range.

In order to show the hold that Association Football has in the Homeland, a ballot on the movt popular sport taken by Yorkshire newspapers on behalf of the Leeds University Building funds, resulted in Soccer heading the poll with 30,879 votes, with motoring second with 20,703; cricket, 19,107; tennis. 19,869; golf, 6,072; Rugby, 6,957; cycling, 2,279; down to croquet with 282 votes.. The total number of votes recorded .in all sports. was 112,870.

Soccer is also taking a big hold in the United States, where our American cousins appear to be taking steps to bring the same thoroughness to the adoption of the code as has been displayed in various other sports. One of the leading American Universities has made a. tempting offer to one of the foremost managers in the football league to transfer his activities to the States and take charge of Association Football at the University. The invitation was not accepted because the official was under agreement with bis club, but various advertisements in English sporting papers gave evidence of the intention of American enthusiasts to push Association football in their country. Scotland seems to be a favourite recruiting ground of America for skilled players, coaches and managers to expedite the progress of players. » • • A really high standard of Soccer was played in and around New York some 25 or 30 years ago and there were numerous strong and skilled “native horn” teams in competition.’ * • « A British team has recently toured Canada. Why not the New Zealand Association get in touch with Soccer enthusiasts in California? Tours nt regular intervals would do a lot to popularise the game.