SOCCER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 162, 28 June 1930, Page 10

SOCCER

(By

"Centre Half".

Bangers and Y.M.C.A. drew their game in tho Fairlpugh Cup on Saturday last, and will replay to-day. Tho game was very even throughout, but apparently some of the referee’s decisions did not meet with tho approval of the players or spectators alike. No details of the game are to hand, so no comment can bo made. It is understood that the Y.M-.C A. team will be somewhat rearranged for to day’s game. The Y.M. have a great predeliction for drawn games this season, and Rangers are not far behind in that respect either. Whakatu settled any prospect that United may have entertained regarding tho Fairclough Cup. Uatil half time the game was really good and full of life and interest, and a bare lead of one goal to nil it appeared anybodys game. But tho second spell proved as disappointing as the first 45 had proved interesting. Without a doubt the sustained by Len Atkins and Butcher prior to half time largely contributed to United’s downfall, but nevertheless their forwards were very weak in front of goal and never looked capable of scoring. From being a good team early in tho game United became disjointed and disorganised, and though having the bettor of the exchange in the latter part of the game there is no doubt that the better team won.

Tho first to Whakatu was practically the-first goal scored direct from a corner kick in this district since the alteration to the rule came rnto force. The other three were from breakaways. United’s one and only was just the result of a scramble. In attempting to divert the ball when tho Magpies opened their account Atkins damaged his wrist and

was practically one handed for the remainder of the game while Butcher was a cripple during the second half. Lawrie, in goal, had far less to do then his vis a vis. Newdick and Christison both intervened and kicked well at times, but did not appear to be too reliable, United’s wingmen circumventing and beating them badly time after time.

The halves wore good with Leicester the best of them.

Collectively and individually the forwards were the best seen on the Park tins season, but as remarked previously a lack of finish spoilt an otherwise fine exhibition. H. Penman is tho real tactician and brains of the line, but his partners support his efforts excellently. To sum up tho Whakatu forwards should score considerably more goals than they uro doing. Up to tho tlmO of his injury Len Atkins played a really great game between the posts, and playing against a boisterous cross wind, no doubt took a lot of steam out of tho United. Chambers and Stenson were sound, solid backs and always difficult to beat. Butcher was tho mainspring of the halves, and Cardie also played a lino game. Ray Atkins was patchy. The forwards could not be compared with the Whakatu quintette. Brehant was not in his usual happy mood and on the extreme wing Simonds numerous line runs and completely out manoeuvred hia opponents time after time. The three inside men were certainly true, but lacked the ability and finish that begets goals. The score did not really represent tho difference between the teams and in the later stages of the match the game was marred by a certain amount of bad feeling between the twp teams. It is practically an impossibility to eliminate an excess of fooling and rivalry between two teams, but all the “back-chat” should be suppressed, ano it is up to the association and referees to take drastic measures to put a stop to this sort of thing. Where ideas, suggestions and theories are as numerous as the sands of tho sea shore it appears almost an impossibility to read even a consensus of opinion as to the best means of building a successful football side. There is not a business nor a sport of any kind that can boast of so many experts and advisers as does football in all its bearings. It is just of this Bnbelistic phantasia that foot ball continues to bo the great uncertainty that it is, and yet paradoxically it is that very uncertainty which grips and holds fast the popular fancy and enthusiasm. If the propagandists could only realise that the real footballer is born and not made wo should then be troubled less with what after all are mero nostrums. The hundred and one mores on tho field can only bo countered by intuition, initiative and quick thinking to have a degree of success. In other words brains alone count. Tho view is taken after lengthy experience and close observa-

tion over a wide field that there are three outstanding standards or clauses of club organisation. (a) Clubs who mainly hold to the junior field for the purpose of discovering and perfecting talent hitherto latent.

(b) Clubs content to accept and exist upon the rejected of others. (c) Clubs able to purchase (to use no better definition) ready made man powers.

Class C might appear to have tho easiest of easy means for obtaining the greatly to be desired eleven. That there is no greater fallacy extant has been amply varified in the past. You may obtain by various means 11 ’’stars” and then not have a team capable of inspiring confidence. It may be a collection of mis fits fore and aft and the very cleverness of the players individually is a certain cause for tho teams ineffectiveness as a whole. Tho names of one or two star men may materially assist “window-dress-ing,” but the solid following cares littlo for tho star unless his team is a winning one.

Class B. Some clubs believe that because players beyonged to firstclass teams they are good enough for anything and consequently live in the' belief that their collection will raise their club to great heights.

It is forgotten that most of the players are spent forces and apparently have been found waiting ero their original clubs allowed them to leave. The worst feature of this system is that it stunts the progress of young players and in many cases ruins them altogether.

Class A offers the best and surest opportunities to clubs to establish themselves as really sporting and enterprising constitutios. Their Sportmanship permits them to be optimists full of patience and entirely unselfish. They are painstaking and consistent in their dealings with their players In tho building of a young team patience is absolutely necessary and no amount of distraction must be allowed to intervene. Adhere rigidly to a given straight line on the way to an objective. A thoroughly experienced manager or coach is essential and he should be given a free hand, and no interference provided ho is a fully capable man. He should bo both the architect and builder, and if his plan is scaled aright the structure progresses. This applies not only to Soccer but every other kindred sport where success depends wholly on team work.