Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 41, 13 April 1901, Page 21

Association Football.

The New Zealand Association have, for some time past, been in commumCourtney) at the receipt of last English reference to the possibility of two professional teams touring New Zealand and giving exhibition games of "socker" football. The Secretary (Mr. F. J. Courtney) to the receipt of last English mail, had not received any answer to his request. The Sydney Referee," however, states that the applications, from New Zealand and Western Australia, for teams to travel, have been declined, as no teams are to travel this season It seems rather strange that a newspaper should receive such notice befoie our Secretary. Probably due to the iact that Sydney were also lefused a similar application It is much to be regretted that the Home authoiities could not see thenway to fall in with the idea. This visit has been looked forward to with interest, to serve as an object lesson in Association football, and as a means of popularising a scientific out-door sport, which is not brought sufficiently under the public gaze. The laws of the English Association forbid a team, under pam of expulsion from the Association, travelling away from prescribed districts, either for pleasure or monetary gam. Therefore, a tour of the Australasian colonies or New Zealand would involve an alteration in the affecting rule, which, no doubt, they would readily make if anxious to accede to our request. The lack of support that "socker" football receives from the public, no doubt, is attributable to its notable absence from the city and its immediate piecmcts. The grounds are bv no means within convenient reach by the people. And, as a consequence, the game is practically seen only by enthusiasts, who make a point of following up the various matches. Newtown Park, two seasons ago, was quite astir with Association football. On fine Saturday afternoons the swards of the park were covered with people and children, whose interest and enthusiasm betokened the keen love they manifested for the sport they were so pleased to w r atch and enjoy. With the loss of prominent recreation grounds, prominent football also wanes. For instance, the fact of the people so thoroughly catching on to the game from Newtown Park was a strong inducement for the Wednesdayites of that suburb to play the "socker" game as near as possible to their Saturday afternoon towns folk, and the season of 1899 saw Wellington represented in four divisions playing the game on Wednesday afternoons. When the following season came its round, the only city recreation ground for football, which had in the meantime been used as a camping ground for a contingent, had to be ploughed up, to be put in readiness for the next season's sport. But wjth that season came more contingents, and hence the result of deadening Wednesday football.