Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 60, 24 August 1901, Page 21

Association Football.

[By Goalkeeper.]

Saturday's games were disappointing. The tnaJ representative match set down to be played between the 1 epresentative team and a team chosen by Mr. Macdonald was weak, owing to the absence of several noted players. The Queen's Park team, which wa& to have met Swifts in the semi-final tor the Junior Challenge Cup, defaulted, giving Swifts a leg-in for the final, which is to be played between it and Diamond. Queen's Park juniors played Red Cioss off for the final of the Henderson Memorial Cup, and, after a good game, they managed to win by one goal to nil. The Henderson Memorial Cup is commemorative of a dead football hero. Truly, Alec. Henderson, to whom it is dedicated, was a hero and a pioneer of Association football in Wellington. He started as a teacher amongst the boys in the elements of the game, and now as a reward, or rather as a small maik of respect to a departed exponent of the game, his name is fittingly perpetuated

Wells is consistent in the tactics he pursues of rushing and centring fiom the touch-line. He keeps his place and gains considerable ground by the throw in from touch. By the unanimous vote of the team he was elected captain. Clarks game, m comparison to his mates, is faultless. In the early pait of the trial matches he adopted the tactics of high-kicking, but latterly indulges in the orthodox half-back play, viz., passing along the ground. Renai, at full-back, has many faults. First of all, his defence is weak. He lacks weight, and is a poor kick. He •-imply kicks when the ball does come to him for the sake of clearing. The secretary of the W.F.A. (Mr. H McKeowen) has been granted leave of absence for a month, and is to accompany the team up to Auckland. * * ■*. Mr. J. J. Roberts, whose photograph appears on this page, commenced to take an interest in Association football in 1881, and well remembers the time when the present famous Everton (Liverpool) football team was first formed. From 1887 to 1898 he was a popular figure in Association football in the Isle of Man, and was captain, and aftoiwards secretary, of the Douglas Football Club. He subsequently represented his club on the executive body. Mr. Roberts was the first secretary of the Isle of Man Football Association He occupied the position of \ice-piesi-dent for two years and was elected picsident of the Association in 1898, resigning that position w lien he lemovod to New Zealand. Mr Roberts was presented with <vi elaborate address and gold medal b\ the Douglas, Association Football Club in 1890, for services rendered a,s secretary. Immediately on his annal in Wo'lin^ton, Mr. Roberts took an acluc p.ut m xissociation matters, and has been on

the Selection Committee during the pafet two seasons, and this year has been appointed sole selector. Although the team travelling to Auckland is not by any means Wellington's be^t, still tlieV shou'd give a good account of themselves The selector is confident that the eleven to do battle for the province against Auckland in Wellington on the 4th of September will prove victorious.

When stoimy wind and wintry blast, Affect mankind with hacking cough, They think consumption's come at last, 'Twill not be long before they'ie off. Some people go to mountain heights, And others where the skies are bluer ; But what will soon put them to rights, Is W. E. Woods' Great Peppermint Cube.

To Mr. Hender&on is attributed the advancement ot the game, for, at a meeting held long ago for the benefit of boys around Tinakon-ioad, he offered a cup to young playeis for competition. At that meeting was inaugurated the Tlurd-c.a&s Championship, and to the wise council of the managemc it committee of that Association the present form of competition — Henderson Memorial Cvp — is attributable. It was inaugurated in 1899, and was won by Swifts, in 1900 by Red Cross, and 1901 by Queen's Park. The representative team must need have practice prior to the trip to Auckland, and on Saturday the forwards, under the able tuition of Mr. J. J. Roberts, got beneficial foot-work in. The following defects in the various players were noticeable — Sinnet should shoot with the instep, not the toe, as the slightest impetus to the ball while in motion is to give it an upward tendency. The kick with the instep is safer and obviates this defect. Collins did not shoot hard enough. All the forwaids in the city seem to be afraid of putting power behind the ball w hen they kick it Force is a great help to goal-getting. New Zealand players might well follow their English cousins' lead in this direction. Only recently, at Home, a stiff shot was put in by a forward in the twelve yards line, and, in trying to save, the goalkeeper had his arm broken. Hae did not centre enough. Has pace, but will not use it. Never uses his weight, which is an indispensable factor to a forward in his dribbling and passing lushes.