Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 148, 2 May 1903, Page 23

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

The Wellington Football Association is fortunate m securing enough grounds for the requirements of ' socker" players. The polo ground at Miramar, which is under a three-years' lease, is the finest plot of ground in that locality. The W.F.A. has four grounds upon, it, but as the leas© expires next March, the Association will probably have to seek "fields and pastures new ." * # * "Coming events cast their shadows before," and it will be remembered that Delegate Salmon moved in the direction of settine up a ground committee, with a view of obtaining- suitable and commodious grounds for next season. The idea is a good one, but at the present time it is premature to take steps in this direction. . » » The championship fixtures commence to-day, amd from personal observation and hearsay the various competitions promise to be interesting. The Senior Championshit> finds six claimants for honours — Diamond, Swifts, Petone, Queen's Park. Rovers, and St. John's. Out of the rival claimants, I am not yet prepared to pick the winner. Throughout the season the senior contests will take place in three districts — Petone, Newtown, and Miramar. The Petone Club has long since enjoyed the privilege of playing on its own ground, but the fallacy of the saying that the chances of success are in favour of the home team has been repeatedly proved. Almost since, the establishment of the Petone Club, the management has lacked good material to choose from, and the continual withdrawal of players has militated against success. Despite the circumstances which prevail in, the suburb, the club is to be congratulated for its persevereance in its uphill fight in the interests of the game. They are fine "sports " however. They have repeatedly organised concerts, with a view of raising funds to defray the cost of their playing grounds. Some difficulty is now being experienced with the Borough Council relative to grounds, but Lawyer Renai is on, the job, and should fix matters up amicably. A scheme for the insurance of players is now engaging the attention of the Management Committee. It is simple in form. Bv request the scheme was submitted to the Management Committee at la,st meet-

ing by Mr. H. McKeowen. The insurance rules and workings of the Canterbury Rugby Union were taken as a pattern. The necessity for such a fund is obvious and commends itself to every player. The object of providing assistance — both medical and pecumairy- — will, of couise, have the approval of all footballers. The contribution proposed per member each season is trivial in comparison to the benefits likely to accrue from the fund. No player should regret to part with his quota, and if he gets through the season, with a whole) skin be should be ''sport" enough not to grizzle because otlier players havei not been so lucky. Towards the end of last season, Kobe.r, goal-keep for St. John's, managed to sustain a nasty fracture to his ankle, w hich incapacitated him. from work. The medical expenses and lossi of time inseparable from, such an accident weie heavy. The proposed fund would D>rovide against all such exigencies. Free medical aid would be rendered, and a weekly allowance/ of £1, given for a certain period, as laid down in the rules. ♦ » • Mr. "Bert" Swain replaces Mr. A. Wells as skipper of the Diamond senior eleven. Mr. A. Asbury, the football coach imported from Home last year, is now m the Auckland V.M.C.A. vanguard. Charlie Lawrence, "Len" White, and Malcolm Fraser have been appointed to control the weather during the season. Theirs is an onerous task. Ah Chee Smelhe has been, entrusted with the secretarial reins of St. John's Club. Possessing any amount of "go," he may be expected to "get there." A lemark was passed on Saturday to 'Mick" Fitzgerald that he never looked so well as in a black shirt — Diamond colours. Needless to> say the speaker was "Hammy." A very handsome donation was leceived by the hon. treasurer of the W.F.A., from a vice-D resident, accompanied by a letter, with a foot-note that "perhaps you want a football." Footballs would have to be dear to equal the value of the benefactor's cheque. * * * A coincidence that "Mick Fitzgerald and ex-secretary "Mac" have footed the ball together for so long. At school they played "Rugger" together. Leaving school, they found their way to the "Socker" side on the "Rec," and up to last year, for a period of six veais, they have been prominent members of the late Red Cross Club. Consequent upon the demise of the red and blacks they were instrumental in forming the Marist Old Boys' team. This club only had a one season's innaners, and now they are doing duty for the Diamonds.