THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9179, 8 October 1888, Page 3

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

» Ox Thursday last, the 4th instant, the English team of footballers took their departure from the colony for England direct, per the R.M. s.s. Kaikoura, after a tour extending over six months. During their sojourn in Australasia they had had groat success in their matches, their record being —53 matches played, 34 won, b' drawn, and 13 lost, of which latter 11 were defeats sustained while playing under the unfamiliar Victorian Association rules. The only thing that occurred to mar the general enjoyment of the tour was the untimely death of the captain, Mr. R. L. Seddon, who, during his short stay in the colonies, had made himself uniformly respected for his straightforward courtesy in private life, as well as popular for his sterling qualities as an exponent of the Rugby game. The financial results of the trip, as far as we can learn, have been satisfactory, and Messrs. Shrewsbury and Lillywhite are nob illpleased with the results of their venture, In many little points of the game colonial footballers have derived advantage from the visit of their friends from the old country, and the scientific niceties of play are already being studied with greater care than previously. It is a general opinion in this city that even taking the English team at the valuation of something inferior to a thoroughly representative fifteen of the United Kingdom, that a picked team of the best of New Zealand players would be well able to hold their own against the best talent that could be arrayed against them in the mother country, and hopes are entertained that such a contingent will be despatched to England from " Brighter Britain" ere more than two or three seasons more are over our heads. This supposition is borne out by the fact that Warbrick's native team, which was badly beaten by the Auckland players, have achieved success in their first fixture against the strong county fifteen of Surrey. Several of the Englishmen expressed an intention of permanently taking up their abode in the colonies, and Messrs. Speakman, R. Burnett, and Mathers did not sail by the Kaikoura, while it is probable that Messrs. Stuart and Paul will return after arranging their affairs at home.