GIRL FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17832, 13 July 1921, Page 9

GIRL FOOTBALLERS.

LEAGUE CLUB FORMED.

FIRST MATCH ON SATURDAY.

MUCH ENTHUSIASM SHOWN.

The Auckland public will be afforded the opportunity of witnessing two very enthusiastic teams of girls playing football under the Rugby League rules on Saturday afternoon, at Carlaw Park. The first meeting of prospective girl footballers was held at Parnell last evening, when over 40 girls enrolled as members of the Parnell Club, and a dozen more offered their services in other capacities. The girls were of various ages, the majority being between 16 and 20. There was an English girl who had played " soccer" for the famous " Lyons" team in London, a public school teacher, several schoolgirls, and a number of working girls. They were, on the whole, neat and wellbuilt, with an appearance that suggested speed and nippy play more than weight. There could be no doubt as to their enthusiasm, or their determination to " eventually show the men how to play League." Beauty was not entirely sacrificed to brawn either, and some of the players gave every indication of being nearlv as much attraction to the public as the game. Mr. A. R. Turner, chairman of the Parnell Club, briefly explained that it wished to develop the girls as well as the men. and tq this end the club was being formed at the suggestion of the girls. A silver shield, similar to the Monteith Shield competed for by the men, had been donated, and members of the Auckland League Management Committee had donated a football, and were providing assistance in supplying jerseys. A set of caps was also donated to the winners of the match on Saturday. Many of the men of the club, who were present, had offered their services, and ladies would be selected for matrons-in-charge and other offices. It was also hoped to form a social club, and arrange for physical instruction.

Rush for Enrolment. The girls had listened attentively to the speech, but upon a call for enrolment they rose in a body and fairly rushed the table, which was in danger of being overturned in the excitement of the moment. The chairman and secretary were fully occupied for several minutes enrolling over 40 members, an(| it was not until the girls were quite sure their forms were correct and accepted that thej; resume?! their seats. Mr. Ivan Culpan, secretary of the Auckland League, told the girls that the league wished to provide instruction every evening this week, and then see the girls make a good showing on Saturday. The referee would allow " Rafferty rules" for the first day. Those who wanted to know how to score a try or kick a goal would have good instruction beforehand. " We know how to do that all right," replied one girl, whose knowledge of the game was gained from the side line each Saturday. Mr. E. Stallworthy; a member of the Management Committee, offered to coach the team. He advised the girls to " bieast up to the barrier and not be timid." "No fear we won't," smilingly replied one girl with all the assurance of a rep. player. " Easier said than done," replied a pretty little girl with a dubious shake of the head. Several of the older girls, their enthusiasm tempered with caution, suggested that it was too soon to appear in public on Saturday, but upon the officials of the league (pointing out that the enthusiasm must be kept hot, and it was more for sport than scoring, they a'cquiesed to the will of the majority,, who favoured an early " try out." % The Question of Costume. No false modesty was evidenced in selecting costumes. "We don't want skirts! We want shorts!" was the unanimous cry. " And socks, not stockings," supplemented several girls, " What about caps; will bathing caps do?" queried a pert little girl with bobbed hair. " No! they will tear," reproved another. " Our hair will get pulled, anyway," sighed a girl, fingering a mass of waving hair. "If they pull mine I'll pull theirs," exclaimed an auburn-haired player with some determination. A suggestion that crepe de chine would look I becoming was voted entirely out of place for a football field.

1 Four matrons-in-chaxge, Mrs. E. Mc--1 Dowell, Mrs. G. W. Green, Miss E. Schulze and Mrs. Tate, were appointed to supervise the girls, and the election of club officers was left -until this evening. It was agreed to call the two teams "the Parnell Pioneers" and " the SParnell Rivals," and to allow the girls to dress at the hall on Saturday and convey them to Carlaw Park by motor-bus,-there to make their entry into the arena. Several league players arranged to assist in coaching every evening this week, and the meeting concluded with demonstrations of play on- a model field. During ! this instruction the girls ■ listened very I attentively, displayed marked interest, I and more often 'than not evidenced a , keen insight into the rules and finer points of play.