SOCCER CRITICS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 8

SOCCER CRITICS

FACTS ABOUT Y.M.C.A. FLAYERS NAME NOT A MISNOMER. A few days ago some criticism was levelled at the Y.M.C.A. Soccer Club and the senior team in particular. It stated that pleasure had been expressed in the defeat inflicted on Y.M. and there was a genuine reason for it. "Although the membership of the Y.M.C.A. .lower grades is perhaps stronger than most clubs in Wellington, the senior A team only boasts of two players Atkinson and Trott—trained under their auspices. Institute has been the greatest sufferer, for Tarrant, McGirr, Nicolle, Dempster, McArthur and Prince were trained by that club. Campbell came from Thistle. Eton from Karon, and Ballard from the Wellington Corinthians. So. that really Y.M.C.A is a misnomer. Of course the new rule will prevent a great deal of this sort of thing, which robs senior teams quite weak enough without such; a practice ” Yesterday the secretary to the Y.M.C.A. Club. Mr L. A. Ward, told the "Times” Soccer representative that he desired to make a strong protest against such criticism (not "Times” criticism), and that the facts should have first been verified. 1 For the information of Association footballers and the public generally the following information had been prepared by a reliable person connected with, the Soccer code in Wellington for. the past eighteen years, and showed ‘ the* -unfairness of the criticism:— Tarrant. kicked a Soccer football as a member of Y.M.C.A. frixth grade in 1914. and played during that season in the capacity of a goalkeeper- Seasons 1922. 1923. 1924 aftcl 1925 played for Y.MIC.A. In the interval has playhd for Institute and Diamonds. McGirr.—Learnt all his football as a member of the Y.M.C.A. sixth grade in 1913, fifth grade 1913-4 and fourth A in 1915. Then played for Seatoun ' fourths. Season 1919 for Institute, was absent in : Hawera in 1920-1 (played ons game only for Institute in 1921). Since 1921 has always played for Y.M.C.A. In 1921 a rule was adopted by Institute 4:bat only old boys bo allowed to play for Institute, and as only one player was eligible to play no senior was entered that season. Prince.—Never played Association football other than for Karori. and since their in 1924 played for McArthur. —Played fourth grade for Y.M.C.A. since 1923, has played for Y.M.C.A. previously, playifig for Thistle and Institute. Atkinson. —Has ployed for Y.M.C.A. 6ince a sixth grade player. Trott.—Has played for Y.M.C.A. since a sixth grade player except one season, 1922, for Thistle. Eton.—Played sixth in 1914 and fifth grade in 1915 for Y.M.C.A.. and then for Karori up to their withdrawal in 1924. Campbell.—Played for Thistle since arrival from Dunedin and since 1922 season for Y.M.C.A. Ballard.—Since the disbandment of the Corinthians in 1914 has always, played for Y.M.C.A. , Hindmarsh.—Tfiis player has always played for Y.M.C.A. Dempster.—Since last season’has played for Y.M.C.A., previously for Institute. * Nicolle. Learnt his football with Watersiders and Scottish Wanderers. The abovo deal* with the J2 senior A division playgrs, but pprhaps it may interest those concerned to know that with the exception of Wilkins (who came from Karori after their withdrawal, and Ewing from Thistle to conch the younger plnv■era, that tho members of the Y.M.C.A senior C team have come up together through alt the grades from the fiflfli division. This is equally as true of tho senior B division Y.M.C.A. team. . It may also be of interest to know that many of the l;uns in Wellington, both' past and present, can claim plavers ’who as youngsters, learnt their football under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A.