ASSOCIATION NOTES.

NZ Truth, Issue 156, 13 June 1908, Page 3

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(By "G.R.")

Old Country Reminiscences.

It was the writer's pleasure on Saturday to mingle among the spectators y.n the line at the Basin Reserve during the progress of the Swifts— Ramblers match and to participate m conversation with various Old" Country people who had played the game and ; others who were interested m the sphered In many vases the writer was able to speak with personal knowledge of players known to tha speakers (who ' were unknown to him), several coming from beyond the Tweed, whilst others came from Sunderland, New-pasl.le-oja-TynerSto.ke, Notts, and one was a vigorous Tyke from Sheffield. It was the latter who first dreyr the writer's attention, as he was haranguing the Swifts to buck up m a truly Yorkshire manner, whilst m between times, he treated his hearers, including two or tliree Macs, a Cockney, and a Lancastrian, to Ms knowledge of Home players generally. "Whe'er does ta cum frae?" asked the writer, addressing the Yorkshircman, who was particularly desirous that the whole crowd should know his name was _l.r. . and that he had a brother playing at inside right for the Swifts. "Ah curns frae Yorkshire, wheer th' footballers cum frae," replied the Tyke. "Ah, thout so," said the writer. "Did tha," replied the^Tyke. "Ah cum frae Sheffield wheer Nudper Nes'-*' tT > cumg frae," ho added, then asked, "Didst ever heer o' Nudger Needham." "Aye, 'aye played against Ernest Needham, ' replied tho writer. "Tha'rt a leer," said the Tyke, "tha's never seen Nudger Needham." At this point some one asked, "What price Swifts," and the Tyke wanted to bet even money the Swifts would win, even thov-b they were two goals behind." "Hast any money," asked the Tyke. "I have." said a bystander. "What price the Englishmen at Otago." "I'll, bet they win," said the, Tyke then, like all Yorkshiremen, careful of his money, the Tyke added, "gi me ten points an' I'll bet they win." No business was done, and the Tyke then started to boast of what the Englishmen would vet do. Continuing his remarks, .the Yprkshireman deprecated the football abilities of Oilier, Renfrew and Scott, m scathing tones. "Talk abeaut N«w playing Soccer against lads frae Yorkshire why they'd never see th 1 ball after th' game started mon. Hi, Hi, . referee, that's a foul." "Nay," said a Scotsman, "it's a chicken." "Tha'rt very smart, Scotty." said the Tyke. "Buck up. Swifts," he ejaculated, forgetting his friend from across the Tweed, then turning to the writer he said, "Thee play against Nudger Needham, he's finest half-back m England to-day." ''What about Raisbcck," asked a Scotsman. "Raisbeck did tha say, he could no hold a candle to Nudger. Play un Swifts." "Raisbeck knocks him into a cocked : hat." said 4he Scotsman. "Nudger's getten more caps nor anyone bar G. O. Smith and Bloomer," said the Tyke. '•Aye, and Willie Meredith's got more than any of 'em," chipped m a Geordie from Newcastle. Matters cooled down a bit and then the Tyke had another burst. "Nudger Needham's thirty-thrp* year oud ■and he's. playing as well as ever he did to-da^ ; he's the best half-back m England." "But he didn't get his cap last vnn.r." ventured, a man from Sunderland. "Didn't he ? Then he out to ha done," replied the Irrepressible Tyke, and then he disappeared ,to another part of the field, for which everyone was thankful. Ernest Needham , the Sheffield midget as he was once termed, was undoubtedly one of the best half-backs m his day, and he could go forward when his services were required m the fcont rank. p:--- Howell, another Sheffield half-back, was also a wonder, but not up to Needham's stand, The "Tyke" was well within the mark when he stated Needham's age to be thirty-three, but fortythree would be nearer the mark. The writer first played aramst. Needham on the old Ardwick (now Manchester City) ground sixteen years ago,' and Ernest Ncedham was no chicken then. Perhaps j the best half-back -who ever played with an English League team was Davie Russell, who originally came from Stewarton. Russell was the centre half of the famous Preston North End team, which put up a record, nearly twenty years ago, that has never been beaten. On that occasion the North End tcm went through the English Cup competition without losing a goal, and headed the "First League" competition without losine; a single match— a truly wonderful record—and ereat were the rejoicings m proud Preston at the team's dual success. Major Sudell, the father of the team, was accorded a special reception, and there was no more popular sport than the Major m his day, though later he fell on evil days, which it is as well to pass over. When Davie Russell first came to Preston he used to mnke the spectators shudder at the manner m which he got his foot to the ball at the same time as an opponent would 1:« heading it. Davie was a "high kicker,"

' ' ."' ."■■•■■■«' but never /managed to kick" an opponent m the fade, a misfortune that befel the writer on one occasion, when Parry (of Everton) got his head to the ball, and the writer severely lacerated Parry's face with his boot studs. Preston's famous right wing— Gordon and Ross— was invincible. Jimmy Ross was the trickiest inside right that it has ever been tho writer's pleasure to see, whilst Jack Gordon on the outside was a marvel. Jimmy would draw the opposing half and then push, not rashly, kick as New Zealand forwards are apt to do, the ball out to Gordon, who, no matter how pressed by the full-back, would never fail to reach the goal line and get. m his centre, even if m doing- so he pots knocked half-a-dozen yards over the touch line. Davie Russell left Preston for Notts Forest, and did well with the old red's team until the latter once visited Grimsby, and there hangs a tale. Davie, who was passionately fond of the ladies, had been enjoying himself not wisely but too well, and on entering the Grimsbv enclosure with his team Davie was met with loud cries of "How are the twins, Davie ?" This was more than even the "prince of half-backs" could stand, and he left the field, lor which his committee suspended him, and Davie quitted the lace town and migrated to Manchester, where he joined, the Ardwick (nicknamed .the brewery) team. The first seven matches of the season, the Ardwick team won without losing a goal, and this was largely due to Russell's prowess. In the seventh match, against Hey wood • Ceri-i-tral team, which included J. W. Crabtree, the famous international £ull-back 4 but who was then playing at outside left. Russell distinguished himself m a remarkable manner. The came was a cup tie, and on the call of time no goals had been scored, and the referee ordered extra time to be played. Russell shifted his position from centre-half to centre forward and" took the ball through the opposing team unaided scoring a grand goal. After this match it was noticed that the players would not pass to Russell, ana, on enquiry, the committee discovered that Russell refused to fissociate with the pthor players m the dressingroom and declined to . turn up for training with the others, anil it was his mannerism the players were opposed to. Russell was ordered to turn up for train--ine and as he refused to do so, he was susoended sine rlie, and never played football afterwards, but earned his living as a patter comedian on the music hall stage.