ENGLISH FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9148, 22 June 1891, Page 4

ENGLISH FOOTBALL.

(Hatlonal Observe!),

Professionalism is the curse of football. In the North of England, where the Soots Yahoo has had matters all his own way, the play is very frequently disgraceful beyond description. The spectators, it is true, behave themselves better than in Scotland, though they bet heavily; butVhe players are unmanageable, are tbe despair of their captains, and no pleasant neighbours for a referee who shall have decided against them. The charges of dishonest play, which are heard occasionally, may be set aside as groundless. For . the interest of the executive or syndicate which runs the professional club lies in the winning of matches, so that a player whose exertions do not appear from the stand to assist that end is not long deprived of an opportunity of an opportunity of returning to Scotland. In one case even an umpire was dismissed " because he did not back up his club." Victory is no less desirable from the player's standpoint. It increases his earn-

ings from tips, and he can'always get royally drunk at the expense of delighted backers. Therefore rough play becomes the fashion, and that in its most diabolic form, A dangerous man is well "marked," and if he be not so damaged that he has to leave the field <as was the fate of the Notts captain in the final tie at the Oval), hs is prevented from doing any effective work. It is well and right that young men should batter each other, giving and taking hard knocks at the light time ; but the "marking" system means mere butchery, and the people who can endure it are no better than Roman holiday makers. Another very urgent objection both to competitions and to professionalism may be urged by players of inferior merit. The crowds which

ne the ropes at important fixtures are swelled by absentees from teams which have their own (matches to play, and these idlers gradually become "followers" of a particular eleven; that is, they would count it neglect of duty to be away from the skirts of battle, whether at home or abroad. Thus, what should be an encouragement to the attainment of physical perfection becomes a detriment, and instead of athletes we are raising up rheumatics and cowards, for none have less spirit than those that watch but never share great feats of strength. In spite of everything which can be urged against it, the gladiatorial system grows, so that one club, it is said, could now put into the field four elevens of its bondmen, whose price is a large retainer and an income equal to an' Irish M.P's. The prospects of amateur football in England are not encouraging. Only two teams have been excused the qualifying competition of ne?t year, and of these one is composed of men who would probably become professionals in the North, or are already "whitewashed pros." For eight weeks, lof course, frcst and fog made plaj impos- [ Bible; but that is no reason for the utter collapse of the "Old Boy" teams, and for the singular ineffectiveness of such combinations as tho Swifts, the Casuals, and the Corinthians. These teams,which are supposed to contain the picked amateurs of the country, have done little to justify their existence. Individual excellence Bcarco counts in football as compared with accurate combination; and until the Corinthians (say) accustom their 50 members to play together, the club must remain a monument of peculiar inefficiency. Tlie management ought to be more vigorous, matches should bo more frequent, and, if necessary, the membership should be extended, so that the Corinthians might exist to some purpose, and not as outstanding examples of the' beautiful processes of fossilisation.

A Gdahanteb ov Fdestit.—" The u.oie Oxdbury oa any pa.ket of Cocoa is a gaRE-ufcag of tinrifcy."— Madia.! Ann>-_.