ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 4

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

By Cobneb Kick.

Last week's matches, postponed on account of the weather conditions, are sot down to be played on Saturday. In the city the main item of interest will be the High School and Technical Old Boys game at Culling Park, which should provide a very interesting exhibition, both teams being fast and nippy in their play and well trained. At Seacliff Mosgiel will meet the local team and should they reproduce the form displayed against Northern recently a close game should result. It is pleasing to read in the columns of the press during the past week that the council of the New Zealand Football Association intends setting up a commission to inquire into the question of school Association throughout New Zealand. This move on the part of the council is timely, and doubtless will be attended by much success. School football is not moving ahead in Dunedin since the control was taken over by the State Schools Sports Association, and this will be a matter for both the council and the local association to deal with. When the schools' competitions were controlled by the local association there were double the number of school teams playing that we have to-day. "What is wrong?" people ask. It is certain that in recent years boys wishing to play Association were prevented from doing so. Association was not to be allowed to interfere with Rugby, and the players, the boys themselves, were not given any choice in the matter. Specific cases in past seasons can be quoted, and the question can still be asked, "Why is 'Soccer' not played in such and such schools " I trust the council and the local association will grapple with this question very thoroughly and that success will attend their efforts. Take the case of Auckland. I am informed by headquarters there that the head master at one of the Grammar Schools has absolutely refused to allow Association to be played in the school under his charge. Yet upwards of 100 boys from this school olay for various Auckland .but thev are prevented from playing for their school. I believe the matter is not to be allowed to remain in this position, and I am optimistic enough to believe that beforp many weeks have passed the game will flourish in this particular school despite the head master's efforts to keen it out.

The progress of the code in the North has given other football bodies much con corn, and already Assoe-ation has displaced the Rugby code from the leading position of popularity in -'net-land and_ Wellington does not lag far behind- We in the south mn«t now fall i"tc line and adopt the policy “Onward Otago." The Auckland authorities were very much surprised recently to find the Governor-General passing through the turnstiles at Blandfcrd Park. His Excellency was spending a week or two in Auckland prior to sailing on n tour of the Islands which he is at present engaged in, and onite unofficially paid the A.F.A. the compliment of visiting its new ground. In a ehnt with the president, TTis Exeellenev said that he had played Association regularly until he was 30 years of age His regiment then went on service, and his football career ended, lint not so his interest in Association football. It will plensn enthusiasts to know that the King’s representative in this country. In the enpeeity of patron of the New Zealand Football Association, is no figure-head, hut a player and a sympathetic and ardent supporter of the round ball code. The only fixture played on Saturday last was that between Kaitangata and Southern. The Kaitangata team had left the mining town before the advice of cancellation could reach it. Culling Park was not in such bad condition as one would have expected after the week's rain Certainly the ground in the goal areas was a quagmire, but generally the ground was soft and holding. What made matters considerably worse was the Incessant drizzle, which made the ball ve-v grensy and difficult to control. Under the circumstances it might have been expected that a ragged exhibition would follow But the actual result was far from that, and the football displayed was of a very good order. The first spell was in favour of the miners, who had the advantage of n strong wind, but their forwards failed to find tinnet. ’ Bad shooting on their n->rt a-’P "ood defence by the Southern hacks u-wenfed any entries on the score-sheet. On changing over the Southern supporters were quite confident that their team would show to advantage with the aid of the wind For a time Kaitangata defended stoutlv. but the Bcd-and-Blaeks were playing splendid football, and their forwards were moving well. Proctor the newlyacquired centre-forward, rattled on three goals in quick time, and the resu ‘ thP^ g from never seemed to he in d£ ub t. His third goal was a beautiful drive from 30mJs out—one of the unstoppable variety. This player impressed the critics very much, and with more support forthcoming from his insides and halves he will come on. for he knows where the goal lies, and has priceless -asset of having two feet_a oualitv not found in many centres. Kaltangnta rallied, and strenuous efforts reduced the load by a goal, but poor shooting did not improve their P°. si * lon tssr-xrsss. ■■«.sr;JS£ Southern's <»»«!, «™1 • 'vcll-plucl corner by bis partner, Jones. The Kaitangata players, oii tlie drvy-. a. the score indicates, were not the equal of their opponents, but nevertheless are a combination which can be relied upon to 86 Boh 'Macauley, at hack, is as skilful as formerly. He seems, like good wine, to improve with age, and his services to Kaitangata on Saturday were invaluable. He was quite the star in the White back division. Smith, in the halt line, impressed, hut has been seen to better advantage. Chambers, the miners centre -forward, is no novice, but. unfortunately, a knee injury prevented him trom showing his best. . Mick Dunn was always in the picture, and mi Hit have had better luck with some of his Tong shots, but was weak in front of goal. , Sutherland and Trevathan were a good back pair for the local team, the latter being the better of the pair. The former, however, impresses one as being a coming back. Saturday’s conditions .were a severe test for a junior, and Sutherland came out -with honours. The half line worked solidly. M Evoy has strengthened the line considerably, and the use of his head got his side out of some embarrassing positions. Wallace (inside left) is a brainy player who opens up the play well. Jones, on the wing, should come along with Wallace inside. . . , While players come in for praise and well-meant cri' x-ism, it might not he out of place here to congratulate the referee, Mr Preston, on his fine control of the game. To mention that both teams and the spectators remarked so favourably on his effort is sufficient comment. Good refereeing means good football, and both are an urgent requirement locally. The following is the number of challenges received for the Chatham Cup: Wellington 9, Manawatu 4, Auckland 9, South Island 1. Disappointment was expressed at the last meeting of the council that only one entry ‘hijd been received from clubs in the South Island, and the question of absorbing the South Island entry in the Wellington area was left to the committee to decide. The final of the Chatham Cup is set down to he played in Wellington on September 4.

In view of the fact that ’here ia to Zealand this year, a suggestion has been be no tour of the Australian team in New ing ;. North v. South Island match, and made regarding the advisability of playthis matter will he referred to the various associations for their opinions. For the following details of the English League games I am indebted to Mr A. Mann, secretary of the local Referees’ Chib. .

Huddersfield are top of the first division for the third year in succession, which is a record, Arsenal being next on the list. Notts County and Manchester City a e the two chibs to he relegated to the second division, their places being taken by Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County, who lead in that order in the second division. Stockport County and Stoke, of this division, are relegated to the third division. The leading teams in the third division are Grimsby Town (Northern) and Reading (Southern).