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Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 52

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Br Sockebist.

Much interest is being shown in the forthcoming match for the "Charity" Banner, which takes place at Carisbrook next Saturday, between Roslyn and Northern. Both teams are training hard, and the premiers expect a big muster at their training room to-morrow night, when a final sprint will be indulged in.

Next Saturday's match will no doubt prove one of the hardest struggles ever fought out for the Banner, and given a frno ground, a good exhibition of the game should be witnessed.

In antieir- mon of the annual five-aside tournament, practice matches on Saturday were played between tlie respective elevens, although tho cup contests are now over. Surprises were the order of the day — Northern went down under Wakari, and Southern were defeated by Grern Island. Rosiyn won their match against Mornington. Lovers of ttie game will be sorry to hear that Frank Doherty, the popular centr© half back for Kos.yn, contemplates leaving Dunedin for Wellington next Tuesday. He will bo available fcr tho final, which is a matter of great satisfaction to his club, for without his sen ices Ro-]yu must be considered a weak team. For the pa3t season ho has held_ the moat reiponsible position in the team, lind on his play has proved himself one of the best. T^'oso who havo played against Doliorty acknowledge him a thorough gentleman, and 1 am only voicing the opinion of a hesfc of friends in wishing him every succ»3s in his new venture. At prtsenfc three clubs in the Empire City claim his attention — viz., St. John's, iSuifts, and Rovers. By the last English mail I lea^n. that his younger brother figures prominently for Small Heath.

The Otago Football Association has occasion to feel pleased at the financial results of the Re-v. J. R. Ward's lecture. Its treasury now stands in a much better p >Fition than hitherto. The officials are deserving of no end of praise for their labours in connection with the working up of the lecture. Secretaries of clubs and others are requested to send in their returns as soon as possible.

About this time last year I had occasion to remark on tho absence of the Association game in Canterbury, and wondered what had become of several Association, fnends who had gone there in response to the calls of duty. However, here is news that will be hailed with delight by Association players nt this end. The football writer of Canterbury Times says: — "Mr Wallace Kilgour, an enfliusiastie Association footballer, sees in the recent formation of a Scottish Society in Chri^tchurch an excellent opportunity to introduce the Association gamo to Canterbury, and is co enthusiastic upon the subject that he had offered to coach players who can be induced to take it up. There is no doubt that as an interesting and scientific game there is a lot to be said for the Association variety, and sport will be tho gainer for its introduction here. From what I can hear Mr Kilgour is not of the kind to let an id<ta drop that he has once taken up, and I therefoi-e hope to hear of something definite being done »n the ■ matter. There is every probability thai the Sports Committee of the new society will identify themselves with the moveme it." In referenco to tbo above, I would suggest that Otago and Wellington journey half-way and play a match in Christchurch. The playing of such a match would increase the interest already being displayed, and I piechct that neither the Wellington Association nor the local body would lose anything by tho venture. I have received letters from several correspondents criticising my note, favourably and unfavourably, on the Reforee3' Association, which appeared last week. For the benefit of the referees I reproduce the protest on my remarks terse-ly criticised by "Barracker":— Dear Sockerist, — On reading your sweeping condemnation last week of the referees who have been officiating during tho season for the 0.F.A., I cannot but conclude that you must have been pressed for time in putting your notes together, as there appears to me to be in that paragraph a lack of your usual discrimination in dealing with matters of co delicate a nature Had you had time for consideration, I am quite sure you must have come to the conclusion that our referees, whatever may be their faults (and who of us, be he player. or scribe, has not his faults), have been very earnr-st in the pursuit of their duties, and have rendered sterling .service in the cause of fie Soeker game. Had you had lei-?uro to look at tho matter thoroughly from all s'des, I fe-e-1 confident you wou d not have dealt in so high-handed a manner with their short-comings— a proceeding ca--culated only to stir up strife and ill-feeling,— but would have respectfully pointed out wheTcin I'ty the room for improvement, m which ca^e I am sure our referees would have received your suggestion's kinclly and have endaavoured to act upon them. With regard to tho two gentlemen you mention aa likely to officiate in the Burner final, neither of wl om has once held the whistle this B ea=on— one, in fact, not being a member of the Rofcieee' Club, but one of our meet prominent players,— l ask you what sort of treatment would it bo to those referees who havo done all the hard work through the season, and borne all the adverse criticisms of players and spectators alike, to overlook their just claims, and appoint an outsider t? control this game ! W° U M it be a fair thing on the face of it? In justice to the two gentlemen you name, I may inform you, if you are not already aware of the fact, that while both of them are of the same opinion as myself in this matter, one ha 9 declined to accept the position on those grounds, although he has been appointed by the Referees' Club, and the other is indignant, and rightly so, that his name should ever have been mentioned in connection with the Banner final. I am, etc., Babhackeb. [I still adhere to my views previously stated. In the first place, the Referees Association is a body which has the power to select referees for all matches which come under its jurisdiction, and why should they depart from this rule in asking Northern and Roslyn to select their own referee for the final? This fact seems to make it evident that they are unconscious of their own power. How are our referees going to do justice to the game if their faults ara not remedied? It ie on them that the success or otherwise of the game greatly depend?. I do not for one moment entertain the idea that our referees are not doing their best, but maintain thai they have still a lot to learn. It has been my sole aim to further fehe interests of the gaiAe by critioieing when necessary. In reference to jgo^ien^emej^me^aeied^ selected bj

the Wo teams unanimously, 1 may add that for the season 1599, when there was a iiost of referees for that year, a departure was made by asking one of those two gentlemen mentioned to act as referee for the final match between Northern and Itoslyn. The said gentleman was a player for that season, and when approached by the O.F.A. he decided to act, while at the same time he was not a member of the body who were responsible- for the controlling of games. I admit that the referees are entitled to consideration ; I never Suggested otherwise. In conclusion, I am pleased that my note has received consideration, and, in the interest of the game, I hope that it has done some good. Another letter supporting my contention is -withheld in the meantime.]

At a recent meeting of the New Zealand Association correspondence was received from tho Otago Association, which stated that as it was desirous of purchasing a football ground, it could not afford to send a team to Auckland. It was willing to send a team to Wellington, provided We.lington would play a return match this Beason. On the motion of Mr Gibbs, it wag decided that, in the event of the Otago Association not fulfilling its engagement with the Auckland Association, the Brown shield should be awarded to Auokland, but that association not to have its name engraved on the 6hield unless one of the other centres challenges for the trophy end los&s the match.