FOOTBALL AND PLAYERS.

Southland Times, Issue 20664, 20 April 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL AND PLAYERS.

To the Editor. Sir,—l have been waiting for some abler pen than mine to take up the challenge and reply to "Country Player,” when he states in effect that because players do not play where he thinks they should, that they have not the true spirit of the game at heart. I would ask "Country Player” if, because a player like Holden does not sacrifice his chosen occupation for the sake of football, is he to be accused of lack of the true sporting instinct? Five minutes talk with the man concerned would convince any one that the job comes first; that, no game, be it football, cricket, tennis, or bowls, and Holden is equally' proficient in all these games, is allowed to interfere with his school work, As a parent I admire the stand taken by the board, and also that by Holden when he says he will not neglect his work for the sake of the game. If'it is his fate to have to stand on the side-line and enjoy his football there, I am sure Holden will abide by the decision. May I ask where is the sporting spirit of any body which through a dog-in-the-manger attitude deprives a player of a game of football? I would recommend to “Country Player” to try and get a wider vision. Perhaps he would get it if he saw a little more of the game as played by those schoolboys who respond so well to Holden’s instruction on “Country Player’s” own football ground almost any afternoon during the week. Naturally, we here, would like to see our team benefit by the experiences of so able a player, but I resent the attitude of those who leave the player concerned altogether out of the picture. I am, etC ” “WIDER OUTLOOK.” Edendale South, April 19, 1929.

To the Editor.

Sir,—With regard to Holden, the Otago rep. and the S.R. Union, I would like to pen a few words. Now, Holden is stationed at Edendale, and being an Otago rep. Rugby player, is a bit above the ordinary country footballer—just the men that Edendale want, being a young club with young players. It would be the making of Edendale and perhaps the winning of the shield. Now remember the Southland Rugby Union professes to foster country football, and this is how it professes to foster it at Edendale, by breaking, bending, or scrapping its own by-laws or rules; also the rules of the ' Eastern District SubUnion. The name of Rugby is pretty rotten in Invercargill at present; that is possibly how they can’t pay its way. If the S.R. Union allows Holden to play in Invercargill and still reside in Edendale it will be the biggest piece of jobbery ever put across a country club. Now, Mr Courtis, a past president, with that worldly knowledge of football, said at the last meeting of the S.R. Union that Holden could play both for Star and Eastern District. Holden in m.aking his application to the S.R. Union for a transfer to Star said he could not get away on Wednesday to plaj' for Edendale. However, since then the Edendale Club has arranged for Mr Holden to get the few minutes extra that he requires, so his main ground for asking to play for Star is knocked bandy. I would like to ask Messrs Meredith and Courtis who appear to lead the Southland Rugby Union, what would happen to Edendale if they imported a player from Invercargill. Mr Meredith would lawyer-like say, "We have the rules to go by and it. is impossible to get away from them.” Yet when it suits they can be twisted to suit. I fake it if Holden was going to play for any, team but Star there would be a howl, but Star must, be premier at any cost, hence the juggling of rules. The rules distinctly say a player must reside in the district 14 days in which he intends to play. Another rule says no player can play for more than one club, and where is the player that can stand up to more than one game per week right through the season? I see by this morning’s paper the Eastern District SubUnion is calling a meeting of delegates to discuss the above matter, and I would like to impress on country sub-unions the urgent need to attend this meeting, as although it is Edendale that is affected to-day it may be any country club to-morrow. To show what the present committee will do to gain its end, it is prepared to allow Holden to play on Saturday and hold his trial on Monday night when the delegates will be present; a bit farcical, but as long as Invercargill gets its own way and Star keeps premier, although by playing men illegally (see residential rule) everything will be lovely according to Meredith, Courtis and I Co. I would suggest to the club that gets defeated by Star to protest and take it to the N.Z.R. Union and let it decide; also to the Eastern District Sub-Union to suspend Holden for playing out of his district. That is if it has the power. In writing the above I have tried to show what the S.R. Union will do to get a country player to play in town, and now that Holden’s chief ground for a transfer has been swept away it is interesting to see how the whitewash brush will be next used and remember all this from'a body that helps country football all it can.' In conclusion all I can say is it’s a most peculiar way of assisting a weak club.—l am, etc., EX-FOOTBALLER.