“A Children’s Court?”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 11

“A Children’s Court?”

NAUGHTY BOYS OF SOCCER Numerous Carpetings Last Night THIS “tame, slow and inoffensive round-ball game,” otherwise known as Soccer, has more players on the mat every week for dangerous play, fighting, and the use of sultry language and other breaches of the rules than any other code in Auckland.

T night’s meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Football Association was by no means short and snappy. Numerous naughty players were carpeted for various offences on the field of play. The general business of the association was over in a matter of minutes, and as the chairman, Mr. Menzies, said: “The weekly meeting of the management is .every week becoming more and more like a children’s court.” TWO SENT OFF A report was received from Referee Bennett stating that in the senior game last Saturday between Y.M.C.A. and Onehunga he had occasion to order Humphreys (Y.M.C.A.) and Cotton (Onehunga) off the field, Humphreys for striking, and Cotton for attempting to retaliate. He also reported the Onehunga official who took the line, for, in his opinion, he did his best to thwart the referee instead of helping him. All those concerned attended the meeting except Cotton. Referee Bennett said he had nothing further to report, except to mention again the conduct of the man on the line. “He yelled out that he would shoot me; but of course I might say that I took no notice of that,” said Mr. Bennett. Mr. F. J. Jackson (who was the man on the line): Right through the play Mr. Bennett was too far away from the play to see anything at all — But he got no further than this. Mr. Wilkes rose to a point of order. Mr. Millar (Y.M.C.A. sports secretary): Owing to the aggressive behaviour of the linesman and the crowd, was it not likely that your attention was taken off the game? Referee Bennett (emphatically): I took no notice or the crowd whatsoever. BRIGHT EXCHANGES When called upon by Mr. Menzies, Humphreys said that he was very sorry that he had caused the trouble and he told a pitiful tale. Cotton had absolutely exhausted his (Humphreys) patience by saying that he was playing dirty ‘and he was out to get him. Humphreys, however, had tried to calm him down by saying, “Oh, cut that out, old man. That is no good.” “I will send you home on a stretcher before I have finished with you,” was Cotton’s reply, according to Humphreys. With this, Humphreys told Cotton straight out that if he came at any of those tricks he would hit him, and he did. ’ Referee Bennett spoke in favour of Humphreys and gave the impression that Cotton, the man who had not rolled up to the meeting, was the cause of the trouble. Cotton, it appears, was on the mat about two years ago and on that occasion did not attend the meeting. Witnesses were called in. First witness (Mr. Hoban): I heard Cotton say to Humphreys that he would get him after the game. The linesman was doing a lot of talking and on one occasion when the ball rolled out of play, not knowing which side it belonged to, he threw it in himself. SfiCond witness (Mr. Riddall): Cotton said that Humphreys had been playing dirty and that he would get him before the finish. Cotton also used bad laneUAfter the matter had been considered in committee, it was decided to adjourn the case until next Tuesday, Cotton to be instructed to appear before the committee. A PUGNACIOUS TRAINER With one case party dealt with the committee then turned to another. Referee Gaily reported Mr. Dale, trainer of the Onehunga second grade

team, for allegedly invading the field and being most insulting and abusive because of a decision. He would not leave the ground, said the report, until the referee threatened to abandon the game. Furthermore, not being satisfied with abusing the referee on the field of play, he followed him into the dressing room and gave him five minutes of it there. “This is not the first time I have had trouble with this gentleman,” politely concluded the report. It was resolved to write to the trainer of the team expressing disapproval of his conduct. TWO MORE And yet another. By this time the members of the committee were looking significantly at their watches and yawning sleepily; but, martyrs to duty, they kept their ground and sat there prepared to hear another case. In the third intermediate game last Saturday between Onehunga and Richmond Rovers, reported referee Crocker, he had ordered two players of the Richmond team off the field. Belsham had been sent off the field for using bad language within the hearing of women on the line, and another, named Shearer, for violent and dangerous play after he had been cautioned twice for the same offence. The report stated that he was very hostile toward the referee’s decision. Mr. Menzies Well, Belsham, what have you got to' say? Belsham: I didn’t say a word. I afterwards asked Mr. Crocker what I had said, and he couldn’t repeat it. Mr. Crocker, to a request made by Mr. Menzies: Yes, I will tell you what he said. Mr. Crocker proceeded to do j Belsham (hastily): I beg to differ, Mr. Chairman; I might say that I thought that, but I did not say it. Mr. Menzies: You must have thought aloud, I think. Exit Belsham. Left on their own once again, the members got their heads together and decided that Belsham be suspended for one playing Saturday. “IT WOULD RELIEVE ME A LOT” Belsham entered the room again with a curious look on his face, and as Mr. Menzies told him about the suspension he cried out: But can I say something? Mr. Menzies: Yes, when I have finished; but I don’t think there is really any need for you to say any more. Belsham (earnestly): But it would relieve me a lot. When the chairman had finished, Belsham got to his feet, and spoke with candour, starting off with a line or two of “soft stuff.” “This is my first game of Soccer, and it is the first time I have been ordered off—and just because a “crook” referee comes here and ” Mr. Menzies (cutting him short) : Oh, well, it does not matter about that, but next time you take the field ” Belsham (interrupting in his turn): It will be a long time before I clay Soccer again. With a further reference to the fact that it was his first game of Soccer, and the first time he had been ordered off, Belsham rushed from the room and banged the door, leaving behind him a group of surprised committeemen. Shearer, who was severely cautioned. took his gruelling well, and left the room looking quite pleased, compared with his colleague.