MANY FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES ARE BAD COOKS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

MANY FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES ARE BAD COOKS

Professional Clubs Sending Players To Restaurants

HTHE wives of many professional Association footballers in the Old Country are such indifferent cooks that a number of clubs have made arrangements to ensure that their players are properly fed. They have found that the staple food of some of their men is fried

fish from a shop or something out of a tin (writes “Arbiter” in the ’“Daily Mail.”) “What men want if they are to play for 90 minutes at the furious pace which, is now demanded is a good beef steak and plenty of other nourishing food,” an Association Football League official said.

x “Many wives of footballers have worked before marriage in a factory, and they know nothing about cook-

ing. If I could have my way they wouldn’t marry until they had taken lessons and were able to provide proper meals. They only spoil their husbands’ careers.” 1 He told of a case in his own club. The play of a man had declined. After half an hour’s play he was almost exhausted. He was medically examined and it was found that he w’as undernourished. Inquiries revealed that he did not have cooked meat from one week to another. His wife could not cook. So he was instructed to get his meals at a restaurant, ordering what he liked, and the club paid the bills. Within a month he had regained his strength. The feeding of players is always the concern of the clubs. The lodgings where the unmarried men live are usually on an official list and they are selected because it is known that proper food will be provided. In the case of youths, their physique is often the first consideration. z Before they can be trained they have to be made strong, and they are put on a special strength-giving diet, or even sent to the seaside. This is specially notable in regard to youths who have worked in the coal pits. Mr George Jobey, the Derby County manager, has a medicine chest, and each morning when the players arrive for training those who are off form are given doses of cod liver oil and other tonics. The health of the players is, in fact, the first duty of every club manager.