“THE FOOTBALL FUNGUS.”

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144085, 2 May 1913, Page 7

“THE FOOTBALL FUNGUS.”

Under the heading of “The Football •Fungus” a contributor to the Spectator gives an interesting detailed account of the prevalence of betting in England in connection with tho Association game. Some years there sprang up among junior teams in the North a, system called “making a hook.” A hoy would head tho page of a notebook “Liverpool v; Sunderland,” and rule lines below for entries providing for wins for either side by various margins. A penny a sharo was the usual charge. If fifteen shares wore issued tho winner got a shilling, and the promoter kept threepence, hut if the result of tho match was not forecasted tho promoter kept the whole Is 3d. This form of gambling spread rapidly among boys, but it has been largely superseded by what is known as the coupon system. This is a much more elaborate system. Ono may bet on as many as nine matches at once, and the more unlikely aro the results forecasted, the more attractive are tho odds. Coupons are printed in largo numbers and handed practically to anybody who will act as agent. This agent may distribute them among his fellow-employees, or deliver them at several factories, Or take up. a stand at a street corner. The coifpon is delivered to the client on Thursday, and returned filled in, with the stake, not later than half-past _ two on Saturday afternoon. Tho writer says that tho main subject of conversation among artisans in some districts from Thursday to Saturday night is football, but “hardly over during tho conversation is real play so much talked of as is tho likelihood of a man being able to win so much if he backs such and such teams.” Further, men may sometimes bo seen among tho crowd at a match getting up threepenny sweepstakes as to what player will score tho first goal. The promoter takes a share, and, if there is no score, tho whole of the money. A goal scored, ho promptly gets up another sweepstake on, the next goal, and so on. The writer considers the vogue of this gambling not only very harmful to the gamblers, but fraught with, great danger to tho game, which may in consequence fall into the disrepute in which professional running lies.