"WHAT'S WRONG WITH SOCCER?"

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20057, 21 September 1920, Page 3

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH SOCCER?"

TO THE EDITOR. , Sir.—As a supporter of Association football iu Canterbury, I would like to record my emphatic protest against the action 'Ot the person or persons responsible for the selection. of the third grade representative team that met Otago on Saturday last, and also against numerous other thoughtless actions which I Consider detrimental to the code. Having been associated with the game and the lowergrade teams for a considerable number of years, I did nor, experience any difficulty in finding out that the local team was not selected according -to the usual recognised procedure. Having two rep. matches to play, the selector or selectors evi- 1 dently decided that as many third grade players as were considered worthy of inclusion should get a game. This ivas carried out, and the team that played on Saturday was vastly different to the “rep.” eleven that suffered deteat against Otago High School in the previous match. During the week the team chosen to play Otago was published in the papers, and the official reserves were also included. This was the only notification the players received concerning the game. When a Representative team is selected and the players’ names published it is regarded by all as final. For all such teams there are always one or more reserves selected, and’ they also are regarded as official. Now, sir, what I want to know is this: Why should the persons responsible for the selection of n© team display such apparent ignorance °1 the rules, and create, by their uncalled lor action, distinctly unfavourable commentP One is fully justified in 5 believing that they are absolutely incompetent. When on my wav to f Park on Saturday I was £ toimed that one of the original team ■lm r We having memor- ] I? 0 if Se r e f c i loSen hr this fixture, t l i *M l ' a, l looked to r the presence of .. 011 the field, but was consurprised t0 that this player, tor some .unknown reason hurl ton owtooted, and a a? present pl.ymg in tho SO „J r eW ” « a club that has no third grade team and therefore no legitimate right to a single representative, had been given 1 reference over an official reserve It is very evident that there is Radically amiss with the C.F.A. gener-t-5’ w!, rt r ls f dall J tim ® a little B more v\ as displayed. The statu* -V in Canterbury i s at present verv and it will further deteriorate it lifter judgment is not used and +1 ' payers treated a little Se fjt ihe Association is not giving a P" Players and staunch a square deal Take - , English Pnrl- +i.„ a ■ instance tst? r°» °r ■as™ ant soccer games in consequence kind P f?\ aWa r ° U -' lO tho country. This W action is no doubt considered very sporting but it tends to lead outsiders to believe that the ground s nothing more or less than a conven? ence and is anybody’s for the asking. TJiere is no doubt that the supporters 0 the game would like to see more of he ground, and itould also like to see the champion Blues in action again beforc they eventually become stagnant after_ their enforced (?) spell. The premier team of Canterbury being deprived of a game for nearly "two months makes it apparent to all that the'association is not determined to abide by its constitution and carry out its ob-ject:--“To foster the gaino of association football m Canterbury.” Let us hope that tho heads will sti'r themselves up and endeavour, if they are desirous ot retaining their supporters, to provide a match for the teams each Saturday and not sicken both players and spectators alike by enforcing continued inactivity for no reason whatsoever. A great deal more attention could be bestowed upon the lower grades. It is generally said that the junior of to-day is the senior of to-morrow. If no encouragement is given to the junior then methinks there “ ain’t going to be no senior for to-morrow.” What about a few of the officials visiting the junior games and watching the boys in action? 1 am sure their presence would have a Very favourable effect on the boys, and it would also afford the boys an opportunity of getting acquainted with the gentlemen who are anxious about their welfare. A five-a-side tournament would not go amiss at any time, and a Saturday or two could easily be spent in this manner. In conclusion, let us hope that the players of soccer, who are called upon to pay stiff subscriptions, will in future receive better treatment for their money. May the association, when it contemplates selecting future junior or third grade “reps,” entrust the duty to gentlemen who, are enthusiastic enough to stroll across to the N North Park and watch the boys play, and not as formerly attempt to «piek a team from players they have probably never seen. ' There is no doubt that the C.F.A. will have to wake up if it wants to push the game,, and avert the continual defeats suffered by the lower grade ‘‘reps” of Canterbury.—l am, oto 0 1 C..0.J,F.G.