Rep. Soccer Match Only Possible After £50,000 Had Been Paid Out in Transfer Fees.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18339, 16 December 1927, Page 9

Rep. Soccer Match Only Possible After £50,000 Had Been Paid Out in Transfer Fees.

(Special to the “ Stax - .”) LONDON, November 3. MIGHT is not always on the side of the big battalion in football. Just as it was thought that England would be far too strong for Ireland at Soccer it was expected that Scotland would readily master Wales, but the latter once more rose to the occasion in great style and saved the match. It was a remarkable performance. Early in the first half Scotland were two goals to the good. Wales, however, fought back with superb spirit, making good their deficiency in skill by manly endeavour, and they scored twice to draw the match. Scotland looked to have a great side. They had borrowedsix of their stars who have entered English football and, in point of talent, they appeared overwhelmingly superior. Calculated in transfer fees the eleven was worth over £50,000. Wales, too, had to secure the release of nearly all their men from English clubs, but in several cases they were only second or even third choices. That is to say, the players they originally chose could not be obtained, and they had to get other men. In these circumstances the side was far below the strength of what it might have been, and their performance was the more meritorious on this account. With its many as seventeen players drawn from English football in the match it could not be said to be a proper test of the football of the two countries. There are those who insist that only men playing in their own country should be eligible to take part in an international contest. England have always observed this condition. They will not even select an Englishman playing for a club outside their jurisdiction, though the club may be members of the English or Football League. For instance, Hardy, the Cardiff City half-back, has been the best player in his position for four or five years, but though an English-born player, the Football Association have declined to select him. "Wales and Ireland, however, could not carry on unless they were able to borrow their players. Scotland, of course, do so, but only by placing a weakened team in the field. '