APPEAL OF SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 14

APPEAL OF SOCCER

GREAT CROWDS AT HOME OVER 100,000 IN GLASGOW FAMOUS HAMPDEN. The appeal which football makes in Britain oecomes ever more remarkable, comments an English writer. The rootoall Association received 400,009 applications for the 93,000 tickets available for the Cup final, and the Scottish authorities were also overwhelmed by the demands of the public for their match with England. Hampden Park, Glasgow, the famous ground of the Queen’s Park Club, has been enlarged to accommodate 150,000 people, and for the first time it was made an all-ticket match. The whole supply wa sold on the day of issue and the crowd was the largest that had ever ass.-mbled. In fact, it was believed to be a world record for any sporting event, except in the case of the Derby and Grand National. The visit of the English team is always regarded as the chief event on the Scottish football calendar, and the victory which was gained by three goals to one aroused tremendous enthusiasm. But the display of the side did not give the usual satisfaction. It was agreed that all that was best in the play was contributed by England, and that the result simply reflected the run of the ball. This was definitely unkind to the English players, who commanded the game throughout the first half and were unlucky in scoring only once, when they might have obtained at least three goals. In fact England were the better team to the end, but little they attempted went right, even when the Scottish defence appeared to have been completely beaten. The stars are becoming fewer in Scotland, and it is clear that the time is coming when men who have given distinction to the national side for some years will have to be replaced. The average age of the team was considerably higher than in the case of England, and it is scarcely likely that some of them will be called upon again. Where are the recruits? Scottish football, indeed, appears to be entering on a lean period, and it was significant that for this season's match three players had to be borrowed from English clubs. These were the two Preston North End players, Beattie, the left back, and Frank O’Donnell, the centre forward, and Duncan, the Derby County outside left. England’s team was an unusually joung one. The average age of the forwards was 23, and altogether it was only about 25. Notable among these young men were the three forwards of Stoke. Steele, the centre forward, who obtained England’s % goal, is only 19, while Matthews, the cleverest outside right the game has produced for over ten years, is 22. The match served to emphasise again the inadequate fees which the players receive. The takings amounted to over £22,000, and yet the men were paid the paltry sum of £6 each. This fee is now to be raised. Scotland have suggested it should be advanced to £3. On the other hand, the English clubs are to consider a proposal making it £2O, and I think this will receive considerable support. It used to be said that the honour of taking part in the match was in itself an adequate reward, but to the professional the game is his living, and it is now held that the men who are judged to be the best are entitled to receive more substantial recognition.