ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15245, 23 May 1923, Page 9

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

(By “Lex.”) So keen are Auckland Soccer. enthusiasts that they have already arranged for a special train from their centre to Hamilton on the morning of The Brown Shield match. Arrangements are now well in hand for June 4, and with the announcement of the Upper Waikato 'eleven against Lower Waikato on Saturday, at Hamilton, speculation as to the composition of the South Auckland side is becoming Interesting. Advices from Sydney now give a definite programme of the Chinese Soccer team, from which my readers will easily see that there is very little likelihood of the team visiting New Zealand. They play in New South Wales on July 14, 21 and 28, Queensland on August 4 and 11, Victoria on September 1 and 8, western Australia on September 15 and 22, and Tasmania on October 6.

Mr J. C. Clegg, elected president of the F.A., has for many . years been closely identified with the public life of Sheffield. He is a solicitor, justice of the peace, was formerly official receiver, and has always been a great temperance advocate. He has been chairman of the F.A. council since 1890, and it is not a little curious that he was first returned to the couhcil to oppose the introduction of professionalism into England. When he realised that it was inevitable, he devoted his energy and ability to establising a Arm control over it —and the IF.A. Is a model body in this respect. Not long ago (says London Sporting Life) Mr Clegg was congratulated on the 50th anniversary of the day on which he first played for England against Scotland. He was then a "middle.” As an athlete he held the quarter-mile grass record for many years. •*>

The season closed in England oe Saturday, May 5, was marked by verygreat interest. Liverpool, with 60 points;; won the : First League Championship for the second successive year. Sunderland, 54 points, was second, Stoke and Oldham, two of the lowest, 30 points, have been relegated to Second League. Notts County, with 53 points, won (he Second League, followed by Weslharn _ with 51 points. Those teams are promoted to First League. Westham's goal average secures their promotion in preference to Leicester City, who are level on points. Rotheram and Wolverhampton have been sent hack from Second League to Third League. Bristol City, 59 points, won the southern section of tlie Third League; and Nelson 51 points, winners of the northern section, have been promoted to Second League. ■- , SOUTH AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. The management committee of the above met in Hamilton on Monday evening, the main business on the agenda being the progress reports from the secretary (Mr T. G. Wilkes) on the arrangements for the match for the Brown Shield against Auckland . on June 4. The Auckland Association submitted a list of referees for the approval of the Association, nad the name of Air J. Dawson, of Now Plymouth, was agreed to as being entirely satisfactory to the Soutli Auckland Executive. Correspondence from the sarqgjjpdy was also received, stating that Jbe Brown Shield would be sent along very shortly. The local Rugby and League Associations, who had decided to put on representative matches on the same day, also wrote that, ‘in view of the Brown Shield match, they would abandon their negotiations, and this action was very heartily appreciated. AUSTRALIAN TOUR. The New Zealand' team which left Wellington at the end of last week, •has the following programme to get through:—May 24, Granville; May 26, New South Wales; May 29, Newcastle; June 2, Queensland; Juno 4, Brisbane; June 6, North Coast; June 9, First Test at Brisbane; June 13, 10, 23, 24, 25, at various centres in New Soul.h Waics; June 30, Melbourne; July 7, Sydney; July 10, Lithgow. They leave on the return for Wellington by tli6 Manuka on July 13.