FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 1600, 31 May 1924, Page 13 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

SOULS WITH A SINGLE THOUGHT. (By "Marama.") All the world is agog- about, football. It is the one theme that moves old and young man and woman. It is a great game and our national game, and by it we brought home to the consciousness of a pre-occupied Europe the existence of this great little country, and there is some justification therefore for the intense interest with which the game is followed and the passionate partisanship for rival candidates for the All Black team. Those who are the most interested and whose opinions on the merits of players deserve the most consideration are unlikely to be interested in either the history of the game or its philosophy, yet it has both a history and a philosophy, which can -be but imperfectly described here. Like the royal game of golf it seems to have had its origin in Scotland, and it is strange that those who have been described as ready to keep the ten commandments and Everything else they could lay their hands on should be noted as the originators of two such famous games. In the lays before gunpowder the Scottish youth were forbklerin to play football, as it interfered with the practice of the long bow. The law, of course, was not observed and the Scotch never became expert with the bow, but their football experiences may have aided feem in the rough and tumble struggles which was the warfare of those days. It seems as if the rule held good that those who can fTnd vigour for sports are likely to find it for other things.

A Land of Settled Government. The history of football is one long Illustration of the evolution of law. Football in ancient days was a game with few rules and much rough play. A game was played at odc time in Northumberland in whi-ch 'the goals . were two windmills, two miles apart. Everybody took part, their side bein?, decided by their residence north or south of a certain line. The J'cotbaU was stuffed with sawdust, and the frame is said to have been won by on* player concealing the ball and creeping unobserved to the opponents' wind mill. The modern game would disown all relationship with sucn a burly burly, but indeed within the memory of men now living it was common in the same district for players to throw aside the ball for the last quarter of an hour, and simply hack at one' another. It was the English public schools that introduced some science into the game, and Rugby football has spread the fame of Rugby School, though the game described in "Tom Brown's Schooldays" bears more resemblance to soccer than to Rugby. ' The foundation laid by the public schools has been added to by the 'club of the great cities, for football is '* a game for tewns. As hunting and. :, racing and shooting disappear other sports must take their place. Youth has as much surplus energy to employ as in the past,- and winter demands a game which shall be sufficient!} strenuous to satisfy everybody within two hours. A game that is so violent must, needs have a strict code of rules, and strict referees to enforce them, and the evolution of these laws and the manner in which they are observed is a triumph for law and order, and a training ground for youth which it would be difficult to praise too highly. O'er Greenland's Icy (Mountains. Football has spread from the British Isles to Europe 'and may eventually find its way to America where they play a game which is hedged around by even more laws, but is said to be much more dangerous. It at least requires that players be .padded to look like Guy Fawkes on the sth of November. France, however, has taken kindly to the game; there are said to , be 1000 Rugby Clubs in the country. Germany plays it, but not to the same extent. In Spain it is displacing bull fighting as the national pastime, and doubtless it will slowly spread towards the East. The Chinese have shown that they can play, and when the Russians grow tired of Bolshevism they may take to football. It is a difficult thing to decide on the claims of some countries to be civilised, but perhaps we might take the capacity to play games as a criterion. Such capacity implies a respect for rules. . and a recognition of fair play, and these qualities a"re amongst the basis of civilisation. Man expresses himself to a much greater extent in his play than in his work. For most of us the day's work is something dictated either by the boss or by circumstances. . Jn our play we can .please ourselves. The gospel of work which was pdeached in the 19th Century has In our play we can please ourselves. The gospel of work which was preached in the Nineteealh Century has ceased to Unci followers; indeed it is to be fsared we hare gone too far in the other direction. Still it' we arc to ■ play it is well to do it .vigorously, lawfully, fairly, and football will answer all those requirements. War is the Worst of Trades.

Emulation and competition arc so deep .sealed in human nature thai, some outlet must be found for them. It is infinitely better that this should take the form of games rattier than that of war. Kipling in the days of peace denounced the flannelled rool at tho wicket and trie muddied oaf at the goal. Presumably he thought that if they, had only been provided with a repeating rifle, and a concrete shelter they mignt have been able to kill some man they had never seen. Since then we have done this on an unprecedented scale and have found with Solomon that it is ail vaxnity. Football and kindred sports are doubtless the • same, but it is a form of vanity which does little harm and a great deal 0/ good. If nations could confine their rivalry to sport they would be in--I'mitjly happier. The only sufferers would be the champions who represent their respective countries. For a brief period they are the cynosure of all eyes and then naturally pass out of nol'ce The greal exponents of any.game do rot commonly shine very brightly outside M. Chess champions are not senior wranglers. Moreover, Hie applause which a man receives in his own lifetime is a somewhat trying ordeal, and though 'every young soldier carries a marshal's balon in his knapsack, the dashing Hires quarters will he well advised not to dream too often of extended tours with an Ail Black Irani. P!ay the game for the game's sake, bearing in mind the qualities which are .indispensable- if it is to be played at Id I. and with the resolve to uphold ■he great traditions of the past, and I tie reputation of the country for llcari play.