BRITISH PEOPLE’S FANATICAL LOVE FOR FOOTBALL
New Zealanders are often accused of being “rugby mad” but from the reports of the apparently fanatical interest-in the sport taken by South Africans it would appear that the love of the Maorilander for the game is very mind when compared with his Springbok counterpart. But even the South African is rather shaded in his love for sport when compared with the Englishman and his football or “soccer.” For the people of Britain it is the main sporting attraction during the printer months, even outdoing horse racing. One Million Attendance The population of Great Britain is only about 45 millions button any normal Saturday afternoon at least one million people watch professional football matches run on the league principle. There are four divisions in the English league and two in the Scottish. In the English league each team plays 42 matches—one home and one away game against every other 1 team in its division and in addition there is the great knock-out competition for “The Cup”—but that
does not start till later in the season. It is a long and exacting programme, lasting about eight months. To win the League championship is the ambition of all clubs in the first division and for those in the lower divisions promotion is the great aim. Since this type of football is professional it follows naturally that it is commercial also. The “star 5 * player is a marketable commodity and sums as high as £15,000 have been paid for the transfer of a player from one club to another. Spectators’ Fanaticism To describe the fanaticism of the spectators at these matches is impossible. It has to be seen to be belifeved. In fact, no visitor to Great Britain has a true picture of the British unless he has seen a professional football match. Next to football the Englishman loves horse racing and thousands of pounds change hands annually because of the “nags.”
Whakatane A. and P. Show SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Get your schedule now. J *" r
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 88, 20 January 1950, Page 7
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339BRITISH PEOPLE’S FANATICAL LOVE FOR FOOTBALL Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 88, 20 January 1950, Page 7
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