FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16422, 16 January 1919, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

m ■■ — the association game, END OF PROFESSIONALISM. A .most important and far-reachinE decision was made by the English Football ABr cociation at I>ondon recently, inasmuch as it bids fair to do away with professional players. The* chairman - of the Council moved; "That it is desirable that players, in ■ addition to playing the game, ehouM continue their trade, and those in the Services should rceumo their work after the war, and that clubs should give facilities for their so doing." . He eaid that he took a strong view that, so far as possible, players should be engaged in some work, and that they should not in the future regard -football as their only source of income. It was not that be Cad any objection to the payment of players, but lie desired that the money they received for playing the game should be supplementary to their income from then trade or It was sometimes overlooked tnat footfall could not be played for a long ueriod of years, whereas a players trade could be followed so long as it was neceaearv for him to remain at work. A wellknoWn amateur also spoke, on the same eubWt eaying that the directors of professional & were always in favour of players following some occupation in addition to thai Ljavin' He had never met anybody connected" with football management who took a contrary view, but the difficulty in thTwwt had been to induce players to get suitable occupations. It must not be overlooked that' sometimes players had to .eave home on Friday for week-end m aches and it was not always easy to induce employers * V; t players og when required. So far as it "was practicable, he hopedl that the lead given by the conference would be folloAf^3 a \en^hy C di6Cu«sion, the Council decided to adopt the resolution. At the conference the question whether it i would be possible to arrange for important matches and competitions at once was debated and it was decided that 110 inter* I- ™atrh«<; nor cup' ties should b? ibi3 season, but that inter-leaguo p T? A returned soldier that the whole question of football organisation would bo taken in hand as tSere was a unique opportunity to out certain reforms which seemed to Min and many other footballers, highly desirable.