FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

i > i' ' ' ' RUGBY. 'AA'A AALiH-A A-V■••-' A Ac ■. | ißr AnisTODDins) w . >11 Tl)e bulk' of human felicity goes into four s1 r words—bread and tho circus. For the city of Wellington. and : ad£accnt ttplanda,, the A ''Poet" has supplied the circus so long, that A" some are beginning now to ask for less circus r•. :> and more bread- ■ But not all.: A genuinefriend, i--wlio ivishea ma well states:"Don't you.,think, you ' are, preaching. too much?" -He wants more circus. j:-■ ■On tho other hand, the "tost,", uitroducv. ing: tho 'strange , inconsistency ,of .its< loading i; .'.ftrtifllcs into,its football, calls mo "Ann" t.' v-!ond:>"Harry" in the same breathy and urges, i 1;; «ks it were, more bread: . Says ,t!iey "Post" —< i v , ' Oil, Ann! ' 1 ' How can f ' 1 You so forget the ball, 1 1 Which must bo after all i Tho subject of consideration?

I:>::;:' Anyhow, a word l on -place-kicking, Take it all round, > club placokicking. in the. Dominion »::wj is;only fair.;: It might ho- better; .it might 's bo & hundred per cent, better. And it wqul'l I Ji-bers-bniidreA per coat.: better if it' wore f-.>; r vreaJised that the mere kicking is not evcryr. . :thing. TnE placing o* tiit,' bah, for the i .-. Eicon is :at least half tho Sbattlo.lt is f-.- 1■"'! curiousto reflect" that for ;thirty ,or , forty; r' young men have been kicking at goal every i Saturday• overy. winter:. And ' always > « '5.i th/> oisiial dazzling ,*ariety -of reporter- has [ been writing it up in this way "The r6-'-wi i doubtable Smith mado no mistake with the I kick." Or this v ,way. "Smith failed to ■ register tho major pointa." Bafc ■ never a ] word l about ( the; player J i Sometimes a reporter .of a moro.scnitillant r variety launches out with advice about placeI. ' kicking. -.Then-,you have > vaudevillo. \ Heroj a clipping from a South .Island column of , "football notes" ■ — ' .; Place-kicking.,is the simplest, tiling in f-,i ! :! f -.:: i l the ,world, if . oiily- players'woukl pracsise. ; t ' All that is needed is to Uke tho ball on I to tho field, tut it down, and try shortf range kicks straight in front ' 'When I ■ !.., - thesis can ;bo -negotiated with unerring • f. accuracy, try longer distances These (•.: '.'.will soon, come aseasy to the iciceer as.i) the short ones. ( ft . . Conceive, some player ~ following out this, [ advice Ho "puts the bill down,'' walks ; iV'ii! baolt^from -it,:,notices :that- it is.not pointing v; ; asi it: should-, bo, -alters- at; •. walks' back again,b.vv'ii.iCoines forward, another-, timo,.makes a second l :: alteration-, perhaps a: third, and—kicks a I , goal. 'then .has 1 1534 more shots and tw<' ■ i kicks : 1534-goals: ;Next match ihe - kicks profs;?-;., ;j, cisely . 0 goals. .. It - bas> never -occurred to linn; ,he >;-has-,: been -: everything: -exoept matoh conditions.; in a matoh another f v/f; ;-. phwor: ;(not.'th«,.kioker). puta the- ball down, I . ■ ana, when itis oncu down, >it iS dosvn for J good. 1 " : / : Perhaps a photograph of Roberts placing r , .-.tho .ball -for. Vercoe or someone elso woulu i, tell mora , about ' place-kicking: than any amount, of writing, s- The intelligent, spectator,. J. •; i, however,'may soe this at any, match in which if.-j-v,;; j. the Oriental team are engaged.' -"l)'red" get .■ p i? , j down, to tho' ground with 'tEo baJh as low .as .' - - possible, and,alwaya he seems ,to take as kt-vxv muoh oare.over the placing as. if it were the i ; v engagement of ..a,- lifetime.: A Also s tho. player , t,! . who placea" for Gardiner—ho is well worth f watching, too. f ' <; Place-kicking practices "under match conli it .ditiona," :,would disclose many things beyond f . . i tbQ 'ken of the usual football SolomonT'iThe: v-- ■ - first practice will: usually end: in - referring the '■ . whole matter to tho bootmaker-with power l" to act. The placer, let us say, ha« bien jy<.-,:.;instructed>tlwt if the top of.the ,ball wobbles - "but in the estimation of a hair" when it'is f put down, it means "no goal," and then the. [-■ • kicker says ■< "Downl"-,- andv runs ' forward>, as f if to kick, but not' actually do so. At the j\;'>.v/'.end"of.".balf'<an,-.'hour,--"perDaps, fit is dis/Covered .that the: placer cannot put' tho ball , down without a little • "wobble".r. of. some i, v . sort,-; chiefly: because ho cannot make a cleancut hole in the..ground . to 1 Test tho : ball. in. J;v,'.vHe must ,be . semt to .the bootmaker to get s;' -.; :'»a clean-cut heel on (his , put. Also, while he k; -: ,-.: , vis. away seeing- the bootmaker, ahoutv it, there is «o harm in the kicker going with -him: The toe of his _ "business" boot is often v- v. Pointed. It.is just, as--well to have it filed a bit square ' Next practice will usually disclose the i-,.. . /weaknesses ,of ..the kicker. In 2QQ attempts t i'.*-':-;6ay, he kicka O- goals. Then ; put a chalk dot on the ball, at a cortain spot,- and ad- -. . .monish him that all he has to do is to kick ; i . the ball-"just .there." He still makos no ■)how of, iti ; /Then he begins to.mutter things; • indistinct things,, odt of which, if one listens carefullyj- ho:may disoern .•. , "all rot" . . "lot of, sill) theory" , . . "leave me do it my own way" . : "only hum- - , baggin' a man and makm' .'im worse,", etc.' At this stage, if jou happen to be his : .:coaoh, it is time to step-forward and -chall v-'j ' .tho toe of his • boot. Next kick will settle the argument as to whether he; is v the ball: m - the right, spot.. Ihe chalk 01 - ■<>■ his boot-tip will leave its mark on the ball -.; and all arguments aro at an end. Afte; : . that your kickor will improve rapidly. Bu v-.-oncfl. more —half tho sucoess of I the ithin; rests vuth 'the placer. • -.. Thero is one other point. , Many a shot.a / : : goal rises in igood line, and/then takes ai ■ :. .' exasperating curve in the air. This mean * "" iing ■is ww"-

' i :v ■ that something. is wrong with the ball it r • self, The seam of: a good ball should be a •.••••• straight as a dart, and it® shape and contou i-.w-vf quite regular. Not,one football ,in twent , •■. sold by, ,the> manufacturers is all that 1 should be in shape; and buying a good bal •: j /!•. ior plaoe-kioking: is a whole aVt in itself. \ •: v ■ Own- cousin to place-kicking is potting >.p Every back in every > team should be : an ex port at this pretty art, for a potted goal i : about tho most demoralising thing that cai bo inflicted on an opponent, there is ' f simple way : of . practising too—strictl; under match conditions. ■ * : . ( By the way, tho "Post" made fatuous re i marljs lately: on ''the wild artillery of tin : v : potting back,", buthas wrapped itself up lr a thick silenco on'the matter since the ab ■surdity'of;its remarks was pointed out. Jusl •: , so. It' am a -great moral question, sail,' said tho darkie who was caught robbing j \ hen-roost, ■ "and dis 'am> not do place to argue it." _ / \ Deterioration of Rugbyis now ibeing dis- * '"v ■ . -cussed ■by football writers in : various parts ..of the 'Dominion,: :Out/of tins it is possible ' .that good may com©.- But personally I doubt : holding tnat the axe is now laid, toe : r. deeply to the root of the tree. It will nevei r . improve much as, long as great , strings ol _ mediocre players :aro "starred" in print ■•■■■■; every week' as ' world's wondors, And that , practice will never stop. Ihoso whose busiv . nosa it is to wnto football know what they . are doing when they publish what the i', "Post'' calls "facts of real interest to foot- ■ bailers." Tho chief "fact of interest" to • ; ■ tho. ordinary footballer k his own name. On tho deterioration question '.'Full-back" v in the Otago "Witness'' writes brightly and • . •'. .to tho point as }io : does ,on . most football • • questions. Among other things ho,asks what : ' has become of the wonderful triokinoss which ■ marked the. old-timo game. And ccho an- ■ swers: • "What?" . j:.'One of 'the deadliest moves which tho old- .- i'. timers trained : for, • and schemed, • and planned to bring about, was the exceedingly '. Bnbtlo caperkpownaa "ohanging the game;" Only a good team could Ido it, because it •, needed first-olass backs, and' also forwards : . trained to the minuto. The business was to .. . overwhelm the "whole show" : with lightning •/ - forward play, until ,the backs on. the defending side were like the man in ,tho coster ; gong, of whom it was said: "'''E dunno' : ' where 'o are." Then your own backs came away. _ . i /Something like this happened (though it was done quite unintentionally) in tho Po-'neke-Melroso match,'when Mitchinson made ' " » his fine run, and Elliott scored.-. It happened ' in the second spell, after tho Poneke for- ' wards had given tbo Melrose backs all they :: <:■ ! wanted in tho way.. of rnsh»fltopgip& ■ If.ihi

same brilliant piece of passing, had been attempted iu' the early stages of that diro muu-strugelo, it is likely that every Ponelte back would havo been knocked down as soon •as. he-got the ba11...

a I can rflmombor ono fine "long-ago ' gamo, ■in .which a splendid fifteen worked this manoeuvre to perfection. Out of set purpose, deliberately arranged beforehand, and brilliantly carried out, thoy made tho game a blizzard of footwork. But the other team was a stiff proposition too, and it, was right up to time before! it was, possiblo to play tho winning card. But, what a ghttersome piece of plav it was when it camel It was just ten minutes to timo when tho ship was suddenly put about on the other tack, and a series of swift passing rushes, by, tjie' backs rattled on no fewer than twenty points.

. But that, was not all. Tho most amusingthing'about. it was the usual' variety of football writer describing it, and explaining, and i admonishing in his usual style., As follows * That team won thero is ; no gainsaying, but thov were lucky. An-:;, other tiui«, perhaps, they will profit by., | their ponlous'oxporience, and endeavour 'i ).': to instil' .into .theirforwards,-that. they; : liMa a splendid set of'backs ; behind I them, .and not selfishly keep tho ball | : among themselves for' five-sixths of tho;' - garao as. they did on Saturday. Fortunately they found out thoir mlstalfe be-.." ; fore it was too late,' and then their bril- f . iiant "light division." showed what, they could have done, if they had only got a chance earlier, etc.; etc., etc.

•Poor forwards!- • After hewing out thei difficult path to victory for. tho backs,:that was all they got, : ;; ' ■ \ ;■ - . Stabbed in tho grammar,' stabbed za "tho thin red line,".' and-stabbed-in the football, tho Dying Gladiator of Willis Street mtit mated, two weeks, ago that he was. really going to dio. "Neither in sorrow nor m anger;'', ho'gurgled, "I turn for tho third and last time to 'Aristobulus.' " Notmthstanding' this, when the newsboys next emerged • vociferating'^''tie * hurried' commeroialism ■; for. the ■night,' it'iwas disclosed. that,'tiie"Post" was" fisll of "Aristobulus.." :One■ bit: -A-! V ; Posti's Good-byz Autumn tints on a. poisoned tree,,.' • Football cot what it used to be, ■ Joj'eune days of you .and- m»,\ A: Fwtball, .you are doomed'to die. ■ ■ Who is the prophet? Figs! 'Tis-I. Good-byo football, then good-bye. (Bragato.) The gladiator, then, is indeed :dead, ■ and somo degenerate: modern Italian, 1 by the name of Posti, now takes his stand over the sito of the arena with the monkey and the barrel organ. . .Tune.("Posti's hat"). This appeared in the "Post" two weeks ago, and began: When, on the mat You'see a hat , Before you kick Be wary, etc. ' It was then explained, in several .more verses, that, it would be .dangerous to kick the "Post's" hat-becauso there was a stone .underneath,; it; v. But there should -be no need to explain the obvious, i Some j>eoplo keep their intellects under their: hats; those who don't should keep the sad deficiency, to themselves. Tune 2 ("The - names").: 1 Justifying: his weekly, string of "names for good play,' tho signer next ground out tchis:< ; . A 'Ti3 pleasant sure to see one's name in print A.try's no try, if-getter's.name's not in't.; Undoubtedly.- .The. scores and are essential. :i Bat ta bungle up ,the- scores and scorers as tho ."Post" - did in the Petone■■Poneke,valid Oriental-Wellington matches, causes interest to fado m the whole question of football reporting. _ , i Tune 3,("Verite du Posrti'').--Half of 'the signoc's' football column last week' was headed, "A Fantasy," and'the otlier half "A Droam." The signor has at length found the correct headings fof ■ his football column. It has been '"dream" and '"fantasy" for a vory long time, ■ And now let all us join m that sad and -touching '-coster.' song: ; M-Wot's . it all abaowtr" Wot? Well, look' northward, .look southward—it is tho star lof Rugby professionalism flaming acrpss tho heavens. When a "gato'-of 19;000 peoplo, paying 25., 3g., and, 6a. for admission can only return a i total of ~£l2OO (equal to 12,C00 . people at 2s. . each) it is about time for somo conscientious football writer to be u'p and doing. That was. one of tho provincial union's returns \ touching ona of the British test i matolles last year, where .'some spectators went ; through turnstiles : and some didn't. Two officials of the New Zealand'Union 1 told me last year that the governing body held severe discussions over this -matter, but no decision was arrived at. ' The -New ' Zealand Union ought to bo thoroughly ashamed of itself for holding thoße disoussions in camera, And I (" Aristobulus") was humbly trying \.to state, with ,an entirely 'honest pen, ) that the good old; game ' was going, when .tho "Postf' sailed, in and threw its usual cheap-jackism over'the" wholo mattor. Out of thino own mouth will we,judge theo, U foolish "Po.st"! Threo weeks ago the "Post" stated, in two lines, that "football was as- progressive as bookkeeping." But five months ago ithe "Post" devoted one and a quarter columns of its space with the object of showing that tho;game of,: Rugby is going to the dogs.; /The 1 "Post's" football ib like the "Post's'! politics—"fantasy" and ,"dream.'.' ' . . k ~

The following: from the "Weekly Press" ; should be of interest to followers, and' players of the game here: — "The ex-Poneko forward, Shadbolt; who came with, and maintained;; a reputation in i his first game for 1 Merivale, has forfeited his claim by the last two expositions. As a wing-forward the northerner would bo an acquisition to his team, but as a. scrum 'player he does not show to advantage."

There 13 nothing fresh to report in connection with the district scheme,; but ,footbailers are waiting, the trend of events, says a . bunodin writer. ..The,/ sub-committee: ap-, pointed to draw up a frorkablo scheme will experience some difficulty in pleasing players and ':the:public, .'particularly: with- regard to. the defining of the district boundaries.,, This will prove the most difficult part of the undertaking. A rumour , has been circulated: to' the eifect that a motion has'been framed, the eifect of which will Ixi, if passed by the delegates.. to' overthrow the previous' resolution re ..district football. Such on obvious change of front .would serve to confirm a previously expressed optoion that the district, scheme is undesirable";,in 'Duriedin.

Mr. J. G. Schaeffer, .the American, at the reception given him by the New, South Wales Ruguy Union,'said lie was ;taking' baik with him the best of impressions of not only footoall management "in Australia, but of tho control of sport generally. What they had to contend against'in his country, was that football was played only by tho schools and colleges; grown-up men would not risk their necks playing it. ■■■„ At tne dinner to the Queensland team on Saturday, evening (says: the ."Sydney Mail" of; July .7), a pleasing incident, and ono of international importance,' was the presentation of tho ball used in .tho match to Mr. J; G. Schaeffor, who is here on behalf of the University. of California in the interests of Rugby football. Mr. Schaeffer has been in Sydney.about a month, and during that time, has: seized every opportunity of learning tho game,'with the obiect of imparting his knowledge /',to: the students of his Alma Mater. When Mr. Macmanamey was calling upon Mr. Schaeffer /to propose the toast of the referee, he finished his remarks by saying, "Stand up/ Schaeffer,- and take this pass." Mr.l Schaeffer, in proposing the toast of "The Refereo,"; caused some amusemont by saying that the bearing of the crowd towards their official came with considerable surprise to him. The referee hi tho- American game was run off the ground or "cussed" off. Tho university coach struck a reciprocal sentiment, when Ilo.said that he looked forward to tho. time when an American team would bo meeting an Australian.combination on the football fields of Amoriw ; ond Aas- ■. . '■

ASSOCIATION.

(Br Centre-Half.) ' iAU local fixtures wore postponed last Saturday, which gives, up an opportunity of harking back into the paßt, and placing on rooord the doings and tho names of. the doers ivho were tho "socccr" pioneers in New Zealand. i '

The M'ellington Football Association was formed on May 14, 1890. Its first secretary was Mr. A. M. Henderson, and its treasuror, ■Air. A. Henley. Tho. New Zealand Football Association was organised the following yoar, tho first meeting being held in October. It was after tho Wellington-Canterbury representative football match, played on Juno 20, 1891, that the Brown Shield wns first presented. It has sinco represented tho highest honour among tho trophies of the N.Z.F.A. . Tho history of Wellington representative teams in "socoor" matches dates back to 1890. From details compiled by Mr. B. L. Salmon it is found that in August of that year Can : torbury defeated Wellington at Hagloy Park by 2 goals to nil. Tho Wellington team was as follows:—R. Forrest, W. 11. .Day (captain), T. Shields, W. Moorhouse, Sivanson, A. Henderson, Hughes, Valentine, J. Day, Ferguson, Squires,, and A. Henley.' Wellington roversed tho position at Newtown Park in June, defeatiiig Canterbury by ono goal to nil. . Wellington's representatives that year wore: —L; Brown, ,G. Johnson, T. Shields, E. Rushton, H. Gamble, A. Henderson, Lee, P. El. Leslie, J. A. M'Kinnon, AV. Haggor, and Stewart. In October of tho same year a representative team, consisting of , L. Brown, G. Johnson,, W. H. Day, •• E. B. Izard, T. Shields, A. Henderson, J. Valentine, W. Hi Stewart, A. Cuthbert, P.' Leslie, and A. Ferguson,- (rofcroe, A.- E. Gibbs), visited Auckland, and were defeated by . 6 goalß to nil.' Tho following is a brief resume of tho history, of Wellington's successes and failures since then:— :

August 26, 1892.—Wellington (9) v. Canterbury (2), Brown Shield, 'at Wellington team—-Lauchlan, Ireland, Shields, Jacks, Forbes, Auld, Ferguson, .Pbilpotts-, Hailwood, Slowaft; and Izard. , ■ August 127, 1892.—Wellington (6) v. Otago (2), final, at ■ Christchurch. Wooldridgo replaced Auld, , • - i ■ , August 24, 1893—Auokland (2) v. Wellington (1), Brown Shield, at Petono. team—Jacks, Shields, Muir,' Forbes, Johnson, Richardson, Mi Fraser, Philpotts, Hailwood, Wooldridge, and Ferguson, September,!, 1894.—Canterbury (7) v. Wellington (4), Brown Shield final. Wellington team—Hcusiaux, Shields, .Gibbs,. Abbott, Court Boy, Richardson, Fraser, ■ Hill, Hailwood, Bannister, and Glover 1 ; August 29, 1895.—Auokland, (2) v. Weilington (0), Brown Shield, at Auckland. Wellington team—Smith, Shields, Auld, Richardson, Heafford, Gaffiblo, Ferguson, Glover, Hailwood, M'Donald, and Plendorleith. ; ; ;;'.' i .: < • ■■■";■.>..} ' ■ September 5, 1896.'—Auckland (3) v.' Wellington (0), at'Newtown Park. Wellington team—Smith,; Auld, Pettigrow, Hawthorne, Hailwood, Godber,'Fraser, Hailwood, Macdonald, Plenderleith, and Thomas. September 12, 1896.—Auckland (2) v. Wellington (1), in Otago, Brown Shield final. Wellington team; as .above, except that Abbott replaced one of the Hailwoods; September 11, 1897i—Ituahino (2) v. Wellington (0), Bcgwn Shield. Wollington teamSmith, Lee, /J.; Hailwood,' Barclay, Abbott, O'Connor, Forkihs, Thomas, C. Hailwood,' Williams, and Wella.

September 14, 1898,—Wellington '(6) v. Ruahine (I).' September 17> 1895.-r-Auck-land (3) v..' Wellington,- (1).„ . . Wellington team—C. , Berntsen,; F. J. Courtn y, H. LGodbor,- F. G.'Master, W. Taylor, .W. Kerr, M. Frasor, A.' Henderson, C.AF. . Arundel, F. ,H. William?, F. Ferkins. Both matches were played at the Athletic Park

! September .15, 1900.—Wellington (8) iv. Otago (2), at: Petono. * Wellington team — Burns, Borntson, B. Swain. 1 H. Godber,. HA. Renai, J. Paton,. B. Clark, A. Wells, M. - Frasor, R; Sennett, P. Martin, and I< Williams' '

Septembor 20, 1900.—Auckland (6) y- 'V lington Q). at Auckland: Avollington teamBurns, Godbor,: Swain; Clark, Paton. Ronai, Mouat,; M'Donald, Collins, AVells, ana Martm. , ' ;|1 :

August 25, 1901.—-.Wellington (2) v.' Auckland (1). Wellington .team—Fitzgerald, Renai, White, i. .Godber,',;.'.Clarke,: Hawkins, Wells,. Smolue, Sennett, Johnson, and Hale, : Soptomber 4, 1901.—Wellington (1) v. Auckland (0), at Athletic Park. Wellington team—Fitzgerald, H, Renai. White, Godber, Clarke, Phillips, : Hall, , Wjjils, i.'; Fraser, Mouat, and E! Ilenai. ; • .

1902—Otago (3), Wellington (1), at Carisbrook. • Wellington—Fitzgerald, White, H. Renal, E. . Ronai. Nagle, Taylor, Wells, Smollie,' Brodie, Hathaway, and Morrison.' i 1903—(Wellington (4),. Auckland (1), at Miramar. Wellington—Fitzgerald,' J, '. T. Amies, ,H. R-enai, E. Renai, B. Clark, M'Whannol, W. .Mouat, F;- Wjlliama, G. W, Phillips, A. Mouat, and W. Mawson. A ~l9o3—Wellington (3), Otago (1), at Athletic Park. The Wellington team was ,the same as the previous one,; except thiat Ro berts replaced H. Renai. A ■ 1904—Wellington (6), Canterbury (0), at Polo Grounds, Wellington-7-Webster. Clapham, White, :E. 'Renai,'Clark, M'Whannel, Mouat (2), Godber,- Williams, and Ji Ready. 1904—Wellington (2), New South. Wales (1), Athletic ;Park. Wellington—Webster, Roberts, Amies, M'Whamiol, 'B. Clark, Taylor, F. D. Wilson, .Cunningham, Mouat, and .Reddy. : : 1905 v. New Zealand team for Now South Wales, on 'Athletic Park,. Won.

1906 v. Taranaki. l Won. V ■ ■. 1906 v. Auckland. 'Won. . 1 ; 1907 rv. English M.G.C: Team (March) Lost 5-0. . • ■ ■

1907 v. Taranaki, at Auckland. Won. . 1907 v.--Auckland, at Auckland. -Lost. 1907 v. Canterbury, at Polo Ground, Miramar. . Won' 5-2. ; ■' r ■ 1 1 ,-1908 v., Taranaki, at Dunedin.' Won. ■ 1908 v. Otago, at Dunedin. iWon. 1909 v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. Won 3-2. . .._ . .; I-. 1909 v. Taranaki, . at , Newtown Park. Won 5-2. '

Those ■ who undertook the introduction of Association football *iiito : Wellington experienced far greater difficulties than they at first anticipated, says Mr. A.. M. Henderson, dealing with the early history of the game. Firstly, those ' who knew ' the' game were; mostly old players from Home, and had in most instances given up' playing altogether,! and the new recruits never having seen a; Same placed, were very slow picking up .the practicalvpart of it. Thero is no doubt that some of the- early performances to which the public Wore treated .were exceedingly comical.,; Secondly, it. was found; impossible to.obtain the usoiof a- suitable ground. . The' Melrose paddock, situated on the /side of' a hill, which was utterly useless for dribbling, was the only, one available at that time, add this could only be obtained' on ' every other | Saturday,' It was sub-leased to the associa,tion by the Melrose F.C. up ' For a few weeks during the season of ;1889 the Association players (Rovers), were allowed the use: of 'the Wellington' College ground. Thirdly; the chief difficulty of all, at any rate for the, first .two or three seasons, was : the fact that; when the new season was about to be started it was found that the majority of the, previous year's l players had either left Ltho colony'Or had been transferred'to other districts. After several preliminary meetings the first club, the Rovers, was formed on ■ April 3,. 1889, and the first match '.-was. played 011 Stay 24 between • the Scotch and English members, the former, winning by two goals to ono, Tho return match was placed on August 31 ; , the Scotch again coming off victorious by' three goals to nil. The Wanderers Club was formed, at Petone at the end of May, and the first: match between tlie two clubs came off on the: college ground 011 June 8, the Wanderers winning By two goals to nil. In all, five matches were played between tho two clubs during the 1889 soason, tho Rovers winning one only, two being drawn> and two won by tho Wanderers. Towards the middle, of' the' season thero was some trouble in the Rovers' camp, As all the players icoiild not v tako part in tho matches, those who were left out expressed dissatisfaction, and hinted that the lwst team was not always picked. A special general meeting was held bn August 10, and a motion, to ,split up and form another club, which "would have solved tho difficulty, wafi lost, owing chiefly to the fact that .very few wore found willing to leavo the parent club. It was agreed that a accond eleven should be formed, which had so far had the desirod Affect of patching up tho affair, but it was not auita.fi euccosa, 1 ■

Tho season of 1890, bo far as tho city waß conoerned, started very well. Tho sccond club, "Queen's Park," was formed on April 9. But unfortunately the Wanderers did not oome up to tho scratch, and nothing was heard of them until quite tne end of tho season. The fa.iluro of the Petone men to form was simply owing to tho neglect on tho part of tho officers of tho club, and in consequence of their apathy the W.F.A. was obliged to content itself for the first season with only two clubs. The-first step aftor the formation of the Queen's Park Club was the formation of the Wellington Football Association, which took place on May 14. Tho matches played' during the season wero hardly so interesting as those of 1889. Only ono match was played between the two clubs, and that took placo on Juno 21, resulting in a win for the Hovers by two goals to nil. One international match; England v. Scotland, was-played, which resulted in a draw aftor a splondid game. Each side scored ono goal. Stewart, the famous Dumbarton back, was playing for Scotland, and his performance was much admired by tho spectators. About tho middle of June a club was formed at Christchurch, and in August Wellington scut a team south to play thorn. The match came off on Hagloy Park on August 16. Canterbury won by two goals to nil. A roturn match was to have been played, but owing to „thc labour difficulty it was considered advisable to postpone the event, as although ,tbo visitors wero promised a punctual delivery in Wellington it was considered vory uncertain on what date they would have' been ablo to return. •

The opening of the season of 1891 was marked by much greater enthusiasm than tho two previous ones had been. The two city clubs started well, with big meetings, and large mustors at tho practice games, and oven the Wanderers, although they did not form properly until late in the soason, were occasionally heard of. The prospect of aq early visit from the Canterbury representatives no doubt accounted i for this. Tho first match of the season, Scotland v. England, ,tooki placo on. the ooDoge f ground on May 25, the former winning by two goals to oho, after a very fast game. Then came tho event of tho season, the first interprovincial match in-Wellington.; The local players had been looking for this'with keen, interest, and all things. considered the affair was a success, . both financially and as regards tho play. But very few were aware that at the last moment Canterbury endeavoured to ory off the matoh, and it'was only after an urgent appeal from Wellington that they decided to come up to the scratch. It is no use'speculating as to what would have been the t result-had match not been played, but almost certain it ,is that Mr. Brown would not have presented his magnificent trophy, and as most of the subsequent movements of the various associations have been made in suoh .close connection with that generous gift,, it is only to suppose that the game would have received a check from which its supporters;would have'found great difficulty tin recovering. - The .Canterbury.. Association was all butr dead, Auckland was quite so, and; Wellington' was beginning to exhibit signs of flagging. However the match did come, off, on; Newtown Park, on June 20, and although Wellington had a goqd deal the .best of the play, they only managed to win by one goal to nil. After the match the Canterbury men, were' entertained at a smoke concert at the Albert Hotel, and it was then that Mr. J. Brown made his offer to present his trophy. Daring the evening Messrs. L.' Harper (Christchurch) and A. Henderson' (Wellington) were appointed a committee to make arrangements re acceptance, which they completed on. June 23. Towards the end of July, Mr. C. Dacre made a successful effort to revive the game in Auckland, and invited the W-F..A. ( to .send a team there, to. givo them a lift. . Wellington agreed to do this, and the match was played on October 10. Auckland' won by six; goals to nil." The Wellington'men, with the exception of Guy Johnson, made a very poor show in this matoh! The Wellington season had closed some weoks beforo tne team went north; and the men wero consequently very much out of condition. They, played. the same day they arrived,'after having beeriiat 'sea for two daysj the majority having eaten, next .to nothing during -the .voyage,,- and lastly, the heat, of the sun seemed to, have'. taken the

life; out of .-'them. s Mter : a ; match with the Canterbury. representatives,', at a meeting of the council of the W.F.k. 'on July 6, it was resolved); time had arrived for tho formation of the'"New " Zealand Football, Association," and the secretary was instructed to -take the necessary steps, in the matter.;.. This resulted in the fol'low.hg dele-, gates being appointed by tho various associations I :—Auokland,' Mr. Gibbons; Wellington, Mr. A. Henderson ; Canterbury, Mr. L. Tripp; Otago; Mr.-P. D. Leslie.; The first meeting was hold on October '3,' at 1 which the N.Z.F.A. was formed'. Messrs. Leslie and Henderson were instructed to frame tho rules of the association and of the trophy competition. This took some considerable time and trouble, and it was not until tlie end' of November that-their 'wort was complete'and, had been passed by the delegates and the various associations. • ;