ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

(BY Centhk-HAW.) ; As a result of tho series; of matches played last Saturday, Swifts aro still at tho head of the list, with 19 championship points, Y.M.0.A., who liavo played one match 'ess than: the leaders,, being second with , 17 points, piamonds; who -wero at tho top oi tho list a, few weeks ago, aro now occupying third position, With 15 points to credit. The Swifts-Diamond fixture .. was expected .to produce a good display of football, buS 'the . expectation Was : not realised. When these two teams mot in the first round, Swifts, won aftor a hard battle, but tho Diamond supporters were ' not altogether satisfied with , the ■ result, and predicted a different ending to the next matoh. As it turned out the gamo was a long way below the average, and resulted in; an easy victory for Swifts by 5 to 1. Swifts did liot o'ay a good game, but Diamonds played shockingly, and appeared to be lifeless after Taylor injured , his knee early in the first spell. Tho Swifts also had bad luck, Saunders being crippled, by a kick on the kneecap. Tlio losers might have reduced., their- opponents',lead in , the ' second, spell, but wretched,. shooting spoiled numerous open chances, .-'...' -

There has been trouble in the referees' camp of lato, but. matters liavo,: now beeu smoothed put, and appear to be in satisfactory ' working order again. , , . tfhe matter of the selection of a refereo for to-day's match has been tho subject-of somo discussion this week.. The names , of .the eligible referees included: Messrs. ■ Paton, Ma;i>er,' : arid the selectors of',, tho Wcllitigton team, and Mr. Wood; tho Canterbury.: delegato. to-the: N.Z. Council. : Mr. Wood was, selected as the Tefqree for the match, and he is no doubt as good a referee as there .is in Wellington, but, at the same time,' there aro four or' live others equally capable. . The. point raised in-.Some quarters is that Mr.-Wood, being the visiting association's. delegate, and ■ already ; , having \' contrdlled the Taraniiki-Wellington , match, should bavo .stood down ill favour of : some other refproe. However, Mr. Wood was selected - on the vote of the N.Z. ..Council,, but I. agree with those who. Urge that Patori, v and Miiy'er all,hare claims, more especially considering tho Work 'tliey have done on behalf of the-pan;e." In this ,-aartifiUlar inataiw» A _a4,ia_out»ttoiefer6e

oould not bo procurod on account of the oxpotiso, it wna an not of oourtosy to the visitors to appoint tlioir delegate to control the inatoli.

Tho following, list of offences, together with tlio minimum tonus of disqualification to which plnycrs connected, with tho N.S.W. Football Association nro liable, may bo of interest :—Alnisiv«, threatening, insulting, or obsooiu) language to referee, players, or association, oll'ieials, four matches. Dictating to tlio referee, one, match.. Dough play, four matches, Deliberately kicking an opponent, twelvo nioiiths. Interfering' with the progress' of any , match, two months. Striking, or inciting a player to strike, tivelvo months. Striking a referee,-twelve months. Players leaving tlio Hold , without permission of roforeo during tho progress of. a match, twelve months. . . Tho abovo code of penalties is administered by a committee of thrco termed the Protests ami Disqualification, Committee, which collects evidence and fixes tho term of disqualification, if any. Tin) Council of tlio Association is thus relieved of tho trouble whioh ail inquiry nccwsiirily involves, mid tho ordinary business is Hot interfejed with. In .tiieso days of depression, wlicn so much is heard of declining dividends, many will wish thoy had shares in the Glasgow Celtic Football Club, Limited, whoso profits for tho past season pliable tho -directors to declare a.dividend,.of ss. per pound. Tho income from all sources amounted to £17,214, including n balance from hist year of £2221, rind,is made up of tlio following -items:— Leaguo matchcs £C 3.'38, Glasgow Cup ties £3515, Scottish Cup ties, £2898, 'friendly fixtures £378, sports and hiro of (trouild ,£IG3S. Players' wages ciiino to • £1)005,. aliarus of gates' to other, clubs' £'1038, and ground maintenance £2413, In nil,' 5G matches weto played' last season, of ; which 86 wore wonj 12 drawn, 8 lost;- goals for'l2s, • against 51.. On itwonty-two occasions Adams!s goal was kept intact, and only oil six occasions did Celts fail to scoto—against St. Mirren, 3rd Lanark,' Clydo (twice),- Airdriconialts, and Hibernians. Altogether, .tlio r'oiwrfc is a monumeait to the potentialities , of. the Celtic Club. In Scotland there, are no financial limitations in reference to players, dividends, or any other money matters. Thus the..Celtic can pay 25 per cent.,.whilo Everton can' only pay 5 jier cent'.. Yot we are told that English football is purely- commercial! —"Athletic Now 3." ;...

The Corporation ot Glasgow .has been served with a Sheriff Court summons dt the instance of the Queen's Park Football Club, in\, which th(s latter claim the, sum of £1600 in respect of damage alleged. to have been done to: their, property at' Hampden Park on the occasion of the riot which took place there on ; April 17,'. The summons has been served' to lceepHlio niatter. open; because under the Statute such 'a claim must bo brought into .Court within one month after the 'occurronco to . which 'it - refers. ■ It was, however,; agreed' to'hold-'.a--conference, with, all the parties interested—tho-Queen's'Park Football Club,'.the 'Scottish Football '.Association, and the Celtic and Hangers' Football Clubs—ahd discuss ■ the whole matter. ■ ,111 the meantime; the corporation has entered appcaranco in the Court as; defenders.";.