ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

AN APPEAL AND ITS SEQUEL.

(Bt Centre-Hal?.)

Appeals and Appeal Boards. Tho question of an appeal by Johnson from his suspension by the Wellington Football Association was raised at Tuesday night's meeting of the New Zealand Councils The Auckland Football Association asked why they had not been notified of the suspension of tho player in question. The secretary said he had not forwarded notification, as the case was really subjudice, owing to the appeal. A discussion then took place as to whether it was wise for local associations to set up appeal boards in view of the fact that the New Zealand Footbal) Association had the light, of final decision on all matters pertaining to Association football in tUe Dominion. Sir. lioberts, the chairman, considered that the council, being the highest power, should be the only body to whom an appeal should be made. It was pointed out also that the council had the light to Overrule; in fact it did so last season in the now historic case, .Swifts v. St. John's. The position at present clearly is that.Johnfon's appeal is in order according to the Wellington rules, hat out of ordeT according to the Mow Zealand Football Association rules. Mr. White was strongly in favour of , local associations .being allowed to set up appeal boards, as such local boards would have a better knowledge of the case than the New Zealand Football Association. The chairman, however, mentioned that the Wellington Association in its new rules was proposing to drop the clause referring 10 .wpcals, and the discussion then ended. In the matter of Johnson's appeal the inference is that Johnson has appealed on the grounds of Hall's sentence. How can one player be allowed to appeal on the grounds of another player's suspension, oven though the suspensions have arisen out of the same matter? It was surely a weak-kneed policy on the part of the local committee to send suoh an appeal tu an appeal lioanl. Tlie board's reply as received at WeJnofday night's meeting stated the opinion that according to the evidence the sentences on both players should have been the same. What will happen now? Either Hall will be suspended for the rest of the season, in which case he is bound., 'in appeal, or Johnson will have his sentotioe reduced, in which case no doubt a higher authority will step in. Either way ib farcical. Swifts Defeat. Swifts were beaten badly by the superior combination of the Diamonds team on' Saturday last. It is a pity lhat tho w«arers of the block shirts did not assert themselves earlier in tho season. If such had been the case, tho positions of teams at tho top of th« list, one renturcs 10 say, would have been reversed somewhat. A noticeable feature of the match was Die ivny W. Roberts (captain) shouted his instructions to his men, and the Swifts' skipper would do well to hike a loul' out of his book. Coming to individual members of the teams, Putrick, in goal, was good, and managed to bring 011 some fine saves. The two full-backs both played well. The halves combined together ' perfectly. 01' the trio special mention should bo niadu of Koberts, his placing to the forwards and defensive piny being excellent. Coming to the for-

wards, one must compliment them un their splendid combination and uttack. All worked well, but sptciul mention should bo made of Reddy (centre-forward) and Ball and Lowe, the two left-wingers. Swifts' forwards were all at sen. They would do bolter without grounds. Mathieson is decidedly in want of training, but knows tho game well. Scott is decidedly off this season, and Vessey did not get many chances. He was well watched oij Saturday. Of tho half-backs, Kirschberg could not do anything right, nttd was beaten for the ball on many occasions when he should have got it away. Graves played a hard game in the second half, but should use hia head to better udvuiitage. Guise .was fair. J. Pye-Smith was distinctly off on Saturday, Wilson, for a wonder, showing to better advantage than his clubmate. M'Lean, in goal, gave a fnir exhibition of keeping, but on one or two occasions took risks. On the whole, Swifts thoroughly desiirved their defeat, and if they play many more games like that on Saturday they will certainly not win the Charity Cup. "Soccer" In the Waikato. Recently a conference of clubs inteiesteil in Associatio'n football was held in Hamilton, and it was decided to form a Waikato Football Association, und to affiliate irith tho New Zealand Football Association. Tho boundaries of the new association are as follow:—Jroin Mercei to Te liuiti on tho Main Trunk line, from t'rankton to Thames, and from Morriusville to Tirau (including Cambridge districts). The colours decided upon are white shirta with blur Hashes uiid< na/y blue knickers. The secretary at present is Mr. J. O'Carady, Hamilton. One thing that is likely to mitigate against the progress of 'soccer" in this district is the distance between the various club centres and the unsuitable train arrangements, 'which will necessitate clubs ti aveliing thirty or forty miles two out of every three weeks. Stray Notes. A Referees' Association has just been lurmed in Southland. Patrick, Olympic player, kept goal for Diamonds on Saturday, and his presence between the posts saved not a few' awkward situations.. The less said about the V.M.C.A,' match at the Basin Reserve on Saturday the better. It was not football, but the players had a most difficult ground, soggy, and slippery. T. Sim Ids, um. ol "soccer's" best friends, donned the shirt on Wednesday, and played a solid game as right,full-back for Unions. He is not so young as he was, but he was quite good enough to satisfy Unions. Dug Hunter, the redoubtable lock of tho Foncke Rugby team, has been having a quiet flirtation with "soccer" this season. His attentions of late have been most marked. Dug is a good "soccer" player, and if the Rugby-Hunter divorce proceedings come off, the "soccer" world will rejoice. ,