ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[By Centre-half.]

FOREWORD ON THE SEASON,

Hope—Last Jewel in Pandora's Box. Prospects for tho coming football season look exceedingly bright. Never in the annals of the game in tho Wellington province have things looked so well, and it behoves all interested in the game to put their shoulders to the wheel to work. Last year saw a most successful season, not onfy from the membership and club point of view, but from the general advance mado throughout the whole of the Australasian provinces. The Growth in Wellington. Tako Wellington alone. In 1910 there wero 1222 players registered with the local Association, and last year this number increased to 1102—an increaso of 180 players. This" did not include players operating under the Boy Scouts and schools competition. There were 80 teams in the Wellington district last year, and uOO teams playing the game in tho Dominion. This year (according to entries received at the last meeting of the W.F.A.) thero is. every appearanco of these records being eclipsed. Entries for tho various competitions were coming in good, and last Wednesday evening, on account of the late-comers, it was decided (o extend the closing date until 5 p.m. oil Monday, April 15. Up till the time of writing tliere were 10 senior teams entered, with a likelihood of two more to come. W.F.A.'s New Committee. Tho opinion has been freely expressed that those who constitute the present Management Committee aro some of the best that have ever held seats oil that body. The new men arc keen, willing workers, with the welfare of flic Association gamo at heart, and the older members who were returned at the last election have been tried in the fire and havo not. been found wanting. Taken on tlio whole the present committee is one of the best that has been elected, and given a fair chance they should put forward and carry out one of the most progressive policies thai has ever been presented ill the Wellington province. In their chairman (Mr. IT. M'Keowon), the Association has a tactful, businesslike man who knows how to handle a meeting. He is quite impartial in his ruliivjs and gels through the business speedily. This is. not saying that things are done in a slipshod manner or hustled through without disi;u«sion. Discussion on the various matters brought up for eonsid«'flliwi is nlloivwl in full, but under Mr. M'Kcowen's guidance no unnecessary talkinsr is indubwl in. One is pleased to see .Mr. A. Williams, the veteran secretary, aeain in ofiice. and iho genial treasurer (Mr. W. Duncan) is again the "Minister for Finance." These two combine and work together well, and Ihe Association is fortunate in having their servires for another season.

With tho number of players playing the, gamo here, thero is likely to bo a few rlifagrMincnta thit season, but lot us bop?

that theso will be few and far between. Last season we wero particularly fortunate in this respect, but if they do happen it is t'luuiKht that there is a body of men now in power who will rope with Ilic ti'oublis in a strong and determined milliner, but Willi justice to all. Our New Ground. After much waiting and a lot of talking', Runetlung definite was accomplished last i-vason which stands as a memorial to the men who first undertook tho mmiagemen'.l: of "Soccer" football in the Wellington province. Tim Association has at last got u ground of its own, and quite rernntly the new company was registered. Tho directors are all wellknown business men of Wellington, who have the interest of the- Association' game at heart. Already the ground has been purveyed, and levels taken, and it is the intention of the Board of Directors to call for tenders Tor preparing the five acres in South ICil'birnie immediately. It was Jioped that the ground will be ready by the end of this season. .On inquiry, howover, it was ascertained that no games would bo played there this season, but it is anticipated that tho opening of tho 19U season will take placc on the new grouiul. A Word on Brown Shield Matches. A word regarding Brown Shield matches would not be out of placc here. Seeing that it is expedient for tho iW.F.A. to put tlio most attractive games on at Kilbirnie, it behoves our representatives to do their utmost to win the Brown Shield this year, in order to havo good repre- , scntative games at home next year. Another suggestion that might be put forward is tho introduction of interproyincial club matches. Say, for instance, it were a case of the ■winners of the Canterbury or Auckland club competitions against onr local chamnious. If it could lie managed, "onr locals" should endeavour to travel this season. This would very likely ensure a visit from several teams next 6oason when the new ground is available for play. Conference at Sydney. One of tho outstanding features in connection with Association football last year was tho Australasian Conference which was held at Sydney on December 15, IG. and 21. At the outset it can be said that New Zealand led tlio way, and the other Associations followed, for" at the initial meeting it Was agreed that "the agenda paper submitted by New Zealand forms a basis of deliberations at conference. Delegates wero to be allowed to add any other matter they may deem relevant to proceedings." The outcome of this conference was the formation of the' Commonwealth Football Association, consisting of the West Australian, South Australian, Victorian. Tasmanian. Queensland, and New South Wales Associations. New Zealand did not join in with this body, which was the outcome of a suggested Board of Control for Australasia. Mr. B. L. Salmon. Xcw Zealand delegate, in declining, stated that it was the intention of the Dominion management to nrcservo an individual national aspect, as in other sports matters. At the_ conference «i motion was tabled by the New- Zealand delegate relative to a visit by an English team, and it was decided that tho C.F.A. and the N.Z.F.A. should co-operate and initiate nroceedincs by communicating with the Footbo.<« Association, per medium of the Australasian representative, in England, Mr. A. E. Gibbs. No Blind Eye for Boys' Football. One is glad to notice that special notice was taken of boys' football at this conference; Every member present had something to say on the matter, and as it was at the annual general meeting of the Wellington Fflotball Association, it was decided to push boys' football along for all it is worth. The men who have control of Association football in Australasia at the present time have realised this point—that it is from your boys and junior players that futuro senior players come. Therefore, they hold, nurse your juniors.