ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

[Br "Centkk-Half."!

PERSONAL AND GENERAL NOTES. Dressing Accommodation. That vexed question—dressing accommodation at Jliriiniur—cumo up fur discussion at last Wednesday's meeting uf tliii Wellington Football Association, a letter being received irom a club. Considerable -.iIL-cussion ensued. Mr. Walls held thai, through the courtesy of residents ami others in the vicinity of Ilio Association's grounds nl .Miramar, players had ample dressing accommodation on or near tho grounds. Mr. .1. Lewis strongly opposed this contention. A now" member oi the committee opened tho discussion by remarking that a shed should be erected on the grounds, and he gave suggestions as to how he thought tho work could Uα carried out in a comparatively inexpensive way. The outcome was that a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. J. Lewis, C. H. Dick, and the move'r of tho proposition, bo formed. This committeo will inquire into tho whole thing, personally visit the grounds, and draw up a report which will bo submitted to tlio next meeting of tho Management Committee. Perhaps players who go out to Miramar will receive satisfaction at last. Miramar Tram Service. Last season tho City Corporation used its best endeavour to meet the requirements of Association football players at Miramar in regard to tram services and accommodation, but this year the reverse seems to be the case. At last Wednesday's meeting of the Wellington Football Association, complaint was made that there were practically no cars at Miramar to bring players back to town at tho conclusion of matches. It was said that ono team did not reach the city until nearly 7.15 p.m. This stato of affairs was due to tho fact that the special cars which were so much in evidence last season were non est on Saturday.- It was said that practically all the rolling stock available had been diverted to Athletic Park. Of course, this is not as it should be. Association players to tho number of 19S journeyed to. Miramar last Saturday, besides which there were officials awl referees, 4»nd others, all of whom suffered inconvenience. Many' players and supporters (sooner than wait nearly an hour for a car) walked to Kilbirnie and came into town from there. It must bo remembered, also, that other games are played at Miramar, besides Association football, and these enthusiasts suffered inconvenience as well. Oho would think that the Miramar Borough Council would take the matter up, seeing that it is that body that is loosing revenue. The City Corporation loose practically nothing, because 'they catch tho players and supporters at Kilbirnie, as already stated. With the object of getting better conditions than the existing ones, the secretary of the Wellington Football Association was instructed to write to Hie town clerk of the Miramar Borough Council, pointing out the state of the existing tram service to Miramar on Saturday afternoons. ' Our School Teams. Judging. by the play in the opening matches of the school competition, there are four teams who are going to make a big bid for the Thistle Cup—Marist (Tasman Street), South Wellington, Marist (Hawkestone Street), and Thorndon (A). Northland played well against the redoubtable Marist -Brothers, especially Shapcott, and Eton, a small boy who always seemed to bo where the ball was, and who caused a great deal of amusement to the spectators by his fearless tackling of big or little opponents. Some of tho footwork by the Marist Brothers' forward was very good, especially that of Mooney and Ryan. F. Thomas is still playing his usual dashing game for his old team, Brooklyn Fifth A, who are only one point behind Institute for the championship. Marshall, the Fifth,, Division representative captain of last year', is doing yeoman service as centre-half for Marist Brothers (A), and, with Thomas, should certainly get a place, again if the Fifth Division representative team is wanted this year. Some Stray Notes. It was mentioned at the annual meeting of tlie New Zealand Football Association that Poverty Bay had four senior and 'our junior teams playing the game in Gisborne this year. This is an increase of five teams since last season. Thero ,ara already four challenges in for the Brown Shield matches this season. Poverty Bay, Wanganui, Wellington, aud Otago have made application in the order named. It is probable that Southland will enter a challenge also. All "soccer" boys will be pleased to learn that through the instrumentality of Mr. C. C. Dacre, of the Auckland lootball Association, in approaching his Excellency, Lord Islington, he has kindly consented to allow the boys in the fifth and sixth divisions to play on tho Metropolitan Ground, Auckland, after the end of this month. Through his Excellency's kindness the association will now be able to concentrate all its boys' matches on one ground. Mr. C. C. Dacre, who has been an enthusiast of "soccer" for very many years, is still working to make the (jaiue progress. Ho hns just procured the sanction of the owner of a large area, consisting of 22 acres of the Bayswater Estate, Auckland, for "soccer" to be played on his property for a term of years, and it now rests with the local executive to say whether tho proposal is a suitable one. Mr. Dacre started the first "soccer" team in Auckland, and ever since has shown a lively interest for the game. Mr. lleighway, who has joined the executive of the Auckland Football Association, has been a hard worker in the interests of the game in the northern city. For a term or two he was chairman of the executive, as well as treasurer during Wellington's visit to Auckland in 1907. At present he is trustee for the ground fund. Sad, to be sure! At last Wednesday's meeting of the Wellington Management Committee a letter was received from the Auckland Association, in which it was stated that the latter body regretted not being_ able to send a fifth division team to Wellington this season. It was mentioned that there were four more boys' teams taking part in the competitions than had been the csise last year. In Mr. C. P. Skerrett the Wellington Football Association have secured a very good president.. EeceJitly- ho forwarded a letter, asking in which way he could assist the iis-ociation, and n. member of the Management Committee had an interview with him this week, which ended very satisfactorily. To-day all cup fixtures liavo been postponed on account of the military parade which is to be, held i'li preparation of the "big event" on the King's Birthday. A senior representative trial match is to be played on tho Kelbnrne Park this afternoon, however, and no doubt this will give the three selectors (Messrs. Godl>cr, Paton, and Yooinan) plenty of food for thought.