NO SENIOR FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 13 April 1916, Page 6

NO SENIOR FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION'S DECISION ALL ELIGIBLE MEN BARRED i ■ A general meeting of the Wellington Football Association was held last evening to discuss the advisability or otherwise of playing senior grades of football this year. Mr. J. J. Roberts, who presided, said tliat' the meeting was held for the plirposo of framing a recommendation to the management committee as to' whether first, seoond, or third division football should be played. Mr. A. E. Wells, chairman of - the management committee, in explaining the reasons for calling the meeting, eaid that it was originally intended to discuss this question at the. annual meeting of' tho Association. On account •of the small attendance, however, it was resolved to hold a special general meeting for the purpose. An expression from the players was wanted. The management committee did not want it tobe said that they 'were afraid to tackle the question. It was purely a matter for the players, and by holding a meeting they would also obtain'the opinion or men_ who had now retired from active participation in the game. . Mr. _T. Thompson ■ (Brooklyn) said that his club was against playing senior, junior, or third division football this year.- Personally he was not against third division football, provided no players over ,20 years of age were allowed to play. All men eligible for military servioe should be barred. If the committee tried to get games going for munition workej-s they would find it a. failure. These men are working at -high pressure, and cannot afford the-time. Mr. Jas Patonj ex-chairman of the U.F.A., .and a returned soldier, said that'no jjlayer who is eligible for military service should be considered. All present had the Soccer game at heart, i-but what was wanted now wa<s' soldiers, not footballers.

Mr. H. M'Keowen, vice-president, said that no man over the age of 20. years should he allowed to play football unless he was medically unfit. In his opinion , there were several, important industries;, at which, men were working which we're just as important as munition workers, and some provision should bo made for them.

L 7e^s i. chairman of the n .I'.A., held the opinion that no senior or. junior football should be played- this season. He moved: "That no grade higher than third division be played, and that no unmarried man eligible' for enlistment shall be allowed to play football under the auspices of the W.F.A. during the 1916 season' unless he can show cause.',' Mr; J. J. Roberts seconded the motion.

The last part of the resolution—"unless he can show just- cause"—did not meet with the approval of several present. Mr. Paton said that 'the words opened up a big question. In liis opinion there ghotild be no exemption's at. all. "There are eligible men," he said, "in positions to-day who, it is said, cannot go to the front. This idea Jsl a 'l wrong. Their places could be well filled by married men if employers were patriotic."

Mr. Ross, director of the Boys' Institute, spoko strongly against any attempt to play any senibr football. When one remembered the number of our men whojhad given up their , lives in this crisis it seemed a shame that- football should even be thought of. "Think of the parents of the boys who have gone. What will they think of thi- men seen playing football this season?" ho said in conclusion.

Subsequently Mr. Ross moved, the following amendment"That. no player bs allowed to participate in-.football under the auspices of the Wellington, Football Association who was over, the age of 20 years on April 1, 1916." Mr. Paton : That's the -proper way. I second that."

On the motion and amendment being put,to tho meeting, the motion wasdeclared carried.