THE EARLY DAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 20

THE EARLY DAYS

DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME

Reminiscences of Soccer in early , Wellington are given by Mr. Harry McKeowen, one-time secretary of the W.F.A.,. in Mr. Alf. Williams 's history of the game in Wellington. "Before we reached the age of reason, entitling us to a game on a playing pitch," said Mr. McKeowen, "we used the City Corporation streets as our playing grounds, and being Thorndonites our rendezvous was Tinakori Eoad. Our boundaries consisted of the kerbing for touch, whilst kerosene tins kindly leiit by a neighbouring Chinaman did duty as goal-posts. We played sometimes under a referee, but mostly we had to do without the services of that gentleman. A fireboll happened to be situated in the1 vicinity, and as each goal was registered the fact was announced to the neighbours by a ring of the bell. The bell-ringer had strict instructions to give no more than one pull of the rope lest the Fire Brigade, should helmet themselves, pull out the hand-cart and rush over oar road of play, bound for nowhere. "The width of the road was not in accordance with the size stipulated in the rule-book, but that loss was made up for by increasing the length so that whilst a speedy forward was careering towards Hill Street his goalkeeper would bo 'doing the heavy' with some of the belles who resided near the Botanical Gardens. . "Like the policeman in the 'Pirates of Penzance,' our lot was not a happy one, .but unfortunately it was a man in blue who caused us so much anxiety. He was just an ordinary constable, but he seemed to have extraordinary powers, inasmuch as he would suspend a game, use threatening language, (which to us would be a violation of the rules), and eventually order us off the road. He would not listen to an argumeut, so we left him with a fair field and asked no favours but simply moved on. That movo was a good one, as it laid the foundation for the building of Soccer in AVellington. "With Bob Davenport as our"philosopher and guide we sought fields aud pastures new, and wandered towards the Manawatu Reclamation, known familiarly as the 'Ecc' "To write of the 'Ecc' conjures many a pleasant and unpleasant memory. We found the (Eec.' in possession of muddied oafs who kicked an egg-shaped ball, but when wo saw them pulling human flesh' about and bouncing one another on the ground, we thought they must bo some kind of aboriginal savage. When we showed timidity of approach we were enlightened by a lounging onlooker that it was only a game called Eugby. Cautiously we went to one end of the ground, and as very little playing nrea was available we could just manage to get a kick in. "Bob Davenport, who was more clear-headed than the rest of us, suggested cutting down the fennel alongside the fence so as to make a playing pitch. The following Saturday sa^w us at work, some with table knives and pocket knives, some with tomahawks, and others, with axes. Like the pioneers wo blazed the track, and managed to squeeze in twenty a-side. I might say that the scoring was heavy, 19 goals being registered during the game. "Of course our ball often found its way into the Eugby camp, and the expletives used by them absolutely shocked pur youthful and innocent minds. Nothing daunted,we stood our ground. Wo cleared the ground of fennel, and stole a few yards of Eugby territory each Saturday. We erected goalposts from timber the property of —well never mind who were the owners. Wo invested in multi-coloured shirts and real football boots, and we became cheeky and played matches before the Eugby games took place. "At length we played at both ends of the 'Eec,' and pragully worked towards the centre. Wo became so strong in numbers that we eventually worked Eugby right out and became masters of the situation. "We started a competition with large entries, we trained future senior, players, and we built up men who now hold prominent positions in various parts of New Zealand."