Amateur Football in Victoria.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 March 1910, Page 1

Amateur Football in Victoria.

—« The Melbourne Argus, writes :— For twenty years South Melbourne struggled for the football supremacy of Victoria, without success. The country was .scoured for players, and from all parts of the State local champions were brought to South Melbourne at "enormous expense," but still tho red and whito flag was not flown from the head of the football mast. In 1009 the committee to _ devote its attention to local juniors, and from the Leopold and other clubs somo excellent recruits wore obtained. Members expected, therefore, that the expenses of local men living on "the Hill" would not be as great as those of strangers, who came from afar. The local men won the premiership, but it_cost £2482 10s fxl to do it. The 3707 members who contributed £'848 15s to the revenue of the club last year have received the annual report and of the club, from which it may be seen that nearly £1900 was sp?i t directly on the players, and, though the committee had £2H7!ls 7d through its hands, it spent a.I of it except £4 13s 2d, which _is safely in the bank to meet contingencies this year. Tho following items picked out of the balancesheet should provido food for m.ich •thought. Mathematicians may he able to solve the following problem:—"lf an amateur premiership costs £2132 IGs sd, what would be the outlay with professional players?" The items referred to are:—Wages, trainers, doormen, and propertymen, £210 IGs Gd; medical fees, medicines, bandages, hot baths, etc., £72 0s 9d; laundry, boot studs, and attendance. iTi-M's lOd. Players: Travelling expenses, £190 9s 8d; loss of time, £174 2s Gd; -accommodation, £11 2s, -L' 374 14s 9 d. Players: Electric mmr.ge treatment, £37 18s; refreshniHits and teas, £204 3s 3d: -holiday +uir (Sydney, Albury and Hamilton), £679 13s 10(1; insurance and allowance to injured players, £9o 0s Gd; uniforms and! boots, £80 5s sd; entertainments, theatre parties, and weeklv "socials," £90 lis Id. Total, £1880 10s 4d.