Girl Footballers.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1921, Page 3

Girl Footballers.

AT PLAY IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. June 27 The girl footballer lias appeared on ilie paying holds of Wellington, and apparently she lias conic to stay, in any case, she is iilrcmlv a centre of attract inn. and can be depended upon to draw “a gate.” The “Dominion” describing a game nil Saturday, sjfcvs: The girls ate the lirst members ol the Antea Club, which has been formed hero. There were eleven of them —lino, sturdy girls, red cheeked and healthy. They looked quite at home in short skirts made ol blue serge, and short-sleeved jumpers, with their upon necks and long stockings and regular football boots, iastciicd neatly with white cord tied round tli,, log, “Tango” fashion. They knew the fame of “Soccer,” and played it well. They had a lot of fun. Long liel'ore the game started crowds assembled, and there was much discussion as to the way in which the girls would acquit themselves. Much of the discussion centred round newspaper correspondence condemning the practice ot football for girls, but after the match even the most conservative of the spectators applauded the teams as they went hack to the dressing shed. At half-time the inevitable orange appeared—no powder puff, lavender water, . smelling salts, or lipsalve, as cynical i writers have suggested—and the girls reminded one of many of the English ladies’ “Soccer” teams that did so well against France recently. The game was fast, hut the girls were in good training and “played like men. Hie j tussle was a good one. Shapely and j powerful shins were kicked, bruiser were given and taken , -bends were , knocked together in approved ‘‘man’ style. The girls hope next week to plat

a match with another eleven, which is in the course of formation. ‘Tf’s groat sport,” the girls said. “Wo like it very much, and we’re feeling very lit. . The person who wrote in the paper that tool hall was harmful doesn’t know what she is talking about. Soccer is less dangerous for us than hockey, and we • |jl<c"it better.” The secretary of the ‘ club (Mr Riid) emphasised that all the , girls worked during the daytime, and > that the exorcise was splendid lor them, i it was a fine “manly” sport, he 1 thought, and the girls all enjoyed it. t- The little hand of amnions if led by four > ' English girls, who have known “Soccer” in the Old Country