A FOOTBALL TRAGEDY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4654, 28 January 1924, Page 4

A FOOTBALL TRAGEDY

(By Basil Macdonald Hastings, in the

Overseas Daily Mail.)

football secretaries are among tne most worried of the human race, and not the least harassed of the great tribe is the self-sacrificing fellow who gives up his spare time to look after the affairs of an amateur team.

Recently the secretary of a small amateur club was warned on a Fridaymorning that he need not bring his team to Potlid Magna on the following day, as it would be impossible for the local club to get together an eleven.

The secretary seized a newspaper which published football challenges and, after a little telegraphing and telephoning, succeeded in getting an “away” match with another side.

Now came hisi task of getting in touch with his players and warning them of the change of place and train. This brought him a certain amount of ribald chaff aver the telephone and a. number of scowls from those whom he had .to seek out in their houses in the evening. Still, he reflected that he would have had to endure a good deal more if he had not’avoided a blank day. The team dressed in an inn near th? little station and walked down n firm weather to the ground of .their opponents. '

At the gate of the field they were met by the secretary of the opposing cltb.

“ All turned up ?” ho asked, smiling a welcome.

“ A,ll here, and fit. Holpe you arc.” “ Yes, our chaps are ready. Lucky we fixed up, wasn’t it ?

Where are the rest of them ? Still changing at the inn, I guess. Well, you’re in good time." The visiting secretary stared and then counted his team. How many more did the chap expect ? And thqn suddenly his heart froze. There loomed i:p into view for the first time two Rugby football goalposts. “ I say. My hat I Don’t say you’re a Rugby club.”

“Of course we are. Arn’t you ?” ‘ Good gracious, no. Soccer.”

The two secretaries blanched. Eac.i had assumed that the other know all about his club.

©The Soccer captain threw the boll ar his secretary’s head, and twentysix men told both secretaries that it would have been far better Jf they had never been born.

But the Rugger captain proved to be a sportsman.

“ We’ll have a game anyway,” said h-\ “You take two of my men and wo’ll play thirteen a .side.” “ Jolly good. But what shall we play, Rugger or Soccer ? Toss jip ?”

“ Not a bit of it. We’ll play threequarters of an hour of each.” And it was so. The Soccer team won th e Rugby game and the Rugger team .showed their overwhelming superiority at Soccer.