FOOTBALL—AS IT WAS AND IS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 August 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL—AS IT WAS AND IS.

[TO THE EDITOR.]

SIR —The coal-miners had nothing on me last week. I also worked a full week, and got "lit-up" on Saturday afternoon to go down and see the football match between the Helensvilleites and Maoris. But when I got there the crowd (about six men and a few kids) said there was no mateh —the ground was too wet. Well, I thought it was a lovely day—the sun was shining, and things looked good. But it was called off because a few players said they weren't going to get all ''mussed up" with the mud. Foootball isn't what it used-to-was. The players now-a-days don't go for it like those of ten years ago and more. Then a little mud would have been enjoyed, and a lot of mud would have been a regular treat. I expect the high-cost of living is blamed again. It costs more for clothes now, and washing is also severe. But all the same. I'm sorry players of the old game don't go for it as keenly as they did once upon a time. We won't produce any more "All-Black" teams if the game develops into a tidy game like croquet or twoup. —Yours, etc, Jock o' the Hut.