FOOTBALL IN THE BALKANS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1082, 1 April 1913, Page 4

FOOTBALL IN THE BALKANS.

NEW ZEALANDER TAKES

PART,

London, February 14

Dr. Fisher, a New Zealander, one of the British Red Ctoss party attached to the second Servian unit during the recent fighting in Turkey, took part in an international association football match at Uskub on Christinas Day. The teams were Wales versus Scotland, and Dr. Fisher played for the lormer, in the forward line. The match was quite an unprecedented event in the Balkans. The ball was manufactured in the hospital, from leather procured in the bazaar at Uskub, and bandages. The workmanship, however, was not of the best, for within two minutes the ball required first aid. This proved effectual, and it afterwards stood all the kicking with equanimity. The playing pitch was a level space on the convoy camping ground ot the Danube division of the Servian Army. • The goal posts were obtained by cutting down lour trees and stretching a bandage between each pair at the requisite height. The corner flags were Geneva crosses and Servian banners from the sleeping marquee, and the heavy ground was as well marked out as possible. In the mess rooms the game was placarded as “ the first grand international football match to take place in Turkey.”

The result was a draw of two goals all. The natives of Servia and Marcedonia departed with a great respect for the “ Dober Eeuglis ” (Servian, meaning “Brave Englishmen”), after seeing the way in which officers and men worked the ball through most fiercely-contested scrimmages. A keener game could not have been seen.