THE NELSON NEWSPAPERS AND FOOTBALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 108, 6 May 1880, Page 2

THE NELSON NEWSPAPERS AND FOOTBALL.

To the Editor op the "Evening Mail." Sir,— lt is generally remarked and is the subject of considerable surprise that the Nelson newspapers take no notice whatever of the fine old game of football. On the last three Saturday afternoons well-contested games have been played in the Botanical Reserve, but our papers have not thought it worth while to give any account of these at all. Even the opening game of the season they allowed to pass without any remark whatsoever. It is true a great many persons like football much leas than they do cricket, but still every game has its season, and I thiuk that during the few months football is played some notice should, be taken of it. The papers seem only too pleased to publish anything concerning cricket when it is iii season, the Colonist often going to the trouble of giving a full account of some match between two out-of-the way places which the people of Nelson have not the least interest in, so I think it is only fair that while it is in season some attention should be paid to football. Players living at a distance from, town and who depend upon the papers for iuforrnation, are often absent from our games owing to the papers omitting to publish anything concerning them. Hoping this may : have the desired effect. j I am, &c, A Footballer.

[The above letter bears evident traces of being a genuine production, and we can picture the writer with his Bhins so badly abraded that he is enjoying to his heart's content " the fine old game" whilst confined to his room. In his present calm and placid state of mind he is just able to discern that something is at fault, and there being no possibility of its being " the fine old game," he venta his spleen on the Nelson press, and fails to see that, even according to his own showing, we, iv common with our contemporary, merit the thanks of " those 'players living at a distance, and who, depending on the papers for information," were absent from the game, for had we been the means of their joining our correspondent both in his " fine old game " and his fine old paia, we should have heard the moanings of each footballer with the deepest grief , but, as it is, we can but smile at the disappointment of " a Footballer " occasioned as is so evident by the fact that he is a solitary sufferer. Our esteemed correspondent thinks it only fair that while the game is in seaßon some attention should be paid to football. We think so too, and we Bhall be quite prepared to advocate the enrolment of a corps of New Zealand Nightingales to dispense the necessary attention.— Ed.]