Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 17, 27 October 1900, Page 13

Association Football.

As our season has now drawn to a close, our antipodes are directing their attention to the commencing of their season, and already several clubs have played the opening matches of the season. Home papers just to hand give accounts of their annual meetings, together with balance-sheets of the past season's finances. The expenditure column of the balancesheet of the Notts County Football Club shows the following items : — Players and trainers' wages and bonuses, £2839 8s ; training expenses, £46 12s 4d ; travelling expenses, £355 5s 8d ; referees and linesmen, £67 9s lOd; groundsmen, £137 lie 2d ; printing and advertising, £96 4s 9d ; players' transfer account, £205 ; total expenditure, £4164 13s Id. The loss on the season's workings amourits to £289 6s 2d, and there having been £1000 less paid for entrance fees than during the preceding season. One item on a club's balance-sheet struck me with particular interest — an item which is never likely to appear on any of our city club's balance-sheets — viz., an item of £51 for police. Probably remuneration for protection of spectators, which, in a large crowd such as frequents the Home games, are subjected to a great deal of pickpocketing and disorderly conduct, the latter due, no doubt, to the pe6uniary loss of football enthusiasts. With regard to our local Council of the Association I am glad to find all its members are secretaries of clubs, and they are the men in the clubs that should know the full workings thereof, and the information they can give relative thereto and general ideas necessary to promulgate Association football rank the Council in its coinpletest form, having for its backbone officers who are practical men and not mere figureheads.

An interesting point which struck me in reading the report of the opening match between Nelson and Derby was the kickoff by the mayor of the city in the presence of 30,000 spectators. Another item which appeared most prominent in the Home journal was the "wanted column." half of which were applications for employment and offers of appointment to footballers. One ran as follows :—": — " Wanted a professional goalkeeper for coming season. Apply enclosing testimonials and stating salary required." Now that clubs have finished their season of football, summer sport is pccupyin fi their attention. The majority of members of the Diamond Football Club go in for yachting ; Red Cross, cricket ; and the Swifts appear to spend the season in the water, and have established a swimming club, which is in a nourishing condition. The ail-but acquisition of Miramar as a public reserve will go a long way to encourage sport in the city. Although the grounds are not within the city, they are, however, within measurable distance, and access to the adjoining bay can be reached by a ferry service, which, no doubt, will be running by next season. Association football in this city has lacked the want of grounds badly, and now that grounds are to be provided for the use of the city, scope will be given the game for advancement, which in time must cemmend itself to public support.