Association Football.

Free Lance, 30 March 1901, Page 20

Association Football.

The Swifts Football Club are in active training for the coming season, and regular practice games are now being held. The form of some of the members is already noticeable, and, judging from present appearances, the senior eleven ought to make a big bid for first place. The senior championship will lose from its ranks this season some very prominent players, and several clubs will have to suffer in consequence. The winners of last season's championship — Diamonds — have to be content with half of last season's senior eleven, and the Rovers in Paton lose a half-back of sterling qualities.

The annual meeting of the Red Cross Club lapsed last week for want of a large attendance of members. Although a fairly representative number were present, still the secretary deemed it advisable to defer the meeting for a larger attendance to discuss the proposed promotion of an eleven to senior ranks. This club has been most successful since its inception, always being either the runners-up or else the winners of the championship. Having won all championships entered for last season, it is most advisable that they should advance a step in grade, irrespective of the position they might assume at the close of the season. It is also possible that an eleven from the Queen's Park Club will find its way into the senior ranks. Such a thing would be welcome — I hope to see it realised. This club, in years gone by, knew few equals, and it is a pity it should be without a figure head in senior circles. I hear that the two Sims, veteran Shields, and Referee Lawrence are to don the blue and white this season. Auckland has had the bad luck to lose several prominent players, owing to the war in South Africa. J. Heather, one of the finest players Auckland has yet seen, has left the Northern city to accept a commission in the Army. Wright, also a clever and tricky full-back player, has resigned from the field. The secretary of the New Zealand Association (Mr. F. J. Courtney) has just received a reply from the English authorities, per request of the Wellington Referees' Association, as to a definition of "facing the field of play" when throwing the ball in from touch . Their explanation is that any part of both feet can be placed on the line, and, as long as you have not got your back turned to the field, you are facing the field of play.