Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 107, 19 July 1902, Page 5

Association Football.

By Centre Forward.

Giood football weather seems to be a tiling of the past, and the Postponement Committee v, almost in weekly ieqnest Interest in the game naturally decreases w hen each recurring Saturday is a replica of the sodden past. Ho\\e\ei, it it wants to ram, it will have to, and if it wants to ram more on Satuiday than on any other day I suppose there is no appeal until the game is pl«ned under awnings. The state of the Petone ground is causing considerable dissatisfaction amongst the various teams who, in turn, journey to that suburb. On the occasion of the Rovers-Petone heat a part of the ground was under water, and the players engaged in its vicinity were seen indulging in pastoral and agricultural pursuits. Anyhow, they took lots of soil aw ay with them As the matches have been delayed considerably owing to postponements, and the condition of the Petone ground, a mo\ c m the right direction was made at last meeting of the W.F.A. by the Rovers' delegate, asking that, in the event of the Petone ground being unfit to play upon the suburbanites come into town to pla,y at Miramar. Ihe Petone team have had a long spell at home, and, as it is only a case of necessatv. it is to be hoped they will tall in with the suggestion. At the meeting of the New Zealand Football Association, held recently, a suggestion from the Wellington Football Association relative to a new system ot pla.yine tournaments was discussed. Hie Council very wisely decided to request Mr J. J- Roberts from whom the suggestion emanated, to attend befoie the next meeting of the Association and outline his proposed scheme. The Wellington delegate to the New Zealand Association (Mr. M. Fraser) was instructed to bring the matter toiward. and apparently did not get a proper grasp of the proposed alteration in the present system. lam led to understand that the new system ot tournaments is to be conducted on line-, similar to that adoptpd m biighsh League matches. Mr. Roberts has a personal knowledge of the League matches, and has the advantage ot having conducted matches under its system m the Isle of Man. The New Zealand Association has decided to continue the present system ot interprovincial games for 1902, which provides for a match in each centre, and is a system w Inch has w orked out satisfactorily. In consequence, Wellington will travel to Otago, Otago travels to Auckland, and Auckland will remain at home, Otago playing Wellington eithei on the »a? up to Auckland or on the wav home. It is nearly time the Management Committee of the Association weie considering the necessity of raising funds for the despatch of the representative team to Dunedin Treasurer Robeits outlined a scheme last reason which worked satisfactorily, and resulted in a l,i rge sum of money being raised. The bieak in the weekly smoke conceits seriously affects the treasurer's cheque book. Just as the social evenings were beginning to become pnpulai the 100 ms were taken, by piioi engagement and this lobbed footballers of an evening's enjoyment a,nd companionship LaM: Saturday made the third consecutive Saturday but I am led to understand they will recommence to-moirou evening.

What luis become ot tlie Fouithclass Association 0 I understood Mi. R. Davenport liad the mattei in hand. Pei haps, the inauguration ot the schools' competition hag interfered with it. as seveial schools have already been playing in the fourth-class competition. I am of opinion that the schools' competition will replace the fourth-clas^ championships, a*, the fourth-class boys have few, if any, proper playing grounds, whilst the school boys will find their way to Miramai. The follow mg paragraphs are culled from "Outdoor Pastimes' " column in 'The Catholic Magazine," which is the oigan of the Mari&t Old Boys' Association — "It is moie than likely that Mr. W McLachlan a prominent local Rugby player, and representative of Wellington on numerous occasions, will be found amongst, the Old Boys' senior eleven next season." "Mr. P. Guthrie, who played in the Athletic seniors last season, and who could have easily secured his place again this season, has decided to play the 'soccer' game w itli the Old Boys' team next season." Commenting on the introduction of the game in the schools in Wellington, it says — "With the introduction of the game into the schools, teams fiom St.

Patuck's College and the Marist Brothers' School will, in all probability, be found among the competitors. A deputation from the Schools Committee appointed by the Wellington Football Association waited upon Rev. Father Keogh, Rector of St. Patrick's College, w ith reference to! the introduction of the game in the College, and he gave a promise of every assistance in helping the interests of the game. At the Marist Brothers' School, Brother Borgia is an ardent 'soccenst,' and, in his capable hands a good little team should be selected to follow in thei footsteps of the Old Boys. Of the representative team, it says, 'It would be incomplete without 'Mick' Fitzgerald."