ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10288, 24 May 1919, Page 10

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW ZEA-

JLAi\D BODY,

The annual report of the New Zealand l'ootuall Association staved tnut as conditions are now rapidiy uecommg normal, an advance in Association football in the Lfomnnou is naturally to be expected and. sought utter. Progress in uie rour mam centres will naturally bo attended to by wie associations interested, but the more outlying districts should be the iinnieduuo concern ot tne association, immediately preceding the war, tnere were no fewer man n.ue smaller associations auiliated to the iN.Z.F.A., with others)" course of formation at the time. Tho war disturoed ail these centres, with the not altogether unexpected result that as the war proceeded these associations* dropped out oiw by one, leaving omy tue ciig cit,et> continuing, and then mainly with playeis under 20 years of The council of the association considers that the tiuio should now be opportitno to again establish the game in tho smaller centres. In the UaiKato, at least, the game flourishes, and it should be so in all parts. Excellent progress has been made in tua four big cities, and except by had management, there should be no setbacks tnero. Boys' football, especially in the chief centres, continues to go ahead, no doubt duo to the attention that is now given to this class ot football. It has taken some years to make some people realise that thf. boys of to-duv are tho seniors of tomorrow, and it would certainly benefit every association to concentrate its efforts upon boys' and schools' football. Properly coached, schoolboys quickly become efficient in the game, but it is a much inoro'difficult problem to ooach older players. Tho council regrets that the introduction of the game into tho secondary schools of tho Utominion 'is not meoting with much success, and suggests that the various associations hhould give this matter serious attention.

It is suggested that the council should at no distant date consider tho matter of inviting an Australian team to visit Now Zealand. The association places on record its keen appreciation of the many hundreds of Association players ahd enthusiasts who left New Zealand shores to play the greater game, and its deepest sympathy with the relatives of the number of very fine men who, unfortunately, yill never return. The council hopes that in the near future it will, with tho co-opera-tion of all affiliated associations, be able to issue a complete roll of honour.

The team to represent Thistle (senior) against Brooklyn to-day will bo Egorton, McKenzie, Cunningham, 8011, McGoram, Duncnn, Trevithick. Smith, Friokloton, Hanson and Edwards.