SCHOOLBOY SOCCER RAPID GROWTH OF CODE IN AUSTRALIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 141, 5 September 1927, Page 9

SCHOOLBOY SOCCER

RAPID GROWTH OF CODE IN AUSTRALIA

Mr. E. Holmes, manager of the Australian schoolboys* Soccer team, gives an interesting account of the growth of the round-ball game in the Commonwealth. For many years the game was only played in Queensland and New South Wales, and there it was confined mostly to migrants from the Old Country.

Six years ago South Australia introduced the Soccer code into the State schools against strong opposition. A year later the schools in West Australia and Victoria started the game, and Tasmania adopted it the following year. Now there are regular in-ter-State visits and a Commonwealth tourney for the "Referee” Shield between representative teams from all the States.

Union and League Rugby were the popular codes in New South Wales and Queensland, but were unknown outside these States. The Australian game monopolised South Australia, Victoria and West Australia* but was not played elsewhere. It was the international aspect of Soccer which appealed to the school authorities, together with the uniform laws of tho code the world over. The Australian Football Association (Soccer), of which Mr. Holmes is a member of the executive, has spent over £47.000 in the last four years in financing teams from Canada. England, China (twice), and Czechoslovakia.

The visiting schoolboy representatives have been assembled from various States. There are 132 school teams in tho various competitions in Sydney, and 5o in Brisbane, apart from strong country organisations in both States. Adelaide in six years has organised 51 teams, and in Melbourne, Perth and Hobart the game is going strong. A return visit from New Zealand is hoped for next year.