OLIVE BRANCHES AND THISTLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 398, 5 July 1928, Page 8

OLIVE BRANCHES AND THISTLES

AFTER holding out a distinctly prickly olive branch, the Thistle Association Football Club has apparently decided to “gang its own gait.” It makes its bow to Auckland in the thinlyveiled guise of a brand new association, with a 'remarkable double-headed appointment of president. It is of no great moment at present to discuss the Siamese-twin existence which Messrs. J. F. W. Dickson and Ij. Marks will have in their joint occupancy of the presidential chair, or whether it is intended to substitute a vocal armchair duet for the customary chairman’s gavel-rap. What is more to the point is the cold fact that the new association has no official status, and a chilling reminder comes from the head of the governing body in Wellington that any persons taking part in the game outside the control of the Auckland Football Association will come under the ban of the New Zealand Council. This can mean only one thing. Any player or official joining the new body is liable to disqualification wherever the game is played by recognised associations, not only in New Zealand, but in Britain and all the overseas Dominions.

By resorting to direct action, the Thistle Club placed itself “off-side” with the principles of government in sport, and the warning issued by the chairmen of the Auckland and New Zealand Football Associations should be heeded by any players who may be so ill-advised as to link up with the new body. " It is difficult to accept as sincere the expressed wish of one of the prime movers of the new association, “to live in the fullest harmony with the A.F.A.”, in view of the subversive activities of what is nothing more or less than an openly-rebellious city club, whatever merit may lie in its sudden enthusiasm for the development of Soccer in the suburban areas.