SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 698, 25 June 1929, Page 13

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES

- (By

Perseus)

Up and Downs: With only five more games to go to complete the senior championship, the clubs are beginning to string out a bit, but Ponies are sticking doggedly to Trams at the top of the ladder, and are still hut two points behind them. However, the form of the western suburb is not so convincing as that of the transport boarders, and unless the unexpected happens, the Trammies should land the honours for two years running, with Ponies again filling the position of runners-up. Last year Trams won with three losses and three drawn games, but so far this season the leaders have not lost a game, and the only point missed was a draw with Y.M. Last year the Trams began badly with losses, through injuries and sickness, but so far have been remarkably free from either and fielded the same eleven consistently. A lot of interest is centred in watching whether any opponents can give them a set-back, but some of the clubs are worrying more about the spectre of relegation awaiting them at the foot of the ladder. The Wooden-Spooners: The new constitution provides for the two clubs at the foot of the table going down to the Senior B grade next year, and the luckless Old Boys of Belmont seemed certain to drop. They finished at the bottom last season on their first appearance as seniors, and only a surprising spurt can pull them out of the cart this year. The hardest battle appears to be between Shore, Thistle, and Onehunga for the next-to-bottom rung which will also let the occupier down a grade. Shore should improve after meeting Belmont on Saturday, but then has to meet Thistle, Trams and Y.M.C.A., which makes it necessary for the parent club to pull up its socks and get busy. With only 17 goals scored against it in nine matches the Shore’s back defence is as sound as any club’s, but when the forwards fail to find the net for two successive Saturdays there is something wrong in the firing line. Blackie and Webb are both out of the game on the right flank, and Bush has been pressed into halfback duty, so the need for a couple of good marksmen is urgent and pressing if relegation is to be averted. Candidates for Promotion: While Vthe lower clubs in the A division are trying to scramble over each other’s shoulders to reach safety, the Philomel and Manurewa teams are making every post a winning post in the race for senior A honours. The positions of the clubs after last Saturday’s games are:

The return of the senior service club to full seniority would be warmly welcomed,. as the Navy always plays an ideal game from the spectators’ point of view, and always has an enthusiastic following of bluejackets and friends. The Manurewans also have a keen coterie of barrackers to cheer them on, and, after winning the junior championship and Dacre Memorial Cup last year, their elevation to A status would be well and truly earned.

In Old Madrid.—The Soccer code is now firmly established in Spain on a professional basis and is a serious rival to bullfighting in its appeal to the sport-loving public. A number of arenas have been converted into football stadiums, and a new one for Soccer at Barcelona will accommodate 70,000 of the local “fans.” Phis season Spain defeated all comers. France going down by S-l, and the final triumph was the victory by 4-3 over a very strong English professional eleven. There are a number of British player-coaches in the peninsula and refereeing is a precarious occupation when the home team suffers defeat. Popular players are in danger of being smothered by the kisses or asphyxiated by the garlic-la den breath of excited barrackers, and spectators are kept in hand by companies of gal caballeros armed with drawn swords. One would prefer to take that sort of Soccer by wireless.

I international Contests.—At the end of last season the F.A. sent a strong English team touring Europe. and some of the leading clubs treated their players to a Continental trip. Germany being among the countries visited and the game is growing apace there. The suggestion has been made here that a game should be arranged between our local representatives and the team of the visiting cruiser Emden. It would no doubt prove a popular attraction if the match could be arranged without any hitch, and would be a generous gesture of international goodwill, free from any narrow insularity. In the

“Athletic News” of March 11 it is recorded that the British A.A.A. has invited the German A.A. Federation to send a representative team of athletes to meet the A.A.A. team at Stamford Bridge in August next, and the Xew Zealand authorities were Recently negotiating for Dr. Peltzer to* include us in his world tour, so there seems no real reason why an A .F.A. team should not have a try-out with the Emden’s Soccer XL if it can be arranged.

Help for the A.F.A.—The. Board of Control again has under consideration the vital question of maintaining and improving its valuable headquarters at Blandford Park. Finance is the aU important factor, so ways and means are being discussed of facing this bugbear. There are still debentures available for investment by thrifty supporters, and eight per cent, is generous interest to receive on such solid security. Among other immediate improvements to be put in hand is a cloakroom for lady patrons and better accommodation for players. A big art union is contemplated as a medium for

raising money quickly, and other plans for putting the Stadium in a sound financial position are being explored. The City Council is again being asked to assist in improving the approach to the ground from Wellesley Street corner. as at present the road down is dangerous to visitors, especially- at night when the floodlight games axe being staged. Shortage of Referees.—The A.F.A. is again broadcasting an urgent appeal for more recruits to the local Referees* Association, and it is hoped thast retired players will respond to the call for help to keep the game growing by providing qualified officials. Those Avho have controlled the game for sao long are getting no younger and the absence of fresh blood is becoming very noticeable. One change which might have a good result would be reverting to th® old method of the Referees’ Association furnishing a list of officials available for forthcoming events, and the Control Board or the divisional committees allocating the matches as in former days. The referees’ committee does not always appear as the best judges of their own capacity to handle a hard game, and if the appointments were made by an outside body the selections might give more satisfaction and stimulate recruiting. With Chatham and Falcon knock-outs coming on, together with some tough contests in the concluding games of the championship, it is essential to select referees who can keep a grip on the game and deal with the talking pest.

Philomel P. TV. 8 Pi. 1 D. Pts. 16 Man u re w a 7 6 1 12 f'orinthrans .. .. 8 4 10 Rangers .. .. .. 9 4 4 1 9 lion Aecord .. .. 8 8 ICorthcD&e .. .. .. 8 8 Metropolitan .• .. 6 Xewmarket •• .. 9 1 Tamaki M M 3 1 S — 2