SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 740, 13 August 1929, Page 13

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES‘v

_.l__—‘ (By

PERSEUS.)

Chatham, Cup Ties.—~Tramways continues its triunaphant- career un—checked and un efeated. . In fact, never has it seemed farther off defeat this season than on Saturday when the players had an easy time stalling off the Chatham Cup ambitions, _of Poverty Bay Thistle without being'in any \Yay pressed. It was unfortunate that the heavy showers and prelim—inary game caused Victoria. Park to be cut up so badly and spoil all chance of good Soccer, but all the town grounds attain the same state, the only decent bit of turf being at the Devonport Domain, where the Soccer grounds are in perfect order. It is a pity that a charge day cannotibe arranged there betore the season ends. A first-class game on the original home ground of Soccer in Auckland would do much to revive interest in the game, ’which is at a low ebb there compared with a. few seasons back. ‘ , > o. s a V Old-Time Soccer.—-It is not generally known that Devonport‘s Domain was at one. time a swamp of tall raupo and native growth, with a tidal creek which ran through from Cheltenham Beach to the harbour near the present dressing pavilion. Some enthusiastic young cricketers and footballers set to work, after it had been proclaimed a State reserve, and reclaimed the area for athletic purposes byf draining it, and the present cricket. football. tennis, bowling and croquet arenas are the result.’ Some of the old-timers recall the days when they shot pukeko and native duck where Soccer now reigns supreme in winter, and it was a much simpler method of filling the larder than pulling across to Auckland for Sunday's joint. On one occasion the reclaimed swamp caught fire, and the ground underneath the playing area was burn—ing for some time. Today only the League club appears to possess the knack of “setting it alight" again.

A _Popular Draw.—Saturduy‘s Chutham Cup tie drew a. surprisingly large crowd to Victoria. Park, and again demonstrated the wonderful fascination a. free: show has for the crowd. The well-filled stand and three-deep ring round the ground was rerninis—cent of the pre—Blandford Park days, when Victoria Park was the principal ground for the big games. Seeing the “Phillies” in action in the 'cur-min-raiser. ill/LLII unfamiliar uniform of red, recalled the rousing thrillers when Philomel and Shore "fought three hard-drawn games to determine the senior championship, and then divided the honours. Some 7,000 watched those games, and over £BO. was taken in one afternoon. But like the “Phillies’” popular mascot, the bucking billy goat, that Soccer crowd seems to have gradually faded away these days. . .

Gallant Poverty Bay.—’J‘he Gisborne Thistle lads were warmly congratulated on their ambitious endeavour to shine in Big Soccer, and their unquenched enthusiasm in taking on a' costly and strenuous trip of Zlhours in a' motor journey through floods and torrents to zneet Truniwnys. AHowever. their standard of play is not yet up to that of the Auckland champions. whose knowledge and experi—ence of the game are unsurpassed by any club (eam in the Dominion. The Trams have set their henrfis on winning the Chathum (‘up as the crowning seal on their other triumphs. But does that also mean. like the unbeaten Harbour Board of 1924. the Trams will then be content to fold their tags like has-beens. and silently fade away? __ Q -

Old Chatham Players—One reason Trams are so keen on donning up the Chuxharn Cup and securing the Lu“ companying medals as a meme‘nto‘of the Dominion club supremacy. is the fact that several of the transporters‘ team 'were member‘s i” the crew of our first “pukka” N'ew 'Ceaiand cruiser H.M.S. Chatham, whit presented the cup to the N.Z.F.A. Council as a re—minder of the many stirring games

the team Of the warship had enjoyed in our ports during her staynn the station as- (flagship. Of the present

Trams one notes Batty, )‘lCEUigott, Tinkler, Spong, Hopkins and Porteous, among other well-remembered members of the old Chuthum team of years back. & h J .

Wellington Y.M. Next—By knocking, out the Manawatu representative, St. Andre\v,s, \Vellington Y.M.C.A. has again qualified for the North Island final of the Chatham bouts, and will meet Trams here on Saturday. On_ two occasions the \Vollington Young Diem have figured in the Chatham Cup final, being knocked out by Seacliffi when it was first played for, 'and Winning it from the same club in 1925, after knocking out Ponsonby in Auckland. This year the Y.M‘C.A. team had a. lean time in ’the “fellington senior championship, and was hanging on to the bottom rung, but made a. great revival in the Chat—hum knock—outs by putting “paid"to Petone's account. and wiping Institute off the map by seven goals to nil. Thus it is a. side to reckon with,and Trams will need all the power uvuil~ 'able to be sure of. reaching their goal. VVith Alec Lucas in goal. "Snowy" McGirr and Trott at i'uilbaék, the defenl-e is very solid; whilr: Ballard, 3101.906. and Rigby in the firing line are u. trio"of clkeadlyfgoal—gutters who need watching.

Auckland’s Soccer Veterans.—A reunion will be held this evening at the Y.I\I.C.A. of old-time Soccer playo ers and officials. A large number of Socer Old Boys have been circularised, but there are many. others whosn addresses are not known to the organiser, Mr. Robt. Takle, and it is hoped there V’Vill be a. big muster of those who were round-ball enthusiasts in olden days. A ,veterans’ match is spoken of, and it is proposed to hold a. reunion of those who followed the game, here or elsewhere. in former years, and probably the next representative provincial game here will be mudo the occasion for a. function at which the oldv'timers will ontortain the present—day rops. It is fr-lt that many who have lost touch with the code. would welcomv an occasional opportunity of mooring old club mates and rivals. and helping the game to forge ghead us they did in the pioneering 13's.

Following is the draw for the. first round of the Auckland Football As; sociatiou‘s business houses - competition. to be played iomorrowz—Auckland Power Board v. Fai‘mers' Trading Company. Victoria Park-No. 1. 4.15 p.m.; Mr. J. Ball: Aurklnnd Hotels B v. Shell Oil Company. Victoria Park No. 3 4.15 p.m.. Mr. L. J. Ch’eck; Takapuna Dairy Company v. Auckland Hotels A, Inner Domain No. 1. 3.30 p.m., Mr. Jackson: Kent’s Bakeries. Ltd., v Auckland Training College. 'lnner Domain No. 2. 4.15 p.m.. Mr. Fletcher: Parisian Tie Company V. Hellaby's. Ltd.. Victoria Park No; :2, +ls p.m.. Mr. I“. R. ‘X-‘ilsnn: Auckland 11in: Company x'. Abei‘s, Ltd., Outer Domain No. 1, 11.15 p.m., 311‘. E. G. Caton.