SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1012, 1 July 1930, Page 15

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PASSING NOTES

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Wellington’s Challenge.—The sole topic of conversation in Soccer circles is Wellington’s challenge for possession of tho F.A. Trophy and the provincial championship which accompanies it. A record crowd is expected at Blandford Park on Saturday to see the old rivals try conclusions again. So far Auckland has never been beaten in a match for tho handsome trophy, but Wellington has greater hopes this time than ever before, even when it put up a. hard drawn game in 1925. It has never been easy to stall off the challenges of the capital province, and it should be a tough and thrilling struggle before the issue* is decided next Saturday. The Visiting Team. Mr. Hicks, the Wellington sole selector and chairman of the Wellington F.A.. writes to say that his lads will consist of about 50—50 familiar faces and new blood, and with this judicious blend lie is hopeful of them packing up the trophy for a change of air. Those who will be no strangers to Bland ford Park are P. McVean, Pctone’s dashing goalkeeper, who is one of the Dominion’s best custodians; Jack Guest, at left back, is also well-known to us here, as ho played a couple of games for Shore during a brief spell here three seasons back; McLeod and McCormack will again be the wing halves, and the “Twa Macs” are both clever players in defence and attack. E. Jeffrey has moved up from half to his proper place at inside-right, and is playing a great gam© this sentre. Leslie at centreforward is known to Auckland as a very dangerous man near the goal, while Barton, of Murist, and J. Smith, of Diamonds, are both fine exponents oi tho modern forward ganw Some New Blood. —The new players with the blacks will be A. Bolton, lhe Watersider’s right-back, who is said to bo really brilliant both in tackling and head work, and one of Wellington’s best backs for years. The familiar figure of Jock Campbell will be rnissiny. from tho oil-important pivotal post at centre-half, and Haines of the Watersiders will make his debut there in trophy matches. Ho knows all the tricks of the game in both defence and counter-attack and is a deadly shot. Cudby will be seen for the first time hero at outside-left, and is considered in the Empire city as the fastest torward in tho Dominion, and one who will amaze us with his speed. He is very tricky and a great shot, so Kay will need to look to his laurels. Mr. Neesham’s Selection. —While the Wellington selector has gone in search of new* blood to ginger up the challengers, Mr. Neesham is content to rely on the tried and trusted eleven which carried through so brilliantly in the second game last year, and all of them are playing equally well this season. Gerrard was resting last Saturday recovering from a cold, but expects to be lit and well by Saturday. Kay was also spelling a knee injured while working on a job, an dthe joint is giving him some concern. It is hoped the Auckland idol will be in his .usual sparkling form for the big event, as the greater the occasion the more scintillating Auckland’s flying Scot becomes. There are those who suggest that Mr. Neesham is becoming a bit too conservative with his “life members,” but they are not expressing their views very loudly until the final figures i go up on Saturday. Since Mr. Neesham too kup duty he has always had tinsatisfaction of seeing his boys win, and j he is quietly confident of enjoying the ! same sensation again this week-end. * * * A Staunch Supporter Passes. —Fol- I lowers of the code. especially at j Devonport, regretted to learn that one ! of the code’s keenest supporters “went i West” on Sunday, when Dr. Frank Atkinson passed away at the hospital annexe for returned soldiers. The j popular*' medico played a game or two for Shore when ho first arrived at , Devonport about a quarter of a cen- j tury back, and was a useful bat at j

f T:c*ket. Ho saw war service at Samoa during? the military occupation, and was highly praised for the wonderful work he did during the disastrous epidemic there in 1918. He was completely invalided since his return, but was a constant and enthusiastic follower of the code at headquarters, where his good advice was always tit the disposal of players. The deceased surgeon was buried at O'Neil Point Cemetery this afternoon. * * * Baxter at Malta.—Cast week the writer received a letter from Reg. Baxter, the old Auckland, Navy and North Shore player, who is now on service in the troubled island of Malta. but spares i to ask for news of this year’s Soccer in Auckland, and sends his regards to the many friends the popular centrehall' made during his extended term of service here. Reg. is now a “Knight of the Whistle,” and they get some lirst-class {Soccer in the Mediterranean isle. Last winter Tottenham Hotspur paid thern. a visit, also one from Vienna, and at the time of writing a Croatian team was visiting the island. Merritt. exPhilomel, played for the Navy against ’Spurs, but Hotspurs wore too hot for any Malta side. Baxter hopes to return hero with his Auckland wife some day. and to find the old flag living gaily still at Blanclford. Thistle's High Endeavour. The Thistle Club is taking its chances for the Chatham Cup very seriously, but not quite so seriously as the suggestion current at I ‘.landlord Park on Sat- j tirday that the Scots were* overcoming ! tho travelling difficulty, and training at the same time, by walking to Wellington for the cup final! That was an ! Aberdonian suggestion put about by j some base Sassenach. Seriously, the Thistle lads are calling a meeting of supporters and friends .it the Y.M.C.A. this evening, to consider ways and means of meeting the situation if fate favours them against tho Wellington club in tho semi-final, and all the good sports will no doubt give a helping hand to assist in retaining the national trophy for Auckland. Scottish Cup Finals.—Talking of finals, tho latest files report that there wore ion.ooo present at Hampden Park (Glasgow) when Rangers and the oilier Thistle (from Purtick) played x drawn game, and almost the same number attended the re-play on the Wednesday evening, when the Rangers added another cup to their long list of wins. Two hundred and ton thousand for two club games is not a bad gate, and the divvy must have been very substantial. The same paper reports that more than 25.000 Soccer fans from Glasgow and its enrivons made the night pilgrimage to Wembley Sradium, London, to see lOnglaml dean t'P Scotland by five goals to two. Kngland was four up «it half-time, and one of the thrills of the day was when a. piper strode off from tho ground playing a lament, followed by a long trail of CJydesiders, but broke into a wild skirl at the station, with shouts of “Wait for Hampden!”