WAS ABUSED.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 377, 8 March 1937, Page 5

WAS ABUSED.

So Kicked Football Into Crowd. London. No matter what the provocation, a footballer must keep his feelings within bounds. He is not entitled, for instance, to kick the ball deliberately into an abusive crowd. This is the effect of a £2 fine imposed by an Edinburgh magistrate on James Foley ,now Plymouth Argyle’s goalkeeper, who was charged with assaulting a spectator at a match by maliciously kicking the ball Into the crowd.

The magistrate, in imposing the fine, said he had some sympathy with the player, but there might have been serious consequences.

The incident occurred in November, during a match between Glasgow Celtic, fox whom Foley was playing, and Heart, of Midlothian. The Court 'rejecteM the defence’s submission that the charge should be dismissed, on the ground of triviality, also that a conviction would put footballers in legal danger when kicking out.

Andrew Baillie, a civil servant, was the victim of the “assault.” He said he was standing two yards from the point from which Fotey kicked the ball. He received a severe glancing blow.

Francis Mitchell, a spectator, said that bad language had been directed towards Foley. “I could not have stood it myself, and I’m a strong Presbyterian,” declared Donald Gillan. another spectator.