FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 118, 23 May 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

A small boy nuisance has arisen in Eltham, where tho young fry causo consternation to players by using a whistle on the line, with tho result that players are often deceived.' Evidently suspicion hut fallen on Master Willie Simpson, ono of Ul thorn's most popular wee chaps, and a humorist of no mean order. This precocious youth, being afraid his reputation would be ruined, and also that he might be prevented from attending future matches, has stated his innocence in the press, but he knows who blew that whistle, and will tell if asked.

The MunawnUt Daily Times, serves up some of th« footballers in that district us follows :—" From Masterton, Dannevirke, • Woodville, and other districts come complaints about pugilism, bad language and bluckguardly conduct at football matches, und last year we had a local exhibition of the pass to which it is possible to bring u legitimate and manly pastime. As if this bad example were contagious, some of our own teams are starting out on a bad course, and certain of the Palnierston youngsters suffering from elation und swelled head—and from liquor supplied to them by punlicans whose inordinate greed deadens them to every other consideration, are waxing aggressive, and are pervading tho town, und noisously, und often blasphemously, glorifying their own prowess at the street corner, and making night hideous with discordant vocalisms, are becoming a menace to the public quiet and decency. Now, football is a game which, in common with all other games L -demanda from its devotees if they can truly excel, not only grit, but also manliness and modesty. From whence are our representative players drawn ? From the public houses ? From the street corners ? No, from the gymnasia. To whom do you go for your victories 1 The wind-bags at the street corners, or to the fellows who celebrate each inconsequential victory with a howling drunk ? No, the rep, men who do credit. to their teams, who are always there when tliey are wanted, and who can stay out two "forty-fives " to the last tick of the clock, come not from the ranks of tho beeMhewers and braggarts. Some of our young fellows have not yet discovered that it is possible to be a footballer and yet to be a gentleman in the best and most honourable sense of the word."

Tho secretary of (he Wellington Referees' Association, no less an authority than Mr A. C. Norris, has been asked to interpret section C of Law 11 (page 47 Taranaki Hug-by Union annual), which reads —" Players must clearly understand that tho penalty will bo indicted if they Interfere with the ball in any way while they are lying on the ground." Mr Morris says, inter alia, " That a player collared and thrown on his back, ids knees, or his elbow, may pass the ball as long as the ball has not touched the ground. If the player is in any of the positions described after the tackle, and the ball touches tho ground, ho has no right to touch it until on bi;s feet ; if he rtj so then he should bo penalised." Mr Powdrell was therefore right. The point involved is a knotty one, and its elucidation by Mr Norris should lie of value to referees and footballers alike.

An Eltham writer says Allen, the noted Star five-eighth, has lost a lot of flesh this season. Never fear, he's got any amount of weight yet, and plenty of dash with it.