THURSDAY FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8412, 29 April 1907, Page 3

THURSDAY FOOTBALL.

— : —+ —. The contributor of Football Notes to the Wairarapa -Standard writes as follows with regard to Thursday football At the present stage Waira- ' rapa Thursday Football is in a condition far from flourishing, the governing body being the possessors of a debit balance of about £5, and thers is little prospect of the ensuing seat son improving matters. The principal reason of the Thursday Union being in financial difficulties is that the public does not give Thursday teams due support. Representative matches in which, to say the least, equally as good football is shown as in Saturday senior matches, attract smaller attendances than the latter; and senior championship matches are but sparsely attended. The Thursday senior representative teams for several seasons were superior, as regards the standard of their play, to any teams of the Saturday Union, but still public support was not bestowed upon them in the manner deserved. In 1903 the Thursday representatives challenged the Saturday senior combination to play a match, but the challenge was ignored- wisely, perhaps. It was not until the 1905 season that a match wasj'played between the Saturday senior and Thursday senior representatives—the latter had repeatedly demonstrated their superiority over the Saturday juniors -and were only defeated by nine points (including two penalty goals) to three. Besides, a few years back the Masterton Albion Club held its own with the Masterton Saturday Club, both being representative of their Unions. Unfortunately, it seems to be the ambition of tne majority of Thursday players to gain positions in the Saturday teams, and year after year the pick of the Thursday players are strengthening the Saturday Union—the best of the lather's players for several years have been Thursday graduates. The only reason the writer can suggest for the desertion of the Thursday Union by these players is that t.aey are desirous of appearing'before larger crowds. The \ Thursday Union cannot be accused of Being laggards, as tours have been undertaken from tirno to time, ahd in 1906, senior representatives were met in lieu of junior, as previously—the Union has maintained its senior status ever since. If the Thursdsfy half-holiday is to be maintained, busi- , ness people: will have to seriously consider the matter of encouraging Thursday football, as the decadence of Thursday football—in Masterton it is almost a dead letter—means that the hands of the opponents of the Thursday half-holiday are materially strengthened. It would seem also that in Masterton recreation is regarded' in an unfavourable light, for there is no public reserve on which footballers may even practice, and having to pay a large sum for the use of a ground in Masterton is imposing a heavy burden upon a struggling Union such ' as the Thursday one. Is the Park I merely on ornament, and not t:> be 1 used for recreation purposes? A poll I was recently taken by the Welling- j ton City Council in connection with the raising of a large sum of money j for providing further recreation grounds for the residents, and .it was carried. Contrast this with the attitude of the IvLsterton Borough Council! It seems doubtful whether even one team will be placed in the field by the Masterton Clubs for the T lnirsday Championship fixtures, but it is to be hoped that a determined effort will be made to improve the situation, by enthusiasts. At one time Thursday football held pride of position in Masterton, five teams playing, but Carterton and Featherston are its stronghold at present. Greytown never had a Thursday team in its midst, evidently lacking an enthusiast to take the initiative in forming one. For the sterling services rendered on behalf of Thursday football in recent years Messrs A. C. Major (President of the Thursday Union), K. Armstrong, F. O'Connor, J. Wallis J. Henderson, and F. Felling are deserving of the praise of supporters of Thursday football. j