THE "CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1958.
I COULD HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN .......But These Were My From Clay Pit To Wembley
Candidates For The Footballer Of The Year
Says I. M. MacTAVISH
The
Story Of
Manchester United
By TIM GORDON
During this week I have been wondering about the players
you will nominate for the proud title of 'Hongkong's Foot-Walking into the main entrance of Manchester United's ground. baller of the Year' and at this moment you have the great advantage over mo of knowing who has in,fact topped the poll.
As I write, of course, the result has not been announced and I am in con- sequence completely in the dark as to how the ballot has gone: With all these points in mind I thought it might be interesting to have a go at trying to pick the favourites and let you read my reasoning after you have studied the result.
First, however, let me re- the right, wing have made him for this is a most difficult com- the petition to judge and whoever mind you of the simple rules a great favourite with
..and in fact there wins is your choice and that is governing the competition and crowds.
close to the game good enough for me, However review the winners in the years are those
wee place the competition wan who are confidently tipping him I do wish I could have
as the Footballer of the Year. peep into the crystal as I write lounched by the Chinn Mail in
Qualde of these players this. It would help a lot. 1954.
KMB would
to have seem
Readers of This newspaper nominate by were asked to popular vote the player of the year on the qualifications of obility and sportsmanship. Tu my mind. these are the ideal Lasic essentials for all playges we aspire to greatness in the pubile eye and past winners of thenwich have certainly met these requirements in generous
measure.
strong corianders in Lo Pak Significant
toam.
at Old Trafford is like walking into a modern hotel, Bright colours in the contemporary style, a sumptuous lounge for dressing-room soccer VIP's and down below first-class
United's young accommodation for Manchester known all over the fotball world as the "Busby Babes." Nothing but the best is good enough for Manchester United, which has been the most consistently good side in post-war football. Yet it was not always so.
Ta soriot in the 1920's, United still had great characters like Frank Barson, the tron mari of sorcer, and Joe Spence with As fair for grabbing goals. "Give it to Joe" was the clarion call from the terraces.
The club was founded over 70 to reverently by old-time foot-
by 鼗
of ball fans. group years ago
After such spectacular play- Manchester waggon-makers who
Lancashire Ing success, the club moved to worked on the old and Yorkshire railway.
its. present headquarters at Old Like the humble men they Trafford. A ground capable of were, they called their football Folding over 80,000, it was one of the finest In the land when Heath club almply Newton Railwaymen were not exactly It was opened in 1910. rich, and there was a story and Lou Kal-chu, but no one
Looking through the final road to fread before the new will else among the Basmen produce a serious challenge to placings in the various sections football club was established.. the South China stars. In this of the English Leagut one comes
The team interesting
played its home across some very reason's disappointing Kitche team only Szeto Yiu and, in a sintisiles which give significant games on an old clay pit.
of soccer first, it could not afford to play lesser degree, Chan Fal-bung pointers to the sort
Wai-entertainment served up by the away matelice. Leung newcomo,
teams
Those during the
old waggon-makers bung are worthy of considera- different
be wide-eyed with ion.
eventful season which has just would·
wonder if they could see the Eastern also have had an in-nished,
Ind their different scation
It is immediately obvious, for present Manchester Unlied side, players have suffered in con- example, that there was a con- travelling to its away games to requence. There may be some siderable variance in the play-a luxurious coach equipped with support for Ho Ying-fun who,ing policies of the teams.striya radio and card-tables. although now very
Ining both for the Championship much
nd-
Met By Candlelight North, or even out of football and to avoid relegation, the veteran eloss, has his
For example Waiver the
To the rescue came a Man- Yet in those early days, su new Champions scored
the Newton Heath chester businessman, Mr J. W. goals and lost only 47 in the poor was 42 League matches they played. club that it went bankrupt. The Gibson, who helped to put the
fans
who committee switched its meetings club on a sound financial footing This means that the
their from a public house to a school-again. watched the Wolves In
ond
For three years the winsor irtually selected himself and in turn there was general ac claim for Mike Granger of the Army in the Inaugural ballot, for Tong Sheung in 1955, and for great-hearted Ho Cheung-mirers. you' in the following year.
can
A Change
in 1937 something of a change
for
over the situation and the first time there was nu immediately obvious choice, Many tans believed Ho Cheung
his. 1956 you would repeat success, but when the voles
counted it
Was Ylu Cheuk-yln who claimed the
were
etown.
Already the list is running dry and it is difficult to And any possible nominations In the ranks of Kwong Wah, CAA, Jardines, Club or RAF. Roy loss of the Police is certainly a player whose sportsmanship nd ability bring him into the reckoning, but Tung Wah have no candidates that I can spot.
Army's Two
103
brilliant run to the title saw 150 room,, coals scored.
It Is rather interesting compare thle
weren't
When the
pald and
in
But in the next decade the voices grew steadily fainter, and the early 1930's United louched rock-bottom. The future time glamour club looked like poemed so bleek that the one- alipping into the Third Division altogether.
Eye For Talent
club'A
Even then, United was noted for the way. It discovered promis-
The ing young players. scouting system was headed by one of soccer's most characters, Louts Rocca-one of
famous
The disaster ruined United's
both hopes of winning
the the Cup lost League and. achieved by Aston Villa In 1897. It cut the team nearly by halt and gavo. the officials and play. era who survived a tremendous lask to find new talent and start again.
But the club which has won the Cup twice and the League four times did go on rebuilding the Same СПетку and with
Dя their forerunners courage had when they held meetings by candelight.
(COPYRIGHT)
Answers To Sports Quiz
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2. (a) Cricket (b) Golf (c)
Rugby.
3. United States.
Kärin.
In 1028,
4. John. L. Sullivan and Jake 5. Peter Thomson of Australia,
1054-50.
6. 10.
bilis £23 the local to courell shut off the gas supply, with the fare the meetings were conducted by served up by Manchester City, candlelight!
When the club moved to Bankt who nithed four places lower down the table. The City piny Lane, Clayton, it tried to play a ers managed to get the ball lalo game under artificial Hght. The The Army have Mendum and their opponents' net on 104 oe-experiment was not a resound-
8. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and while the goal-casions, but against that they ing success. But the enterprise the best judges of a boy foot- McNicol
was Johnny keeper has had to wali u long just 100 gools themselves, of those days, lives on for baller who ever lived. One of his
that United was one of the first clubs, greatest esplures
9. Hungary. In 1953. Blackburn meaua
(present Value of Carey
was to lead time for his chance in top class However, thin company. Mendun has been those who watched their gunes to appreciate the prop and pillar in a. very shaky saw 204 goals scored, which is floodlighting, ad fd it installed manager), who collection of soldiers through- 54 more than fans saw who fol- on the club's subsidiary ground United to its greatest heights 10, Jean Borotra.
at The Cliff, Broughton, luwathe Champlons."
out the sen SON
may want
it.
.
Intriguing
Getting the ball into the net I think the winner this year 13 basically the whole object of will once again come from South the game and there are those China and while Ho Cheung-who are applauding
Star Trio
after World War II.
South China's brilliant tile inside-left was a popular selec- tion and for the third time in four yea C Carolino Hill favourite won the Season' proudest title.
Now we have the Malt Busby All these things, however
The wing half is now playing
United's first-team ground, ut era. Busby, from Lanarkshire, classic important and signlẞeant, are
A bombed in the made his name as Old Trafford. how, astory and a foox Tour the top of his form and,
that
while it in true his early scu- The current reene shows
not have
This raises a most intriguing war. has now been filled with wing-Falt with Manemuster City. conduct would BOL
most modern floodlights, moved on to Liverpool, then once again there is a com-
competition of point and leads one to wonder the
of pounds. came back to Manchester to paratively small field of real holped him in
United's officials pliot United to undreamed-of contenders; .even allowing, this nature, he has changed to what a staunch fan wants. Does costing thousands
that such an extent that there can he want to see his own side win Manchester
or have always been noted for heights, for the fact ol. COR:20,
of any Irrespective of the score... now be no complaint
10 does he want Bee goals, their progressive ideas. there will always be a number
The year 1902 saw the end A team which included such of players who will
the receive kind against him. That
slub, and great players as Johnny Carey, something which goals, and more goals on personation voles--without- managing to get into the final many keen followers of the game basis that a 6-5 victory is much of Newton Heath
in acknowledge in better entertainment than a 1-0 from the ruins rose the Man-Johnny Aston, Henry Cockburn, chester United club we know Jack Ruwicy, Stan Pearson, Charlie Mitten running for the award.
Johnny Morris, today. the Footballer of the Year poll. success.
and Jimmy Delaney act up o Well, that's the field as 1 sec
new. standard -in post-war Its play soccer, Some claimed
as good as any
in the Almost immediately after the was
game's history. you and Yiu Cheuk-yin are the more goals polley adopted by
of darlings
the enterprising teams like Man- changeover, the club had a re-
markable nun rivaling sn 1948 it won the Cup: In established
1952, after being runners-up recent times. crowds they may have to resist. chester City,
their lost 96 goals and it was their performances in
In 1900, it was promoted from several times, United won the winner strong challenge from
League Championship. In pint-sized clubmate Wong Chi- combined forward and defen-
Second Division to the sive weakness which eventually the
1050, a nes team built on the Kwong.
principles brought Real Outsider Beyond that let it seems to sent them into the Second First. Two years later, it won
the First Division Championship; League peanant back to me that only Szelo. Yiu and Division on goal average.
There
many Tore the following year, in 1999. 1 Trafford, and again in 1957, are really a danger,
fascinating examples of these won the FA Cup; and in 1911, Strangely enough. in spite of Mendum
But on February 6, 1950, achieved by thu Luccess
the although Moss nay emerge as
In the final United ran off with the League when United ware third in the ports of things South China team this season, a dark horse of the ballot box
League table and had hopes of there are few others at Caro if he gels the backing of the League tables and if you have Championship again.
minutes to spare I am On Manchester United's right winning it for the third time line Hill who fill the require-powerful Police Sports Organi a few
cure you will find them most wing in those days loped the running, the worst calamity to ments of the competition, al-sation.
football kled to fabulous Welsh wizard, Billy befall British enlightening it you care
to Deven United players though Mok Chunwah
give them a few minutes study. Meredith, who had moved In these days of vital statistics United from its near-neighbour, injured ten, The team were on there are none more vital than Manchester City
their way home from Belgrade chartered airliner Ja Feotball
tables. Lesque
With Meredith were Sandy when their Have a look and see for your-Turnbull and Charlie Roberts crashed Lelf.
la great centre-half elli referred Munich airport.
South China's record of four ballot wing out of five since the started suggests that we should have a look among the Cham- plons' players for possible can- didates, Ho Cheung-you and Yiu Chouk-yin' must surely be among the names on the short
which the list-from will be found.
will These are my purely per nimest certainly get a share of sonal views. I may be very wide of the Dalmark .. bus the votes.
I think the real outsider of at least you have the result to this year's competition will be guide you in your assessment Wong
Ch} khong whose of my reasoning. No brickbals
. or bouquets please flashing dashes up and down
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