THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1950.
MAPSON AWAITS THE CRASH
Alan Hoby Relates HOW ONE
ONE MAN'S FAITH RESTORED JOE MERCER TO SOCCER STARDOM
When a man is elected Footballer of the Year in front of some 2,000 fellow professionals (collective transfer value about £1,250,000), he must possess qualities of heart and mind which stand out like the Eiffel Tower.
Such a man is Joe Mercer.
1
Footballer of the Year.
A fortnight ago I picked the 35-year-old Mercer as Now the nation's sports writers have confirmed that choice.
Everyone.in Soccer knews Joc. To the crowds he is the half-back with superb ball skill and those famous spindly legs shaped, his school pals used to say, like a spiral staircase.
To the players he is the skip-sonality are those top "C" of per who calls to them through life-Character, Colour, Class. gritted teeth at the height of the battle: "Go on. Go on!"
NON-STOP
the time I was on the! "AI floor as a footballer-finished, I Not only was I 31 but All his career, in fact, he has thought.
me when my had to shoulder responsibility, to Arsenal bought make the hard decision with no Judgment to ald own.
left knee was in terrible shape.
him but his I had undergone a cartilage
As Denia Complon puts it:
Biggest decision of all was to you may be just about ready to drop. But you never do-not quit Everton, after more than with non-stop Joe behind you 14 years with them, and to join and not when you're playing Arsenal in 1910.
for Arsenal."
THE TURNING POINT
know it, but For Mercer is more than one! "Few people of the great half-backs of the that was the turning-point of Indelibly rubber my career," Jor told me Inst century. stamped on his cheerful per week.
Fights
Sunderland goalkeeper Johnny Mapson shuts his eyes and grimaces na Bab Thomas, the Fullham rocket, salls through the air with the agility of a hurdler. It was Mapson's lucky day at Full ham. Thomas got the ball from him, The referee ruled that Thomas was offside- scored, but no congratulations,
Express.
operation the previous Summice. AS JOHn macadam SAW IT:
between
"In fact, I couldn't run a lap of the ground and it was all f could do to get At Saturdays.
"But Tom Whittaker had fallh It was his treatment in me. which got me right, bis threwd made me change advice which
my style so successfully.
"I owe tore than I can ever Fay to Tom and Arsenal."
HE WAS CHEAP Arsenal bought
Joe fantas- But
Is calls cheap for £7,000.
Feast Of Good Coming Up This Week
In a double-barrelled Championship programing at the Harringay Arena on Tuesday, the London street. trailer, Terry Allen, will attempt to retain the World Flyweight title for Britain, and another London scrap- per, Danny O'Sullivan, tries for the European Bantam weight crown.
1211,
Pratest, Frenchman
F
today, in the morni currency of leadership, Initiative,
Intan.
Lel Mrs Mercer
story
went to see Londen...."
Everyone
And Mra
Mercer
Would
96 Bottles Of Rum
Have Helped Their Calypso
care if they never won any matches.
fl bly old school chums
and
Gere
If you
thin
ON THE RECORD NEXT SATURDAY'S QUADRANGULAR LOOKS PROMISING
The athletic season got a little Veteran Olympic star. further into stride on Saturday In the
Army field events,
Long
Jump, Discus
re
tho
when the Army beat the Com-should win the bined Schools easily at Caroline Hop, Slep and Jump, Hill, winning seven of the nine and Javelin Throws, Tho events.
inys are anybody's, with odds on South China,
The absence from the meeting of the King George V School The Quadrangular has done a for Hongkong contingent qualified to represent lot of good the Combined Schools left the athletics and the pity of At schoolboys short of another vic-that it cannot be made into a tory, ແອ Peter McRae, the alx-way meet with the Univer
Combined Schools' sprint champion, would sity and either the
100 Schools or St Joseph's as have probably taken the
*
metres despite the fast time re- other two teams. turned by Dunn of Army taking the event in 11.3 seconds
heavy
track.
on
Otherwise, the Army were a far superior team to start with and in the circumstances the victory of Ling Sum of the tho Wah Yan P.M. School in High Jump at 5 feet 7 inches came as a surprise.
*
*
*
the
Congratulations to Kilchee the for their 3-1 victory over rest of the First Division of the Soccer League at Happy Volicy on Saturday.
Kitchee are. a popular team with the local soccer world and the pity of It is that they are so far top of the rest of the League, robbing the competition
In winning the Inter-School of all its flavour, tille, Ling Sun cleared a half- Next season should see samo inch less and then drelined to considerable make an attempt at the Inter- focal soccer world. Army should School record set at a feet 71⁄2 be in a better position to know
si
better
to
changes in
tho
Finally, South China, with
como youthful sidle having absorbed more experience, should
power in the closer to being a Incal soccer world. Meanwhile, six months of waiting.
RECORDER."
Tennis League Fixtures
At a meeting of the Execu-
of Army again the Hongkong Cricket Club
our colours and rkling styles. broke 2 minutes 10 seconds for on April 20, it was decided io
c
406
Metres.
B
Not long ago play matches of the Men's on
Divisions
Now, into the station at Waterloo came the West Indian cricketers wilt they were doo. They stood around the platform in batches, smiling like they didn't
Inches by Huang Wee-teng of what talent they can call on. St.
Joseph's in
had In 1938. He
Joseph's, plagued by injuries, There were 12 of them arrived, looking just a little light. The reason was not
Metres this season, should be able to far to look their cargo of Barbados rum was took. The Customs boys didn't think carller run in the 800
final. In which he fulshed fifth, round up all their best talent and had a und they were dipso, but they still didn't feel 96 bottles would help their Calypso,
a relay leg to do.
for one of the teams of the However, dynamic drive. Mercer's value
he certainly did not
year. county op- Indles.
average in nge They n38, and their first looked cannot be measured in money.
certainly They And when he leads Arsenat
band as they
Worcestershire on around 20, with Roy Marshall, look capable that afternoon of cheerful
ponents are were
the baby at 19, and fast bowler another fraction of an inch and to Wembley's manicured
welcomed fr with a very big May-d. there
Elines Johnson the veteran at 39, Saturday's performance Saturday, London, Apr. 23.-British boxing fans are offered on
pitch this
If I obvious that this happy
heights hand. They were welcomed in the next week, with who are there wil see what 1
Datting stars are likely to be, promises by Sir Pelham Warner and by bunch are
to be very going a feast of good fights within
deep according to manager Kidney, come, World, European and British Championships being de-
Jne's Leveson-Gower, looking a little popular, and there is a Decision No. 2 In
wel conviction
among those who Walcott, Weekes, Worrell, Stoll- Trestrail. Al of elded on Monday and Tuesday,
to whichmeyer, and take up the comed by McDonald Bailey, who know the standard
The performance of Stephen life crept up on him last season. less sterner. They were
gretted
India
MCC and against
in Custro
the In winning weather at all, they will beat
200 Mutres in 23.0 seconds was "I tried to persuade him to ally. They were welcomed by they play that, with any kind of these have scored freely agains
guitar
tar and voice, and a clarinet more than beat them. London's the West Indies.
encouraging-though ho That's one Innovation from most retire. He has a bis trocery
ร all the boys....
West Indian colony, which was business in Liverpool, and I was
That is about as far as we well
represented at Watering the Empire for the British sport-did better time than that So he
Inter- second in the afraid for his health.
would like to go in the Calypso that night, takes this line ing scene. The other is Fred coming
radio School Australian
--- and Tom Whitaker in
Championshipa but it was a neat strongly
we are Tupper, Anyhow,
commentator who serves as a reminder of the fact to greet them with taking the malter as seriously reing
minimum of four knows the requel. gesture
handled the description of the that there is kind of music that Stepping in when the Irish- win in their 10-rounds non-title
today re-contest last year.
adds: "Or their own Rinty Monaghan,
from Leveson-Gower Queen's Prize at Kempton with sprinters in the Colony Britain
held haz
was who can beat 24 seconds for the tuurse, I'm glad now he didn't they all love just about as much as it merits
don't a detailed speed nguished his title through 1-
as they love cricket.
happier state They don't bother about my mind) and "lum" Warner, the phenomenal by any standards, distance, a
of tive Committee of the Hongkong health, Allen takes on Honore since 1932, when Jackie Brown packs in."
athletics jocul the Frenchman,
In
than Lawn Tennis Association held Inst. 19
aggressive won it from
ALL-TIME RECORD?
special food-"whatever is going greeting: party included MCC but particularly so in regard to affairs Young Perez, but a victory for
Mercer played 22 times durio is all right for us,"
ald John secretary Colonel Rait-Kerr, the fact that he has had very we have ever known.
Anderson Allen would make him the first
seven Goddard, England,
their cuplaits, CLOSE CONTEST
the honour the war for
with assistants, and G. O, Allen,tle time to necustom himself to times as captain. Since then he manager 3. M. Kidney.
with his arm in a sling. A else cuntest between two Londoner to win
had every one of 12 horsea the But they were a little puzzled
'BABY' ROY boxings won a League Champlon O'Sullivan's superb speedy, skilful boxers is unti-since 1913.
placed in position all the way is eipate Pratesi
#t slight
They shook hands with a side through,
nor never faltered skill may enable him to west ship medal with Arsenal. favourite because of a points
Bantamweight Now he may set up a recordy the unimaginative Customs impounding of their rum, which,
Tupper Is att European
in small doses and particularly that captain Goddard claims is hesitated. Mr le from the Spanlard, Luts which will never be equalled.
the strongest and best-balanced acquisition. (a) He will be the first man in this weather, they regard of con- battle Romero, in a
the Cup food. to lead his team in
It was given them by that has ever after he should Goddard's family distillery. Hin Homero adopts the southpaw Final
biggest stores prople are the (reverse stance) and is a hard have retired!
(b) He is the only Liverpool-controliers in the West Indies. incher specialising in close
citizen now resident iri quarter work, but O'Sullivan born
who that #rent city has a great command of ring-
They've got some sugar and some grape fruit, but apart from £1,000 A YEAR Washington, Apr. 23-craft which may keep him clear Arsenal to win!
of trouble. The National Boxing Asso
And what is all this worth to that, nothing special. They will or Lwo looking Compared with the top have a day ciation said here it would Finch, of Croydon, challenges him?
at London,
practise tennis, around
move off to uphold any British suspen- Dick Turpin, of the Midlands,players in golf, lawn
eveu cricket a Lord's, and then
to trnin
for ten sion of the World Bantam- for the British Middleweight baseball, and
East-out. Nottingham mere pittance. t weight Champion, Manuel Championship
Tennis stars like Jack Kramer days
In their programme they have on Monday. Ortiz. of California,
Finch failed narrowly in his and Richard Gonzales earn be-
four Ave-day Tests, 30 three-day £30,000
£35,000. and The NBA Executive of 20
rious bid last June, but he is tween
three of one day Previous
£10,000; Eames and members voted to concur with confident of reversing the de- Golfer Bobby Locke,
British Boxing Board of
Tupin, when in the champion jockey Gerdin Rich-each. The first one-day fixture stars will he against the Club Cricket ards, £15,000; basebail
William and 300 Di Conference at Kingston on April. Ted the and may master
£25,000 Marcin, £37,500' nnd respectively.
Even Joe Mercer's team-mate, Denis Compton, Hot a cricket Fast усаг totaling
ment
for a world title tout niggley, the Bratish representa- £12,000.
from annual income Joe's London with the British Cham-tive of Black Pico, Champlon ofi
football? About tonight that he professional plon, Danny O'Sullivan.
Cuba, stated
post- a year, with Orliz is on his way by new to
British £1,000 to the was protesting South Africa, where he is due
of Control playing credits and benefits. Boxing
Omeas-Mra Mariaret Dyson,
NBA BACKS rasting siyles.
the
UP BBBC
Orliz if the
can:
Lomioner. Albert
Control in the Suspension of mand. I capable of brilliant
BEBC suspends boxing him on the pending inquest of more agresive Finch.--Reuter, the Landlon promoter. Me Jack
Solomons
Mr
that Solomons claims
PROTEST
23.-Georgs! benefit
Ortiz disregarded at #free- London, Apr.
to meet
title fight on May 20.
Bortl
weight title.
1 year
wants
SUGAR....FRUIT
03
No More Time
Wasting At Wimbledon
left the West |
(London Express Service)
INDIANS DO WELL IN LANCASHIRE LEAGUE
London, Apr. 22.-Phadkar Mankad, the Indian Test cricketer, was at the top of the form playing for Castle- ton Moor against Oldham this afternoon at the start of the Lancashire Central League season.
and Ladies B in this column we mentioned
Monday: Men's A and Ladies' A the fact that there have
not
Mixed been such
half-milers In this on Tuesday; Men's
D. Colony since the days of D. S.A on Thursday; and Blake
Peter and
Manson. and Mixed B on Friday. This Further inquiry reveals that the schedule will hold for every
week starting from May 1. record locally is two
dead by Manson of the Scots.
minutes
The following is the schedule Royal for the first week in May, with
That was when Peter was a real young'un, but not too long Mo ago he ran second In a race.
EB
#
י
the home team's name given first:
t
y.
V.
Monday, May 1, Men's B: Associa- South China Athlelle tion v. United Services Re- creation Club; Club de Recreio
Kowloon
Cricket Club:
Club Chinese Recreation For the Army team, Satur-Craigengower Cricket Club: In- day's meet was in the nature dian Recreation Club v. Ladies
Club: Almost unplayable on the damp pitch, he got eight of a warm-up for next Salur-Recreation
The first Oldham wicket fell today's annual Quadrangular be-Cricket Club v. SCAA "I". wickets for 22 runs.
tween Army, Royal Navy & . Monday, May 1, Ladies B: Mankad at eight runs, the second and third at nine.t. Commandos, the Royal Air Recreio "White" v. USRC; LRC
CCC:
Hongkong University Then a procession of batsmen went in and out quickly,Force and South China Atletic
Lawn Tennis Club v. Recreio mostly going to catches in the field und stumpings off Association.
One of the big events of this "Blue"; SCAA v. KCC. Munkad's bowling.
meeting could be
hurdles
Tu
Oldham were all out for 68
Mankad went in to bat first wicket down, but smashed at
out having scored.
tall
scored
B.
here
Hongkong
Thursday, May 4, Men's C: LRC v. SCAA; Kowloon Indian Tennis Club v. Kowloon Dock
Tuceday, May 2, Men's A: Ho Hil-po, between
HKU; the KCC v. KCC; Clic v. when he tried to hook n loose race ball, misjudsted It and was former Inter-School Champlon terrelo v. SCAA.
from St Joseph's back
Tuesday, May 2, Ladies' A: caught at square leg-Reuter.
from winning the Philippines LRC v. CRC: USRC v. KCC. OXFORD TRIAL
Inter-Collegiate title, und Major
Thursday, May 4, Mixed A: the ball and was caught with- Oxford, Apr. 22.-T.
LRC; the CRC v. SCAA; KCC Y For a time Hofmeyr
when Skipwith, who went over 23
10.4 Beconds on USRC bye. D it seemed that Castleton Moorhis XI met
B. Carr's Xi hurdles in
Saturday. Oxford Oldham's to reach
the first right Vic Toweel the British against the Terry Allen (EPC-Joe's mother-in-law, has yet to
to-day In total, but eventually they went University cricket trini. The Empire Champion, in a world a) veraus lionore Pradesh see Arsenal lone. She Travels
on to win by 32 runs,
Indian fast bowler, R. Divecha, Oght at Harringay,
London, Apr. 23.-Players
spectators this claimed two wickets for 51 for Army have a team this sea-Club; HKCC v. Recrelo; Kallak Among the up from Hoylake for every Cup- Commissioner Abe Greene (France)
Afanknd's wife Carr's XI. Including that of son that could run the South RAF v. CRC "2": HKU v. KCC;
the USRC v. CCC; CAC "1" hye. ald the Commitee also asked London, on Tuesday being re-
presence at Wembley.
unauthorised "rests" during and two children.
he dismissed Chinn AA very close in watching Hofmeyr, whom the British Board not to rear for the World Flyer prese per se arantees who waste time by taking afternoon were
Friday, May 5, Men's D: CCC "Pico has with great succc53 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA! cognise the proposed bout be-
matches in the Wimbledon their first English cricket match. leg-before. He bowled 20 overs, fight for points and could even
Alankad will be coach to
Man-
"2" v. CRC "2" CRC "1" a malden. tween Honore Pratest, of France, met bantamweights and feather-
the Aus Lawn Tennis Championshipsester University Cricket Club one of which was a
Army team is strong CCC "1"; SCAA v. betore How long and Terry Allen, of England, for weights in the United States," the World Flyweight title until he sald. "Either Allen
or trailaus (pop. 7.500,000) smash this year will find umpires during the season. Last season, help froin the easy paced pitch. from the 800 Metres up, though Decks; CRC "3" v. IRC; Recreio.
firm stand
in the to his first
Lancashire sports supremacy of the
taking a
5, Mixed B: Dato Marluo, of Hawall, the top Pratesi should meet him in con- the
M. G. Wright, of Ceylon, made there will still be the challenge v. KCC.
Friday, May Central League, he smashed 250 for Hofmeyr's XI before he
runa of Wong CCC v. CRC; LRC v. Recreio; American challenger, has nection with the vacant world United States (pop. 140,003,000)?
Don't laugh. Australia is almost stamp out those actions.
by making chance at the title."
China's HKU v. KCC; SCAA bye title." he welded.-Reuter.
The
the 12-year-old record Management of there NOW.
In a stand of 125 for the third Ching-ling, in America, John Wimbledon Championships have 1,407 runs and taking 124 wic-fell stumped and was associated in the longer
about the in-kets.
wicket. Marily
20-year-old Australian been concerned
Amarnath, or Indila, scored
Hofmeyr's XI made 295 and swimmer, fractured creusing number of players who
Carr's side were 41 for zero at matches and have asked four not out and took four wie including. the delay more records,
34 run In helping world 400 metres and 446 yards the Umpires Association to tako kets for
Radcliffe to defeat Ashton by the close of play-Reuter. free-style. And he's only just action.
Umpires are instructed to stop five wickets in the Lancashire
SIX MONTHS LIMIT Mr Greene added that if this was not fesible the NBA would recognise the bout if the winner were required to meet Marino within six months for the crown, The Championship fell vacant
retirement of the tite holder, Rinty Monaghan, of Northern Ireland.
the
only other actions taken
The
the
itt first
session of the two- Uny meeting were:
mendation
Taikoo School
Win Knockout
Competition
started!
ལ་ Fast bowlers
In tennis the Aussies are the players from taking undue time Central League. His bowling their towels, spectacles, was n feature of the match.
second most powerful nation. with
bull move making the "recovering" from After Frank Sedgman ut 22, is a future drinks and
falls between strokes,
sharply In his opening spell, he Wimbledon champion.
7:0 question of too long
switched to spinnera, No far behind him is Aus-
oft.alo be dealt with.
The final of the Inter-Schoolstralia's new "," 20-year-old knock-ups before the game will
Senior Soccer Knockout Com-Ken McGregor, who is
concluded when 2in. and has a reach of oft. Gin, The NBA atopted the recompetition was Talkoo of the European the
Dock Evening Then there is that other rising
the Queen's star, George Worthington. Ing Union that all boxers be School defeated Boxing
THEIR SECRET College by an odd goal at the similarly cleared for appearances
Hongkong Football Club ground in the United States.
The Committee recommended Happy Valley, yesterday morn- like a rocket. the experimental use of a 00-ing. keconds Interval between rounds.
maker
lated the teams.
were over
THREE MINUTES
Ashion's Innings ended at 90, Amarnath, second wicket down, was still batting when Radcliffe passed thit total,
Rain
PINNED DOWN
Int
come out the winners,
The received little
Club Win Old Comrades Cup
the
Playing in six inches of mud Saikung yesterday, Hong- An official of the Association
keng Football Club beat
for Middlesex Regiment 4-3 said: "Three minutes only are
Old Commdes football by Pinned down by a young spin the In athletics they are going up allowed for a knock-up before
presented but there have been
Cup They swamped a match,
he could
τα only make challenge everyone at the Empire Games, cases where this time limit has bowler,
At the end of four runs in a long spell at the A. S. Watson and Company
commemorate the long asrocin- with the of Middlesex At the conclusion of the game, although the weather admittedly been exceeded.
tion three minutes the umpires will wicket. as employed experimentally in Mr J. Finnie of Talkoo Docks helped them.
start and they
when Club. stopped play course and use players to sta In cricket, of
alter extra Club
only won the States of Michigan, Rhode presented the Pophy to the Island and Florida.-Neuter. winners after Mr T. R. Rowell, that's where we enter the argu- will have to do so."
P. Umrigar, was playing, had time following one of the most The Wimbledon Management Werneth, for whom the Indian, Director of Education, congratu-ment-no one enn touch them.
ECASON, "NO INTERFERENCE!"
ahead two gools In football they play Rugby have informed the Association reached 30 for three wickets in thrilling games of the Joliannesburg. Apr. 23--Reg
The game itself was an excll- Union, Rugby League. Soccer, that an umpire insisting that
Lancashire Central League after ten minutes and at half-
tkne it was 2-2. Ten minutes. Haswell, secretary and match-ing one and despite poor wea- land their own Australian brand. there should be no delay, except reply to Rochudiale's 130 in their Club were
White of the
City ther and
heavy field, Queen's
malch. The "Wallables,"
when they for very brief period to enable Sporting Club, sald tonight, that College put up a fue perfor-
here. were
good a player to wipe the perspiration
Unrigar bowled consistently, after the interval Club again milltary side action was to be taken to prmance against the winners who enough to take on our best, and of his hands and face, would
taking three wickets for 0 and scored but the vent interference with the
a world have the fulfest support.
were Barber and Mullen Syd
cases of claiming both the opening bats equalised before. the end. There have been
Club while ccheduled World Toni were much superior throughout.
for the (amateur) champion in After a hard struggle in the cycling they have Manuel between
first half. Wong Sun-man, Patterson.
"recting" in a mild form in big men.
Charlle Barnett, the former excellent
Gledhill played one of his best of Californifa, the holder, and centre-forward for Tulkoo I salute Australla. What is Championships for many years,
Gloucester bats- Vie Towel, the British Empire scored the only Kont with a their Becret? Just a natural notably in the 1949 Wimbledon England and
Bobman, hit 61 spectacular runs for Lumes. Champion, here on May 20. magalicent shot from 25 yards love of all games plus tremend Championships
Mr Haswell
WORLD RECORD satd the club's out.
Falkenburg (United States) fell Rochdale, Umrigar had scored ous verve and will-to-win.
23-Gile attorney had been Instructed to Following were the teams:
Cazablanca, Apr. take immediate action to applying and 110 Chung-chiu; Au Sza
Young I BYS
told there is a boy down several times during his 10 not out for Werneth when
The Indian professional, Vallercy, a young French girl patriot, Gardnar Mulloy, and
Hazaro, saw his first Lancashire swimmer, today beat the world far, an injunction restraining the wing. Tsang Yung-kan and Wong called Paul Perry, who, at 101 semi-final match with his com- play was abandoned,
the 100 Motres Lohdon
promoter,
Mr Jack Fook-kwan: Teng Ping Ma Mari possesses a cannon-ball service was asked by the umpire to
Central League fixture of the record for Solomons, the
British Boxing hung. Wong Bunnan Li Kwong and a really promising forehand
and backhand drive.
Falkenburg was also accused season end in defeat today when Breast Stroke here by clocking Board of Control and Mr Abs wall and Wong Yung-kl.
Queen' College.Chan Bul-lou
Fred Perry was interested in
"stalling" against
the Royton (64 all out) lost to Little 1 min. 17.4 Bocs. Groene, Commissioner of the Cheung Shiu-shing and Chan Kung-
The official world record, hold over hare of
John Bromwich, borough, who made 60 for seven. National Boxing
Association sung; Yeung Kwok-kun, Chan Chun him when he was
Woon chun Lee Well, he's bertainly got the right Australian,
Hazare scored six runs and by Nel Van Vliet, of Holland, Is (United States) trom inter-Young and Lau
whom he beat in the final
took three wickets. He was out 1 min. 18.2 sectRouter. fering with the holding of the Chao-yul, You Tat-hoy Wong Yung
wing, Yall Tung-kwonk and Tong name, London Express Berpics Router. fight--Reuter.
King-sin..
uitle fight
Talkoo,Cheung Sheung:
In
resume.
whers
South
V.
Kowloon
GETTING INTO SHAPE
"Patsy". Hendren, the Sussex CCC coach, whispers,
a word of advice to G. H. G. Doggart at the nets
Hove.