1938-08-23 — Page 18

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PREPARING FOR SOCCER SEASON RULE AND PLAYER CHANGES:

FORTUNES FOR STAR PLAYERS

- London, August 10. THE League football season in England does not start until the last Satur- day of this month, but most of the players were called back to duty ear- lier than usual owing to the fact that, for the first time, organised games have been arranged for the third Saturday in August.

1

The special objective of these extra matches is to raise a large sum of money-£100,000 is the amount aimed at which shall be the foundation of a permanent Players' Benevolent Fund. By the establishment of this fund the Football League hopes to celebrate, in fitting fashion from the point of view of those who play the game, the Jubilee of League football.

The matches arranged for the Benevolent Fund, although only "friendlies," will each have a local interest, clubs in close proximity, geographically, being in opposition. Certain people in close touch

with the game are sceptical concerning the anticipated amount of money being raised. The games will take the place of public prac- tice matches for charity-which are usually held on the third Saturday in August.

Whether the Benevolent Fund matches are a success will depend to a large extent on the attitude of club officials towards them. If other than representative teams

for fear are fielded

of injury consequences, the matches will fail to achieve their purpose, and

[CULIJANA.......ÿÿ11-48802(@2 TO-MORROW'S SCOTTISH

'LEAGUE CARD

The following is the Scottish League First Division programme for to-morrow:- Aberdeen.

V.

Albion

V.

Partick Arbroath

Clyde

V.

St. Mirren

Hamilton

Hearts

Kilmarnock

Queen O'S.

Queen's Park Raith Rangers

football will get a poor prelimin-sions for players of repute, and re- ||||||||| ary advertisement to the

new duced the necessity for many clubs to dispose of players in order to balance the accounts.

season.

has

LITTLE CHANGE Although a revised rule-book been complied and issued by the Foot- ball Association, as an aid to simpli- city of understanding, there are no rule changes of a drastic nature.

One rule amendment may have small, or far-reaching effects on the play, according to the interpretation which referees place on the ruling.

It relates to charging; the new instruction to referees reading that charging, unless it be of violent or dangerous nature, is permissible if the charge is delivered to an oppon- ent who is "attempting to play the ball."

Just what the words quoted mean is, apparently, left to the referees to

interests

the "or-

Of course, there have been numer- ous changes in the personnel of various clubs in the relation to dinary" players, but the number of really important or expensive --| transfers could almost be numbered on the fingers.

ARSENAL'S CAPTURE

The outstanding transfer is that of Bryn Jones, Welsh International for-

v. Hibernian

ν.

V.

Third Lanark Celtic Motherwell Falkirk

V. Ayr

v. St. Johnstone

ENGLAND IN STRONG POSITION

Hutton Shatters Records

"REVIEWER'S" SPORTS COMMENTARY

Soccer Close Season

Narrows Down

the ad-

Some justification exists for suggestion that home soccer is vancing steadily towards the time when there will be no close season for football: when there will be organised weekly games throughout the whole of the twelve months.

Not many years ago an extra week was claimed at the beginning and an- other extra week at the end of each

The close season rapidly drawing to an end, has been the shortest on record.

genson,

now

Several weeks after the normal end of the season, serious games were played in connection with the Glasgow Exhibition: matches, the results of which seemed to prove that Celtic, in addition to being champions of the Scottish League last season, were also superior to certain first-class English clubs.

League matches have already been played in Scotland, and South of the Border the opening of the new season is eagerly awaited.

Raith Rovers and Albion Rovers have ascended to the First Division of the Scottish League.

Particular interest attaches to the return of the former club, not 80 much because they are Raith Rovers, but by reason of the exceptional feats of the side in the Scottish Second Division last season. In a campaign of thirty-four matches, Raith Rovers scored the record number of 142 goals, averaging over four per game.

This average far exceeded that of any other leading League club in the British Isles, and there is much speculation as to whether Raith will

to

ward, from Wolverhampton Wander- AUSSIE FIELDINGxploits against Scottish First Division

MAGNIFICENT

ers to Arsenal The figure agreed upon between the two clubs is said to be thirteen thousand pounds-a figure which probably bears close relation to the actual terms of the agreement. Adding 287 runs to their over- The player required-who has the night total of 347 for 1, England last word in such transfactions--took

are now in a fairly strong position a lot of convincing that there any satisfactory reason why he should in the Fifth and limitless. Test leave Wolverhampton for Arsenal. against Australia, although they

reached?

was

Where and

was

mond (1.b.w. to O'Reilly),, Paynter gers to the eminence to which the

Hero of the day was

Leonard

clubs, or whether they will find it necessary to change their tactics.

The decline of 'Glasgow Rangers among the surprises of the. Scottish championship struggle last season. True, they finished in the third position, but a total of twelve points fewer than Celtic was an out- come far from satisfying to Rangers' players, officials, and supporters. There wasn't. so far as wages from lost four valuable batsmen yester- A big effort will be made during decide. It is not difficult, however, football are concerned, but London day in Leyland (run out), Ham- this season to restore Glasgow Ran- to visualise different interpretations. provides opportunities outside the If the ball is six yards ahead of a game itself."

(1.b.w. to O'Reilly) and Compton by force of habit

club had become accustomed almost player who is running after it, is he

In addition to this record fee, which

(b Waite). then attempting to play the ball? Or should a more strict interpretation be many think far beyond the worth of brought to bear-an interpretation any player, ten thousand pounds has

season, Hutton, the 22-year-old Yorkshire to fall is England's highest total which makes it illegal for the charge been asked, during the close to be made save when the player is for one Scottish full-back, and there prodigy, who was associated with in a. Test match which stands at "in the act" of playing the ball? have been instances of players chan- Maurice Leyland in a record stand 636, made at Sydney, in 1928-29, Many would have preferred, in the ging clubs for fees of six, seven, and of 382 for the second wicket, which while it is possible that England

of the game, that there eight thousand pounds.

pass Australia's 729 for 6 should be no loophole which would when will this transfer fee limit be not only surpassed the English re- may

cord for the wicket (188 by Sut-established at Lord's, in 1930. Justify referees allowing a charge

cliffe and Hammond, at Sydney, in Hutton, providing he maintains save on an opponent in the act of

FIRST SENSATION playing the ball,

1932-33) but was the highest part- the same form to-day, stands an REFEREES AND FINANCE Many followers of the game still re-nership for England in Test history, excellent chance of beating Don call vividly, the sensation which was Hutton then went on to break Bradman's record score for a Test Changes affecting referees, in the caused hen the first thousand pounds R. E. Foster's 35 year old record match, 334, which was established financial sense, have been made during fee was paid for one Alfred the close season. A minor change is ¦ mon. At that date such an amount for the highest individual Test at Leeds, in the 1930 season. the standardisation of expenses

limit. score by

England batsman, curred by referees and linesmen in the Nowadays, a player for whom a mere which stood at 287, but which now execution of their allotted tasks. Under thousand pounds is asked scarcely stands at 300 not out. - Hutton also a major alteration referees who are gains the distinction of mere men- shares with George Duckworth the in charge of games in the two Third Lion. Unless much-needed legislation

record of batting on three succes- Divisions of the Football League will is passed to prevent it, we may receive the same fee as those who eventually hear of twenty thousand sive days in a Test match, although "take" games in the First and Second pounds being paid for one footballer. his feat is actually a better one as Small wonder the players ask where in Duckworth's case, it rained on A general fee. of three guineas they come in, and why there is so the second day. per match is now the rule, whereas much official eluctance to accede to in the past the fee for referees of their demands for increased wages. Third Division games was two guineas. If. Arsenal, best supported of all the This is a just move, many referees League clubs, avail themselves of un-

Another outstanding feature of being of opinion that Third Division limited transfer fee regulations they games, played, in theory, by leas can make this reply: "In 1922 we the day was the brilliant fielding scientific players, are more difficult proposed that the maximum transfer of the Australian team, Don Brad- to control than are the games in the fee for any player shall be £1,050." man, their skipper, setting a shin- Five wickets for higher sections of the League.

Thee power of the purse, if not ing example. Hassett was also

Fall of wickets-1 for 29. With certain exceptions, the clubs always overwhelming, continues to outstanding in the field, and (Edrich), 2 for 411 (Leyland), 3 in the Football League had a success- tell and relative values continue to rendered yeoman service. The for 546 (Hammond),^^4 for 547 ful time financially last season. The soar. Nobody would seriously sug- various balance-shoots issued during gest that any modern footballer is so Australian bowlers had another (Paynter), 5 for 555 (Comptori)..

BOWLING the summer contain more stories of many times better, in the skill con- gruelling although fairly success- profits made last season than losses. nection, than the first thousand ful day, O'Reilly and Fleetwood- Waite 1 for 121; McCabe 0 for This generally satisfactory position of pounds transfer fee man. The best Smith maintaining an excellent [59; O'Reilly: 66.2---- affairs has had two effects on clone players go to the highest bidders.

[Fleetwood - Smith (^70—— length.

Division.

in- was considered the absolute

•

Com-

ап

BRILLIANT FIELDING

TEST SCORE BOARD

ENGLAND First Innings

Hutton, not out Edrich, 1.b.w., b O'Reilly Leyland, run out,

W. R. Hammond, L.b.w., b Fleet-

wood-Smith Paynter, 1.b.w..., b O'Reilly Compton, b. Waite Hardstaff, not out

Extras

season activities; caused certain clubs That is one of the unhappy truths The next record which is certain Barnes 0 for 40. to make offers of exceptional dimen- emphasised during this close season.,

-144-

300

12

187

35

634

285-1;