1953-06-20 — Page 11

THE CHINA -- MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE · 20, 1953.

BEGINNING TODAY: THE STORY OF THE GIANT THEY

The greatest footballer that

ever was.

BY THE MAN WHO KNEW

HIM IN HIS GREATNESS

GEORGE ALLISON

Ex-Arsenal manager

side 10 many

LEXANDER JAMES, capable of reproducing some destined later to lead Scotland's

born at Mossend, of Alex's tricks but never international neur Glasgow, 1902. turning them to the best

Died 1953. To that use.

cold historical fact must be added the story of the

That was how Alex was

greatest exponent of all the so far ahead of his fellow arts and crafts known to, professionals, Association football.

Today we see another My active and direct con- disciple of his in Arsenal's nections with the game ex- Jimmie Logie, who, I know, tend over 50 years, during is full of gratitude for the which time I have seen all help and advice Alex gave in recent years. At the scintillating stars flash him ing in the "Soccer" firma- that Jimmie will gladly con- ment G. 0. Smith, Steve' cede that he will never rival Bloomer, Bobble Walker, the genius of his mentor. Alf Common, Sammy Day,

Nor and, of the Old Brigade,

cross modern thews later, the more players of the game have me, I am sure. come under my critical eye. his own tricks

Yes,-1 in-

clude even that genius, Wizard the

of Dribble, Stanley Mat thewa.

But there has been only ono Alexan- der James. He was some~ how different from others. You could toli by the perpetual twinkle in his eyes that be- hind them

there was an alert. brain,

REMEMBER ?

-0. There is, no, seed, to say to whom these belonged. You

know bb "Wee Alex" ""by" "shorts," (fe longest in the game..

As they tapped about his knees the crowd used to roar "Come on, LonT- Pants," Remember %

an amazing power to make a split-second decision. He had unbounded self-assur ance and a delightful sensO of humour.

By way of contrast, we once had a player at High- bury named Peter Dougal, who was also a ball juggler

memorable victories:

They were known as "Tho Inseparables and were to- eliter in the Scottish team which wiped the floor with England's.

selves the unforgettable tille of "The Wembley Wizards."

best in 1928 and eamed for them

·GREAT LINE

(OU will remember that great Y forward line-Alco Jackson, Dunn, Gallacher, Janies, and Alan Marion. Before going to Preston, Alex was a professional

with Raith Rovers.

ed.

་

ORE MAN'S SPAN

injuries that made his appearando doubtful.

We were indeed alarmed when

condition of the

CALLED WEE ALEX'

In all things...

• “Wee. Alom”, was novestieter (left) when he played his firet; senior game for Kasih ftovers. Thirty-four years later (right) he played for the inst Umo-in a charity match.

Amt a man who was his friend from first to last

Nobody knew he was hurt

playing three or four holes. FROM

says TOM WHITTAKER, M.B.E. the present. Arsenal manager

I well recall the day we will Stanley Mat- signed Alex for Arsenal. Her-

swords with bert Chapman and I negotiated we found that he suffered from

Stanley has the transter with Preston North a rheumatic

End's honorary managing ankles, in ball mani- director Jim Taylor and Alex,

He found the symptoms so: pulation, of course,

painful that he would have to ind

his

With us was Tom Paton. 3 abandon a came of golf after ROM the day Alex re often these injuries were never position is wealthy Scot, then domiciled in on the ex- Yorkshire and a friend whose

to Happily, radiant heat, treat-ported Highbury apparent to the crowd. wing, advice Alex more than respect ment had the desired effect and nearly 25 years ago until a self-discipline with regard to He had a strong sense of tremo whereas Alex

soon wo heaved a sigh of relief quarter of an hour before injuries; he would never allow In a West End restaurant we when he was able to play two he died there was, with the an opponent to know he had reamed the

reta preston rounds a day, during our social exception of the war years, finally agreed wide

open

£8,750, a big fee in 1929-but training activities, usually at spaces, where what a "petty-cash" item when

Brighton.

Hardly over a time together he always compared with the astronomic

when we were not talking seemed to see figures of today.

football. two moves nhead.

Not only pending departure was mooled, did ho bam- Preston needed money at the

time. boozle the op- position but frequent ly took his col

own

leagues by surprise,

The classic case of Alex James to the belief lend support that foolbailors of outstanding personality are born, not made..

been hurt.

other's advice; football was the baller Small wonder there was an

outery in Preston when his im-

TRIBUTE

a

of

but

with

I

in

Uncanny

to

wear

And now a word about those long shorts which: Alex always

REMEMBER saying once that sported, True he was something of a showman. What gonlus isn't?

We were always seeking each Alex should be the one foot He was

who ought an ontertainment in

cach belloved In shinguards on the backs of his himself, but never content to be only tople wo

Innatically.

legs rather than the front, mere entertainer.

For that reason, one of the There Was method

in his first duties on my appointment His uncanny body swerve' and madnesa I regret I cannot Elve an answer to the question: secretary-manager at Arsenal feint were such that his back why he made himself doubly in 1947 was to bring Alex James War more often turned to an than his front, and to Highbury conspicuous

staff opporient oversized back

opponents, in their efforts to get

bail STORY is told of a local shorts reaching below his knees, capacity.

awdy, repeatedly, That his genius of football the Knowing the working of his should be lost to Arsenal was damaged the calves of his legs? politician addressing an elec shrewd and calculating mind, tion meeting in the town and think

and Ke took an unthinkable, that

ho maybe

thought

He had an instinctive knack making the statement

James was

that the long pants would keep his intense delight in trying to coach of being ble almost to skipper worth his weight knees warm on a cold day and

some of our younger players. in gold."

possibly provide

His method was probably not some distin- From a

guishing feature by which He according to the book, because

he was impatient if the young sters made mistakes. But they. thought much of him; during his spell in hospital they were always there, trykig to cheer him to rtvovery.

Even in hospital he was on example to everybody in the 'fight he made, and never g to give up until the last

member of

the

them for luck. No need for him to carry a rabbit's foot. He was supremely confident in his own ability.

INSPIRATION

a side without actually being the skipper and Ho was never afraid to correct any player, however high that player's re-

"making mistakes.

tatlon, who to his mind was

Foolball to me has been the means' of: meeting many fine people, but I shall be eternally grateful to it for letting me know and work with Alex Jumest

A Scottish friend of mine who audience: "Can the candidate could be identified. knew James in his boyhood days, -tell- us-if- America has offered There is no suggestion he wore once told me how he happened to the war debt for Alex James?" call at the Jameses' cottage at a

A volce, "They could not have most unfortunate moment.

him if they offered us America," Eleven-year-old Alex had just It was a tribute richly deserved. been physically reproved for, ac- cording

father, to his rate

Indeed, no player in my sc- "playing Atba""" Incidentally, time has had the drawing power

In his playing days I believe "Wee Alex," I can

best

day. That too was; typical of niso for playing truant from of school.

emphasise the statement by YOOTBALL records tell us that his attitude on the footonil field: knew that there was a man

who would be talked about longj Father James did not, of telling you

I that when it was he was "capped" oight times

me, not many weeks ago,

of pain, and it and time has shown that Alex the until his retirement in 1937 he complaining and Arsenal telephone never ceased had helped Arsenal to win the seemed like old times in that has a niche in football history ringing on the preceding Friday FA Cup twice and the Football whenever Alex had anything the, which will hardly, if ever, be and Saturday morning.

League championship four times, matter with him he would im- equalled. From places as far afleld as When I say "helped," Imcarit mediately come to us, Eastbourne, Brighton, Bognor, in the fullest sense of the word. Swindon and He was ant inspiration art a yes, even from Northampton and other distant match-winner, even though he spots, came the anxious query, preferred to make it entry for hir "is James playing today?"

colleagues to score the goals

course, realise that the genius announced that James was war for Scotland and that from 1829 to member the day he came, gder his playing days were over,

COFFEE OR TEA? ASKS THE history.

CABMAN

From Donald 'Ludlow

NEW YORK. Taxi drivers might gain in- spiration from the hospitality of some American caly drivers.

Harry Newman, a 40-year- old x-Serviceman who works on Manhattan, offers his pas- songera coffee, tea or hot choco- Inte as soon as they step into his taxi.They may have it and a with ougar and cream

fresh- doughnut,

...

Newman carries the refresh-

ments in three vacuum battlea

in the front foot. In summer ho also serves cold zoda drinks

and iced tea.

He also keeps д stock of atpirin, eye-drops, cough drops,

• bandages and four brands cigarettes for his passengers,

of

He keeps up with the latest rfict resulla baseball, hockey and football scorts over portable radio for those who aro interested

or

IL

Henry Llanome, a 59-year-old driver from the Bronx, a suburb of New

York, offere д fresh rose gardenia to his women passengers and a carnation to mon On occasions he has presented bunchies of flowers to pretty girl

the

"I guess I'm Just a sucker for lowers and pretty girls," ho Phillp Tolesid, 86, of Brook- ky aby taklod

nother, suburb. Intrigues candid photograph of them ting in the back of his taxi. House a salf-developing damerit af and a print to the prominger at the chu of tho

sieciaron,

of his tiny son was destined to carn for the child a blazing and fascinating chapter in football In his junior daya Alex Begun his climb up the ladder of fame Bellshill his local club, Athletic.

He was then working as #1

in the nearby checking clerk steelworks. His pal was none other than Hughle Gallacher,

with

"GOSH! GOING

It

Д doubtful starter,

In his early days at Highbury rather than seele the glory for

WIS not always netust himself.

HOPE THE OLD MAN ISN'T.

CD LIVE, AMMO.

SALUTE TO PEACE

TRUCE

IN KOREA

Human side

is life and mine scomed to be so much interwoven Ih our connection with Arsenal that I think I almost knew. him better than he know himself. an sido Knowing the human him, I do not hesitate to say he was the greatest personality one! could meet in a lifetime of football. And he was one of the greatest footballers of all time.

of

do not so much mean his individual brilliance, but his play in making a team into a found. As trainer with Arsenal I spent many Jong hours with Alex working on the injuries he and received in matches, and

NEXT SATURDAY: GEORGE ALLISON WRITES ON "WEE ALEX, THE MAN'

SHELL COCKROACH

KILLER DOES kill cockroaches!

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