SATURDAY SOCCER SPOT
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1954.
What Went Wrong?- But That's The Oldest Question In The Game
By I. M. MacTAVISH
The succession of defeats sustained by our representative side at Singapore has been a great disappointment to the football public in the Colony,
On every side one can hear 'What went wrong at Singapore 1 bal in the
went
with the wrong Midlands of England soccer folks are also asking "What Albion at Villa Park while in Glasgow-and in fact wherever Scotsmen meet— the question of the hour is 'What has gone wrong with the Rangers?'
away
in shortcomings and
Jinve brez 2- the oldest question. It's
good | League games defeats the game: as old in twet us the Juchanment.
exaggerate ranged but it may well be that efforts will be made to play wit game itself but just na old, is the one and confuse the other.. the belief of almost every then is the time to be wary of some of the outstanding games of the like soccer-Interested individual that critles.,
...they are
Kign- during the later part he knows the answer
way, posts: they tell you the
would have had HE been given the chance but few of them he could have produced a 41f- the courage to follow it them- selves because in wezer the des- fermt result
tination is always in doubt.... Perfect guidance for our Selec-
week. and that
tore.
ALL-INDIA SERIES
THIS WEEK'S TALKING POINT, The local football doubt be in- world will nu Football IN U kom at hopes
terested in the suggestion by Council the Australian Soccer and disappointments, wins and defeats, reNSOLLE
and excuses
that an Empire Soccer Carnival Among
all the criticism and
should be held in 1955, Not so comment about this unfortunate
Interesting, however, is the Im soccer visitation one point has
plied suggestion that Hongkong not had the
From Singapore prominence i
the
riot worthy of consideration is scene quires
participant. representatives shifts back to our
Hongkong
especially and
recent are to be fairly judged.
this wook-end
the after the success of the have wo All-India Aslan Games team Eastern tour in that country,
Australiana
being to supply international opposi- or are the
sport tion. The visitors will play conversiently three games in the Colony.
11
re
The Hongkong players Are now at the end of a long and over strenuous senson. No mat ter who to to tell us different, they
In rd
d. -
players, even if they do not fully appreciate the fact them- selves.
The Singapere players, on the other hand, are fresh hom thell, cluse seuson. They have rested and re-charged their soccer batteries, s to speak, and in this respect they undoubtedly enjoyed s
dvantage over our players.
success.
definite
Now that is a possible 'reason," not an excuse, for our lack of Many people may say that it is an unimportant rec-on| and that the real reason is that the Selection Committee picked the wrong players.
I do not consider we sent our best team that is purely personal opinion. but I con- alder that the team we sent was a good one and fully representa- tive of our available resources,
We have been beaten and our football legislators will pretty certainly give serious considera-
the conch....and
manager and
no doubt, too, they will and
Tuluy they open their tour a matel against All Honk- kong: tomorrow they torkie the Hongkong Selection; and un Tuesday the Combined Chinese will provide the opposition, Ali three games will take place at the Club Stadium and the kick- off in each case will Le 8 o'clock.
AL
to It is impossible
forgeast the outcome of these games with any reasonable Accuracy how for it is dimeyll to know our players will re-act to the recent Interport defeats at Macao and Singapore.
It is mere speculation tu con sider the current form of the visitors althouth It is known that the game in India Hasrtado constdarable strides during the last
years.
The Indians
shown have themselves to be good players and 1 have pleasant memories
mernary....?
Who is YOUR H.K. FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR?
EVER before has there been so much public interest in Hongkong soccer than during the season now ending. And never before has the Colony boasted so many talented players -players who have given tens of thousands of soccer "fans" clever and thrilling exhibitions of their prowess in this greatest of all local field sporta.
The China Mail has, therefore, decided to organise among the followers and supporters of local soccer a Gallup Poll to deterthine, by popular vote,
Hongkong's Footballer of the Year.
China Mail renders are cordially invited to All in the form below, nominating whom they regard as the Colony's outstanding footballer of the current season.
The two qun:ifentions for nomination are:
(1) Footballing prowess,
(2) Sportsmanship on the Deld of play.
Nominations should be addressed to The Editor, China Mati, will close on MONDAY, Wyndham Street, fongkong. Entries MAY 10.
The result will be announced an Saturday, May 15.
To the Editor, China Mail.
My nomination for Hongkong's Footballer of the Year, taking into regard his playing ability and his sportsmanship on the field of play is
of the
their
Signed
Club.
Floodlight Football Is Booming Again
By
GEORGE
ROBB
Spring and drying grounds bring their reward to soccer fans. Floodlight foot- ball is booming again,
Bu danger occurs when the close-marking full-back has not the speed to recover if beaten. That is the great snag of these
{
ALEC BEDSER'S COLUMN
The Caribbean Butcher May Have To Retire
From
Test Cricket
"The Caribbean I was sorry to hear that Everton de Courcy Weckes, Butcher" as he is known in the West Indies, may have to retire from Test cricket. He has been having trouble with his thigh muscles and cartileges and will decide in the next few months whether he will be able to carry on in internationals.
at Jamates and a Though I have not been to the first Test
low scores in the West Indies I have been kept | string of informed by colleagues and have second, third and fourth Tests und at Trinidad was the victim been quite prepared for Comp-
cntch a wonder ton's success there. One wrote of
by Denis Atkinson off a bit which would normally have been four run But that's the way it goca and "the hero of Lord's" will have his turn again.
The strain of five and six- day Tents is quite enough for u player 100 per cent ft let alone
with for one
leg handicap, especially one expected to live up to an extremely high stand- ard of achievement.
That he did so well in the
Th Intous
scorts
In- recent series with
century, 94 cluding a double and 90 not out, is remarkable.
leading light in the trio of W's-Weckes, Worrell and Walcott-Everton batainen is one of the greatest
and he holds of all tune world's record of Avo consecu- Just think live Test centuries.
what that meanst
me:
"Watch out for Compton being in the runs from about Barbados onwards." And that is exactly how it worked out.
at
At Barbados he made 99 the second innings of the second Test, 64 In the third Test British Gulana, followed by century in the fourth matting at Trinidad.
nn
Sympathy colleague A Laker the bumper. It is always unfortun-
ate when
this accidents of nature happen for they tend to out of become distorted and perspective.
goes to my from
Jimi Surrey, htt in the eye by a
a
ONE OF THE ENIGMAB
One of the enigmas MCC tour of the West Indies
of
the
I have found him one of the most formidable of batsmen have bowled against and I shall the never forget the look on face of
mino of colleague when Everton cut his Arst delivery square to the boundary: In Such a thing is not done English county cricket as Dick Howorth said to me when early In my career I clouted him out of the ground at Worcesteri
ONCE HE HAS HUS EYE IN...
Everton was "found" at Bar- bados bowling leg breaks and owes a lot to John Goddard, the former West Indies captain, who took him under his wing and gave him every encourage- ment.
I have always believed,
was the record of Willie Watson however, that the tall-end bats who like Compton in Australia | man should be spared bumpers
in 1950-81 made a stack of runs because he is not likely to have the first-class matches but either the time to get out of the few in the Tests.
way or the ability to hit
in
Watson made a century in the balll
the
Rangers To Reorganise
A natural games player and the sort of genlus who knows no orthodoxy, Everion Just cannot be curbed once he has ball. his ose in.
Even
if he has to give up playing for the West Indies, Wenkes will carry on in the He has a League for Bacup. sports business in England.
am aire fair minded
By BRUCE SWADEL
Here is news of the unhappiest club in British foot-
Rangers the team buried under a load of condemna tion—ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
J
Confidently I predict that in a very short time wo shall hear of changes in the Ibrox management, They keep their business to themselves at Copland Road but these things I do know:
Clubs without promotion or relegation problems are turning once more to this medium to vary the fare for spectators-and to bring in n little extra cash.
of this parti- is no likelihood room to work in as they would London last week put on a well
of "attacking do- particularly rich variety show it the backs had been working cular type
fence" ever becoming generally The the "swivel-system." of differing soccer styles,
adopted. It is far too dangerous Continental turn was provided
for the normal kind of back. by Swlay side Servette against
But there is one great thing to West Har
be said for it.
change Irum the stop-them-at-all- costs" kind of soccer which is dedicated to the ostrich-like aim of saving one point, instead of move against that
with deplorable Boccer attitude is a welcome one | Indeed.
-(London Kzprass Service)
Floodlight glant-killers, Mill wall, beat First Division New-
SCOTTISH BRAND
of their fast open style of play.castle United.
belleve
Denis Was
t
officials
could
it
pursuade
Amateur
tactics.
TOO DANGEROUS Full-backs who uro slow in
tion to the reports of the team Compton who said that if the hur enthusiasts had a recovery are much safer play-going all out for two. And any
of comparing their stars ing the "swivel-system." Only the with
professional opposition those who are fast can usefully players to accustom themselves when crack
amateur touring try the new mode. to playing in boots they would side Middlesex Wanderers met
means there capable uf entering be
Queen's Park Rangers. of international highest class football with a good chance of
hard to turn a deaf ear to the criticism that they will hear on many sides.
In this respect I would like to quote from a book written by a famous club manager in England just after he retired. In a passage intended for thosu,
his years of experience, Je wrote this: '...victories suppress
succcax
Lhc
The visitors will be opposed by three strong teams and our players can recapture their
should
dominating the programine
1:0
the ever-
Then there wds intriguing contrast of Engilsh and Scottish brands of footbaji
in the Spurs-Hibernian match.
A great change from normal English soccer practice was the manoeuvring of the Hiberlans defence. Full-back, Macfarland
as he called thent, courageous | early season snap this Bouls in football management, be a most interesting series.
and Boyle, marked their wingers who might like the benefit of
With the All-India side very closely, man to man, and
kept very "square."
This is so different from the "swivel-system" of defence which is the almost-Invariable rule in England. It operates with full-backs "swivelling" round a slopper centre-half.
MY BEST GOLF SHOT
George Gadd's 'Easy' Shot
Was Easier Than He Thought
By JAMES GOODFELLOW
That, of course,
SO MODERN TABLE TENNIS WAS EVOLVED
Mr Bill Struth will not be back on top....and keep them
Whatever there. Rangers.
will cricketers the world over Join me in congratulating Denis Compton on his form in the leaving
he will re- West Indies. In three successive changes are made,
main as a director of the club. Tests he made 93, 64 and a cen-
The new manager will be one on the Trinidad mailing tury
experience a provád which by all accounts is a killer for bowlers.
team builder and
Dents, one of the most popular of all games players, has had a lough time In the last years,
Iow
There was the operation on his knee in 1850 which all but put an end to his career and for
long periods he has only
Once upon a time there was a county cricketer and a lawn tennis player who decided that the brand of ping-75 per cent At. pong then being played could be stepped-up. So modern table tennis was evolved and, as lo so many other sports, Great Britain did the ploneering.
been
success as a
disciplinarian.
ECASON
The Ibrox purse strings are being loosened. Before another la out overy regular Rangers supporter will be able under to woich his texun from cover.
in hand to extend covered enclosure with the stand, be a "roof" over
Plans are the present to that along
will 40,000 spectators.
there Little wonder he has had to desperately in the struggle
warfare of Tests and tough many have been confidently
determination
of
The two old-timers were Fred Perry, later to become predicting that his career was Wimbledon Singles Lawn Tennis Champion, and Charlie nearing its end. They reckoned Bull, the Kent cricketer, fated to be killed in a motor without the the
crash...Perry was the first Englishman to win the World's Compton. Table Tennis Championship, and, with Bull, won the Men's Doubles.
The term pivot for a centre- half derives from these tactics, and they mean that Instead of
mon to marking strictly
good
ful
mun,
the
In Lił the
He to one of the few players who have actually asked to be dropped from an England side because he was positive ho could not do himself or the team justice.
That was in 1952 following the most unhappy phase in Austraila where he scored free ly in all the matches except the Tests and disappointments became a routine matter.
Thereafter the titles went to, Barne has always said that the the Continentala-mostly Viktor "pen-holder" grip la vulnerable A full-back must occasionally Barna and his Hungarian team-when the backhand is attacked. leave his opponents to back up mates, unti Johnny Leach broke The Japanese have the easiest of his colleagues.
the
monopoly—unless you count answers to this theory; by speed POWERFUL PARTNERS
naturalised Richard Berg-about the court they take every-
thing on Great exponents of the system mana an Englishman.
on the forchand! But how Perry end Bull would They were
not defcated were, of course, Male and Hap
single match of pre-war Arsenal fame. stare if they could see what is one
n in the Wembley Empire triangular finals between Japan, George Gadd (Roehampton), who has done bight
Mars recently have followed going on i
Britain and Czecho defensive Foot Just now. There the World Great those holes each in one, recalls his feat at Harlech (North Wales)
Table Tennis Championships are slovakia in the men's event and Barrics partners,
And -the shot which has stayed longest in his mentory. Lionel Smith.
again being staged and Japan Japan, Great Britain and Hun-fascinating and difficult
in both the gary in the women's. But in the last season or so, swept the board Welsh "When
Then Bergmanns, by dour de professional signifled a certain two for the there has been a slight swing Swaythling Cup (men's
team champion, I was competing for
won through on tie.
Corbillon
two tence, and away from these tactles among
occasions and Diane one of two sectional pieces in "A spectator, however, camo a few defences. Players that Cup
Rosalind Rowe --- the Match Play tournament.
Asiatics, running to say that I had holed have seen adopt á möte aggresight the game principally by querable twins-succeeded once "After a first round 81, which out. The one put me In first sive, Hind jeopardised my chances, I place.
Stamping game, ore needed #72 to tie with two competitors who had returned a total of 159.
THATS EASY `
cha warm's event).
The
Ithe
little
-onco
and uncon-
An
But looking after the fans is clearly going to be much- easier job than looking after the team
TREMENDOUS TASK
A tremendous task faces the new "boss".
He will have to renovate the moth-eaten morale of the club,
He will have to watch both first and second teams with the most critical of eyes to spot all the deficiencies and decide on all the repairs that can be made
Because
with material inside the club.
the Rangers wealth is so well known he will, when this he does
go on the transfer game market, have to be very sure of that his man before he recommends im-buying.
Thy longer I am ja
the more I am convinced temperament plase portant part and with a player of Compton's ability failure in often paychological rather than technical.
Because all Bellain, as well as the Ibrox support, expects it, will have to put Rangers
ho
Albion-Giants Of The Past
Where is this Supremno to be found?
My bet is that he will be a former Rangers player.
Scot Symon has already been discussed as a "posrible". But the man who has taken Preston will to the English Cup final not be easily persuaded to leave
com- he has Deepdale before pleted a year there.
I
in can imagine the men
Ibrox have looked charge at enviously towards Hibs and Swansea, whose managers-both former Rangers players are among Britain's most successful in recent years.
PERILOUSLY CLOSE
True, Billy McCandless'. Swansea are perliously close to relegation right now. But the samo Billy won them promo- tion five years ago-after having done the same for Cardiff in 1947 and Newport in 1839.
Hugh Shaw, of course, steered Hibs to League Championshipą in 1948, 1951, and 1952.
have been discussed within the Other names, I don't doubt,
The out- Ibrox marble halls, come of these discussions must.. not be long delayed,
I would like to feel an àp. pointment could be made in Ume to allow the new "bom" to go to Canada when Rangers bo- gin their tour next month.
He could scarcely wish for o hoppler way of meeting his new and troubled "family","
-{London Express Barotce)
West Bromwich Albion, all set for what promises to He Nearly Killed Great be an eple FA Cup Final against Preston North End at The Archbishop
of West Brom the missionary tours of Leach again by grim defensive action waiting for the aggressive Japs wich, Roger Byrne of Manches and Bergmann to the Far East, to make mistakes in their Hard "In the match play I knocked) ter United, and Ron Staniforth have brought an entirely new hitting. out Jack White, former Open
technique to the game, and it is champion, but I went down
of Huddersfield.
The Wembley Championships before Harry Vardon.
Perhaps it is no coincidence practically unbeatable.
also produced a controversial that their teams have been 80
JUST FLEET OF FOOT" "spoor" but argument Soft- "As I stood on the 18th too at
"My favourite shot Is with successful.
For this defensive plan for Quite simple too. Just feat-urfaced bais slow up the Harlech someone jokingly sald, | the muthio-niblick (No, 7).
I kill the and
spectacle, but "You have to Holo this mot to
full-back
could mean a great news of foot. When Barna, Bellak Britain exploded, the idea that WILL
om great believer in step in the direction of more and Szabados and later the the "sponge bat was the win playing every golf shot from positive, attaciding
football. Czechs Vana and Side-crashed dead contro between the feet, More and more full-backs are into world class the erstwhile way to Championships swamped Brazili. For excessive back spin, how forsaking their purely de "pen-holder" grip fell into dis- Nevertheless, it crowds are to ever, the ball is placed nearer fenalve roles.
use. The Japanese have revived be attracted to see bright, open the right foot."
Opposing wingers, too, find this despised grip with startling play then the "spongo bat London Express Šaroled)
they are not getting as much results.
" "That's easy,' I replied, "My ball flew to the pin about 175 yards away. I heard #shout and thought that this
POP
Remenidia ( CHILÓRY1) innan.
*T
Ä LITTLE HELD IS
WORTH A LOT
OF Prry.
Jet age
when she
should be batred.
Don't risk i your sight-
it cannot be replaced.
Wembley Stadium have an above-average record for the number of "giants of the game" associated with the Throstles in their 75-years' history.
an
Still a halo and hearty 76, Is A. E. ("Bertie!') Lawion, hest In the 1880's, when players born in England, for which coun-known to most probple, as were often expected to play in try he was subsequently capped ed Derbyshire for eight andsons. amateur cricketer who captain- various positions, the eft. 1in. 14 eight times.one of use rare cases He played for, and gulmat, the stone Bob Roberts was a prob- of a man having represented two famous W. G. Grice more often tem, for he seemed to fit no- countries, at Boccer, Finally, be
where until he was tried in goal, joined Aston Villa, with whom than any other living player, He became known as the "princo he gained two mora Cup Final As a lad of nine, throwing a of Goalkeepers" and gained two medals to go with his WBA | cricket ball, he nearly killedt Cup medals with them.
+ souvenir.
young Geoffrey Fishey, flow.
Canterbury Archbishop of club Eight years into tho
Signed by the Albion at the Later he mado 18 business tripe gambled on playing the midget age of eighteen when unhappy to America and thert dabbled newcomer 18-your-old Bily circumstances caused them to in peat fishing, drico declining Bassett in the Cup Final. His part with she players in 1903, an offer to manage the pearling wander passes led to match the great Jeans Pennington re feet of Ranly the cricketing winning goals against Freston mained, to become a premanent Jam Schib of Nawanagar. N.E. and he remained to become member of the side and, one of fres one of the great figures In the the finest deferiders in this coun It was Bartlo", who "ild club history, winning try. He played 31/Holes for commentary
Cup medals
cape,
"
and 10 TRX SOBADA
There was, too, the fabulous Blija kreat favourite at the Johnny Hernolány, Kiree" tinem Hawthornis in Big Foudecata kapped „for AIrelandt berdoOR,
discovered that
i
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