1955-08-20 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1955.

SPORTING SAM

A SPATE OF FLOODLIGHT FOOTBALL MATCHES AS AUTUMN APPROACHES

Says ARCHIE QUICK

The autumn approaches and with it a spate of floodlight football matches. Never before have so many been arranged, and the obvious frenson is that clubs are so hard-up that this is the one outlet to which they can look for additional income. Those with the "lights" installed have full evening fixture lists; those 'not so lucky search in all directions to get matches.

' And, of course, there will be the usual invasion from Scotland, bringing with it the anomalous position of Football League players being restricted to a £2 win and £1 draw bonus with no added wages while the Scots walk off with anything up to £20 a man!

The voice of the President of the Football League, Mr Arthur Oakley, was heard at Barnsley celebrating promotion dinner, and this is what he said: "I condemn floodlight football

FC's

for its adverse effects on Satur day afternoon attendances.

The game will never stand til multiplicity of matches, which is to the deteriment of the clubs in the long run, The working

afford the extra

man cannot calls on his pocket,"

PUBLIC'S POCKET

reasonable conditions of employ- ment for professional footballers, Don Revky, the keystone of Man. chester City's new plan of attack, comes along and makes his own conditions,

Revie. "Footballer of the Year" whose genlus materially helped his club to get to the Cup Final, was called up by his club for training but

:

furious quarrel between club and inan.

Manchester City argue that signed his contract for Revie 1955-1956 season, and accepted two months' summer pay, and that it is hardly reasonable after that to go off on a week's holiday without telling his employers.

Revie he had gone to Blackpool with his wife and family for a hullday,

has been reported as saying he "worked his legs off" putting into practice the roving forward play style of centre Manchester City promptly that stood Manchester City in

equal such suspended Revie. With

good stead in Cup and he asked for a Langue, But he would hardly promplitude But Mr Oakley's Football | transfer. Within hours it was have been so successful without League, which refuses to con- rumoured that he was going to ten colleagues and they sider more wages for the pro- be an Arsenal player. Manchester turned up on the stipulated date fessional, is holding two Rood- City's Board of Directors met for training. Moreover, Revie light Inter-League matches of and decided not to release him. only did what this employers told its own

during the coming Revle his back with: "I stand him to du, and it brought his 1055-50 FLSON,

As for the call firm." Thus we are faced with International glory and cash!

on the public's, paket It was again Mr Oakley's League, at its Sumner annual meeting in the delectable Torquay sunshine.

which passed a threepenny rise on the minimum "gate" admis sion money the same workman will have to pay in the winter of his discontent!

The clubs are forced to play there matches for 'their own salvation and most of them would willingly pay, their players extra for their evening services. But Mr Oukles and the League stands

facing the other

direction. One

firm

will

tave

ail

SPORTS SURVEY

By Reg. Wootton

A London Daily Mail Investigation

Soccer's Missing Millions

season

How can League football win back the crowds?. Last attendance dropped by more than 2,000,000 and the London Daily Mail has been investigating the cause and remedies.

This second article of the series begins with a discussion between Jack Oxherry (Irainer) and Albert Tennant (coach). of Chelsea who look forward to another good season for their club and air their views on the soccer problem of the

moment.

Gates have fallen, OXBERRY:

but the successful clubs have not

at been affected. We Chelsea start this new season as Champions. We start in a We happy, optimistic mood. know that only hard work will keep things that way. TENNANT: The slump that has got so many people worried comes after years of slackness

The Youngest Full

Club Groundsman Britain Is Only

Says "ALL-ROUNDER”

Time

In 14

club which nothing to do with doodlighting home or

or away is Leyton Orient. Says

Manager Alec Stock, most knowledgable of offlelais: "Forty- six League matcher are quite sufficient a winter's programme.

Pat Stevenson holds the responsible job of groundsman at Barrowfleld Park "If we played

in the evenings where Bridgeton Waverley (Scotland) play football. He also holds another distinc- pro- tion the youngest full time football club groundsman in Great Britain, for, you staff

see, Pat is only 14 and just left school

I should want four more fessionals at least on my

and that would run away with £2,500 in wages on their year's contracts." So Mr Stock gels

on with his main purpose in life

---Winntry! the promotion to Division Two be namowly missed fast season.

求

But he has been such an enthusiastic honorary helper to the groundsman who

has just left that he knows all about the job already, and the club had no hesitation in employing him. He also plays football for a junior side at outside left.

HIS OWN CONVICTIONS

Just at a time when Mr Jimmy Guthrie, Chairman ol the Players' Uulon, has tabled a motion urging the Trades Union Congress to discuss proper and was deputy

261

Answers To Sports Quiz

1. (a) St Andrews (b) Lord's.

2. (a) 15 (b) 33 (c) 4 (d) 7.

3. (a)

Wicket-keeper

Bowler (e) Batsman.

4. Denis Compton.

5. The cox and the stroke.

(b)

Army Cycling Union's Inter- Unit Cup competition for 1955. 1,214 points. Only They have seven points behind them come No. 6. Training Bin, REME and third are No. 3. Training Btn. RAOC, a further 35 points in

For ten long years goalkeeper | 1900 and from that your until Pater Taylor has walled 1922 when he retired was never patiently for a first team place beaten. In fact, he was asked with Coventry City. In that by the Army BA to stand down time he has played only 80 then to give a youngster chance

of the title. Twenty-one years in League and Cup games for the senior eleven. First of all, he the Royal North Lanes Regt. he

arrears. while Alt Wood was twice badly wounded. was putting up a sequence of World War I, but took part in without the 1018 Great Britain v. United appearsnees

States Services Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

break.

a

At the end of five seasons Peter made his League debut. Then when Wood went to Northampton along came Reg Matthews, now an English In- ternational,

back and

went Peter to the Reserves. Now he patience and has really lost signed for Middlesbrough.

OLD MEMORIES

There should be some con- juring of old memories at the 0. (a) "Gentleman Jim" Cor- Queru's Hotel, Bolton (Lanes) future when

bet

(b) "The Ambling in Alp"-Primo Carnera.

".

20 miles 385 yards.

0. (a) Cricket (b) Rugby.

D. 3 I.

10. At the side posts the

is 3.0 ins. high.

THE

WEEKEND

WILL YOU PUT THE

tho

near

licensee Mr Charles Haslam re- ctives a Mr Miller as a guest. Both of them were former Champions.

Famous "Dusly" Miller is now around the seventy mark,

first net and

Army won the Featherweight Championship In

GAMBOLS

WORM ON MY HOOK,, DEAR ?

I've cauaUT ONE – TAKE IT OFF THE ← HOOK FOR ME, GEORGE

ist

He was the only boxer not a Champlon of his country or the world taking part but he beat Willie Ritchie, Like Haslam he also Inter-Services and was ABA Champion.

Six members of Portsmouth Football Club staff did not turn

up with the ether plures for the start of training. No bother though. They had been Elven permission to attend the FA coaching coach in Staffordshire, and two of them were Inter- nationals Reg Flewin and Len Phillips.

ARMY CYCLING

No. 4. Training Btn. REME are the present leaders in the

Twenty-eight unlts are com-

and

there are three peting, more events to be held the Northern Command 50 Miles 100 Championship, the Army

the Miles Championship and Army Massed Start Champion- ship.

Seven years ago a young New

his passage. Zealander worked to England on a cargo boat from Chrislehurch Intent upon becoming a first-class cricketer. The road has been long, but at last he has reached his goal.

an is now. Ray Hitchcock

member of the established

County first Warwickshire eleven, has hit two centuries in week, and scored the fastest hundred of the summer so far. #serum half for He is also Nuneaton Rugby Club and has been "capped" by North Mid- lands Counties,

the Barry Appleby

IVE CAUGHT ONE. WITH YOUR ROD C WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO PUT C ANOTHER WORM ON MY HOOK

ISN'T THAT BIRL LOVELY AND BROWN

HUN MUM

[ÍVE CAUGHT, ANOTHER

SHE'S COMING THIS WAY HI DON'T THINK SHE'S GOT A THING

PERSONALLY,

I THINK IT'S RATHER A MONOTONOUS

to

log. 12ft. long and weighing 120lb.,

and you

get them really toughening up their bodies.

taking

things easily. and Some

officials players and were content to muddle along. Naturally, people began stay away. OXBERRY:" There is so much more to attmet them these

of When I was a boy at days. home in the Durham coalfield wis to our only recreation take a ball out and kick, or hit it, around... and watch Sunderland. No, cinemas, few radios, and certainly na tele- vision.

TENNANT: Who Con blame them for slaying by the fire- side or going to a nice warm cinema If the alternatvie to watch teams who are not making every effort?

Our

OXBERRY: This toughening-up

Is certainly important. ability to stay every minute last season our games helped us to the Champion- ship. But ball work is just as important. TENNANT: The boys have cer- tainly get plenty of it. Very different from the old days, I remember when the only time we saw a ball was for an hour

on Tuesday morning and dur- Ing the matches. Now, the boys gel ball work every time they train.

MOVING RIGHT WAY MUST GIVE ALL

OXBERRY: It will still be some OXBERNY: Well, Albert. you

our time before the bulk of will always get the keen types. players in Britain can match But I ug that we must give the Continentals in ball play. everything if we are to get And we are still some way behind them in team planning. the crowds, back. We have

TENNANT: 100 got to build for the future

But agree, Jack. TENNANT: In the old days boys we are moving the right way,

for trials used to queue up

The first thing to do is to fire Now

the inds with club spirit and with their local clubs.

enthusiasm. have to go out and An

Mako them realise that the club is the most important thing in their lives, and that they are im- portant, too.

we

them. Because being a foot- baller is not all that better

phid than many other jobs

youngsters can do now.

is still a OXBERRY: But, it

wonderful life for any boy to come into.. Catch them young, Instil club spirit into them from the start, and your main worries are over. TENNANT; That is certainly the line we are taking at Stamford Bridge. Our youth team had a wonderful run last year, Now they are all full-timé professionals.

OXBERRY: These boys belière

in

·wai.

Chelsea. They believe they belong to the greatest club in football. Older players like Bentley, Arnutrong. and Harris have been invaluable helping the lads to feel that TENNANT: Get this spirit going, keep it, and you have The foundation of a successful club. But I wonder how many Every Ex- clubs realise it. perienced player should make it his job 10 encourage ihe youngsters.

OXBERRY: Which brings us to this business of players put- ling their clubs second and toking other jobs. It does not work. Football is a full-time' job. You

cannot have divided

· royalties. TENNANT: I don't want anyone to think I am crowing because we won the First Division, But I every club puts us much into their footbali ns we do, everyone can forget about the Missing Millions." Thero Just won't be any.

PETER

famous

DOHERTY, Irish forward, now Doncaster's manager says:

Switch On The Lights To Help

Reasons

for the missing millions? There are dozens of CONTINENTALS

reasons. More people have cars and can go farther afteld OXBERRY: And every trainer

somp I think

Inexperienced should try to brighten up his journalists can be blamed too. training schedules. Things And that those World Cup have improved a lot since we games on television had some realised that the Continentals effect. were not only outsmarting us

expected on the field, but out-thinking quality when they went to see. us in their approach to coach League matches. They forgot ing and training.

they had seen the best the Con- TENNANT: I wonder how many tinent had to offer and not the

other clubs are using those worst, logs of ours, Jack? Get six players exercising with one

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Then, one of the big reasons keeping down the gate is the winter, 2.15 kick-off, plus the weather.

The ideal kick-off would be 3.30, giving, football followers time to have a meal and get ready for a match without hurry.

The 'answer is to cut out the three bad months of the winter, und, when daylight fades with a 3.30 kick-off, switch on the floodlights for the remainder of

the match. I am certain that some sort of League football under floodlights will come, anyway..

GIVE THEM A HAND

Now the weather. We could put 20,000 under cover, but there is the problem of getting from home to ground in bad weather, with the lure of tele- vision as a reason for 'pot golog out.

The standard of football is not as bad as it is made out, to be.. There are still many good young players coming on. Patience is required, and the public should be more

towards sympathaile these youngsters,

Mont of our playera ere on top wages and we have a sliding soule, I un all for a skiciring soule. We must have an incon- Live for players to rise from the second to the Brat team! That

bringt.

Gaymer's CYDER s polleys

SERVED: İCY COLD.

winning.tekm will back" supporters. It m⠀ up to playuru mit över, the country 18 |puť, more loyally: inlo- the game

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