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THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1960.
ON THE BALL
with Bill Slater
1 SAY THE HARMER STORY'S A TRAGEDY
If Tommy Harmer had been born in Brazil, Italy, Spain or some other great soccer cen- tre, he might now be a big name in world football, Instead, he was born at Hackney, London, and he para- des his talents for Watford, £1 Third Division side.
L
in England, but would it have happened abroad?
Spurned in
He joined Tottenham in 1948, in the ern of Arthur Rowe's push-and-run team. Eddie Baily man between the link defence and attack, and there was just no room. in the skie
WILE
With the break-up of that team, it seemed that Harmer would come into his own. But he had to wait three years, until the 1956-57 season, to
regular first secure a place,
time
Hides himself
four Reasons he held
Let me say at once that for farmer and his subtleties.
this is no reflection on Watford. All credit to them for the way they have tried, and are trying still further, to improve their soccer standards and status.
But when British needs all the skill it can com- | sway. Then along came John mand at the highest level, It is White, the young Scottish H sad to reffect that a man of Tottenham tried playing both its Harmer's ability is lost to the the side, generally with White But the expert- out the wing. top-class game."
not G was ment apparently
Whic
brought WAS :UCTURAL
has back inside and Harmer this season again found himself on the sidelines.
Sucker
Why is it that Itarmer's Klar has fitted only briefly across the soccer stage? Why has he spent only four of his 12 acasons at White Hart Lane on a first team regulur, and gained anly one major honour
an England "B" cap?
Fates against him
The
15
the that In Truth is hurly-burly of English longue soccer, the ITALY who relies
Fill on always entirely sometimes at & disadvantage.
Now, I portedly don't. like in which sdl arly Rume domiixites to the exclusion of all other qualities; but it is sad, nevertheless, that a player, like be should Tommy Hammer Kandicapped in this way.
Harmer was urducky not only to be born in England, but also
The fates near Tolterdam. have been against him ut While Hot Lan24.
For
In ense Spurs should appear to be the villains of the plece, It should be remembered that once before, when he was on the had iransfer 1st, Tottenham only one offer in 18 months. This was from Cardiff, who were also reported to be one of the clubs interested in him this time. Then, as now, Harmer did not want to leave London.
And events have told against Harmer, so has legend- the legend that he could not play in bad conditions. It is true that his delicately stroked passer are not so effective in thick mud. But few players are seen at their best in these conditions.
I have played against Tommy on many varied surfaces and have never seen him put out.
ulso said that Harner is not always in the match, that he "nides" himself now and then,
unfair But this, loo,,i criticism. Certainly he is an elusive player and difficult to mark, bat
never I have thought, as I have with some other players: "This fellow has played himself out, so now 1 ran. forget him and gel on with my own gume."
Harmer can "icad" the game, and is always liable to por un where he can do the mONI efamatgro His hiding is tactica!
He like Will Mannion's was. never performs his soccer artis- iry for his own sake, Every whi of the body, every int of tiv: foct, every phase has a purpose diclateri by an instinctive scoor brain,
Not fully exploited
Usually, it is lo dron all Than opening for a colleague. follows the pass — maybe roll- ed niong the ground.
maybe chipped ilke a golfer's mashir shot, hut always
an with necuracy and guide.
Iv. then, Harmer a play without weakness? Of course not.
The one, which may have told against him most in Bri- tale is lack of speed. He is not the surt of player who races on to a through pass,
But no one is perfect. It is all too easy to dlamiss a player because of his failings. Len
suffered Shackleton
And even the through this, genius of Stanley Mathews has not always been recog- nised.
It is a tragedy to me that the With a trail-looking nine-football of Len Shackleton was and-a-half-stome
never fully explolted in this
trome. it
ARMY'S FINE VICTORY OVER
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Chris Crowe was star of the match
By OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
over the future With the end of National Service casting a shadow
strength of their representative team, the British Army are at least as redoubtable this season as they have ever been at Soccer since the War.
After losing by only two goals to one against a Football Association side at Sheffield which was an England "shadow" eleven, they went one better five days later by defeating the Spurs at White Hart Lane by five goals to three,
Let it be emphasised that Tottenham felded six of their regular record-breulting League side, plus Tony March! and - young Jitamy Saul who
both been in the senior side this season, and that they look-
have
Jalm tr. It almost looks though Tottenhara covet an embarrassinent of riches.
Ex West Ham wing-half John Smith, now of Spurs, captained the Army side in his last match *City
ed upon this as serious training in khaki, while Norwich
In lieu of a League match the previous Saturday. On top of
that the Army were without
Young, of the Hearts, and bril- lant International John White,
were on hand to assess left-back
Blackburn from Leeds United. and when b first half dozen ball playing inside-forwards in the coun- try. He scored the only goal
first of the
half from penally.
After
Д
Geoft
Smith
the interval Johnny Danny Ferguson. He is stationed Byrne (Crystal Palace), with the Royal Army Service Strong (Arsenal), John Corps at Aldershot, and his and Crowe again netted for the
Scotfred's centre-forward. Alex club, Heart of Midlothian, have Soldiers and Les Allen, Barry arrangement with Aitchison and Terry Dyson got come to an Norwich manager Archie goals for the home side. Macaulaya ScotÜsh Interna-
of the Spurs.
Unfortunate
It
tor
was unfortunate Spurs that Young was injured, for they are showing a lively fair-haired interest in the
goodness young man, though knows where they could it
during his
weekend,
National
Service.
Five Internationals
tional, by the way-to transfer Strong side alm to the East Anglian club The Army will have a parti- They do not want him to under-cularly strong side for the inter- take, the long trip home each Services Championship and the Triangular Tournament against France and Belgium for the "Kentish" Cup, and at Tolten- ham I saw the Royal Air Fores and Royal Navy Secretaries Even without
and wearing rueful expressions as Young, the Army wore still able the Army strode to victory in to Acid five English "Under 23* assured style. The polley, how Internationals — Chris Orgwever, is not to build un for Uin (Blackburn Rovers), John big games in the New Year, but Bydenham (Southampten), to play strictly the eleven best Brian Hill (Sheffield Wednes-men for their positions on cur- day), John Smith (Spure) wand | rent form, Infrien clote For Taneart Cup Mel Scott (Chelsea), a Scottleh competition.
Sports Diary
TODAY
Galt
Jockey Club
OMORROW
Boccer
While
Interntional reserve. They won A pat on the back for Johnny Entrian close for Third Race Meet-on their merits against a sido | Ogston, of Aberdeen, who looks 102 at Roo
which fretted goalkeeper like following in the footstope Brown, full-backs Baker and of that other Aberdeen Mol. Málagan XI VAR HPA XI at Honry, dentre-half Norman and keeper, Fred Martin. The latter Bouxiney-street, 600 p.mi,
left-wing Allen and Dyson of made his name with the Army after being converted frame nà Cutony School and court Tattenham's nest shaibes, 1844
Star of them sil wse, bloud | inukle-forward and went on to tennis ingles chamőlonship" thal et { Chila Crowe, who wilt to keep for Scotland, QAG) 330 p.3.
country. I feel sure very much more would have been made of him abroad. I suspect that with our coaching and analysis of football in this country, we have too much regard for weak- nesses, and not enough for strengths and ways of exploit- ing them.
Did Hungary, and do Real Madrid, discount Ferenc Puskas because he rarely kicks with his right foot?
But finally, a pat on the back for Spurs for the way they handled Harmer's transfer.
To start with, it must have been with great reluctance that they put him on the list of all. They certainly did not need the money, and despite their wealth talent, Farmer's departure leaves them short of an experi- enced reserve inside forward.
of
Advantageous build
Nor is Harmer at the end of his career. His hulid Is an advantage here. It is unlike- ly that he will have wel-ht problems as many players do when they pass the 30 mark, and he can still look forward to several fruitful seasons, Having agreed to the transfer request, Spurs. did not engage in a sordid publie auction, nor holl cut for the highest possible
price.
Irm certain tha; they could have get almost double the £5,- 000 fee asked. But cy re- cognised what a great servant Harmer has been to the club and put on a low price tag which virtually left him a free choles of clubs.
Let us hope that this generous net will lead to a final chapter lat the Tonny Harmer story that will help make up for the disap pointments of the earlier ones. (All Rights Reserved)
-AARS-
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