THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1950.
Nothing Too Difficult For Bert Williams
ENGLAND'S TEAM AGAINST
THE SCOTS SHOULD BE CHOSEN NOW
Bert Williams, the England goalkeeper, makes a spectacular save during the match against Yugoslavia at Highbury. Centrarl Press Photo.
A Revolutionary Change In Selecting England's Teams Is Around The Corner
Says ARCHIE QUICK
The most revolutionary change of policy in
Football the history of the Association is almost certain to come into being when the annual general meeting is held next summer.
Then, I understand from the highest authority, a proposition will be tabled. on the agenda calling for the dissolution of the present system of selecting the International team and placing the responsibility in the hands of club managers.
This is just about the finest | way on to the Selection Com- As a matter of fact, they ews I have heard in the Soccer mittee. Most of them have given don't. When it comes to search- world since the war. It has been a life's work to the improve-ing, that has been left almost one of the big anomalies of sport | ment of the game. that while club sides are pro- fessionally chosen by their man- agers, when it comes to choos- ing the England side the onus is taken on by amateurs.
I have the greatest respect for the legislators who find their
But most of them are verging on the sere and yellow, and. with the gratest respect, I can- not see how they can travel the❘ highways and byways looking for and watching talent.
Is A Transfer System Developing In County Cricket?
London, Dec. 4.
entirely to Mr Arthur Drewry, Mr Walter Winterbottom and Sir Stanley Rous-two of whom were in Buenos Ayres when the England team arrived de Janeiro!
SOLEMNLY
500
at Rio
Says HAROLD MAYES
Having scraped through the international "season"—and Į mean scraped through, in spite of victories against Ireland and Wales which looked a good deal more impressive in figures! than they actually were-England's national Soccer side is still in the transitional stage, which is as kind a way as possible of saying it's not so hot.
Yes, I know that when I say the "season" is over there is the Scotland game at Wembley in April still to come, but if the lessons of Rio were to have been learnt, many more forward steps should have been taken than there have been.
The Selectors "planned" for the World Cup on a policy of chop, change and hope. It got them precisely nowhere. Yet instead of tryin to formulate a policy and at least giving the side the chance of settling down, they've continued with more chop and change, and they're obviously still hoping,
4
True, they've thought along to representative cricket who'll the lines of a Technical Com-be leaving for Bombay. First to mitte which has had a half- agree to the trip, within hearted, hopeful sort of initia-couple of hours of being asked, tion, but the sooner some people was Yorkshire's 24-year-old in high places are forthright Bill Sutcliffe, son of the great enough to admit they're on the Herbent. His travelling com- wrong track so that they can panions will be Somerset wicket- begin robuilding from the bot-keeper Harold Stephenson and tom the sooner will their hopes Kent bowler Ray Dovey. become something. other than vain onas.
What is the use of calling in the star players of other days to try to help England back to its rightful position in. World Soccer affairs unless they know a long time in advance of the matches to be played and the material on which they have to work?
At
Highbury Yugoslavia always looked more of a team than did England, and until the present selectorial system is changed I fear that will go on happening.
Not for the first time am I suggesting that team selection should be left to the men who are now being consulted in an advisory capacity, like the Raich Carters and the Joe Mercers, but this time I am going further and proposing tha' not only should they have the opportunity of picking the side they're going to advise, but, in the case of the match agains Scotland, picking at NOW.
Then the Committee solemnly meets and not until the side has been chosen does Mr Winter-
That's the line. Pick it now bottom take charge. I can tell got the boys together at least for a couple you that prior to a recent Selec- once a fortnight tion Committee meeting
of I was
days at a time between privileged to
the eleven Christmas and April, let them chosen by one Selector. Not one play matches against the best of the players got into the side! of the Football League sides
The managers, in contrast, and
look begin to
like a arc mostly old players who teamL. know the game backwards and What's more, let the Foot- it is to them I sincerely hope ball League adopt the same England's Soccer future will be side, instead of trying to see if trusted. Only one of England's they can pick a bolter eleven
D. Gibb, the Yorkshire and former England wicket. keeper batsman, will, subject to MCC and Yorkshire agree-class football. ment, play as a professional for Essex next summer.
Gibb, who is 37, has played for England eight times as an amateur but has not taken part in any first class cricket since he returned from the last MCC tour of Australia.
Twenty- nine - year old Stephenson, who has also played football for Darlington and Billingham Synthonia as an in- side-forward, only just missed a berth on the Australian trip, largely because Surrey's Arthur McIntyre proved a little more Last as a batman consistent summer. But Harold collected nearly 800 runs just the same. How I wish I might have the opportunity of sending some re- placements to Australia just as quickly. It's becoming more and more obvious that come are
necessary.
•
an
When American athletes travel they usually take their steals with them. When a French team moves around, wine is called for. That's why Rugby League secretary Bill Fallow- leld has a headache just now. No, not through drinking the stuff, but because he has to
for make arrangements adequate supply for the French Rugby League side due to tour The Antipodes next summer.
Apparently it would be im- possible for them do carry Ground all they are likely to sonsume, so local supplies have be fixed up. Right now hings aren't going along too. swimmingly, but Bill tells me ne is hopeful.
0
Tommy Farr Outpointed By Marshall
cight Selectors of the moment for inter-League games than the ever played in any sort of top FA have done for full interna-
tionals. The FA's new Technical Com- There can be only one "best" mittee, which is the thin edge eleven. Let it be found, and of the wedge, met immediately let it play together as often as Carmarthen, Wales, Dec. 4.
Then there might be Thirty-six-year-old Tom- prior to the game against Yugo- possible. slavia at Highbury. Managers a forward move, instead of a were invited to confer with the continual drift in an atmosphere my Farr, former British Champion, present Selectors, and the big of attempting to be comfortably Heavyweight surprise to me was that Mr complacant when everyone is suffered the first defeat of He has played five times with these two Northern coun- Arthur Rowe, boss of the great really miserable.
his "comeback" campaign twice tries.
Spurs side,
The one really bright spot for South Africa,
was not asked to against against India and once against The fact that there has been attend.
me that Wednesday was the when he was outpointed to- an increase in the movement Mr Stanley Cullis could not performance of Bolton Wan-night Australia.
by the coloured illness, but
centre of players during the last few because of
young derers'
forward, Nat American lightheavyweight, Ted Drake were | Lofthouse. He had only three seasons has led to criticism of officials like
10 the MCC's rule on the ground there and I feel that only good real changes, and two of them Lloyd Marshall,
of the experiment, went into the back of the net. rounds here. that a transfer system similar can come
other failed only as a that existing in soccer is No, not experiment-an institu- The
The Welshman had won his tion, I hope.
result of a wonder save. gradually developing.
On openings alone, I'll go so turning to the
previous two fights since re- ring lost Sep- far as to say that if Lofthouse
tember after 10 years, had been playing for the op-
Farr, his nose bleeding and position Yugoslavia would have his right eye almost closed,
He is now living in London and though a director of a big clothing company he wants to turn professional.
In doing so, he will become the first former Varsity "Blue" to join the paid ranks.
to
Lords, however, take
the
He played for Cambridge view that it is beneficial to the
that game University.
experienced and cricketers alike, who Essex's approach
to York-young
dissallsfied with the are either shire to play Gibb provides one more example of the modern terms offered them or not re- should be given the trend among county club to sock engaged, talent from outside their own opportunity of finding employ
ment with other counties.
Each case is dealt with on its merits and the MCC can be re-
area.
À COMPLIMENT,
Home Soccer
T
over
his
was
won by a hatful. For too long
acknowledged London, Dec. 4.
there's been a fruitless search sportingly The following were the re- for a Lawton successor. Well, victor's supremacy and he must
of football sults
matches he's arrived, so let the planners have thought back to that day.
his face in build a team around him.
1937 when played today:
equally as marked after he had FA CUP, First Round, Second
been beaten by Joe Louis for Bristol Rovers Replay:
the world title.. 3, Llanelly i (after extra time).
Bristol that the
Rovers to meet Gil
second round
•
I had a rush job the other wook. Out of the blue came 1
Though Farr had a weight cable from George Duckworth. It is a compliment to the lied upon to ensure
manager of the Commonwealth advantage of 18 lbs. Marshall, efficiency of the coaching scheme is not abused. Indeed, Ungham in the
cricket team touring India, for with his long arms and legs, systems in Yorkshire and Lan in the light of recent applica- next Saturday, December 0.
replacements for Dick Spooner, appeared the bigger of the two London registration,
Challenge cashire that by far the largest Lions for special
and after the first few rounds" # Cup, Les Jackson and Jim Laker. Brontford 1, Charlton Within 48 hours I was able to was nearly always having the quota of players secured under cricket's legislators may review Final:
at one of Ath. 2 (played
Duckie's at Stamford | satisfy
requirements better
the exchanges is the special registration scheme the whole began their cricketing careors their winter meetings.--Reuter. Bridge)-Reuter.
by finding him three, men new Reuter,
matter
of
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