Present-Day Football.
There are not wanting signs that football has not yet finished
expanding. Every season sees more clubs in villages as well as in towns,
and the County Associations also report a numerical increase. But
whether or not there will be a sharper dividing line between amateur and
professional is difficult to say. It may be that before long we shall
have one authority for the amateur game and another for the
professional. It must not be forgotten that there are tens of thousands
of the one class, but only a few of the other. But the paid player, by
reason of the leisure he has, shows the highest skill, and in that way
has inspired the unpaid with a higher ideal of play, and it is a
favourite contention of many that the best game is that played by the
professional clubs. The junior who goes to see Aston Villa, Chelsea,
Manchester United, or Newcastle is impressed by the play, and makes up
his mind to try and put into practice what he has seen. It is good for
the boy to go and see players of the highest skill, and if the ordinary
club member would do this occasionally the average standard of play
would be higher. A boy who is an enthusiastic right back, and is
anxious to play in that position, can hardly do better than go and watch
Robert Crompton, the famous right back of the Blackburn Rovers. He is an
example of what our elementary schools produce. As a lad he took part in
the game at Moss Street Board School, an institution that had produced a
side that had carried off the trophy offered to the schools. When at
work as a plumber he played in the League team of a Sunday school, and
when engaged one day was seen by Mr. John Lewis, who got him to play for
the Rovers. For some couple of years he remained an amateur, but then
became a professional. He became captain in 1899, and has several
International "caps." He uses his head, and tries to anticipate the
intentions of his opponent. He kicks with either foot with great power,
and is a clean player. He follows the ball rather than the man. He is an
excellent example of the man who, taking to football, has found it
possible to stick to his trade as well.
Another player is James Sharp, who is a splendid outside right. In him
you have a reminder that skill may make up for lack of inches. He is
only 5 ft. 7 in., but he is one of the men who have worked hard to
attain their position and also to keep it. He can dribble well, feint,
pass, shoot, and yet keep control of the ball. He came from Hereford,
where he was a member of the local club, and after two seasons went to
Everton. In his every action you can see the man who plays for his club.
He is determined and strong, given to making the most of an opportunity.
It is difficult for the adversary to know what he is going to do. Here
is the ideal all-round sportsman. Little wonder he has succeeded so well
on the cricket field. He is not content to excel in one department. Once
we thought he would become a great fast bowler, then he began to
progress as a batsman, and at the moment of writing has concluded a
great season for his adopted county, whose fortunes have been very low.
He, too, is in business, and life for him is truly strenuous, as his
play is. We could do with more player-workers of this modest young man's
type.
And if you come to the front line watch V. J. Woodward, our leading
gentleman player. The son of an architect living in a house that
overlooks the Oval, he learned his game at a school at Clacton, and then
resided at Chelmsford, where one day a director of the 'Spurs, happening
to know that a match was being played in the County Cup Competition,
thought he would have a look, and did so. He was struck with the skill
of Vivian J. Woodward as a centre forward, and as the result of a chat
he was got to play for Tottenham Hotspur. This was some six years ago.
He at once made his mark, and no man was ever so loved by professionals.
No fairer player ever stepped on to the field. Note his clean,
delightful runs, how unselfish he is; indeed, it was freely reported
that he was left out of a series of Internationals because he showed so
much consideration for his partners. What a glorious tribute to the
sportsmanship of the man! Yes, for clean, clever, aye, cultured forward
play, watch V. J. Woodward, who can only get away on Saturdays because
he earns his living. He is a grand wicketkeeper and cricket captain who
has not the time for county games. And he is a genuine amateur--no
riding third class and charging first. He is an honourable performer,
who looks to all to play a clean game, and expects the referee to see
they do. If such amateurs are to be driven out of the Soccer game by
"money-making limited liability companies" and their unending squabbles,
it will be a bad day for sport. You can still see Needham, old, I
suppose, as players go. What a strategist he is. His play is that of the
man who loves the game; he can still tackle, pass, defend, and shoot as
finely as of old. Of goalkeepers, one can see many. Ashcroft; Sutcliffe;
Lunn, of Wolverhampton; Hardy, of Liverpool; Maskery, of Derby County,
are all good. There are many misconceptions about the game, and most
people think that the referee is compelled to use a whistle. But if you
read the laws of the game or the directions to referees, you find that
nowhere is he instructed to use a whistle. The word is "signal," but it
might be by a trumpet, or a motion of the hands or arms. When the
referee "signals," by whistle or otherwise, at the commencement of the
game, it means that he is ready and the players can start as soon as
they like, but the period of play is counted from the actual kick. The
offside rule is very difficult for the spectator; talk to them, and they
will tell you confidently that no player can be offside if he has three
of the opposition in front of him, that is, nearer to their own goal.
Yet, as Mr. William Pickford has pointed out, a player could be offside
with eleven opponents in front of him. It is not likely, but it could
happen. If a player has not three opponents in front of him when the
ball was last played by one of his own side, who was behind him, he is
offside, and he remains so till someone else plays the ball, and if in
the interval the rest of the team ran back on goal he would still be
offside.
Again, what is an amateur? Well, conscience will decide in the light of
the rule. He must not receive remuneration or consideration of any sort
above his necessary hotel expenses and travelling expenses actually
paid. The men who pay for their sport are getting fewer and fewer. It is
a pity. But on these and many other points you can obtain valuable
booklets from the F.A., 104, High Holborn, London, W.C. They publish
also a referees' chart, with the interpretation that is officially put
upon many rules. They are mines of useful information for those who know
but little of the game.
It would seem as if the game is rapidly spreading on the Continent, and
every country takes up the sport save Turkey and Russia. England is the
mentor, and the Football Association have a great work. It may be that
the love of sport will so grow that ere many years are over we shall see
several European teams competing here year by year. In the early stages
of the development the game will be amateur, but later on will come the
paid player. One writer says, "No money, no first-class football." This
is rubbish; it is much to be regretted, such a sentiment, for we can
get the highest skill from those who play for the love of the game. The
giants of the past who created the present demand were unpaid, and the
future will still produce those who will not play for gold.