Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Wednesday 24 July 1929, page 8


SOCCER.

NEWS AND NOTES.

\-.

THE SEMI-FINAL IMBROGLIO.

By "WANDERER."

It is a thousand pities that a great season is in serious danger of being ruined as the result of the trouble over the semi-finals. The matter is to be thrashed out next Monday, and thus the whole future of the game in this State is in the melting pot. To put the matter bluntly, the Brisbane clubs are fed up with these incessant rows with Ipswich, and desire to end the busi-ness once and for all, even if it means cutting the painter. The writer sincerely hopes that noth-ing impetuous will be done which may do irreparable harm to the game, but there must be adequate guarantees of the fulfilment of obligations in the future.

No matter what decision is arrived at by the B.D.F.A. next Monday even-ing, there was no mistaking the feel-ing of the rank and file at the Cricket ' Ground on Saturday regarding the

action of the Ipswich clubs in withdrawing from the semi-finals. During

the interval it was the one topic oi ? corversation, and if the controlling

body had -wanted advice they wouid ' have got it in no uncertain terms.

Genuine enthusiasts of the code have long grown tired of bickering, and feel ' that there will never be lasting peace L between the metropolis and Ipswich.

SERIOUS "FRIENDLIES."

If the remaining club games are as good as the last contest between Lat-robe and Pineapples Rovers, no one

will care a tinker's curse whether Ips-' wich clubs remain with the B.D.F.A. 1 or not. The fact that such a good

crowd turned up was a tribute to the drawing power of the metropolitan

clubs, for it is safe to say not a penny more would have been laken had the programme been to the original sche-dule. Keenness was the keynote of both games, and some hard knocks were taken. Both ¿'anifs ended in a draw, and in each case it was a fitting termination to a hard struggle. There were times in the chief encounter when players were inclined to undue rough-ness, and Gibb, who is as fair a player as any who kicked a ball, came in for attention of a sort which roused the

ire of a section of the spectators. In ? a certain rival code it is not unusual to settle the hash of a particularly clever man by dumping him true and hard-by knocking the stuffing out of

him, so to speak. We want none of ' that In Soccer. Good mer. ore scarce, . and in any case fair play is bonny

play.

A FINE GOALKEEPER.

Perotte's exhibition of goalkeeping in the "friendly" between Thistle and Norman Park was one of the best things that splendid custociian has done this season. Shots which might ordinarily have beaten the average man were dealt by him with masterly ease, and on four occasions he alone stood Norman Park, and a goal-when it seemed impossible to avert a score. Perotte either is the Jucklest goal-keeper in Australia, or he has excep-tional powers of anticipation. To say that his saves are the results of chance is to do him a gross Injustice, for he has been consistently brilliant from the first day he appeared at the 'Gabba, and has stopped more potential goalscoring shots than all the rest of the goalkeepers in the B.D.P.A. competi-tion put together. Perotte has picked himself for the matches between Queensland and New South Wales. He has another notable virtue; he does not play to the gallery.

Another good boy is Nixon, of Lat-robe. Although he could not have left his schooldays far behind, and Is not of imposing physique, he already fields the ball with confidence rnd judgment, and is quite calm arid collected when hard pressed.

NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM.

The team chosen by the New South Wales League to tour Queensland next month is nothing if not representative of the best clubs, and should give a very solid account of itself in the two tests against the pick of this State. There are several strangers among the chosen players, but the side, as a whole, must be pretty good when a clever fellow like Kyle, who used to play ducks and drakes against the best in these parts when playing with Thistle,' is only among the reserves. Others like Andy Park, whom we think much of, also are among the absentees, so if something better Is available it is going to take a solid eleven to beat them. Personally, I have great faith in the Queenslanders repeating the success on the occasion of the last visit.

QUESTION OF REFEREES.

On $he matter of the choosing of referees, it has been pointed out that the B.D.F.A. have the right of veto, and have exercised it in the past, es-pecially when clubs have a certain of-

ficial "set." This may clear the Ref- <

erees' Association In the case where Bundamba players objected to Mr. Donnellan, and the latter was dropped. Whether In that instance it was the B.D.F.A. or the Referees' Association who caved in to Bundamba is not clear, for no one seems to want to dis-cuss the matter. However, a principle is at stake. The B.D.F.A. should niost certainly choose the referee, which is a most important matter, and once hav-ing made the selection it should be adhered to no matter what objection

is raised. In one or two notable in-stances this season games have been spoiled by the inefficiency of the man

with the whistle.

BRITISH TEAMS ABROAD.

The whole subject of the tours oí British professional club, to tne Con-tinent is being exhaustively reviewed as the result of the events following the close of last season. The .defeat of the English Cup holders, Bolton Wanderers, by an Austrian team by eight goals to nil caused a mild sen-sation at Home and abroad. The Viennese Press, while contending that the Wanderers ware well and truly outplayed, also poured forth some hot criticism of the conduct of players who were suspected of not doing their best. Obviously, from the record of travelling teams abroad, either the foreign countries have made astound-ing strides in Soccer, or else the visit-ors' "cracks" are just out for a picnic and refuse to take the games ssrlously or risk injury. Undoubtedly the wellcoached Continental players-taught by former British professionals-have made notable progress, but not suffi-cient to beat England's and Scotland's best. These foreignsrs plav a strenu-ous gams, and will take chances which the Britisher, who makes the sport his livelihood, will not think of. That is the secret of the success of the Spaniards and the Austrians. The Jugoslavs who came to Australia did much better than they were generally thought capable of, but they could not compare with the unbeaten British professional team, which by no means could be classed as the cream of Eng-land's Soccer talent. The round ball code has made wonderful strides abroad, and one day Britain will seri-ously be challenged in this sport.