South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Friday 31 January 1941, page 2
Soccer
(By A.D.)
According to Press reports of the State Council meeting the news is most depressing, the State Assn showing a loss of £286 with only a balance of £150 left in the bank. That report in itself is bad enough but the concluding item, so far as the sport in general is concerned, was worse still. The section referred to states 'The Council also decided that for the duration of the war no financial aid would be given for Junior championships.' In present-day terms this attitude is definitely defeatist.
It shows a complete admission of failure to grasp even the most elementary principles of organisation. Can the State Council never grasp the fact that to make progress in this great game the junior bodies, the nurseries of the game, must be encouraged by every means possible instead of being completely dumped, as is evident by this latest edict. What farmer in his worst year of adversity would not make it his first thought to provide some means at any cost to make sure he could procure seed or young stock to lead him back to security or possible prosperity when the bad times were over. If he neglected to make such provision he would head straight for bankruptcy and a business crash and this is exactly where State Councillors seem destined to land their organisation by their present policy. It was only last year that State League dictated to the junior bodies the relation in which the junior players stood in regard to State League soccer. They have for years assumed the dictator attitude to all soccer in the State where they are indeed a very small minority, and now it is apparent that they cannot even dictate to their own clubs to pay their dues as the clubs have not been drawing the money to do so.
It has been apparent for some time that the clubs had the job in front of them to make ends meet but it has been the representatives of the State League clubs who have been mainly responsible for killing public interest in the soccer game and driving away the public support. They have for years now placed club interests before the interests of soccer in general and have shaped their policy and laid down their laws accordingly. The most recent example of this, of course, was the banning of the 'Works' teams, killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, the goose or geese that might have helped them to draw sufficient to pay their dues. Funny legislation, isn't it, but tragic for the game. Soccer interest has not died a natural death, it has been killed — killed by bad legislation and petty squabbles. Decisions made by State Council were not adhered to, like the St. George - Wallsend points dis-pute in 1939. Referees reputations and integrity torn to shreds without justification, etc., and naturally a disgusted following showed their disgust by staying away. The visit of the English Amateur team showed the grip the soccer game had on the public, over 40,000 being present at the Sydney Test. Allowing for a certain number who would be present from curiosity alone it is evident that good soccer visitors could draw over 30,000 enthusiasts who were soccer followers. Teams such as the Indians and Palestine elevens were good for exhibition games only and could not be classed as draw-cards. Give the public the goods and the public will respond. Neglect the public and it will similarly respond by staying away. One can see from the present finances what policy has been carried out. Newcastle has withdrawn from the competition, leaving a bye each week. This will not help any from either a playing or financial aspect. It was reported in the Press some time before the general meeting that New-castle might withdraw and somo provision could have been made for such an eventuality.
The only cheerful feature from a South Coast point of view is that our Woonona-Bulli Club can be classed as one of the financial members. It has always had its dues paid and gives a good return to all visiting teams. Steelworks were also in good financial standing when in State League, and we have no doubt that Wollongong will keep up the good record. This is a distinct pointer to soccer interest on the South Coast and if State League is not too blind to see it, we can expect still further teams in that sacred circle, providing an other big deficit does not knock it out of business completely. Even in the event of this we have good junior soccer to start building from again, but spare us from the majority of the present legislators.
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