More Fibs for Footy

The Melbourne Sporting Globe (28 February 1953, page 11) published the following letter from George Cathie (the former editor of the Footy Record and serial liar about soccer). In it he claims that there was no sign of soccer in Albert Park in the 1880s and that because the FA had been formed as recently as the 1880s, soccer couldn't have been played here so soon after. (Still mulling over the logic of that one.)

In fact, after sporadic organised games and practice matches in 1883 and 1884 in Middle/Albert Park, 1885 sees the game firmly established at Middle Park.

Rather than saying "I just hate the stupid game," Cathie's practice is more pernicious. He makes up facts to suit his argument and even more egregiously denies the actual presence of the game in Melbourne. In the pantheon of Melbourne soccer haters this chap is a stand out.

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Soccer in Albert Park

G J. Cathie Hawthorn writes:— An article in last Wednesday's "Sporting Globe" by J O Wilshaw headed Soccer in Albert Park, is very much astray in the statement that soccer had its home in Albert Park 70 years ago. 

I can well remember that in the 1880's, when the Australian game consisted of 20 players aside it was most difficult for all the local Junior clubs to obtain sufficient grounds for their requirements, and many arguments took place every Saturday afternoon because of the encroachment by older players in planting their small out of bounds flags on areas allotted to their younger rival clubs. 

At that period there was not a sign of a soccer club in Albert Park. As a matter of fact it was only a trifle over 70 years ago that the Soccer Football Association was formed in England though games had been played by amateur clubs prior to its formation, so it's hardly likely soccer was played here until many years later. 

Incidentally, what has become of all the Junior clubs which had their home grounds in Albert Park 50 years ago? There were no dressing room accommodation in those days—we hung our clothes on the fence along the St. Kilda railway line.