HOBY ON SPORT
Here's The News Behind The
Scenes In Sport by "People"
Columnist Alan Hoby
Soccer Stars
ONE thing about football— Bullied By
YOU can’t “fix” a League Directors
game like you can some fights.
Just the same, there is plenty
that has a nasty smell even in
Soccer. own first team—although his
Have you ever asked your- country think him good enough
selves, for example, who are to play for them!
the directors of your local foot- It is a scandalous situation,
ball club, or what qualifica- and it all began two years ago,
tions they possess—if any—for when the player In question—
the complex, highly specialised he happened to be stationed
job of running a modern near by at the time — turned
professional side? out for his club in a local Cup
If not, it is time you did. game.
There are two types of director. Unfortunately for him, after
The rare sort with brains as scoring a brilliant goal, he
well as a bank balance. And badly injured his ankle trying
that ever-growing horde of to stop the equaliser. He had
board-room buffoons who don't to quit. There was no other
know a footballer from a floor- choice. His ankle was swelling
walker. like a balloon.
I have nothing but admira- Yet, although he was in great
tion for business men like the pain and scarcely able to
Gliksten Brothers of Charlton, hobble, one of his directors,
who made silver-haired, cigar- with a club official, followed
champing Jimmy Seed sole him down to the dressing-rooms
team boss, and gave him a free and tried to order him to
rein—with startling results. return to the field.
The back-room boys of The player refused. "It
Burnley and Arsenal also fall would have ruined his career,"
into this Grade A category. his friend said. "Besides, he
Both Cliff Britton and Tom was an ambulance case." Yet,
Whittaker are allowed to get on so nettled were the club officials
with the job in their own way. over the incident that this
But the old-time "boss" footballer, who had given them
manager is a dying breed. To- splendid loyalty and service,
day we have this puerile, puny was left to get back to his unit
race of upstart directors in club alone—as best he could . . .
control. A well-known ex-foot-
baller summed up the situation *
neatly and
bitterly: BUT this is not the end. Since
"Football is then various fables have
being run by been "cooked up" about this
people who star. He is "temperamental."
know more He is not a good "club man."
about brick- He only plays when he feels
laying or the like it. And so on.
coal business One director has even been
—men who overheard to declare that he
are in the wouldn't play him in the third
game for the team!
notoriety and But his own country doesn't
personal kudos think he's a third-team man.
it brings They picked him for their
them." national side the night before
How right he was dropped by his own
he is. These club!
puffed - up This same club, incidentally,
petty dictators not so long ago, tried to play
invariably look a very famous wing-half at
for "yes - outside-right—the week after
men" stooge he had captained England!
managers. Seed has his own The international refused point-
with this type way. blank.
It is the lick- Today, this same half-back
spittle footballer who invariably skippers one of the most
prospers. The rest they regard famous sides in the country.
as just so many "bales of It's not only petty. It's utterly
merchandise." preposterous.
The trouble with this type of
* director is that he will poke his
nose into matters that don't
TAKE the case of a famous concern him. He refuses to
international footballer— recognise that the successful
you would know his name as running of a football club is
well as those of your own primarily the job of a paid
wives—who, in a friend's words, team manager—preferably an
is being "deliberately hounded experienced, intelligent ex-
out of football." player who knows the technical
I bring this case to your side of soccer from every angle.
attention because, in his par- Not all directors—as I have
ticular position, this man is the pointed out—are by any means
greatest player in the world. stupid. Many of them are
in his position. Yet he often excellent business men. But
can't command a place in his their sole concern, surely, is
with the financial side of foot-
ball?
