The San Francisco call., 1908-08-23

Tna o a aCsseT O
SOcCeriteS Worried by
Grounds Question
Association Meeting TO Decide
Upon Lots for Approaching
Seasons Games
By Bob Shand


The annual general meeting OF ths
California football association. which
is scheduled for September I, gives
promise of being fraught with many
grave discussions. and the conserva-
usm heretofore displayed by the or
ganlzation threatens TO receive a Jolt
from some of the younger delegates,
who have recently taken part in the
deliberations Of the association. These
delegates are ambitious and are en-
tirely out OF line with the oldtfna
1ootoal legislators, who. il has been
clalmed, have been too careful and con-
sela- servaelEe. with the result that the
iarlty due 10 il as sport
Inc attendance at the games during
the last two years has been above the
enough TO own grounds fenced in have
Deen able TO show credit balance at
the end OF each season, but those clubs
Wnlch mad 10 play at the stadium and
any old back lot where they could set
tie their differences are discounted
and want TO put their clubs on a self
necessary for all the grounds 10 be in
closed, as, If there is a free gate any
where, the biggest crowd viii gather
there. while only few faithful sup
porters OF the home team will attend
the games at which admission is
charged An example OF this was seen
last season, when the Alameda grounds
We're lined every Sunday by hundreds
OF people, while the games at Free
mans park were poorly patronized-
There Is no DOUBT, however. that were
a gate charged at the Alameda grounds
the games at Freeman's park would
receive their due share Of the public
patronage.
The association. as a body. can not
be charged with The responsibility for
this state of affairs, as il will be re-
nenDered that two years ago. when
there was several hundred dollars in
the treasury, a proposal was made to
place the money on deposit and add TO
II each year until a sufficient sum had
been gathered 10 purchase a ground
which would be the absolute property
Of the footballers. The clubs which
had captured the league cup that year
raised howl when this proposition
was made by the association. as. II IL
went through, the members Of the win
ming teams would not have obtained
the nedals which go with the league
loyal members OF the association
pleaded with the medal winners. and
II seemed for time that the grounds
proposaI would carry. Then along
came some members OF some OF the
clubs which had not won medals, and
possibly for that reason had a Crouch
anyhow, these trouble makers went
out among the players and instilled
1eellng OF distrust in their minds re-
gard1ng the associations project to
purchase grounds The SOreheads told
the medals they would get them and
have something TO show for their
prowess. but If the association was al
lowed 10 devote the money to other
purposes the players would receive no
Denent- 1t was a fear that the dele
gates to the association would have
control OF the grounds and have the lot
conveyed in their names, and thereby
become possessed OF il in the event OF
the association dissolving, that pos
seSSed the recalcitrants, and this state
ment was just foolish enough to de-
ceive the unSuspecting sOcceriteS. So
the players got their medals and the
association is still without grounds
Some of the clubs have vet no idea
where they will obtain grounds. The
Albion RoveFs. Vampires San Fran
ciscoS and Hornets are the only clubs
that have so far secured grounds and
it is up 10 the other teams 10 get real
busy and find out where they are going
the clubs leasing the PresidiO grounds.
but many objections have been made 10
the lot out by the Preside. However,
If nothing better can be got two Of the
The grounds at Seventh avenue and
California street which the Hornets
originally had. will be built on this
winter, so there IS nothing doing there
for the S0cceriteS.
The San Francisco team held a meet
ing the other night and elected officers
for the coming season The princi-
pal business was the discussion re-
garding the adyisability Of appointing
a manager for the team After a lot
of talk the proposal was carried This
is a brand new one to local sOccerites.
and hitherto the secretary has been
actual manager of the team. with the
cooperation of the executive board tO
settle any question Of moment. The
San Franciscos, however. want 70 be
different from the other clubs, and the
rather pretentiOUS Office OF manager
was created. Sam Goodman was elected
TO the Office. The other officers elected
were as follows: President, R. AIMS
worth: vice presidents-M- Luby, F..
Jones. W. Clark. ". Bradbury, A.
Brown and z. Millin: secretary. Z.
Siggs. treasurer, F. Butler; auditing
committee-F. Dowding, NJ Luby, F. j.
Spencer and E. Perkins. league dele
gates F. ]. Spencer and 5. Goodman.
captain E Perkins: vice captain, F. J.
Spencer; selection committee-E. Per-
kins r. AinSWOrth, NJ Luby, W. Muir
ray and J. ChOwn: ground committee
D. Mcleod. F. Strike and H Major.