The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03

Recently an amateur league of soccer football teams was organized in Jenerson county and a regular schedule of games planned out. The teams composing the league are Ensley, Wylam. Pratt City, Blossberg, Cardiff, No Pratt. and Re- public It is understood that several other teams will later join the league. The opening game will be played on Saturday November 16 The contesting teams will be Ensley and Pratt City. and the game will be played at the ball grounds. Ems ley. The schedule fixed so far calls for three games each against each team, which means that every club will play A games. The winning team will be award ed silver cup and each player gold medal The players of the team making second place will receive silver medal Quite a number of practice games have been played and from the increasing att tendance at each game the future of soccer football in this section of the coun- try seems assured
 To those who have never seen a game of soccer ball played it might be well de- seribed in the words of prominent ath- lete, who, after witnessing his first game
 
 a strenuous game" he replied. "The only thing can compare it to is a game of basket ball played with the feet" While this simile hardly describes the game, yet there are many similar plays, for the most successful soccer ball teams rely on the dexterity with which 1t kicks the ball from one player to another and thus carries the ball 10 the enemy's goal The same intercepting plays are made by the opposing team with the head and feet, however, and from the time the ball is kicked off until time Is called the ball is always in motion.
 While soccer ball has never been pop nlar in the south 1t has gained quite stronghold in the northeast, where there are many leagues, and some of the games draw a large attendance Especially is this true of the states on the Canadian border, for the game is as popular in Cam ada as it is in the British Isles. In fact, some of the best players of the old coun- try have settled in the Dominion and have brought the game to a high degree of proficiency.
 The Game in England
 In the British isles the game is fully as popular as baseball is in the United States. Every county and shire has it's football league, and every city, town and village it's football clubs galore. The league games draw enormous crowds, but the international games between England, Scotland Ireland and Wales draw possi- bly the largest crowds. In the interna- tional contest the players are of the na- tionality of the country they represent, and the great ambition of every player is to be selected as a member of the team to represent his particular country. 1.-The interest in the game can be judged from the attendance at the game played March 24, 1912, between England and Scot land at Hampden Park, Scotland, when the attendance reached the enormous fig- ures of 127307. These figures are authen- ticated by Leng's Football Handbook. a recognized authority on the game.
 The league matches are not far behind these figures, for at the final game for the English cup between Aston Villa and Newcastle, the attendance was 10i,117. At quite a number of other games the at tendance reached from 5000 to 5000.
 In addition to the interest in soccer football, the Rugby game, or football" as it is generally played in America, is also very popular and great crowds gather to witness the varsity and other games but the association game, soccer ball, as termed in the British Isles. attracts the largest crowds.
 How Game Is Played
 The game is played by eleven players