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Chats with Stars.
PHIL MATS OB OF SOOBY.
FIRST SWIMMER, THEN FOOT
BALLER.
There was a good deal of fluke
about the football career of Phil Mat
3on of Sooby. That Phil did not
boot around cushions before he was
out of the petticoat stage and wear
out his boots with empty jam ting and
that he iddn't get into the very deuce
of a row because he spent all his
time playing football instead of "do
ing"' home lessons, the football fans
of W.A. will find it hard lo believe.
Bm truth was ever stranger than fic
tion and so 'tis with the boyhood days
of the Subiaco champion. And will
you believe it. readers ? Phil Matson
played our game until he could
boast of eighteen summers—or wint
ers.
HOW HE BECAME A FOOTBALLEH.
Unlike nine out of ten leaguers, the
school days for the subject of this
interview held nothing of the excit
ing joys and bitter disappointments
that is the privileged lot of every ju
venile footballer- No, for Phil a
iittle swimming and the modest and
unpretentious exercises of "running
md jumping about" afforded him the
outlet for youthful energies.
"No, I didn't worry about anything
much at school" simply said Phil.
From the foregoing it will he ob
served that the "Worker" man had
been in conversation with Phil Mat
son. Such conclusions would be per
fectly correct.
It ' Ippened this way : He was busi
ly U jiug to " Snowy" Youlden when
.his mble and admiring scribe gent
ly inirfrmed him that "WoTker" read
ers were dying to know something of
himself. Would he tell them? Yes,
Phil wonld; but he didn't like talking1
of himself.
We immediately repaired to the
squash shop.
"How did I first come to play the
game? Well, I was shoved into it. 1
was always a bit fond of swimming
and spent a lot of time down at the
Claremont baths, where W. Howson,
the man who dived 1X0 yards, is in
stalled as caretaker. Claremont sec
jnd-rates were short of a man or two,
ind Howson said "Yould better have
i game"."
So that was the commencement ?
"Yes; that was in 190 4 when 18
fears of age."
SWIMMING AND FOOTBALL..
When one speaks of Phil Matson,
records of swimming and football, one
Interwoven with the ether, conjure up
before the memory, and it is difficult
'.o decide from which of the pastimes,
die summer or the winter, he his
gained greater fame. His swimming
records are formidable. Thrice has
:he 220 yds. breast stroke champion
ship of Australia fallen to his lot:
Melbourne. 1907 in New Zea
land, and 1908 in W.A. For a num
ber of years he was also the proud
-lolder of the world's record (3.10
3-5), hut In 1913 Edgur Finlay, at
Sydney, cut the time down to 3.10.
Did he think swimming militated
against football ? No; not a bit of
ft. If those footballers with '"knees,"
"ankles," "legs," and ether ailments
aecirliar to the footballer would only
mend the off season swimming they
would have no troubles at all. He
lid so himself and he would testify ta
the value of swimming.
WEST PERTH'S FIRST LEAGUE
CLUB.
During the 1903 season Phil MaL
K>n progressed rapidly in the matter
pf his football education, lie went
nto the game because his friend said
"ie "looked the right sort." He en
ered a raw bulloeking beginner and
■yon the meial at the end of the sea
son for the best all round man in tbe
dub. Looking back now it is not
jurprising. About this time West
Perth were in the heyday of their
ixistence and thsir invitation to play
"esgue football was accepted the fol
owing year (1904). From this out
Phil Matson worked his way rapidly
o the front. A season in Bunbury
with South Bunbury, three seasons
?.'ith Bouider City where he won the
■£10 10/ cup for the most popular
player; then East. Yes; he had
played with Sturt, S.A. (1910) , other
wise known as the "Immigrants."
"I think Sturt was the best team
that ever stripped in Australia that
( cam'remember," he remarked; "but
ihev lacked system. 'Diver' Dune,
Albert Heinricks, Vic Cumberland, A.
iitiiijey were members of that club."
GREAT PLAYERS I HAVE MET.
No-one's football education is com
plete unless they have heard Phil
Matson's "opinions" of great players
with whom the vicissitudes of his
career have brought him in contact.
Who is the greatest footballer yon
-lave met ? enquired the "Worker"
man.
r
Phil dubiously stroked his ehi~i.
"'The greatest footballer" he repeated
contemplatively; "Well that is diffi
cult to say. I would give the palm to
Dave McN'smara, now with St. Kilda.
Not perhaps as ail individual star, but
rs a member of a team. A great big
13} stc-ner, he is magnificent. Then
here is Victor Cumberland, a wonde --
.ill ruck man. Tom Leahy, of West
Adelaide I think is the greatest fol
'orwer in Australia. Why, I have
teen that man carry off the honors
jingle-handed."
There was some talk of Leahy com
ing West ?
"Yes. Any club that gets him
will be made."
Centre man?
"Oliver of Port Adelaide."
Yet Nipper Truscolt beat htm In
Sydney last year ?
"Granted; it was a feather in Nip
per's cap. But this Oliver is a won
derful footballer."
"Robinson, of the fields, is a grand
rlaee kick. His "70-yarders' are beau
tiful."
INTERSTATE PERFORMANCES.
Now, about yourself? the writer in
quired. But Philip Matson has a
clever little knack of - turning the
topic into some other channel thaM
the personal. However, it might be
said that he would play centre half
back for prefenence. Had he not
ylayed in that position for South Aus
tralia against Melbourne and every
one will tell ycu that Phil Matson
never played better than on those
momentous occasions. He himself
says that the greatest game he ever
played was in Melbourne during the
1910 season against Victorian Asso
ciation. .
Four times did South Australia in
^.ilude him against the men of Mel
r bourne, and three times has he repre
sented our State in the carnival
series.
HE TAT.NS OF CARNIVAL SERIES.
"We should have won the Austral
asian Championship last year. Never
have I been with such a team," said
Phil. "Their combination was simply
marvellous. We arrived on the Tues
day and had to play on the Wednes
'day. We had 24 men, one trainer, no
towels or oil. Had we proper condi
tions to work under we would have
won. - Next time a team goes away
they should have at least a week's
practice before being asked to play."
EASTERN PLAYERS CAN SHOW US
NOTHING.
"The Eastern players can show us
nothing in the way of football. The
difference is that in Victoria eighteen
top-notchers constitute a team where
is here most clubs have a ''tail." Su
it biaco has the finest combinatiou «jf
my club I have ever played for.
PLAYED 7} YEARS CONTINU
OUSLY.
What must almost be a record is
the wonderful achievement of playing
7 i years without missing a match.
One day, purely through an accident,
"Jerry" Balme brought Watson down
and his collarbone was broken. This
happened in 1912 and with the mis
fortune he missed his first game for
71 years. Of his most thrilling match
Phil relates an interesting little epi
sode. It was a premiership decided
on one kick. The match was the final
of the South Australian premiership
and Sturt were playing Port Adelaide.
For the whole afternoon 30,000 peo
ple had been bubbling over with ex
citement- The two clubs fought out
a desperate finish. Ports led by four
points and the "Immigrants" were at
tacking. Cumberland marked the
ball. The bell sounded. The resu't
of the game—premiership—hung in
the balance. Would he get the goal?
"Midst unbroken silence the Sturt
man deliberately- kicked—it only
registered a behind and Ports won.
WILL PLAY AJN'OTHER FIVE
YEARS.
For some reason or other tie im
pression has got about that Matsou
is approaching an age when most
'bailers give the game up. As a mat
ter of fact his age is 29.
"Me getting old? It's all rot,"
quoth the maroon. "Why, I expet t
to be at my very top for another five
\rears yet. I've had a lot of bad luck
here, and I can honestly say this is
the first season 1 have been property
well."
"What's that ? Oh, yes, we expect
to win the premiership out at Soobv
this year."
$
OYER A1 EOTOVS.
One evening last week Mr. "Sonny"
Bray, delegate for East Perth, invited
the writer over to Loton's to "liave a
look round." Wonderful enthusiasm,
from President Harry Mann down to
the boot studder, is the first impres
sion to be gained. All over the ground
industrious players were indulging in
short, sharp, -dashing work, under the
direction of Coach Geo. Sparrow, and
a fine lot they look, too. During the
week the royal blues have been under
going a special preparation in antici
pation of the big match against Souths
to-morrow afternoon. The royal blues,
to me, do not appear to have been
overworked, and it will probably be
found that Sparrow is so directing
operations that his men will be "jump
ing out of their skins" when the seri
ous games come on. Inside the train
ing room everything was in apple-pie
order. Half a dozen trainers clad in
spotless white stood in readiness he
side their respective mattrc-ssed ben
ches, also scrupulously clean and ;
fresh with their snow-white coverings. .
Hot baths and cold sho.vers were in j
constant demand, as one by one the
perspiring players divested themselves :
of uniforms. As I stood there watch- i
ing the almost parental interest and :
attention lavished upon those fooibal- j
lersj the thought flashed through my 1
mind, "I wonder if the boys at the ;
front are so well looked after? Do i
they have snch commodious and com- j
fortable hospitals?"
Next door is the social, billiard, and
reading room. I
"We never have any trouble getting
our men down to training,"' proudly
stated "Sonny."
And no wonder. Doubtless it has
cost East Perth a pretty penny to
bring their abode up to such a state of
excellence, but whatever the cost, it's
worth it. East Perth are building
upon the solid foundation of social life
for their players. It costs money, and
now, as with other clubs, Easts find
themselves juggling with financial pro
blems. The difference, however, is
that most league clubs have no assets
outside a few empty eucalyptus bottles,
while Easts, were they to dispose of
their goods and chattels io-morrow,
would be in affluent circumstances.
My advice to .all clubs low down: Take
a leaf out of the East Perth book and
make your rooms worth while the
trouble of coming down to train.
TO-MORROW'S PROSPECTS.
. Of course the game agitating the
minds or the football public to-morrow
is the meeting of East Perth and South
Fremantle at Loton's. Souths, bo
far have never been pushed. On every
occasion they have "romped"" home, but
so far they have never been faced by
a confident harmonious eighteen Bach
as they will meet to-morrow.. Easts
put up a great performance against
Subiaco, and though the royal blues
are admittedly an in and out crowd, we
have yet to learn that they will fail
to rise to the big occasion. Souths,
fast and weighty, will find them epeedy
and clever. On such a big ground
as Loton's I am inclined towards the
spectacular Easts. Had the match
been billed for, say, Fremantle Oval, I
should go for Souths, but on this oc
casion 1 must have the royal blues on
my side. Fast open play may find
Souths out.
Subiaco should beat Perth, but de
spite the latter's defeat by the mag
pies last week I think it will be
proved later on that the red legs ale a
much better team than they are popu
larly supposed to he. Midland will
beat Wests at Midland Junction, and
East Fremantle should have their third
victory at the expense of North.
South Fremantle, according to cus
tom, hold their social evenings on
Saturday nights. Splendid attend
ances and enthusiasm reflect truly the
happy bunch that the Souths really
are. East week a hilarious crowd ga
thered to celebrate the grand victory
over Easts.
AAA
"WORKER" COMPETITIOXS.
The voting in the "Worker" compe
titions now stands: —
COAST.
N. Truscott (E.F.) .. 150
Foy fF.) 73
Mcintosh (S-F.) 68
Tomkins (E.P.) 61
Steele (S.) 38
Tyson (M.J.) 31
P. Marson (S.) 30
Thomas (E.P.) 30
Scobie (E.F.) 20
Wimbridge (P.) 10
T.inili (S.) 10
GOLDFIEEDS.
J. Hurley (3.) 62
Les. Burt (it) 25
"Bully" Caple 15
J. Daly (M.) 13
4 $ $
GOLD FIELDS' FOOTBALL.
(By Special Correspondent.)
MINES V. BODLDER.
ThiB match was played on Sunday
last on the Boulder Reserve. The
weather was perfect for football, and
a fair crowd turned up to see the
game. It was a very scientific dis
play of football all through, and the
opening quarter looked as if it was go
ing to be a very hard match to win, as
both teams were level—Boulder 2
goals 8 behinds, Mines 3 goals 2 be
hinds. But during the next term
Mines showed their superiority and
piled on the points to some purpose, as
the scores will show—Mines 8 goals 5
behinds, Boulder 2 goals 10 behinds.
After half-time Boulder j^o". to work
vigorously to pick up lost "ground, and
scored two goals in quick 'succession.
Mines were not to be denied, and came
with a rattle, and at. the end of the
term Boulder had only decreased the
tally by two points. In (he final
quarter Boulders managed to draw up
a little and kicked a goal and a behind
before Mines scored. Mines retaliat
ed by kicking a goal, and Boulder re
sponded with kicking another goal and
a behind. At it again Mines potted
another goal, and Boulder did like
wise. The final scores Mines, 13
goals 8 behinds; Boulder, 8 goals 16
behinds.
On general play it was a grand ex
hibition of fooiball, but Boulders were
Tery faulty at kicking. Best players
tor Mines—Polglalse, Lock, Methera.ll,
Hlckey, Daly. For Boulder—Hardi
man, Hurley, Bo bin son. Preen Bea
glehole.
RAILWAYS t. KALGOORLIE.
This match was probably the worst
witnessed in senior football in Kal
goorlie for years. Kalgoorlie had not
the slightest idea of the game. They
we-re all on the ball and at no time
were the Railways extended. They
ran out easy winners. Scores : Rail
ways, 20 goals 20 belliuds; Kaigoor
lie, G goals S bchinds. Slaltery (8
goals) and Moiler (G goals) were the
most prolific forwards for the victors.
The "stork" visited the residence of
the well-known (outrunner, footballer
and umpire (J. M. Condon) on Friday
lest and let! twins (girls). All are
well.
® * 2«
BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
(By "Critic.")
Obit. Elgar Hales, of Claremont
Glebe, who died last week of wounds
received at the Dardanelles. He is
the fourth of our local Soccerites to
cross the bourne from whence no
traveller returns. All honor to his
memory.
* * ®
England v. Scotland next Monday
at Claremont Oval. Each Bide is
fielding "tts best and each is confident
of victory. It is the most enthusi
astic Soccer function of the year.
East year Scotland won by a goal,
and then lost to Australia. This year
should again find all three about on
a par.
» « «
Claremont 4, College 0." Last week
on College Ground all four goals came
in the second half, Davis getting one,
Shellabeer one, and two being prac
tically scored by the College defend
ers.
♦ *■ *
College forwards couldn't kick over
a jam tin. Had several chances.
Youth and Inexperience were ever
thus. But what was Murray' doin^
Evidently little Ernie Charlton was
Coil's best half—easily. Bobby
Johnstone was solid oh the back line
and Parvin was up to form. The
rest also ran.
• « •
Wanted a goalkeeper. Apply Clare
mont F.C.
m a *
Billy Davics may Lave enlisted but
Lis duties are likely to keep bim at
North Fremantle. We hope so, for
Billy is such an ornament to the game
that his ioss would be keenly felt.
Ali the same we'd lose him as willing
ly as Billy would go if it came to it.
Charlie Bannister is doing the game
a power of good at Clarenicnt, and
the excellent condition both of Clare
mont and Clareruont Glebe are largely
due to Charlie's training of the boys.
In addition he is playing a most ef
fective game at back for the seniors.
* * *
Harry Fieldgate is reported to be
coming back again to the arena. A
couple of years ago, and even last
season, happ3" Harry was one o" our
most brilliant wingers. Hymen and
Anno Domini have since been argu
ing with him, but rather than see his
old club stuck for a player has again
unearthed his duds.
Ciiy Rangers is the name given to
the rmalgamation of City United and
Rangers. Dunlop is skipper. Last
week the combine ran the Perth
eleven to a pointless draw.
=S * 3=
Perth forwards are reported to have
beeu even worse than usual and as
is generally the case.Moore, Boitii
wicke and Wallis saved the side. The
club had hoped for the services of
their oid goalie Heberle, so that
A'go re could put seme hurry into the
forward line, but the versatile Tommy
had to keep goal again after all,
Heberle failing to materialise. For
Cities Dunlop, R. Hancock, G. Hatton
and titling merited praise.
* # .
Claremont Glebe are pluck personi
fied. Played the clever Caledonian
eleven to a one all draw last week and
deserved al lthev got, too.
* * *
Dennard scored for Caleys. This
tricky little half, whose only fault is
that he is too tricky at times, steered
the ball clear of three red shirts and
piloted a grounder which ecored all
the way.
The equalizer was peculiar. Jack
Marshall centred a high ball which
Alarr, Caley's keeper, averred passed
over ths line and swerved hack again.
Referee Gill ruled otherwise. Marr
grabbed the sphere from just under
the bar, but before he could clear
Caporn bumped him out and a goal
resulted.
For twenty minutes of the second
half Glebe pressed hard. Then young
Stephens, who had just previously
played in a junior match, received a
kick on.the ankle. Thereafter he Whs
useless. As a result Caley's attacked
incessantly during the last quarter.
± ±±
Each eide lacked thrust in attack.
Glebe especially losing some good
chances. Calevs got In the best
scoring efforts, Elphick putting up a
wonderfully good show in Glebe s
goal.
***
Sadlier and Maskiell are too ratt
ling good backs. Hudson i6 a green
lily at half and Varley and Marshall
made 2 speedy and promising left
wing. Glebe should win many games
vet.
• *«
The Scotties were up against it
right enough—and didn't expect it
either. The defence was as usual,
but the main spring of the side, the
centre half, was rusty. Caleys have
but one centre half in their team, bat
he was playing right back. And in
Soccer it is a fair saying that a team
is no better than its centre half.
McLennan, the ex-Thistleite, was
the best half and even he wasn't near
ly at his best. Brown and Storer
made an ineffective right wing al
though both can do better. McKIn
non fiddles about too much and
Ehould wing the ball more. Ander
son was good, but often too slow and
Renshaw was well held by Hudson.
Altogether it wasn't a Caley day out.
Storer, of Caleys, plays with his
stockings down over his boots and his
knickers tucked high above his knees
—a veritable object of disgust to most
people. Turn It up, Storer. Even
the kids made facetious remarks to
him. No one goes to a football
match to admire bare limbs, and be
sides, it's against the rules.
**■*
Fred Hatton, of Perth, has enlisted.
Good boy, Fred. McPherson, of
Caleys, and Jeans, of Claremont
Glebe, have done ditto. Good boy6
all of them. They wTill find plenty
of their old chums when they get to
the Dardanelles, but some, alas, they
may nevCr see.
• <1*
Thistle 4, Australe 2. Gordon,
Gray and Smart (2) scored for tho
winners and Farrar twice for the
losers. Thistle were minus their
backs and had to completely re-ar
range their back lines.
3= 3= if
Gordon, Nesbit 2nd Smart were as
brilliant as ever and Wallace and
Browning were reliable defenders.
For Australs Farrar, Patterson, Hoi
lis, and Winning were mentioned in
the dispatches.
4l 3jl 4
Thistle are drawn against Caleys
at Fremantle to-morrow week in the
second round of the Challenge Cup.
Claremont meet their own junion,
the Glebe to wit; City Rangers play
Fremantle and Australs meet Rangers
United.
♦ S *
Fremantle lost to Casuals last week
by virtue of the most deplorable for
ward play imaginable. With the ex
ception of Poole, who was worth the
lot of them put together twice over,
the line as a line were not capable of
scoring against even the Blincl Asyl
um. Tom Cowley wouVd have done
the club and the game generally a
power of good by sticking to them.
Casuals won by 3—1.
Rangers United had a bye last
Saturday. With five teams in the
competition these wretched byes are
inevitable. Surely another club with
the same sporting instincts as Clare
mont Glebe can be found. What
about it, Rangers Glebe ?
To-inorrow'e games, are :—Clare-i
mont v. City Rangers, at Claremort
Oval; Perth v. Thistle, at Esplanade;
College v. Australs, at Claremont;
Fremantle v. Claremont Glebe, . at
Wellington Square; Rangers United
v. Caledonians, at East Fremantle;
Casuals, a bye.
Claremont will find City Rangers
a tough proposition. Thistle ought
to beat Perth again, but it won't be
by 6—1, and College should open
their account with a victory against
Australs.
In the second division Fremantle do
not seem to have much hope against
Claremont Glebe, but a win would do
them a world of good. Rangers
United and Caleys will be a hard even
struggle, with the result very prob
lematical.
On Monday week—as previously
stated—England meet Scotland. Kirk
off is 3.30 p.m. Those who do not
often see Soccer nowadays are hereby
invited to come along and see a real
good exhibition of the code.
$