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FOOTBALL.
OFFER TO F. JENKINS.
St. Kilda Club Active.
Particulars of an offer made to him
some weeks ago to join the St. Kilda
Football Club in Victoria, were disclosed
last night by Frank Jenkins, the young
South Fremantle player and Sandover
medallist for the past season. In most
enticing terms, the offer referred to the
thrill which a young player would ex
perience in playing before the huge
crowds of Victoria. The offer, which was
conveyed by means of a letter written by
Mr. T. Mitchell (chairman of the St.
Kilda Club recruiting committee), also
gave a virtual guarantee of suitable em
ployment being found for Jenkins in the
event of his acceptance.
Asked last night to confirm the rumour
that an offer had been made to him by
an Eastern States club, Jenkins produced
the letter which was dated October 4.
He said that he had been approached
previously. "In a way I was pleased," said
Jenkins when asked how he felt about
the offer. However, he was not keen to
leave his present club, with which he was
on particularly happy terms.
Declaring that "you don't play football
all your life," he said that he had his
future to consider and that unless his
prospects could be assured to the same
extent in this State he supposed that he
F. IENK NS. Help
F. IENK NS.
would eventually accept the offer. If he
had to leave South Premantle, he said,
then he would go to Victoria. At present,
Jenkins is employed as an electric welder
on the installations of elevators at the
bulk wheat depot at North Fremantle. He
has been with the same firm on casual
employment for the past 18 months.
Jenkins turned 20 on August 11 last and
has lived all his life .in South Fremantle.
"I was born ,in this house," he told the
interviewer. His success as a footballer
he attributed largely to Tom Sullivan, a
former State player, who had coached
him since his schooldays. Jenkins played
as a boy with the Fremantle Boys' team
and on leaving school linked up with the
South Fremantle Ex-Scholars. After four
years with that team, he played in his
first League matches for South Fremantle
in the season just ended. In 1936, he won
the L. J. Brown medal, awarded to the
fairest and best player in the Fremantle
Ex-Scholars' Association.
The letter to Jenkins from the St. Kilda
Club read as follows:
"Further on these interviews, I am
directed to extend to you a hearty and
cordial invitation to join St. Kilda. You
will find offiials, players and the general
environment of the club particularly
pleasing and we, shall do everything pos
sible to make you happy and contented.
While always keen to secure the services
of good players, my committee does not
like to encourage boys to St. Kilds unless
such change is beneficial to them. Prev
tously, several interstate players, includ
ing Retell of your club, were encouraged
to St. Kilda and all are now employed in
lifetime positions, and if given the op
portunity we will no doubt similarly place
you for my committee is more fortunate
than most clubs here in securing suit
able employment for players.
"Owing to being out of employment,
Nash, of South Melbourne-probably the
best footbhller in Victoria-is seeking a
clearance to St. Kilda and we will imn
mediately place him in a suitable posi
tion. As there are certain weaknesses
in our side which must be remedied, my
committee is devoting particular atten
tion to securing promising players. Con
sequently, a Sandover Medal winner would
be particularly weleome.
"Of particular interest to prospective
playes is the fact that St. Kilda is in the
happy position of being able to maintain
the maximum payments to players per
mitted under the Coulter Law. In addi
tion we have devised a scheme which will
enable our team to visit periodically all
the States. Next season, if arrangements
can be made we purpose visiting Western
Australia (including the goldHelds) and
South Australia.
"Of course, the matter of coming to
Melbourne is one which must be decided
by yourself. If, however, it is your inten
tion eventually to transfer to Victoria, I
would suggest the sooner the better. I
am certain you will not regret coming to
St. Kilda and I can assure you of every
consideration; so here's hoping you will
decide to come over.
"Playing before the huge crowds is a
real thrill for a young player. All expenses
to Victoria would be paid by St. Kilda
and, of course, suitable employment
obtained for you."
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