Page:Association Football and How to Play It (1908) by John Cameron.djvu/63

Rh catching on on the Continent, the players showing a better appreciation of the rules, just as they are able to follow the rules of the game; and now what is wanted is an Association in every country just like the F.A. in England. The International games to be played at the Stadium this year have shown the decided taste of other countries for all kinds of sports that are played here, and as the matter now stands Great Britain should certainly come out first, but it is a matter of great speculation whether Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, or Austria will finish second. The countries mentioned are most enthusiastic about it, and great credit must be given to the F.A. for the magnificent sum they have contributed towards the entertainments of the visitors. In South Africa the game has been played longer than in any country outside the British Isles. The competition there is known as the Donald Currie Cup, and it is nothing unusual for a team to travel a thousand miles to take part in this competition. In conversation the other day with a player who has played a great deal there, he said the English footballer of to-day could not do well there, for the travelling on the rough roads and the hard ground would be quite unlike anything they experience in England. Argentina is a great many miles away, but the game there is also developing rapidly. It is only three years ago since Southampton undertook the long voyage and had a most enjoyable time. It must be said that they astonished the natives, but this missionary effort by one of the leading clubs in the country is