Page:Association Football and How to Play It (1908) by John Cameron.djvu/74

72 Pickford has pointed out, a player could be off-side with eleven opponents in front of him. It is not likely, but it could happen. If a player has not three opponents in front of him when the ball was last played by one of his own side, who was behind him, he is offside, and he remains so till someone else plays the ball, and if in the interval the rest of the team ran back on goal he would still be offside.

Again, what is an amateur? Well, conscience will decide in the light of the rule. He must not receive remuneration or consideration of any sort above his necessary hotel expenses and travelling expenses actually paid. The men who pay for their sport are getting fewer and fewer. It is a pity. But on these and many other points you can obtain valuable booklets from the F.A., 104, High Holborn, London, W.C. They publish also a referees' chart, with the interpretation that is officially put upon many rules. They are mines of useful information for those who know but little of the game.

It would seem as if the game is rapidly spreading on the Continent, and every country takes up the sport save Turkey and Russia. England is the mentor, and the Football Association have a great work. It may be that the love of sport will so grow that ere many years are over we shall see several European teams competing here year by year. In the early stages of the development the game will be amateur, but later on will come the paid player. One writer says, "No money, no first-class football." This is rubbish; it is much