The account which we have given of the revival and progress of the game in modern times will perhaps be deemed sufficient to show that football can legitimately claim the position of a national British sport. The accounts also which come to hand of the gradual establishment of the game in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, seem to indicate clearly that before many years have passed football will be, like cricket, a common pastime for all the English-speaking nations of the globe. Our review, however, of football and footballers can hardly be considered complete without a short reference to a few of the principal questions which are discussed in connection with the game.

No words of ours can adequately describe the present popularity of football with the public - a popularity which, though great in the metropolis, is infinitely greater in the large provincial towns. It was estimated that over 40,000 spectators paid to witness the final tie of the Association Cup at Manchester in 1893. This, however, was upon an exceptional occasion, but it is no rare thing in the North and Midlands for 10,000 people to pay money to witness an ordinary club match, or for half as many again to assemble for a 'Cup Tie.' If Aston Villa meet Notts County at Trent Bridge, special trains have to be run from Birmingham to carry the spectators who go over to see the match. Hundreds of pounds realised from the 'gates' are devoted to charitable objects, or go into the coffers of the competing clubs, or into the pockets of the professional players. In 1886 the Yorkshire County Union gave out of the gate money of three matches the sum of 1,000l. to various Yorkshire hospitals, and similar generous contributions are made each year by local associations and unions throughout the country, in spite of the assertions of sarcastic opponents of football that such gifts are really debts due to institutions which the game has previously filled with patients.

All classes are ready to put down their money to see the play, while the enthusiasm and excitement which follow each move in the game are unbounded. The writer has heard the roar that followed the scoring of a goal from a distance of more than half a mile.

All this popularity and power of making 'gate money' has naturally led to the institution of professionalism as a feature in the game. Long before professionalism was openly recognised by the Football Association, hundreds of fine players who devoted their services throughout a season to one club received in one form or another, either as 'expenses' or as 'testimonials,' or as wages for some nominal employment, a monetary return for their skilful play. At first the movement towards professionalism was strenuously opposed by the majority of the amateurs who attempted to debar any player from taking part in a match if he accepted any remuneration for his services. The only result was to drive professionalism beneath the surface, as the money was paid secretly instead of openly. Eventually, however, open and undisguised professionalism was not only allowed but encouraged by the Association, which made provision for the registration of 'players,' and gave permission for them to play in all club or cup tie matches, if born or resident for two years within six miles of the head-quarters of the club or ground for which they wished to play. We are thoroughly of opinion that these provisions and regulations were not only wise but sportsmanlike.

No doubt it is unfair for one club to bribe a man to desert his own district and go to another, but such a system of deportation under the present rule is impossible

On the other hand, none but a pedant could contend that there is anything more degrading or dishonourable per se foramechanic to earn money by the exhibition of manly skill in a game of football than in a game of cricket. As soon as there was money to be made out of football playing, it became not only natural but inevitable that the mechanic and artisan class of players should desire to share in it, and as undisguised professionalism is honest and sham amateurism dishonest, the Association wisely recognised facts.

Far different has been the case with the Rugby Union; but then, as we have seen, its history and circumstances have been different. The competition of cup ties led first to large 'gates' and then to professionalism, but it is almost in Yorkshire alone that the 'cup tie enthusiasm' has taken hold of the spectators of the Rugby game. Consequently, except in this one county, there has been little movement towards professionalism with the Rugby game. The movement, however, is at work, and the Rugby Union is resolved at present, in the words of one of its spokesmen, to 'throttle the hydra.' That we may not misrepresent Mr. Budd, whose opinion we are criticising, we had better quote in full what he has said about professionalism in the 'Football Annual.' His views are important, as the Rugby Union has adopted them and has now in force a long and stringent set of rules disqualifying any footballer who receives any money or money's worth for playing the game, and further disqualifying any club which plays with or against such an offender. As Mr. Budd is thus the spokesman of the Rugby Union, and as we differ for once from the views of that body, we feel justified in both quoting and criticising the following.

Says the advocate for suppression: -

Very few of us give much thought to the problems of football, but we would ask all who have the welfare of the game at heart to consider what would be the effect of recognised professionalism in the Rugby game. To start then with a simple proposition, it is indisbutable that in no branch of athletics, except cricket, where gentlemen play as much as professionals, do amateurs stand any chance whatever with professionals. What chance, for instance, would any of our amateur sprinters have with Hutchens? What chance would Pitman have with Beach? What chance your best amateur billiard player with John Roberts?