At that moment there is a purity, which can be poisoned later by the temptations of the game. So, Peter, the acting head of English at Kingsmead, an independent school in Hoylake, Wirral, and the churches are doing what they can to ensure that honest standards prevail. "I started off with a nucleus of lads who attended the Fellowship," he says. "It was always understood, though, that we would bring in youngsters from outside to teach them something about the true spirit of football. "Some found the ridicule at school very difficult. One or two even declined to join the church team because they feared it. "But once we were seen to have very good players and the involvement of people of status in the world of football, it made a big difference." Longcroft, who play at Puddydale, Heswall, and the other church clubs are expected to maintain high standards. "The referees operate the rules of the FA," Peter says, "but we superimpose our own standards. If the referee does not send off a player for swearing, but the manager heard it, he would be obliged to bring the player off and substitute him. The idea is, if this is widely applied, that the players will realise that swearing is completely unacceptable. We have children and mothers watching and swearing is unacceptable to them." The obviously offensive four-letter words are banned. "Bloody" is on the margin. Violent play is out. "They have to sign a code of conduct which lists certain things which would be defined as bad sportsmanship, not in the spirit of the game," says Peter. "When Association Football started there were no referees. The formal use of officials began with the FA Cup in 1871/72. With so much at stake, they had to be more vigorous. "In the early days, players were expected to conduct themselves like Christian gentlemen. Failure to maintain those standards meant removal from the club. In this spirit, it took 10 years before the free kick was introduced and that was only for handball. It was considered at the time that gentlemen didn't cheat. "It took until 1891 for the penalty kick to be introduced and again it was regarded as a slight on the character of gentlemen that they would consider cheating. Many players would refuse to take penalties or the goalkeeper would stand by the post and refuse to save it on principle." Those who watched the antics of the World Cup stars saw how far we have moved from that ideal. Commentators even talk about "winning" a free kick. But in his foreword to Peter's book, one of those commentators, John Motson, writes: "Sadly, most of the pioneers who planted the tiny seeds that have grown into our top clubs get little more than a mention. Peter Lupson has been able to bring these pioneers to life and transport us back to the time in which they lived. Their remarkable contribution is at last given the recognition it deserves. "We have good reason to thank God for them." davidcharters@dailypost.co.uk A team player turned author >>> | 
