AUSTRIAN TRIBUTE TO BRITISH SOCCER
HUGO MEISL IN LEICESTER
Unknown | 02/12/1933

"If international politics were ruled by footballers and sportsmen generally there would have been no Great War."

Thi was one of many striking passages in an address delivered by Herr Hugo Meisl, secretary of the Austrian Football Association, at a reception given in his honour by the Lord Mayor of Leicester at the Lord Mayor's Rooms lat night.

Herr Meisl went on to say that the only war that he thought worthwhile was the one waged on the football field, under rules that were observed by every nation.

Herr Meisl, who speaks excellent English, said how proud the Austrians were at drawing their match with Scotland this week.

The pupils were springing a surprise on their masters, but in some respects no doubt the British teams found the Continental play different from what they were used to.

That was because every year the Austrians met about a dozen other nations, and they developed their play by trying to adopt what was best in the play of each other nation.

No other nation could equal the British from the physical point of view, but he advised us to study the game more seriously than we do. Then Great Britain would have no one to fear in the football.

Hugo Meisl: I am sure you will come to the front again, and lead all the nations in this greatest of all games that you have given us.

STILL AHEAD

» The Austrians and, to a certain extent, the Hungarians and the Czechs have at the moment approached practically to the English standard of play, but in one respect you are at least half a century ahead of any other nation, and that is in your sporting spirit.

The Lord Mayor welcomed Herr Meisl, a welcome that was supported by Mr. Tom Bradshaw, chairman Leicestershire F.A., Mr. Peter Hodge, secretary-manager Leicester City F.C., and Mr. Tom Crew, the well-known referee.

Mr. Hodge remarked that it was not the success of any particular team or country that mattered, but the style of football they played.

The Austrian's match at Glasgow was of the finest international games he (Mr. Hodge) had ever seen, and the Austrians played in a wonderful spirit under conditions that were not quite familiar to them.

If our visitors were to beat England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, we should not worry, but we should rise up and beat them next time.

The great thing was for football to be played as it should be played.

There was a gathering of more than a hundred to meet Herr Meisl, and every branch of football and many other sports were represented.

Among the guests was Mr. Herbert Chapman, manager of the Arsenal F.C., who spoke very feelingly of the personal qualities of Herr Meisl, and of the great work he had done for football and for sportsmanship, not only in Austria, but throughout the Continent.