Abstract des BISp

Author explains how the Australian Soccer Player's Association constitutes the first serious attempft to form a player's association in the National Soccer League. Object is to describe the early attempts to form player bodies and assess why these attempts occured during the 1950's and 1960's and why the leaders of the representative organisations sought advice overseas from the Professional Footballers' Association. A historical background to the finance, the labour market and rules of soccer is given. He explains how the retain and transfer system worked and how the players objected to this. None of the groups which attempted to establish player associations in Australia were in a very good financial situations and author suggests that due to the increased activity and success of the Professional Footballer's Association in the area of wages it was not surprising that the other clubs turned there for advice. He explains the role of various English clubs and the numbers of British players who were playing in Australia. A description of the formation of the Victorian Soccer Player's Association is given, names of the various posts are supplied and an outline of their aims. A furher explanation is given of the attempts and failure to form a New South Wales Soccer Player's Association. Article examines the six attempts by players of Australian soccer in various leagues to form player associations. Author highlights how there was not enough income generated to employ officials to attend to the needs of players and members. Eaton