SOCCER BY FLOODLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 85, 11 April 1929, Page 7

SOCCER BY FLOODLIGHT.

AUCKLAND PLAN TRIED OUT.

BLANDFORD PARK SUCCESS.

TOURNAMENT NEXT WEDNESDAY.

The control board of the Auckland Football Association, after an extensive and thorough experiment at Blandford Park last night, decided to inaugurate football by floodlight, the first time, it is believed, that the scheme has been adopted in the Dominion. For some years past difficulty has been experienced, principally at the end of the season, in completing fixtures, and it was thought that mid-week matches would greatly relieve the strain besides maintaining interest. In addition it was felt that at the beginning of the season, fixtures at night, before the winter weather had set in, would prove a decided attraction to the sporting public and supporters of the game. Following experiments made by electricians who are also players of the code, it was agreed to have a thorough try-out of the scheme, the board being guided to a certain extent by the ver\ satisfactory results of the illuminations at the recent Queen carnival ceremonv.

Last night special projectors and floodlights eloped 4.~>.000 candle power and, with a white painted ball. several members of the Y.M.C.A. Club were able to ha\e a practice game in which there was not the slightest difficulty regarding visibility. Spectators in all parts of the enclosure could follow the operations on the arena perfectly, even when these were transferred to the opposite portion of the field and refereeing encountered no drawbacks.

It was subsequently decided by the control board to hold a seven-aside tournament next Wednesday evening, open to teams in the A and B sections of the senior division, entries to close with jthe secretary on Tuesday evening. Handsome prizes will be given the winners. Should the innovation appeal to supporters of the game, other proposals for a mid-week competition may be considered. Minor Division. At the weekly meeting of the minor division committee the following officebearers were set up:—Registration secretary, L. J. Check; schools registration secretary, C. E. record and

result secretary, C. M. Walker; primary schools sole selector, R, P. Harrison; secondary schools sole selector, W. R. H. Martin; third (intermediate) fourth and fifth division representative selectors, Messrs. G. C. Ballantvne, L. J. Check and G. Ekman; finance committee, Messrs. G. T. Lee, R, Harrison and R. M. Beswick; fixtures committee, Messrs. Ballantyne, Ekman, Downes and Martin; postponement committee, Messrs. Downes, Ballantyne and Beswick; official measurers, seventh grade, Messrs. R. Harrison and C. E. Downes.

The closing dates for entries in the various grade competitions are as follows:—Third intermediate to seventh grade, inclusive, four o'clock on April 19. Opening day has been fixed for April 27. Secondary schools, Tuesday, April 30; opening day, May 4. Primary schools, Tuesday, April 16; opening dav, April 23.