SOCCER FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 13

SOCCER FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND AFFAIRS.

OPENING OF COMPETITIONS. GAMES FOR SATURDAY FIXED. The Auckland Football Association will open its competitions for the season on Saturday, when all grades will be engaged. The arrangements were finalised at the meeting of the Control Board last night, I)r. Neil McDougall, chairman, presiding. Aii- alteration was made in the provisional fixtures regarding Blandford Park games by arranging a second grade match, Comrades v. Burnley as the curtain-raiser to the main match between Glen Innes, the babies of the senior division, and Y.M.C.A.

The New Zealand Council notified that entries for the Chatham Cup competition would close on May 2. The council stated that it had decided to allocate the amount ot £50 toward any deficiency incurred in the play of the semi-finals and final, providing arrangements are made with major associations for fees chargeable on grounds, such amount to be divided on a pro rata basis according to the distance a team may have to travel. Supporting a recommendation from the senior division committee the board decided to write to the -council asking that the closing date for entry in the Chatham ('tip competition be extended until later in jMb.v. I ~.'•'." . JVith regard to -the .Auckland-Navy representative fixture, it wast resolved to write to the Navy.requesting that the match be played on June 3 instead of Julie 4, owing to the association wishing to;';continue its competition'games on the latter date. r . -

Communication was received from the Jvorthcote Club announcing difficulty in geiting the club".under way this season. The board expressed keen regret at this state of affairs in Northcote, which had always been a stronghold of Soccer, and it ■■was agreed that Mr. I<Y M. Ritchie pay a visit to the northern suburb to consult with the officials of the club with a view tola revival of interest and-support. The position of sole selector, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. D. Corbett/ was again considered. The board had asked for nominations t from clubs, but only one- nam© was submitted, the nominee was; agreeable. After much discussion the - board agreed to appoint Mr. A. F. Backhouse to the position. Mr. has, for the past two seasons, been secretary of the now defunct Celtic Club, and lias had a good deal of experience in the code in the Old Country.