SOCCER KICK-OFF.
AUCKLAND AFFAIRS. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. PROSPECTS FOR COMING SEASON. After a six months' period of inactivity Association Football in Auckland again sprang into life at the annual general meeting last night in the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Ernest Davis, president of the association, was in the chair, and there was a representative attendance of delegates from the affiliated clubs and supporters of the code. The annual report and balance-sheet, a summary of which has already appeared in the " Star," was considered. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president referred to the steady progress the code had made during its history. This was borne out by the fact that during last season there were no less than 130 teams in competition. The vigorous growth of the game in the lower grades and in the schools was exceptionally satisfactory. Mr. Davis commented on the position of Soccer iu the Motherland, stating that it was the national game, and he recalled his experiences during visits to England and at the final of the English Cup, when the attendance aggregated half the population of Auckland. Mr. Davis eulogised the yeoman service to the code which the officials had rendered, mentioning Dr. McDougall, Mr. F. M. Ritchie, Mr. Howard Gribble, and' Mr. Massam, also paying tribute to the self-sacrificing labours of the referees. In conclusion, the chairman referred to the pending visit of the New Zealand Soccer team to Australia, hoping the venture would be a success and a credit to Dominion Soccer. Dr. McDougall, in seconding, referred to the work of last season, and particularly to the efforts made to further improve Blandford Park. The financial position had been carefully conserved, and he trusted the association would be successfully guided through the coining season. In conclusion, he solicited the support and cooperation of the clubs, officials, and players in the coining year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—Patron, his Excellency the Governor-General; vice-patron, his Worship the Mayor of Auckland; president, Mr. Ernest Davis; vice-presidents, as last year, with Mr. A. J. Harding added; lion, solicitor, Mr. G. Uren; hon. surgeons, Drs. McDougall and H. C. Bennett; hon. auditor, Mr. K. Wallace; control board, Dr. McDougall, Messrs. F. R. Baker, 'J. Ball, A. C. Fletcher, H. Gribble, A. P. Neesham, F. M. Ritchie, W. D. M. Glaister, and F. Scott-Ramsay; Mr. F. C. Jacob was elected by the clubs to the judicial committee. Alterations to Rules. Several alterations to the rules and constitution were considered. It was agreed to alter the rule giving life members a vote at the control board meetings. An alteration was also made to permit clubs to appeal beyond the local authority in matters of dispute. Some discussion took place on a remit from the senior division committee, moved by Mr. J. C. Sibbin (Onehunga) to rescind the previous decision that the senior reserve grade be abolished. He touched on the awkward procedure that was necessitated to regrade a player required to fill a vacancy in the senior grade, and also stated that the alteration was originally carried on a minority vote. Mr. F. M. Ritchie contended that the code could not run 16 senior teams, and said that it was in the best interests of the game to abolish the reserve grade. The motion was lost, as the necessary two-thirds majority was not obtained. The senior division committee also moved to rescind the motion that clubs entering above the fourth grade be required to enter and maintain at least three teams, and in the event of a club being admitted as senior, one team must be a second grade. A somewhat animated discussion ensued between representatives of clubs in the upper grades and those in the junior grades. The seniors contended that it was impossible in many cases for country clubs to maintain three teams, while the junior clubs argued that the tendency operated to their disadvantage in that official attention was mostly focused on the higher grades to the detriment of the juniors. The latter also complained of " poaching " of their players, who were lured away by the glamour of senior football. On a vote being taken the remit failed to obtain the necessary two-thirds majority. •It was agreed as a recommendation that alternate home and away matches be strictly adhered to with clubs having their own grounds. This concluded the principal business. The annual meeting of Abel's Club will be held: this evening in the hall at the back of the Congregational Church, Edinburgh Street, Newton.
AN EARLY START.
REPRESENTATIVE TRIAL. A game between an Auckland representative eleven and the Thistle team has been arranged for next Saturday at Grey Lynn Park, at 3 p.m. This early representative trial is in preparation for the Auckland team, which goes South to play Wellington for the "Frank Campbell" Rose Bowl at Easter time.
CANTERBURY TROUBLES.
DEPUTATION TO N.Z. COUNCIL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The council of the New Zealand Football Association this evening received a deputation from the Canterbury Football Association in reference to the affairs of that body. The meeting was held in committee and lasted an hour and a half. Tlie proposals of the Canterbury Association were discussed, but no statement was made beyond that Soccer would be played in Canterbury in the forthcoming season.
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Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 14
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889SOCCER KICK-OFF. Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 14
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