SOCCER PROSPECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 15

SOCCER PROSPECTS.

TEN TEAMS OF SENIORS. KICK-OFF ON SATURDAY NEXT. ABUNDANCE OF YOUNG PLAYERS. Soccer season 1933 will start in. earnest next Saturday, when all competitions will be launched. The feature of the year locally is undoubtedly the enlargement of the senior division to ten teams. -This decision was made two weeks ago by the Control Board, and its wisdom is open to very serious doubt, while the circumstances surrounding it are hardly inspiring of confidence in the controlling body. The board certainly made a remarkable volte face after deciding to exclude New Lynn and Abels and include Comrades, then altering their minds to admit the lot. Without entering into detailed argument, it can be said that a senior division of ten teams is likely to prove very cumbersome. It would have been much more businesslike for the board to have adhered to its former decision once made, instead of displaying weakness in submitting to the threats and pressure of rejected clubs. How it decided to admit Comrades, who had no legitimate grounds under the rules of the code for promotion, having failed to win it in the prescribed manner, it is difficult to understand, but vaccillation following weakness is never very impressive. However, the decision, like many other far-reaching decisions, has been made "for better or for worse," and it is now for the board to see that the best is done under the circumstances during the season. It will be found a hard task to run a championship competition of, say, two rounds with ten teams, and in a season of some 26 Saturdays to fit _in the various cup tie competitions with probable rep. matches. It is to be hoped that weather conditions will not further hamper the programme, and add further to the worries of the Control Board. _ So far as can be gathered, a prominent feature of the ten clubs who will take their place in the highest grade this season is the number of young players who will be brought into the game. While under certain circumstances this is a highly commendable circumstance, it can hardly be expected that there will be sufficient older men to leaven with youth so as to bring out the best that is in the latter. There is a strong indication from the known personnel of the different clubs that there may be this season again three or four clubs well ahead of the others. More favourable conditions for the maintenance of interest could easily be conceivable. With what can legitimately be termed seasoned veterans, the Tramways team, having obtained a legal separation from Manurewa and managed successfully .to dodge the responsibility of alimony, will once more appear under the banner of the Tramways Cub. Batty, Simpson, Tinkler, Gill (ex-Navy), Fyvie, Christie. Spong, Cummings (ex-Thistle), Evan Williams, Spencer, Bell, McMillan and H. Donaldson are all'on the list. It seems like turning back the clock a few yesterdays, but such players should provide a combination that will be far above most of the other nine teams in point of knowledge of the game, and the only factor that is likely to be at stake in their matches is staying powers. Onehunga is Confident. The Onehunga Club is looking forward with great confidence to this season, and will pin its faith very largely to the players who finished so strongly last season. Zuill will be an absentee for the duration of the Australian tour, but during his absence New, of the Navy, will tguard the uprights. The attack will be strengthened by the inclusion of Forrester, formerly of Ponsonby, and McLeay is also likely to be again in the team, with Gill alongside him. The defence will be largely as last season, when the players gave several very impressive displays. Altogether Onehunga's chances seem bright. . Ponsonby will again follow out their usual custom of promoting juniors worthy of encouragement, and in this they are to be congratulated. Watson, Stewart, Hagcett, Morrison, Grant, Pearson, Masters, Lines, Diamond, Jepson, Cole and Forman are likely to be their most prominent players. Much is expected of Jepson, a very promising yqung centre, and a product of high school football. The advent of Comrades into the highest grade, marks the realisation of long-cherished ambitions, and a fitting reward for years of arduous work and unremitting enthusiasm on the part of the officials and players of the club. As seen last season the second grade eleven of Comrades was a promising combination, and the only matter in doubt is as to whether they are not making the plunge into senior ranks a season too early. Time alone can answer that question, but whatever the result of this season's play, Comrades are to be congratulated on their highly creditable achievements in the code to date. They'will enter the highest grade with the best wishes of followers of the code. There will be two outstanding changes io the Y.M.C.A. team this season, and the absence of Christie and Kay will mean a great deal to last seasons champions. Nevertheless, Y.M. have a great crop of promising juniors to*add to their more experienced players. Cowie, Mowat, Boss, Thornes, Chapman and Humphreys will again be carrying the club's colours, and with Murane, who showed promise last season, and Whaley, formerly of Ponsonby, again back in the fold, -Y.M. should be quite a strong proposition for any team. Strong Thistle Forwards. Thistle have not made a great many changes this season, and will be found to possess a, very useful side. Gerrard is a doubtful- starter at the moment, but McCosh, Williams, Wright, Watson and Haycock will be amongst the defenders. The forwards are likely to be Woods (stated to be an outside" right instead of left), Dunsmore, Williamson, Hislop and Kav, an attack that will be difficult to hold. Glen Innes will not make many changes in the team that performed so creditably in its first season in senior grade, and with more experience the St. Helier's combination should be a force to be reckoned with this season. Abels are something of an unknown quantity in the senior division, though they performed with credit last season in the next grade down. They are likely to have experienced players intermixed with youths, and this is also likely to be the composition of New Lynn Club, which has lost several of its prominent and well-known players. _ A most gratifying step has been taken at Devonport, where the amalgamation of North Shore and Belmont into the North Shore United is logical and likely to be beneficial to the code. Soccer was seriously threatened at Devonport, and last season's arrangement with Philomel team as the second string was far from A very strong management has now been got together from Belmont and Shore. With the fusion of young and promising players and the nucleus of Shore's last season's seniors, a virile and locally-produced team will be fielded to uphold the highest traditions of the oldest stronghold of the code in Auckland. Senior teams will line out next Saturday with keenness and confidence, eager for a busy and interesting season s sport.