PROPOSED VISIT OF A NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM TO ENGLAND.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1841, 21 May 1885, Page 2

PROPOSED VISIT OF A NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL TEAM TO ENGLAND.

Sometime ago a gentleman who takes a deep interest in football wrote to England desiring to know how a visit from a team belonging to this colony would be received at home, and he has just received a long letter on the subject from the President of the Rugby Football Union. The writer expresses his pleasure at the prospect of a visit from New Zealand footballers, but he is afraid that the Rugby Union of Great Britain will be unable to hold out sufficient inducement to those who contemplate such a tour. He is of opinion that the expense would be fully £3000, and says he does not believe such a large amount could be raised in the way of gate money during a tour of three months or so in England, Scotland, and- Ireland. He mentions that, if the Droject was carried into effect, the majority of the matches would require to be played on Saturdays, in order, to secure the patronage of the public. . The letter concludes with the assurance that, if the Football Union of New Zealand see their way clear to send a team to Great Britain, nothing will be left undone by the Eugby Union that will minister to the pleasure of the risitora from the antipodes.