SHAMROCK CLUB’S PROTEST

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 4

SHAMROCK CLUB’S PROTEST

Whether a senior reserve player of the Technical Club was eligible to play for both the senior Technical teams was discussed at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Football Association last evening. The matter arose from a protest from the Shamrock Club, which claimed the points from their game against Technical I last week. It was explained that one of Technical I players had played earlier in the season for Technical 11. For the Shamrock Club Mr J. W. McGlinchy said it was not concerned with securing the points, but wanted the matter cleared up. The chairman, Mr R. S. Smith, said that as the player concerned was registered as a senior reserve player the Technical Club had not infringed the rules, and a senior reserve player was entitled to play for either of the Technical teams. It was decided to refer the matter to the Association’s solicitor and to get a ruling from him. On the motion of Mr McGlinchy Shamrock’s protest was withdrawn. A resolution from the Referees’ Association stating that the referees were very dissatisfied with the recent findings of the judicial committee was received. Where offences warranted it players would be ordered off the field, said the resolution. If the judicial committee did not take drastic action the referees were of the opinion that club officials and the public would demand the resignation of the present judicial committee. The delegate from the Referees’ Association, Mr T. C. Gottermeyer, said that the referees considered they had been harshly Ireated by the findings of the judicial committee. Mr J. Smith: The referees are still sore about the first case that came before the committee this season and cannot get over it. The letter really means tnat if we do not do something about it we will shortly have no referees Mr Gottermeyer said that Mr Smith’s statement might be true. There was a feeling of complete dissatisfaction among referees and this was becoming stronger. Already two referees had been lost this season as a result of findings of the judicial committee. The referees and the management were drifting apart instead of working together in harmony. It was decided to advise the Referees’ Association that all cases coming before the judicial committee were considered on their and that the management committee hoped to establish friendly relations with the referees on all points. Mr Gottermeyer reported that the New Zealand Association had ordered 30 dozen copies of the rules book and that the Canterbury Association’s allocation was five dozen. More could be obtained if desired.