LANCASTER PARK GRASS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 9

LANCASTER PARK GRASS

“TOO LONG FOR GOOD SOCCER” CONCERN OVER MATCH WITH CHINESE Unless it is cut, or trimmed “to a reasonable level,” the long grass at present covering Lancaster Park will make accurate Soccer in the test match between New Zealand and the Chinese visitors on June 18 almost impossible, according to the secretary of the Canterbury Football Association (Mr T. M. McGuigan). The Victory Park Board, controlling body of Lancaster Park, will be asked by the association to reconsider its decision not to cut the grass, said Mr McGuigan last evening. “The letter was today, and the board will not yet have received it. “It Is necessary for the grass to be reasonably short for good Association foqtball,” said Mr McGuigan. “I understand it has now reached the stage at Lancaster Park where Rugby players are not bothering to take place kicks. I am told you can’t see the players’ boots for the grass.” Mr K. N. McGillivray (secretary of the Victory Park Board) yesterday agreed that the grass was long. The park board had refused to cut it with the object of protecting the turf for Ranfurly Shield matches, which begin on August 27.. He would make no further statement.

“If we get warm weather on top of all this rain the grass will grow even more than it already has,” said Mr McGuigan. The length of the grass was most important to his association and the test match against the Chinese team was only a fortnight away—on June 18.

“The main danger area is in the penalty areas and around the goals where ‘shooting’ is done,” he said. “With the grass as long as it is, it would be almost impossible to take a penalty kick, and you couldn’t expect any shooting to be particularly accurate. The ground must be firm and the grass reasonably short.”