First International Match At Williamson Park

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 13

First International Match At Williamson Park

WILLIAMSON Hockey Park, the only closed-in park in New Zealand owned by a hockey association, will be the venue for the Canterbury match against the touring Pakistan team on Saturday, March 29. It will be the first international match at Williamson Park since it came into use in 1951. In 1948, the Canterbury Hockey Association celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and established a jubilee fund to raise money for a hockey park. An option was gained over three acres of back iand in Simeon street, Spreydon, and the land became the property of the association as a result or the generosity of a past-president, Mr W. Williamson. Trustees Mr G. Taylor, a past-president and now a member of the national management committee, the la|e Mr S. Clements, another past-president, and Mr E. S. Hobson, a New Zealand selector, were the original trustees of the park, and their enthusiasm made the development of the land possible. In the next two years, 6000 hours of voluntary labour went into bringing the land into a suitable hockey area. City firms gave material valued at £2OOO, and the park committee raised £3500 to cover drainage and stand development. In 1956 a grandstand for 1200 spectators was built and a large social room was erected by volunteer helpers.

The first match played at Williamson Park was in 1951, when the North Island met the South Island. One of the advantages of Williamson Park is that spectators, even those in the stand, are not more than 30 yards away from the sidelines, . and the average distance is eight to ten yards. At present 5000 spectators can be accommodated, but the association is planning further embankments and stands almost to double this number. .yN, .