SOCCER MATCH AT PARK

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 14

SOCCER MATCH AT PARK

Board Grants Permission Permission for the Canterbury Football Association to use Lancaster Park for the match against the touring Costa Rican team on June 1 has been given by the Victory Park Board. In a statement last evening, the board’s chairman (Mr J. C. Saunders) said that as a result of an offer by the Canterbury Rugby Football Union to relinquish the park for the match, his board would inform the association of the terms and conditions under which the ground will be let.

Explaining the reason for the earlier declining of the application, Mr Saunders said the Rugby union, as the winter tenant of the park, was entitled to preference where earlier bookings had been made for interprovincial or minor matches. “In this instance, adequate notice was not given by* the Canterbury., , Football Association, and pending any voluntary withdrawal from the use of the park by the Rugby Union, the application for the Costa Rican match was declined,” said Mr Saunders. “No intimation was received from the football association as to vhether the Costa Rican team was an international side or a club one,” said Mr Saunders. ‘‘Nor was there any indication as to the standard of the players.” The association had in previous seasons been given reasonable opportunities to use the park, although it was noted that the soccer itineraries appeared to be spasmodic and . subject to late cancellation. During the period 1947-57, seven soccer matches had been played at the park, said Mr Saunders. ‘‘The Victory Park Board regrets that the football association members have openly criticised the original decision relating to the non-availability of the park because of a Rugby Union fixture, and it is recommended that in future applications, reasonable notice should be given the board before the winter fixtures list is made final,” said Mr Saunders. ‘‘Failing that a clash of dates may result in applications being declined.”