Soccer NEW CLUB FORMED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 17

Soccer NEW CLUB FORMED

Meeting At New Brighton A new soccer club, to be known as the New Brighton Association Football Club, was formed last evening at an inaugural meeting. The meeting, held in the New Brighton War Memorial Hall, was well attended. In opening the meeting, Mr A. W. Hughes introduced the president of the Canterbury Football Association. Mr J. Smith. Mr Smith expressed his pleasure at the formation of a new club and mentioned that the code had been prominent in the district in the past, producing players who had represented New Zealand. He said that the code was continually expanding and that at New Brighton there was plenty of scope for strong local support. He said that hard work would be essential to get the club under way and he expressed his good wishes for its success.

The secretary of the Canterbury Football Association, Mr E. Williams, was also present. After the election of officers. Mr R. Comfort, representing the Rawhiti War Memorial Committee. congratulated those elected, and welcomed the code back to the district. He said that his committee hoped the new club would affiliate with them. It was agreed that, ways and means of raising finance be left to the committee. Colours decided on were black and gold, subject to approval from the Canterbury Football Association. The meeting confirmed that officers elected remain in office until the end of the 1960 season.

Speaking again at the conclusion of the meeting Mr Smith emphasised the need to cater for schoolboys eager to play soccer. He said that, with all except three secondary schools now playing soccer in Christchurch, boys were coming into the game in ever-increasing numbers. Officers elected were:—Patrons. Mr J. Mathison, M.P., and Mr S. Clothier; president, Mr A Hodges; vice-presidents. Mr B. Hennessey jun., and Mr R. Jones; secretary-treasurer, Mr A. Tarr; club captain, Mr J. Lee; committee, Messrs R. Wilkinson, M. J. Reij, F. W. G. Yates, R. H. Sharr. S. C. Ovenden, J. M. Gillard, L. T. Bailey, G. Garrard, J. Shells, J G. van Wyngaorden, and A. Bird.