M. A. Gordon Has Given Soccer Fine Service

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29246, 2 July 1960, Page 5

M. A. Gordon Has Given Soccer Fine Service

Mr M. A. Gordon ended an outstanding soccer career as an administrator and player when he resigned from the Canterbury Football Association recently. Mr Gordon received his first lessons in the art of the game when he was a pupil of the New Brighton school. After leaving New Brighton he moved to the Christchurch Technical College and played for the school first eleven for five years. During his stay at this school Gordon captained the team

•- for three years, and played in i only one losing team during that 1 period. It was while attending this r school that he played his first r game in the senior division. 3 Gordon first gained represen- > tative honours for Canterbury i when 19 years old. He played only . one game for his province that i season, but established himself as r a regular member the following j year. s In 1935, Gordon joined the i Western club, which won the ’ Canterbury championship, but was beaten in the Chatham Cup final at Wellington. The following year Western went to the top-in New Zealand club soccer. .Gordon was a member of this team, and won one of the coveted winners' medals.

In 193* he was selected in the New Zealand team which played the touring English amateur and professional team. Gordon again played for New Zealand in 1937, this time as lefthalf, against the touring Australian team. The war years restricted his play, but on returning tie soon settled back in his club team, having lost little of his former ability. In 1947 he was vice-captain of the New Zealand team which played the touring South African XI. The following year an Australian team again visited New lt was during this tour that Gordon played his last senior game. He suffered a broken leg while playing for Canterbury against the tourists. Since his retirement from the playing field he has done much for the code ’as an administrator. Before his retirement, Mr Gordon held the posts of vice-president of the New Zealand Football Association, vice-president of the junior national council, and a member of the .management committee of the Canterbury Football Association. He is also a past president of the Canterbury Association. He held that post from 1953 to 1957. He was also a popular, efficient and enthusiastic coach and organiser of Western junior teams.

The former Canterbury cricketer, R. E. Hitchcock, this year has been having his most

successful sea- 5 son in county i cricket since < he joined i W a r w ickshire i in 1950. At i | June 20 he | , was twenty-1 , second in the I county cricket? batting aver- si ages, with 645 | runs at an ii

average of 35.15 His highest score at that time had been 74 against Nottinghamshire; since then he has scored 108 against Middlesex on June 26.

Maureen Murray, Canterbury’s goal attack last year, is not available for the Can-i terbury basketball team this year. She has a prior engagement. She will be married to| Win Jones, the Hawke’s Bay, Rugby representative on a' Saturday during the New Zea-i land tournament. <