FEW NEW FACES IN SENIOR SOCCER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29477, 1 April 1961, Page 5

FEW NEW FACES IN SENIOR SOCCER

CUPPORT for association football in Christchurch this season promises to be higher than ever, and the recent local ‘Controversies connected with the securing of a venue for the appearance of the touring English side on J one 3 have heightened interest in that match in particular. Locally, Canterbury will take part in its home-and-away matches with Otago and Wellington, and may make a challenge for the FA. Trophy at present held by Auckland. In er-dub and Chatham Cup matches will complete a busy season. As far as personalities are concerned, there will be few changes in the feces to be seen in tile local First Division competition. A few of last season's players have been lost, and a few newcomers will appear, several of the latter being recent immigrants from Europe.

Rangers will be an interesting team to watch this season, and one of its most interesting players could be R. Coates, a goal-keeper recently arrived from England. Coates played at the start of the cur. rent English season with the Second Division side Scunthorpe United. It is not often that a player of English Second Division experience is seen in the city. Scunthorpe United is currently in the middle of the points table in its division. Coates will have to oust Rangers’ regular goalie E. Brown from the First Division side. The club has lost J. Mills, inside-right, who has retired, but has gained a promising inside forward from England in the 17-year-old D. Lalley. The former Rangers player D. Anderson, w ho has recently been representing Hawkes Bay, will return this month. Another new face will be that of W. M. Logan, the former representative player who has returned to Tech-

nical after several years in Wellington. Logan will strengthen the Technical side, which reached the national Chatham Cup final last season. Technical has suffered three severe losses in those of A.. Verlander (transferred to Wellington), K. Rasmussen (retired) and M. Jones. Rasmussen was captain of last year’s team. In addition to Logan, C. Spinks, full-back, wifi be returning to the side. Spinks did not play last season due to injury. Christchurch City has also lost its captain with the retirement from the sport of M. Wild. L Hunter, the City and Canterbury goalkeeper, left for England in February, and his loss will be keenly felt Two Scots. L. Wilson (wing half) and E. Waller (goal or full-back) ‘ have joined the club, and J. Adams has transferred from Atlantis. High School Old Boys will be fielding very much the same side as last season. B. Hamilton, a half-back or fullback who last year had an injured knee, will be back this season, and the club has gained P. Coman, a promising left-back from the Boys’ High School team of last year. P. Benson, left-wing or left-half, has left for Wellington. Strengthened Neerlandia United, winner of the Keys Cup for the First Division Reserve last season, will be strengthened by recent gains. These include an accomplished goalkeeper, H. Westenberg, who has played semi-professional football in Holland. Also recentlyarrived from ’ Holland is in-side-left F. Ouwenkerk, and Yorkshireman G. Cawley will be trying out for the centreforward berth. J. Brand, who played for Neerlandia two seasons ago, will be returning to claim his position on the left wing, and the inside-right J. Scholten will also be playing again. The most important loss is that of T. Schraa to Dunedin. The team will be a young one this season. Shamrock will also field a young side, and have lost none of its 1960 players. A gain is the Dutch inside forward J. van Broeckhuysen. The club is encouraged by the large numbers at training, and by the ability of

younger players seeking promotion to the First Division side.

Western, winner of the Hurley Shield last season for the ninth successive time, will be again fielding a strong first team. A. Laffey has retired, but R. Durant will be again playing full-time this season. D. Torkington and B. McKenna, two Second Division players who were in the Junior National Cup and m.der-20 teams last season, | will be pressing for promotion. Winners of the English Cup last season with a 7-2 defeat of Western in the final, Nomads expect to be especially strong in the forward line. A gain is P. McFarland, a wing from the Celtic club who played for the Scotland team in the local international competition last season. J. Bowhuis (to Australia) and D. Hilliker (to Auckland) are losses, and A. van Rooyen will not be playing for the first few matches. Last year’s Atlantis club this week changed its name to Christchurch Wanderers, and will play under that name this season. Two of last year’s Canterbury B representatives in J. Adams and H. Nelson have left the club for City and Watersiders respectively, but the reorganised club expects to be strong in the First Division. Loss and Gain University has lost the fast wing R. Burgess, but should have the talented A. Ross as a full-time member of this year’s team, Ross last year was prevented by injury from playing after a very fine start to the season. The club has gained several players with good reputations from other centres, and their play will be watched with interest.