SOCCER REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS’ PRIORITY FOR PLAYERS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 6

SOCCER REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS’ PRIORITY FOR PLAYERS

Can a player who is chosen for a Canterbury representative soccer team and withdraws because of injury, later decide to turn out for his club team on the same day as the representative match? This question was brought before a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Football Association last evening. Introducing this question on behalf of the Technical club, Mr F. S. E. Neate said that a Technical player who was chosen in the Canterbury under-20 side to play Otago in Dunedin last Saturday advised the selector of the team on the previous Monday that be had sustained an injury and that he thought that it would be inadvisable to play. Later the player’s condition improved, and he played for his Club team in a competition match on Saturday. Mr Neate sought a ruling from the committee, on behalf of the Technical club, on whether this was the correct procedure. Mr S. Ovenden: A club was reprimanded when this happened two seasons ago. The Canterbury Football Association has first call on i every player, said the chairman (Mr J. Smith). Unless a player has a reasonable excuse, then he could not

play for his cluhgSMhfe- Saturday. said W toith. “In a case .of injury, if a player thinks, that he- will nut be able to play for Canterbury on the Saturday, I don't see tow he can later decide to play for his club," he said. Mr A. SI. Fraser: The case he might otherwise have had to Withdraw at the last moment The meeting decided that cases would have to be taken on thefr merits. but that the representative side had first call on all players.