SOCCER ENGLISH TEAM HAS GOOD PRACTICE SESSION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29530, 3 June 1961, Page 15

SOCCER ENGLISH TEAM HAS GOOD PRACTICE SESSION

A large crowd of schoolboys watched appreciatively when the members of the English soccer team practised at the Christchurch Boys’ High School yesterday. The team will play Canterbury at English Park this afternoon. The English players commenced their training with general loosening-up exercises, running, and passing. They then split into two groups under the direction of the captain. T. Finney, and the trainer, Mr J. Gallagher, and gave the crowd a taste of their command of the fundamental skills of soccer. The players split into groups of four, passing the ball in a square with uncanny accuracy. Then two teams of four opposed each other, to see how many passes could be made within a team before the ball was lost to an opponent. This section of the training concluded with the players practising goal shooting very much in the manner of basketball teams warming up before a game, with one man tapping the ball to another and moving into position for his turn at shooting. The players then split into two teams of eight, and played a match on the fullsized ground. Dribbling, passing, and goal-shooting talents were very apparent With only eight players m each team, the wings in particular had plenty of room in which to move. Even with fewer players in the forward line, it was very noticeable that the Englishmen liked to work the ball very close to the goal before shooting. There were no long and futile shots. The goalkeepers, F. Else and M Pinner, had plenty to do. and the power with which the forwards kicked the ball was considerable. Not the least interesting feature of this practice match was the showing of Mr Gallagher himself on the right wing. When his side was in possession there were shouts of “Pass it out to the right.” and Mr Gallagher, at the age of 50, was always up with the

play. He is attached to the Southampton club. While this match was in progress two of the full internationals in the touring side, Finney and A. A’Court. were demonstrating to the Boys’ High School first eleven some of the principles of the game. These included passing, heading and dribbling. Later in the day other members of the team visited secondary schools and gave talks. An interested spectator, and a keen supporter of the tourists, at the Boys’ High School ground, was Mr W. McLachlan. Now aged 94. Mr McLachlan signed as a professional for Everton at the age of 17 in 1884, and in that season he scored the only goal of the match in his team’s F.A. Cup final against Preston North End. He now lives in Christchurch. There are no players from Everton in the touring side, but Mr McLachlan has a soft spot for Finney and Else, who play with Preston North End. Yesterday he gave Finney considerable encouragement, and no doubt will be doing the same in today’s match.