C.F.A. Unanimous For Soccer League

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30251, 2 October 1963, Page 17

C.F.A. Unanimous For Soccer League

The management committee of the Canterbury Foottali Association last evening unanimously voted in favour of the principle of a national soccer league being formed in New Zealand.

The committee also agreed that if tihe league was formed two new clubs be formed in Canterbury to take part in it. these clubs to be formed either by amalgamation of clubs or by selection of toe best players from the clubs.

The committee will make these recommenttatk-AS at a speciai genenail meeting of the association which wiH be held in three weeks’ time to discuss the question of a national league. Although ho member spoke aganrust the proposal last evening some were doubtful if it would work successfully. The best way to ctenge over from the present system to a national league also drew a number of differing views. Nine-point Proposal

When discussing the matter the committee used as a blueprint a tetter containing nine proposals to the formation of a national league drawn up by Mr J. H. McGuigan. Opening discussion on the matter the chairman of the committee (Mr J. Smith) said at this stage it was only tor tihe committee to decide if it favoured in principle a national league. The secretary of the committee (Mr E. H. Williams) said it was

important that the association agree on the question before it went to the annual meeting of the New Zeotand Football Association.

The committee fully discussed toe question of how teams would be formed if the league did evesitusu:e. To take players from clubs and form two new clubs to represent Canterbury in the league would mean "a heck amount of messing about” for dubs, said Mr F. S. E. Neate.

Limited Company Regarding toe financial aspect of the league Mr Williams sand it had been suggested tost a company of limited liabilities be formed and sponsors be found to run toe new chibs. Shareholders

would be sure to keep an interests to guard their investments.

Serna -prof cssionailism would afcnost certainly come into it, members agreed. Mr McGuigan . said that if toe league teams were chosen from the dub sides then toe top club sides would supply 60 per cent of the players and these clubs were “not going to like it.”

“If this idea of a league goes on toe Whole system of soccer in New Zealand has to change.” said Mr Smith. "The question is will toe clubs play ball or not.” If a player does not turn up or is dropped from toe league teem he goes back to his dub side. Representative and internaitiionßl games can be played ait the end of toe league season, Mr Smith sand.

Mr WiHdaims emphasised that if clube ware divided into two groups nt should not only be toeir present playing standard but also on the administrative ability in toe

If players dropped out from the league teems then new players could be sought in Tirnaru and on the West Coast, sand Mir W. W Carruthers. “That is what will happen,” replied Mr Smith.