National Soccer League Approved

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 6

National Soccer League Approved

The Canterbury Football Association last evening agreed in principle to the formation of a national league, and by 23 votes to 15 moved that two independent league clubs in Canterbury be formed by affiliation of existing clubs.

National league was a must, but if the province demanded the best players from clubs it could be tihe death of club football, said Mr W. Weir (Christchurch City). The quality of club football at present was not good enough to be a popular attraction. For national league teams the top players from all existing clubs were needed, said the secretary' (Mr E. H. Williams). The formation of two league clubs in the province, either by amalgamation or invitation, was required by the management committee. It was not interested in ordinary club teams—super teams were needed, he sand. Best Method The formation of two new teams comprised of the best players taken from existing clubs, would be the best way of achieving this, said Mr Williams.

The best players wanted to play the best football. It was too provincial an attitude to try and preserve existing clubs intact at the expense of providing first-class national league teams, said Mr F. Haydon (Western). However, the promotion of two existing clubs into league competition would soon make them “super teams” away.

Top players would be attracted to them, and poorer players would soon be dropped and go to other clubs, he said. This would not happen quickly enough to ensure the best players would be in the teams by next season, when the league may be established, said Mr Williams. Coaching To improve the standard of soccer in Canterbury, the training of student teachers during sports hours at Teachers’ College in techniques of coaching was suggested by Mf R. J. Palmer.

“The need is for players who are training to become teachers in schools. The success of the scheme depends on the coaching being done during training college hours and not at some time when students would have to give up their own time to get instruction,” said Mr Palmer. The chairman (Mr J. Smith) said the association was negotiating for the inclusion of such training in the college timetable. The establishment of a board of control which would formulate policy to be implemented by the management committee was not acceptable to the meeting. Amendments to the constitution along

these lines were proposed by Mr F. J. Aitken, of the Riccarton club. A sub-committee will be formed to investigate the formation of a Sunday League.