Opportunity To Play English Soccer Teams Should Not Be Missed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 11

Opportunity To Play English Soccer Teams Should Not Be Missed

’ADMIRABLE although all the arrangements are for the combined tour of the two English soccer clubs, Sheffield United and Blackpool, from May 19 to June 13, one thing is missing. No provision has been made while the English clubs are in the four main centres for either a New Zealand team or a provincial side to play against the visitors. It should have been possible for Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington and Otago

to play a curtain-raiser at least once against the clubs for the valuable experience such games would give the New Zealand players. It appears that, in all, the two English clubs are bringout out 37 players, and this would enable a side to be chosen from the combined number of reserves to play the provinces, or New Zealand. The New Zealanders may take a hiding but this is of little consequence in the long run, and, as a cur-tain-raiser to the main game between the English clubs, would not detract from the spectacle. If one game of this kind was played in each centre — at Wellington on May 22, at Christchurch on May 29, at Dunedin on June 5 and at Auckland on June 13 when the tour ends—this should not be a great burden to the Blackpool and Sheffield players. In all probability, the two clubs would not raise any objection to the additional matches if it was explained to them the great benefit that could be derived from them by the New Zealanders. This one criticism apart, New Zealand soccer has gained for itself, largely through the one-man efforts of the 24-year-old enthusiast from Wairarapa, Mr Alan Gillott, the greatest boost the game has ever had. Backed to the hilt by the N.Z.F.A., Mr Gillott has now been responsible for finding

sponsors to the tune of more than £50,000 for both the Easter international tournament and now the English clubs’ tour. The N.Z.F.A. chairman, Mr R. S. Smith, has described the tour as “almost like a fairy tale.” If this is so, Mr Gillott has waved the magic wand to make the fairy tale come true. A family man from Carterton, Mr Gillott enlisted the help of the sponsors (a North Island firm that is remaining anonymous) and an underwriter for his ventures this season on behalf of soccer. He went to Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji to arrange the Easter tournament and before the ink was dry on these contracts flew to England to sign up Blackpool and Sheffield United. The work he did in England was glowingly reported back to the N.Z.F.A. by the manager of Sheffield United, Mr John Harris. He warmly praised the manner Mr Gillot concluded the negotiations. He knew what the clubs wanted, what New Zealand wanted, and had everything signed, sealed and delivered in a way that gained Mr Harris’s real respect. Although neither Sheffield United nor Blackpool has enjoyed a successful season in the English League (both are near the bottom of the first division) they have an abundance of star players who have, played in inter-

national matches for the Home countries. Two of the visitors have been to New Zealand before, the Blackpool centre-forward, Ray Charnley, and the Sheffield left-back, Graham Shaw, having been in Tom Finney’s team in 1961.

Both first team goalkeepers, Tony Waiters (Blackpool) and Alan Hodgkinson (Sheffield), have played for England, Waiters having also won an amateur cap. The outstanding player, however, is Blackpool’s right-back, Jimmy Armfield, who has played 41 times for England, many of these as captain. Another with a brilliant record is Sheffield’s outsideright, Len Allchurch, capped 11 times by Wales. The Allchurch family is a byword in Welsh soccer, Len’s elder brother, Ivor, being another many-capped Welsh international.

A player with possibly the greatest potential among all the young visitors is Blackpool’s inside-right, Alan Ball, who has already won England under-23

honours and has been often spoken of as a great prospect in future England full international teams. In all, the two teams include seven full internationals, four under-23 representatives, two youth representatives and one Olympic player. If the tour is a financial success—and if this one fails New Zealand might as well hang up its boots and retire from the soccer scene—it will be the first of many annual tours by English clubs. Already Mr Gillot has had preliminary talks with clubs to tour in 1966 and it only needs the final signing of contracts to make them official.