Soccer League Decision Again Delayed

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31020, 28 March 1966, Page 20

Soccer League Decision Again Delayed

There will be no national soccer league started in New Zealand this year and still only a hazy chance of it being formed in the 1967 season.

This was the outcome of discussions on the subject at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association in Wellington on Saturday,

After a council member, Mr G. L. Whyte, had moved that the provincial league become operative in 1967, some delegates sought a postponement of the decision.

They claimed that their associations had not seen the cir-

cular sent out by the N.Z.F.A. detailing the council’s plan for the formation of the league and listing the costs that would have to be borne by the participating associations. Three Months' Delay

In its initial season the league was to comprise the provincial teams of the four main associations Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. However, Mr Whyte’s resolution was withdrawn and the meeting agreed that all associations in the N.Z.F.A. should be circulated, seeking their views on the council’s plan.

It was first moved that asso ciations should return their re

ports Inside one month, but after the Franklin delegate had informed the meeting that his management committee met only once a month, it was decided to increase the period to three months.

This would then make it impossible to start the league this year, and the associations are being asked to consider its formation in 1967.

Fixture Lists.—Although all provincial associations had been asked, at the 1965 annual meeting, to bring their list of provincial fixtures to the 1966 meeting, only two did so—Canterbury and Southland. The Auckland association was amongst those who claimed they could not prepare them in time.

However, the meeting decided that next year the first morning of the 1967 annual meeting should be set aside to draw up provincial fixture lists. It was pointed out that Rugby unions could produce their fixture lists, but apparently soccer associations could not.

Junior Soccer.—An independent committee, under the chairmanship of the national coach, Mr L. Brocic, will be set up to produce a five-year development plan for junior soccer in New Zealand.

Selectors.—Messrs J. Shankle (Wellington) and G. Smith (Canterbury) were elected North and South Island selectors for the coming year. Mr Shankie won his place tn opposition to Messrs K. Armstrong, W. Walsh and E. Ebsworth, all of Auckland, and Mr Smith was opposed by Mr W H Ovens (Otago)