No Indoor Soccer Next Year

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 16

No Indoor Soccer Next Year

There will be no indoor soccer competitions played in Christchurch next year. This was the outcome of a special meeting of the Indoor Soccer Committee last evening.

“The entries were so disappointing that we decided that it would be a waste of time organising a competition in 1967,” said the committee chairman (Mr T. C. Gottermeyer). There were only two entries for super league (Brighton and Technical), seven in

the open league (Police, Overseas Carpet, Addington Workshops, Hornby, H. 5.0.8., Technical and Brighton), and five each in the under 20 and under 16 sections. Christchurch City had entered a team in the open grade provided the competition was played on a Tuesday evening. There were no entries from other senior clubs—Shamrock, Rangers, Western, ShirleyNomads, and Waterside.

"We were bitterly disappointed,” said Mr Gottermeyer. “It was suggested that we accept the entries we had received and play ail the competitions on one evening, s

“However, we did not think the over all standard of the teams would have attracted many people to the games. We decided it was better to abandon the indoor soccer than to run it at a loss.

“We will hold a general meeting next July to see if the clubs have changed their minds and. want to enter a competition in 1968.”

One of the biggest losers will be the Canterbury Football Association and its coaching fund. In the four years that the indoor soccer competition has been held, more than £6OO has been given to the C.F.A. to help pay for coaching