Assn. Criticises Club’s Action

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 22

Assn. Criticises Club’s Action

(From Our Own Reporter/ TIMARU. Concern that the Ashburton Association Football Club has applied to enter the Canterbury soccer competitions, is expressed in a letter from the South Canterbury Football Association. The letter says that the move was a complete surprise, and that the withdrawal is “a serious injustice” to the Central League, which is increasing every year. “Your players will gain just as much experience, and will be doing the soccer code more good, by playing in this,

rather than in the Christchurch second division,” the letter continues. Mention is made of the assistance given last year in paying for advertisements, and sending representatives to the meeting without expense to the Ashburton club, and the South Canterbury body regrets that the Ashburton club has not been “entirely fair” in making the move without advising the association.

A letter to the Canterbury Football Association asks that before any decision is made, the South Canterbury association should be asked for an opinion. Reference is made to the efforts to assist Ashburton to reform its club, and its absorption into the South Canterbury competitions. "Their absence from the Central League competition will considerably weaken it, and will be a heavy blow to soccer in this district,” says the letter. "The playing figures submitted to you do not represent a true picture of their performance, as they refer only to the one round Cave Cup competition, which was a subsidiary one. and most other teams were weakened at this time for various reasons.

"The main competition was the Central League, in which Ashburton finished runner-up. having been beaten twice by the ultimate winners. "This is not meant to detract

from the performance of the Ashburton side, which conducted itself at all times with the finest of sporting spirits and was a popular and dedicated team to plav against. Several of its players represented South Canterbury and the Central League team.” the letters continues. "We know Ashburton has the

right to enter any competition it wishes, but we fail to see where it is gaining so very much l more experience by entering the I Canterbury second division "They are not doing anything i to improve soccer in Christ, church, whereas their presence in the Central League Is essential for the over all good of sot. cer in the district.