Canterbury Soccer Captain Transfers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 13

Canterbury Soccer Captain Transfers

L as t s Canterbury’ soccer captain and “Player of the tear, 1. Conley, of New Brighton, is transferring to Australia m January’.

The 23-y ear-old Conley has accepted a contract to play for the successful Melbourne club, Hakoah.

Conley received his clearance yesterday from New Brighton, with the gentleman’s agreement that should he ever return to New Zealand, he will rejoin New Brighton.

Negotiations between Conley and Hakoah were successfully completed last week, and tbe Melbourne club has agreed to pay all the travelling expenses of the player and his wife. "It's all been a bit of a rush.” Conley said yesterday. “Hakoah wanted me to be in Melbourne in January so that 1 would be available for the pre-season floodlight competitions that start next month.” Attractive Terms Conley has been offered extremely good terms. He will be paid a £lOO bonus after three first-team matches, £l5 for a win, £lO for a draw and £5 for a loss, and the club has guaranteed him a job for himself and his wife and has agreed to pay his accommodation costs until he is working. Hakoah is one of the richest ■nd most successful clubs in Australia, having reached the semi-finals of the Australian Cup last season. The first team largely comprises former British professionals, and is captained by a former Eire international. Conley has been an outstanding player in Christchurch since he arrived here from the Lan-; cashire Combination Club. Darwin. tn October. 1964. He became the Brighton club’s second professional coach, following in the steps of the former English international, E. Taylor. He played 17 times for Canterbury and took over the captaincy of the provincial team when G. Evans was not available last season. He led a New Zealand invitation team against

the national under-23 side in the Masterton Golden Gaines last year, and would have been a leading candidate for the NewZealand team to play against Scotland and Manchester United next year. Club Team Spirit Conley also played a commanding role leading New Brighton back to the first division for next season and helped to weld together a strong team spirit among the younger players. . J’ , . s as team coach Is likely to be filled by the former English schoolbov and youth international. K. France, who joined Brighton near the end of last season. “The club is extremely disappointed at losing Terry,” said the New Brighton secretary, Mr B. W. Hennessy, yesterday. “We can only hope he will come back to us one day. “But we don't blame him for accepting the terms he has been offered. They are very attractive and very much better tnan he could hope to gain in New Zealand at the present.” The implications of Conley’s departure will be discussed at Jhe club's annual meeting on Wednesday.