UNIVERSITY PROTEST All Soccer XIs Withdrawn

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31366, 11 May 1967, Page 14

UNIVERSITY PROTEST All Soccer XIs Withdrawn

In protest against what it calls the “gross mismanagement of the Canterbury Football Association,” the University soccer club has withdrawn all its teams from the C.F.A. competitions.

The secretary of the club, Mr R. Seekles, issued the following statement to “The Press” last evening: “Following a special meeting of the University Soccer Club, it was unanimously decided that the club withdraw all teams from all C.F.A. competitions for season 1967. “This is in protest against what we allege is gross mismanagement of the C.F.A. which in our opinion is detrimental to the advancement of Association Football in Canterbury. “This bungling by the C.F.A. has resulted in the destruction of all individual incentive and future plans for the University club. This severe course of action was taken as a result of a letter received 16 days after an incident which occurred on April 22 regarding the University versus Celtic game. “While admitting negligence in not forwarding a team card for that game, the -flub received notification on May 8 of the forfeiture of two points. This time lapse indicates the inefficiency of the C.F.A. secretary. “Our committee has the strongest suspicion that this was a retaliation for our

critical stand taken against the confusion ensuing from the secretary's unconstitutional handling of our recent fixture of May 6 versus Watersiders. We contend that the C.F.A. should administer by constitution and not by assumption. “We condemn the dictatorial attitude of the present C.F.A. secretary.” University has teams in the second, third and fourth divisions. Previous to last Saturday, the senior side was two points behind the second division leader. Waterside. The forfeiture of two points has put it four points behind.