CHATHAM CUP SOCCER

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32017, 18 June 1969, Page 19

CHATHAM CUP SOCCER

The Western coach, Mr V. R. Smith, would be excused for having mixed feelings when his club meets Technical in their quarter-final of the Chatham Cup soccer competition under lights at English Park tonight. Until the start of the present season he had been attached to Technical for many years and had played a major role in that club’s Chatham Cup history. He captained Technical in five national finals and was the team’s coach in a sixth. Tonight, he will be coach in the opposition camp, in which his own son, Murray, plays, and also three nephews. The quarter-final was postponed more than a fortnight ago when Technical had three players in the New Zealand XI that met the English F.A at Wellington.

The semi-finals have already been drawn, and the winner

of tonight’s match will play Christchurch City. The other semi-final is between New Brighton and University, the ties to be played on July 12. Technical and Western have already met twice this

season and both have been tight matches. In the Rangers floodlight tournament Technical won 1-0 after a replay and in the southern league the clubs drew, 2-2.-Since the last meeting, however, 'technical has had considerable success, moving from bottom of the first division after three matches to top after 10. Last Saturday, Technical beat the previous leader, Rangers, 3-0. Western is in seventh place, but is only four points behind Technical.

Tonight’s match will also revive memories for Technical’s former goalkeeper, I. Marshall. He came on as substitute on the wing in the replayed floodlight tournament match and scored the only goal. Since then, he has become Technical’s regular centreforward, leading the southern league goal scorers with nine in seven matches.