New-Look Soccer Event

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32216, 7 February 1970, Page 13

New-Look Soccer Event

The pre-season floodlight soccer competition, organised by the Rangers club, will have a new look this month. For the first time it will be sponsored, by Balm Paints N.Z., Ltd, and will be now known as the Dulux floodlight tournament; six teams have been invited (instead of eight) and these will be divided into two groups on a World Cup-style instead of playing on a knock-out basis from the first round; and the prize-money for the first, second and third finishers will be increased.

Tbe last difference for the 1970 competition, as compared to the previous five years, is that it will last one extra night, on which the tournament winner will play the Rothman s’ National League entry, Christchurch United, in a grand finale. The five clubs invited are Technical, last season’s southern league champion, New Brighton, the 1969 Chatham Cup finalist, Christchurch City, Shamrock and Western, and these will join the host club, Rangers. One match will be played from each group on the first three evenings, the Thursdays, February 26, March 5 and March 12, thereby ensuring that each club will have at least two games.

On March 19, the group winners will meet for first and second places and the

group runners-up will play for third position. The tournament champion will clash with Christchurch United on Tuesday, March 24. Costly improvements have been made to the ground during the summer, with weed killing, topdressing and re-sowing, and club officials are hopeful the pitch will be in better order than at any other time.

The gaining of a sponsor will give the floodlight tournament even greater stature. The sales manager of Balm Paints, Mr A. A. Bills, said yesterday: “We are pleased to be able to give this help to the Rangers club and the floodlight tournament, and to assist soccer and its growing number of players and supporters. In addition, it is an assistance to all sport.”