Plan To Cut Soccer Cost Chatham Cup

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32361, 29 July 1970, Page 19

Plan To Cut Soccer Cost

Chatham Cup

A proposal put forward before the start of the present season—aimed at streamlining the southern league soccer championship and cutting down the huge expense in which clubs are involved—may be resurrected for 1971. It is proposed to divide the league into two sections (northern and southern) and for the two leading clubs from each group to play off for the championship at the end of the season. The proposer, Mr T. C. Gottermeyer, president of the Canterbury Football Association, who first raised the matter and asked that clubs consider the suggestion, said yesterday: “I feel that some clubs are now finding the financial burden is becoming too great and that some modification of the regional league is necessary to ease this burden.” Mr Gottermeyer’s scheme envisages the northern zone comprising Canterbury and South Canterbury, and the southern zone taking in North Otago, Otago and Southland. TWO ROUNDS Eight teams would play in each section, which would have two complete rounds. The two leading clubs in each zone would then play a series of home-and-away matches to decide the first four places in the southern league championship. The winner would be the southern region qualifier for the Rothmans National League play-off series. “The southern league has had its critics in Christchurch. It was said that it would not work and that associations would lose heavily on i the project,” Mr Gottermeyer said. ! “However, it has worked. In its small but important way it has opened the door to the national league. No assbeia-

tion has lost heavily on the project. “It was also said that attendances at matches would improve greatly once the standard of play improved and that the league would bring about this improvement There was a gradual improvement in the playing standard and attendances did show an improvement accordingly,” he said. “The national league has shown that the soccer public will support the code if the playing standard is good. “There is no reason why a final southern league competition, as suggested, would not produce the entertaining football the supporters wish to see. MORE POPULAR “The regional league still has a vital part to play but it also raises a problem. The - national league, now seemingly well established, has taken first place in spectator popularity, and the lessons learnt from it in Christchurch would be repeated in Dunedin if an Otago club wins entry into the national league at the end of this season. “Clubs will now be finding the weekly travelling costs more and more of a burden but their players still want the best type of competition they can get.

"I believe the suggestion put forward achieves. the objectives of all sides—less costly to the clubs, equally competitive for the players as is the present league, and still opening the way for a club wishing to win national league status by qualifying for the play-off series.”

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The Chatham Cup soccer draw for the semi-finals on August 15 is (home team mentioned first): — Western Suburbs (Wellington) v. Caversham (Dunedin); Hamilton v. Blockhouse Bay (Auckland). The final will be played on September 5.

CORINGA COUNTRY CLUB Still has a few vacancies before membership list closes. Join now to avoid future regrets. Excellent Club House and facilities. Good playing conditions. Half subscription for balance of year. For full details contact: L. C. LINDLEY, Secretary, P.O. Box 8006, Riccarton. Phones: Private 327-961; Busi-' ness, 44-150. Join the Club with the I greatest potential in Canterbury. —Advt.!