Chch United has five in N.Z. squad

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32641, 24 June 1971, Page 38

Chch United has five in N.Z. squad

(By

D. P. MANSBRIDGE)

Christchurch United has supplied five of the 20-man New Zealand soccer squad announced yesterday by the national coach (Mr B. Truman). They are A. Fleming, G. Davis, K. France, V. Pollard, and B. Hardman..

From this squad, Mr Truman will select the team to play Wales at Auckland on July 10, and it will also be the nucleus of the party to go to New Caledonia for the Oceanea tournament in October.

It is expected that 15 will be named for the match with Wales, and that 17 will travel to Noumea.

The full squad is: Goal-keepers: P. Jerman (Eastern Suburbs), J. Nauthu (Wellington City), Fleming.

Full-backs: G. Lake (Blockhouse Bay), Davis, R. Armstrong (Mount Wellington).

Centre-backs: G. Bilby (Wellington City), France, J. Staines (Eastern Suburbs), B. Armstrong (Mount Wellington).

Linkmen: P. Eliades (Eastern Suburbs), Pollard, W. de Graaf (Eastern Suburbs), Hardman. Strikers: G. Brand (Stop Out), M. Bland (Eastern Suburbs), E. Thomas (Mount Wellington), J. Houghton (Mount Wellington), K. Ironside (Eastern Suburbs), D. Tindall (Dunedin Suburbs). Only nine of the squad have previously played for

the full New Zealand SideLake, Davis, Bilby, France, Staines, Pollard, de Graaf, Bland, and Thomas.

Ironside has represented New Zealand at under-23 level. The Armstrongs are sons of one of the three-man panel with which Mr Truman consults, Mr K. Armstrong, himself a former national representative, former national coach and present Mount Wellington coach. There will be some doubt about, the availability of Davis for the match with Wales. The United full-back broke two bones in his left wrist last April, and his arm is still encased in plaster. Davis played half a match against Canterbury University in the Gillette Chatham Cup tie last Saturday but is not due to have the plaster taken off for another three weeks. There is always a doubt whether a referee will allow him to play with the plaster on. The referee has the final say in such a case. Although there are no major surprise omissions from the squad, some regular

New Zealand representatives in the last two seasons have been discarded. These include the Christchurch United centre-half, G. Griffiths, New Zealand’s “Player of the Year” in 1969, and capped again last year against the Jardines. Mr Truman has taken the whole 20 players from national league clubs, which is certain to meet some criticism.

He has also dropped the Courier Rangers goal-keeper, K. Curtin, who was one of New Zealand’s few successes against the Jardines. Mr Truman will attend the Welsh team’s matches against Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, and if necessary will add players to the squad.