Two southern league contests proposed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32783, 7 December 1971, Page 18

Two southern league contests proposed

Canterbury is to support the formation of two southern league soccer competitions to replace the present one that encompasses the whole of the southern region.

There would be a league in the north, taking in Canterbury and South Canterbury, and the other in the south, comprising North Otago, Otago, and Southland. The recommendation came from Mr V. R. Smith, of the Western club, at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Football Association at English Park last evening.

It was accepted unanimously, and the C.F.A.’s two delegates on the Southern Regional Council (Messrs M. W. MacKenzie and M. K. Pahi) will raise the matter at the council’s meeting in Oamaru on Saturday. In a six-point programme, Mr Smith said that the present ’ single league had achieved its objective but that the present financial commitments to clubs had become a “terrific burden.” The splitting of the region into two competitions would retain all the present assets and would have the additional advantages of reducing financial commitments and bringing in far more clubs into the orbit of the leagues.

NATIONAL RULES The meeting also unanimously accepted two recommendations that the C.F.A. will put forward to the N.Z.F.A. as changes to national rules. It will seek to have the present deadline of June 30 on all transfers deleted and an open transfer ruling throughout the season substituted, and will propose the entry of national league reserve teams into the regional leagues. The meeting voted out remits proposing that during the last four games of the competition, no player can be relegated more than one grade, and that all players taking part in a knockout competition must have played not less than three games during the season for the team they are representing In the knockout.

The incoming management committee will consider a suggestion to shorten the width of English Park by two yards to

allow more space for the taking of corner kicks.

Mr T. C. Gottermeyer was reelected president of the association, and other elections were: vice-presidents, Messrs E. Adam. C. Cook, E. P. Millward, N. Hopgood. V. Smith, R. Storer, F. Neate; secretary, Mr R. Jury; treasurer, Mr M. W. MacKenzie; management committee, Messrs K. Hendy, A. L. Gray. T, Johnson, S. Ovenden, M. K. Pahl. D. Orange, R. Price, A. F. Fraser.