Fleming not available for World Cup squad

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 22

Fleming not available for World Cup squad

(By D. P. MANSBRIDGE)

The Christchurch United goal-keeper, A. Fleming, has become the second player to rule himself out as a candidate for New Zealand’s World Cup soccer team.

The other player was also from United — the full-back, G. Davis, who is to be married in January, at the height of the World Cup preparation.

Fleming, who lives in Ashburton and travels many thousands of miles in a season for training and playing in Christchurch and around the country, has decided that he cannot commit himself to the strenuous programme that is being set aside for the World Cup squad during the summer.

The only other player almost certain to be omitted is the Auckland and Eastern Suburbs captain, J. Staines, who is not available either for the proposed South-East Asia tour in October or the three-week training camp in Auckland in February. The secretary of the New Zealand Football Association (Mr G. H. Moore) said yesterday that 42 replies had now been received from the 50 players asked if they

would be available for all or part of the World Cup and its build-up programme. The eight who have not replied are: A. Allanson, I. Ormond (Blockhouse Bay), B. Duncan (Caversham), A. Marley (Christchurch United), R. Mears, P. Eliadis (Eastern Suburbs), D. Tindall (Mount Wellington) and A. Smith (New Brighton). Marley, after his decision

on Sunday to turn down an offer from the English semiprofessional club, Canterbury City, will make himself available for the squad, as will the Brighton linkman, Smith. A late addition to the squad, Smith has not received the letter sent out by the N.Z.F.A. to the players concerned, but would be available for the squad.