Top players

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 30

Top players

The Christchurch United captain, K. France, crowned a week of triumph when he was last evening named Canterbury soccer’s “player of the year." Five days earlier, France had led United to victory in the second replay of the Gillette Chatham Cup at Auckland, and brought the trophy back to Canterbury for the first time since it was won by Western in 1955. The award was made to him by the president of the Canterbury F-A. (Mr T. C. Gottermeyer) at English Park last evening, on the vote of soccer writers of “The Press” and the “Star.” Mr Gottermeyer, on behalf of the selectors, said that the choice this year had been extremely difficult because of the many outstanding candidates, but France had finally been a unanimous decision because of “his consistent performance and inspiring leadership all season.” France, who has won the award for the second time, is a former vicecaptain of the New Zealand side. Always a courageous player, he successfully disguised serious injuries from Mount Wellington in last Saturday’s final when United finally ended the protracted Chatham Cup series with.a 2-1 win.

P. F. Clark, a member of the successful Challenge Shield side and captain of Hagley Old Boys, is the Canterbury Hockey Supporters’ Club “sportsman of the year.” The third winner of the award, he was given the trophy by last year’s winner, B. J. Maister, last evening. Clark’s varied hockey activities, including administration and umpiring, weighed heavily in his favour.

He is a member of the national association's management committee, being elected to the position this year, and he is also on the finance committee of the organisation working towards holding a Commonwealth tournament in Christchurch in 1974. Clark’s umpiring ability has already earned him a New Zealand grading, and at club level, besides captaining the senior side, he is also the Hagley club captain.