CHATHAM CUP

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 22

CHATHAM CUP

Venue move criticised

Proposals to change the venue of the Chatham Cup final have been criticised by a leading soccer personality. In the June issue of “Soccer News,” Mr J. Armstrong writes: “The Chatham Cup is a club competition that every other sport in New Zealand has tried to imitate without success.” A former chairman of the Soccer Writers’ Association, and the referee at several cup finals, Mr Armstrong says that if the venue is changed, the final will “lose all meaning.” “The glory of the cup is its sudden-death participation. The excitement of a final is that 90min can be the decider. “TWO-LEG FINAL” “If teams are to have the chance to play in front of their own supporters as was said at the New Zealand Football Association council meeting, we must surely end up with a two-leg final. And when that happens, we have lost all that was the Chatham Cup final.” The N.Z.F.A. council recently gave the executive power to hold the final away from Wellington. The venue will be decided when the four semi-finalists are known. Soccer drawn (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BUDAPEST. Sweden and Hungary drew, 3-3, in their World Soccer Cup, European zone group one match, yesterday. Sweden will win the group on goal average if it beats Malta convincingly in its remaining match.