Gisborne riled at treatment

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 42

Gisborne riled at treatment

(By

P. P. STEAD)

Gisborne City soccer squad and officials flew into Christchurch in a good frame of mind last night about today’s Air New Zealand Cup national semi-final but disgusted with arrangements made for them.

The chairman (Mr A. Had-.: dow) and the player-coach,: Ray Veall, expected to be - playing on Queen Elizabeth ’ Il Park, but found only on [arrival that they play Christchurch United at English I Park at 2.30 p.m. The first national veterans track and field championships |are on at Queen Elizabeth Park. On top of this, they and the

squad of 14 players complained about the poor standard ot accommodation given tnem.

“Mr Haddow said Gisborne iiad alreauy had to make two tups oy car to Wanganui for earlier matches, anu he said mat if the organisation was not better next year his club would have to consider whether it was wo.rth entering. “It is costing us too much money,” he said. ; Veall has not chosen his [side yet for today’s match, but he said his piayers had oeen training well and were confident ana keen and hoped to give United a good game. He said they had had: several injury problems — ■ two with broken legs — but felt his side had tne ability] ■ and blend and should “work] [into a nice little unit.” ] Gisborne has lost John [Warrington to North Shore, Billy Struthers to Blockhouse Bay, Terry Parkin to Napier, and Les Todd with a broken leg. Striker Gary Jenkins is] also not available at present. [ Gains include three midifield players — Harry Ken-] nedy from Ireland and two Scots, Harry Bell and Tom Duncan, and among the forwards Bobby Craig from Wellington and Jim Lavery [from Ireland. Keith Bowley [is again the goal-keeper, and [the defenders include Colin '.Milne, Stephen Grout, John [Fyfe, Jim McMillan and Keith i Mackay. The United manager (Mr T. [C. Conley) said that his team! [would be unchanged and was] [confident of beating Gisborne,’ although the northern side] [was much of an unknown] [quantity.

The winner of today’s .match will fly to Auckland [tomorrow for the national .[final against either Mount [Wellington or Eastern [Suburbs on Monday. First iprize is worth $6OOO and the : runner-up will receive $2OOO.