Soccer star’s death

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33967, 7 October 1975, Page 36

Soccer star’s death

tNI Pres* ijsucatton* AUCKLAND. John Wrathall, perhaps the finest scorer of goals Neu Zealand soccer has produced, collapsed and died while playing in a tennis match in Eastcote, London, on Sunday. He was aged 38. Wrathall took the Eastern Suburbs club in Auckland to numerous triumphs. And it was in the colours of that team that from a small boy right through to the 1960 s that he scored the great majority of his 1000 goals. An example of his splendid shooting uas shown in successive Chatham Cup games in 1965. In one game he scored all five goals for Suburbs, and in the next he crashed home six of his side’s seven goals. Although the lormer head boy oi Auckland Grammar School won international honours it was unfortunate that his best days were over before the game boomed in this country. APPEAR ANCES He once remarked after playing against an overseas side that New Zealand teams had not so much to learn from visiting players. The only difference was that the hardened professionals could perform moves at much greater speed. He played for Neu Zealand five times—against Saprissa F.C. in 1959. Tahiti in 1960 (three games) and the English F.A. team in 1961. Tennis was his second great sporting love. He won the national hovs singles in 1954. and the Neu Zealand boys doubles the next season. Wrathall’s tournament appearances became fewer because of military service and accountancy examinations. He finally decided to concentrate wholly on soccer. U.K. WORK The Aucklander’s work in Britain centred round installing computers for an international company. He was due to return to New Zealand next September. Wrathall is survived by his wife, .lunette, two sons, and a daughter. He was a son ot a former well-known IZB radio announcer and executive. Mr Dudley Wrathall