Brighton may get Palace players

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34107, 20 March 1976, Page 52

Brighton may get Palace players

(By

DERRICK MANSBRIDGE

The link between the New Brighton soccer club and the London professional side, Crystal Palace, may soon produce more concrete results than the congratulatory telegrams thai have been passing between the two clubs.

Crystal Palace is pro-j posing sending to Christ - church a couple of ap-j prent ice professionals, who would he “on loan” to Brighton lor three months.

The Brighton manager. Terry Seacy, said last evening that the move was still in the negotiating stage, but added: “We are tremendously excited by the news.”

, Mr Seacy said that Crystal Palace Was proposing to I pay the players’ fares to [New Zealand and back, and [Brighton would be responsible for looking after them while they were in Christchurch. The link between the two dubs has been forged'by the managing director of Brighton's sponsor, Music World, Mr Hoghton Hughes, who is a keen supporter of Crystal Palace.

Brighton has been sending congratulatory telegrams to Palace as the London club, playing in the English League third division, has won through to the semifinals of the English Cup.

And Palace officials made known of their plan to send to Brighton apprentice professionals in a letter this week congratulating rhe seasiders on their victory over Christchurch United in the Air New Zealand tournament last week-end.

But Brighton’s more immediate problem is the club’s regional final against I Caversham at Dunedin tomorrow — and the injuries the seasiders have in their squad.

Paul Glasson, the leftback, is out, and probably for at least a fortnight, Alan Smith (injured toe) missed training this week, and there are doubts, too, about the! fitness of Fred Roest andi Richard Wilson. The last three are included! in the 14 Brighton will take: to Dunedin today, but the side to play Caversham will [ not be selected until the in-i jured men have had fitness! tests tomorrow morning. | “We are going into this! game as underdogs, just asi Iwe were against United.” Mr I [Seacy said. “But we are just' las determined to prove that!

we have beep, badly under-1 rated." > This week-end's Snatches will bring the Air New Zea- 1 land tournament down tot' the national semi-finals p stage. In the central region, Stop Out will plat Nelson United and Wellington 1 Waterside will meet Gis- i borne City at Hutt Raceway ; t

I today, the winners playing [off tomorrow The northern region play'offs are: Hamilton v. Block house Bav. North Shore | United v. Mount Wellington Christchurch United and Rangers will meet in the final of the floodlight tournament at Rangers Park tomorrow .