United back at English Park

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 40

United back at English Park

By-

BARNEY ZWARTZ

Trans Tours United will play all its soccer, this season at English Park.

The chairman of the Canterbury Football Association’s finance and administration committee (Doug Orange) announced this yesterday after a meeting between the club and the association. ?he move has been made possible because of an agreement with the Christchurch City Council about the maintenance of the pitch. It has long been the contention of both the club and the association that it should be rolled, and the council has now agreed. Most United spectators and players regard English Park as their home ground, just as Queen Elizabeth II Park is geographically New Brighton’s home ground, and Brighton will continue to play there. The return to English Park has been United’s ambition almost ever since it left the ground. It played there from the start of the Rothmans National League in 1970 to 1974, and played at Q.E. II in 1975 and 1976.

In 1974 the club tried to lease the park from the city council, while still allowing the C.F.A. and other sports to use it, but the council declined.

The United players prefer

English Park in every way — especially the atmosphere — except the standard of the pitch, which in no way compares with the standard at QE 11.

United’s chairman of directors (Mr Fred Haydon) has had many requests from spectators that the side should return, and he expects gates to increase markedly.

Another factor against QE II is travelling costs, especially with the gate fees increasing from 80c to $1 this season, he believes.

“The main problem would be to ensure a reasonable playing surface. Some people find it difficult to accept that soccer is not like rugby, that it needs an accurate surface, but the council has undertaken to keep the standard up and eventually upgrade the pitch,” Mr Haydon said.

Polo.— Wanstead had to withstand a surging comeback by Walmal before winning its open ing Savile Cup polo match, 6-4, at Clevedon yesterday. Four first-round matches were played yesterday, and another four will be played today. Cup contestants wiU have a rest day on Friday, before completing the third round on Saturday.

Rowing.— Oxford, training for the 123rd boat race against Cambridge on Saturday, sank in rough waters on the River Thames, near the exclusive Harrods department store. The crew swam ashore, the boat undamaged.