Canterbury soccer reaches milestone

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 20

Canterbury soccer reaches milestone

Soccer enthusiasts had good reason to feel that the sport in Mid-Canter-bury passed a' milestone on Sunday. For the last few years, organised soccer has been restricted to junior grades, but this season marks the beginning of senior competition with four teams established, and hopes of a fifth. For Mr Walter Anderson, aged 97, Sunday musthave been something of a dream come true. Now a resident of Tuarangi Home in Ashburton, Mr Anderson came to Ashburton direct from England in 1906. Before leaving lie was a member of the Manchester United Football Club, but followed his parents to New Zealand because they had fallen on "hard times.”

“Things were tough in those days,” called Mr Anderson, who later played for Canterbury. "I never intended staying here, the country was in a hell of a mess.”

But stay he did, finding a job in a grocery store where he remained for 25 years. His enthusiasm for soccer has never waned. As he watched a match on Sunday between two Ashburton teams he was quick to point out the young players "showing some promise.”

But his love for the game has had to face stiff opposition. After he had arrived in Ashburton he, with his brother, attempted to form a soccer team. This was eventually realised, but they were then refused a ground. “They hated the game.’’ he said of the many people who opposed it. “They were suspicious of it for some reason, and that attitude remained for many years.” But that feeling is far in the past, judging by the crowd at the Tinwald Working Men’s Club grounds to see the promotional day fixtures. It was a happy Mr Anderson who later "took the ground briefly to kick off in the President’s versus Personalities match. The president’s team comprised representatives

of other sports, including tennis, basketball, badminton, weight-training, cricket, softball, table

tennis, and netball. The Pesonalities’ team comprised employees of Radio Ashburton, the “Ashburton Guardian,” and the Ashburton office of “The Press.” While Mr Anderson was not so impressed with the soccer talent on display in that match, he had a chance to give advice on the game to young enthusiasts.

The best training? “Walk, don’t run." According to Mr Anderson, correct walking uses all the leg muscles and

“builds them up. for any possibility.” “I used to walk two miles after every match and be fit for the next day,” he said.