Rangers fined after clash with trials date

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 21

Rangers fined after clash with trials date

The Rangers soccer club has been fined SlOO for organising a match which clashed with the regional under-19 trials. The fine, imposed by the Canterbury Football Association, is over a match between a Hertz League selection and the Rangers Rothmans League side on September 14. On the same day, the regional trials were held at English Park.

All clubs must’have the permission of the C.F.A. before organising such matches.

“They have no right to do these things without getting approval first,” said the C.F.A.’s chairman, Mr Doug Orange. “If there has been no approval then

they are taking the law into their own hands. They can not do that.” It was felt that by playing tlie match on the same day as the trials, spectators who might otherwise have gone to English Park went instead to Rangers Park, thereby diminshing the gate takings. Rangers’ president, Mr Colin Boatwood, agreed that, technically, his club had broken the rules. But he felt that the fine was too severe. The most disppointing aspect he said, was a threat to the Canterbury Referees’ Association that it also would be fined if it provided officials for the Rangers’ southern league match.