Western soccer club survives

Press, 28 February 1981, Page 60

Western soccer club survives

Having solved its membership problems, the Western soccer club is negotiating with a Christchurch softball club to share its clubrooms in Westminster Street. Western, once among the biggest names in New Zealand soccer, had been approached by a softball club, according to the Western president (Mr Brian Smith). He believed Western should consider turning into a sports club, rather than restrict itself solely to soccer. Pooling of resources, and getting maximum use of the club’s facilities throughout the year was a good thing, he added. At a special general meeting called to discuss the future of the club on Wednesday evening, a motion to wind up the club was lost unanimously and, in contrast to its annual general meet-

ing held a month earlier, all positions on the club’s committee were filled.

Indeed, there were ballots for several places. According to .the club's president (Mr Brian Smith) about 13C people attended the meeting, making at the best attended meeting within the club since it was relegated from the southern league four years ago. Mr Smith denied that the placing of a public notice announcing the meeting and the possibility of the club folding, was “scare tactics.” However, he admitted it was “a calculated gamble on mj part.” At the club's annual meeting it failed to produce s quorum; “It was about time members faced reality," he said. “There was a very real chance the club could have folded.”