Soccer wealth

Press, 15 June 1983, Page 32

Soccer wealth

Christchurch, at present, has a soccer team with three former international players and a wealth of Rothmans League experience, but it will not be found among the top grades of the Canterbury Football Association. Instead, the Rangers division one team is making their mark at a lower level, and is leading the grade by four points, having averaged four , goals a match this winter. The team reads like a who’s who of Canterbury soccer. The central defenders are Ken France and Graham Griffiths. France, who played’ six times for New Zealand, appeared in 77 league- matches for Christchurch United, and steered it to its first win in the national competition, in 1973. ■ '.oi-fk Griffiths, 13: times an international,.: played over

150 times for United and, in September 1979, became the first player in Canterbury to be honoured with a benefit night. The mid-field incudes Jan Flyvbjerg, 55 times a national league player with Caversham and Woolston W.M.C.; Geoff Taylor, who made 18 league appearances with New Brighton, and was a member of Rangers’ illfated 1981 side; and Franko Madrussan, 87 league matches for United and Brighton, and among Canterbury’s biggest crowdpleasers. Neil Francis (Shamrock, United, Woolston W.M.C. and Rangers), Malcolm Parker (Rangers and Nomads United), Doug Finnic (Technical and United) and Malcolm Ellis (Shamrock and'United) share the striking positions in a team which, in its prime, could have matched any club side in