School concern about pupils in club soccer

Press, 4 April 1987, Page 12

School concern about pupils in club soccer

The number of secondary school soccer players signing for club teams is worrying school soccer coaches, according to the St Andrew’sCollege coach, Mr Wayne Milligan. Mr Milligan said that while it couldbe argued that players going up to higher grades would benefit there were other factors to consider, such as loyalty to a school. “The present national league players, Gary Lund and Danny Halligan, are recent examples of players who played in the Canterbury Secondary . Schools Football Association competitions until they left school,” he said. The secondary-school championship will start today, with 28 teams spread over two divisions. ; . , Tn division one the likely

title contenders are Christchurch Boys’ High School, coached by Stewart Squire, and Shirley Boys’ High School, coached by Ed Smith and Bruce Ivey. Linwood High School, coached by Geoff Connell, and Papanui High School, coached by Mark Larsen and Dale Burden, have retained the bulk of last year’s squads. Two of last year’s leading teams, St Bede’s College and St Andrew’s College, are in the process of rebuilding, as are St Thomas of Canterbury and Christis College. Both Eurnside High, School and Hornby High School will field young teams this year. The season will finish with the traditional August tournaments. This year the premier tournament will be hosted by Auckland’s Avondale College;