Soccer policy forces young star to leave school

Press, 13 April 1988, Page 64

Soccer policy forces young star to leave school

By

GARY BIRKETT

The 1987 Canterbury young soccer player of the year, Gary McCosh, ■ has been forced 'to leave Shirley Boys’ High School so he can continue playing for the New Brighton club. McCosh, aged [l6, left school yesterday [and has applied for a job.) If he is not successful he will continue his sixth form year at Mairehau High School. I. Shirley Boys' [. High School insisted ] that McCosh sign a declaration that he would play' for the school’s first XI on Saturdays rather than [the New Brighton club’s first team, which competes; in the southern league I division two competition. | If Brighton had been in southern league I division

one or the national league there would have been no problem for. McCosh in getting permission from Shirley B.H.S. but it has enforced a directive from the Secondary Schools’ Soccer Association that lower graded players must not be, released. McCosh has; played for the Brighton se'riior team for the last two 4 years. He is a very promising fullback and intends, travelling to the United Kingdom next year to try and break into professional soccer.

Harry McCosh, the coach of New Brighton and father of Gary, said he was prepared to let the disputes committee of the Canterbury { Football Association deal with the matter but Shirley B.H.S. had requested that Gary sign a declaration to play

only for the school

That had forced his son to leave school. "He has not kicked a ball for the school in the four years he has been there. Playing I for the school would be five steps backwards for him. The whole thing is a farce. It really stinks that' a parent or pupil cannot decide what they want to do on a Saturday afternoon.”

He said all school soccer should be played mid-week or on Saturday mornings so it [ did not clash with senior football.

"Gary has been playing senior soccer for three years with no problems. He is the best defender I have in the I team,” said Mr McCosh.

Gary played basketball and did athletics for the school but it was import-

ant that he played for Brighton if he wanted to break into professional soccer, his father said. The C.F.A. is to discuss the schoolboy soccer problem at a ! meeting on Monday.

The headmaster of Shirley B.H.S. 1 Mr Denis Cocks, said the school was just following the policy laid down by the New Zealand Football Association and Gary McCosh's decision to leave school was a voluntary one.

He said the C.F.A. should get its act together and sort the schoolboy problem out. “The McCosh case is the thin end of the wedge, if the more gifted players want to leave school soccer it could spread to other codes and we intend standing firm on this issue.”