Burndale has benefited

Press, 13 May 1988, Page 22

Burndale has benefited

Burndale United has benefited directly from the Canterbury under 17 soccer team’s tour of Canada and Britain last year by securing the services of five of that team for its southern league side. The five youngsters, Howard Nicholas (goalkeeper), Steve Toohey (defender), Andrew McDermott (midfield), Vaughan Conley (striker) and Korosh Monsef (striker) have been regular members of the side in its first five matches this season. Both Conley, the son of the national youth coach, Terry Conley, and McDermott have been regularly scoring goals while Monsef, Toohey and Nicholas have been praised by their player-coach, Graeme Archer. Bumdale is easily the youngest team in the competition, with an averge age of about 20. It had only one point from its first. three matches but wins over Oamaru and Rangers in recent weeks have boosted it to a mid-table position. The experience gained by its five youngsters against such teams as Manchester United youth, Tottenham Hotspurs youth and Celtic youth has proved valuable in its improved league form. Archer, a former national league player, said there was no doubting the ability and potential of the youngsters. “They have fitted in really well. My only criticism is that they try to play too much football in the wrong areas of the park, but that comes down to experience* and you have to put up lwith that.”