Spot for Evans

Press, 9 February 1989, Page 34

Spot for Evans

By

GARY BIRKETT

The former Christchurch and All White central defender, Ceri Evans, is to be offered part time professional terms by the English second division soccer club Oxford United. Oxford, struggling near the bottom of the competition, has already signed Evans on a noncontract basis. Because the highly-rated Evans is studying at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship the club has to clear his signing with university authorities under Football League rules. According to a New Zealand Press Association report there should be few problems obtaining a clearance for Evans and he could be playing for the first team in a matter of weeks. Meanwhile, English Park will be used this season after all. The pitch was to have been relald but the scheduled autumn sowing will not proceed because the Canterbury Football Association was unable to meet a deadline set by the Christchurch City Council’s parks and recreation department. The association could not find out exactly what costs it wold be liable for until the ground was fit for play. Its management committee will make a final decision on Monday on the viability of improvements at the ground after further information is received from the city council. There is a chance that Bumdale United will play its home matches at Burnside Park this season if the playing surface Is judged to be up to standard for the division one competition. The pitch will be inspected by the Southern Regional Council in midMarch. Should the pitch not be improved in time for the start of the league Burndale will probably play its home matches at English Park. Two Burndale players from last season, Vaughan Conley and Andrew McDermott, have signed for Christchurch United and will be in the squad which plays its first Linwood City Pharmacy Hurley Shield match on Tuesday evening.