SOCCER TOURS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 72, 18 December 1935, Page 15

SOCCER TOURS

« India and Australia Prepared to Come NO 1936 ENGLISH VISIT The isolation of New Zealand during the past few years as far as visits from overseas Soccer teams is concerned appears to have ended. At a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Football Association yesterday afternoon offers were received from Australia ynd India to send teams to tour the Dominion next year if suitable terms could be agreed upon. Brigadier-General W. R. N. Madocks, the New Zealand Football Association's representative on the English Football xlssociation, cabled as follows: “No chance visit 1936. Football Association will endeavour to collect amateur team in 1937.” The chairman, Mr. J. A. Milburn, presided, and there were also present Messrs. H. D. Godber, H. 11. A. Renai, W. G. Bryce, B. T. Martin, and A. Williams, secretary. The chairman said it would appear that the English Football Association had at last taken some notice of the Soccer players out here in New Zealand The chairman explained that the emergency committee had considered the offer from the Australian Football Association to send a team to New Zea land in 1936, and had decided to reply that, although New Zealand considered they were entitled to a visit from Australia on the basis of pay-all and takeall, New Zealand was prepared to consider the visit to New Zealand of an Australian representative team or a New South Wales representative team on the following conditions: New Zealand to offer Australia one third of the net profits, with a guarantee of £lOO. In the event of the acceptance,of the tour, the New Zealand Football Association was prepared to advance the £lOO to meet the assembly charges. The following letter was received from the joint hon. secretary of the Indian Football Association, Mr. J. N. Mukerjee:— “Your letter of July 17 was placed before the council meeting of my association on November 15 last, and it was decided to accept your kind invitation j

to send a teSm to tour New Zealand in 1936 on the conditions as specified in the minutes of your council meeting on June 28. “The conditions offered by you woulu be approximately as follow:—(l)The New Zealand Football Association to pay all and take all. (2) The New Zealand Football Association to pay all assembling and outfitting charges. (3) The team to consist of 16 players and a manager. “ (4) Second-class fares from Calcutta to New Zealand, . _d then on the same lines as provided by the Hockey Association. (5) Betty expenses per man to be 30/- per week on land and 10/- per week at sea. (6) A tour of six weeks, playing two matches per week.” "With regard to item 3 of the conditions, we would be thankful if you would consider extending the offer to one extra player, making 17 and a manager. As the majority of outplayers will be playing barefooted, dry weather permitting, it is our experience that such players are more susceptible to injuries than booted players, and it is.essential on a tour of this nature that sufficient capable reserves are included in the party. We would be thankful if your council would give this point serious consideration, and lot us know as soon as possible. “It would be eminently suitable if all arrangements be made at your on the assumption that our team would leave Calcutta about the end of July, after the completion of the I.F.A. shield competition, when all the leading players in the country would be available. “We can assure you that the team will worthily uphold the prestige of ] the country, and would be fully representative of the best players in India. Our football season commences at the end of April, and our final selection of players would he completed by the end of June. This would give us a month to assemble the team, and to make all tiie necessary arrangements for passports and leave for the players. “On behalf of my association, I have to convey their heartiest thanks for your kind invitation, and consider it a great pleasure to accept it. On receipt of your confirmation of this acceptance, we will immediately go ahead with all the necessary arrangements at this end.” After discussion, it was decided to make inquiries of the New Zealand Hockey Association regarding assembling and outfitting costs. A letter was received from Mr. C. C. Dacre, of Auckland, pointing out the possibilities of obtaining a visit from

a team from the West Indies. He stated that he had seen the natives p)ay Soccer in Jamaica, and he was surA they would be only too willing tc send a team to” New Zealand. They played the game well, and a tour by a West Indies team would be a paying proposition for the N.Z.F.A. It was decided to request an Auckland representative of the association to confer with Mr. Dacre on the subject.