SOCCER VISITORS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 228, 23 June 1936, Page 13

SOCCER VISITORS

Australian Team In

Wellington CIVIC RECEPTION The touring Australian Soccer team arrived at Wellington uy the express from Auckland yesterday morning, and was greeted at the station by the chairman cf the council of the New Zealand Football Association. Mr. J. A. Milburn, the president of the Wellington Football Association, Mr. J. J. Roberts, the chairman of the Wellington- Football Association management committee, Mr. W. B. Hicks, and Ur. W. Duncan, representing rhe Wellington City Council. Other members of the New Zealand council and the Wellington Football Association were also present. In the afternoon, the visitors inspected the Carillon and the new Dominion Museum.

The Australian team to play Wellington to-day has been announced as follows :—

Goal: J. McNabb. Full-baeks: J. B. Evans, J. Osborne. Halves: R. H. Bryant, D. A, Love, J. Harden. Forwards: J. Wilkinson, A. Cameron, G. H. Smith, W. Price, A. Forrest. Civic Reception. At 5 p.m. the Australian team was accorded a civic reception in the Concert Chamber at the Town Hall, members of the Australian and Wellington teams, the City Council, the council of the New Zealand Football Association, the Wellington Football Association, and the Wellington Rugby Union being present: In welcoming the visitors the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that the people of New Zealand had looked forward with great interest to the Australian team's arrival, and it was the interchange of visits such as these that strengthened the feelings of cordiality between the two countries. He hoped that the Australian team would make many friends in New Zealand, would have first-class matches, and would return home with a desire to visit the Dominion again. Mr. J. A. Milburn, chairman of the council of the New Zealand Football Association, said that after a good deal of negotiation with the Australian authorities the present tour had been arranged, and it gave him great pleasure to welcome the visitors on behalf of the New Zealand association. It appeared that out of all the matches played between the two countries, the honours were about even, and he expressed the hope that the Australians would have good matches during their tour and if beaten would take their loss in true sporting spirit. He assured them that if Australia won the New Zealand teams would be the first to congratulate them. A welcome on behalf of the players and the clubs of Wellington was donveyed by Mr. J. J. Roberts, president of the Wellington Football Association. It was 13 years, ne said, since an Australian team had last visited Wellington, and the match was being keenly awaited. “I wish you a pleasant game,” he. added, “and I may tell you that, thanks to the Wellington City Council, you will be playing on one of the best grounds in the Dominion.”

Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, C.M.G., president of the Wellington Rugby Union, said he was pleased to identify himself with the New Zealand Football Association and the Wellington Football Association in extending a hearty welcome to the Australians. In his opinion there was plenty of room for the two codes, and there was no reason why they should not receive an equal amount of public support. He suggested more frequent visits between the two countries, and said that these would prove of immense benefit to the game. “I hope,” he said, “that the games will be as enjoyable to the players as to the many spectators who will eome to see them.” "On his own behalf and on behalf of every member of the team, he deeply appreciated the welcome conveyed to them,' Mr. S. A. Storey, manager of the Australian team, said in reply. They had been made so welcome in Auckland that in coming south they had felt like leaving a part of Sydney behind. A pleasing feature had been the generous praise of the teani and he believed that the tour would do a great deal for Association football in New Zealand. He favoured a more frequent interchange of visits as suggested by Colonel Campbell, and said that these should be planned well ahead and the dates not departed from. A shorter tour with not more than four Saturdays away from home would be tfiore suitable for Australia. In the Tests Australia and New Zealand were level in games, with Australia one goal in front, Mr. Storey continued. The team had been exhorted in Australia to keep not only the one goal ahead but also ahead in the total of games. The team was looking forward eagerly to the remainder of the tour, but would depend entirely on football for its success, ir it could not win that way it would not win at all and perfect friendliness would prevail.