BOYS' FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 11

BOYS' FOOTBALL

SOGGER TEAM DEPARTS \

MANAGER'S OBSERVATION^ T

The Australian boys' Soccer teanv which h&s been touring New Zealand, left for Sydney by. the. Mahenoyester; day. In conversation with a "Post" reporter before sailing, Mr. E. Holmes, one of the managers; expressed thanks on behalf of the visitors to all those who had helped to make the tour a success. • The organisation of the trip, he | said, had been excellent, which leI fleeted great credit,'on those controlling Soccer here. While comparisons were always odious, he felt he must say that the North Island schoolboy football was better organised than the South. "Before long you will be feeling the benefit of encouraging the .boys,'' he said. "This will have more lasting results than those obtained by depending Solely on overseas" men to carry on the game. It should not be long before yoa;.will get first-class footballers such asvara seen in countries where encouragement is given to the boys. The Australian States that have realised this are the most progressive. I think yon would get a much - better return for Yyour money by spending it on encouraging the boys, than by going to large expense repeatedly in inviting overseas teams. I feel certain, that quite^Jt lot 'of money lost could have been saved by Australia and New Zealand jointly undertaking expensive overseas tqurs." 1 "You have some wonderful material," he concluded, "and it should not_ be long before you will be in a, position to. send a strong team abroad. In saying 'good-bye.l feel that.it ia only temporary, and that in. the-near future we shall ha.ye the pleasure of renewing friendships. We hope-\this visit will be the forerunner of many;-**