AFTER THE MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 94, 22 April 1935, Page 12

AFTER THE MATCH

DINNER TO TEAMS

TRIBUTES TO VISITORS

The Canterbury and Wellington teams were entertained at dinner after the match by the Wellington Football Association. .Mr. J. M. C'oleman presided over the gathering, which included members of the council of the JT.Z.F.A. and of the management committee of the W.F.A. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Sir. J. J. Roberts, president of the W.F.A., Mr. W. B. Hicks, chairman of the^ management committee, and others. "The Council of the N.Z.F.A." was the toast proposed by Mr. J. J. Kcan. He spoke of the difficulties of the council, remarking humorously that everyone blamed it when tilings went wrong, and that when things went right said.it was only doing its job. They were pleased to see that the council was endeavouring to arrange for the visit of an overseas team. In reply, Mr. J. Lothian said that the council's endeavour was to administer the game for the good of Soccer as a whole, not to please parochial interests. The council was most anxious to obtain a visit from uu overseas team, but it was confronted by almost insurmountable difficulties. The close season in England and Scotland was only three months, and six weeks would be spbnt by a team coming from there and six weeks in going back. Mr. J. M. Coleman proposed the toast of "The Canterbury Football Association and the Canterbury Team." ' lie thanked the association for sendinc a team up so 'early and wished it a good season with a healthy balance-sheet at the end of it. He congratulated the visiting team and expressed it as his honest opinion that a draw would have been a better indication of the run of the play. Wellington had challenged Auckland for the F.A. Trophy, and if Wellington won it he would like to see Canterbury come up here and take it south. Mr. K. B. Bunt. srereUry of the C.F.A., snid that in Ohristchuroh they wore lookin™ forward to a better season than they had had for many years. ''We appreciate

vrry much the envly invitation from Wellington," he said, "because it allows us an opportunity of giving our boys a trip and giving a fillip to the game in Christchurch." He congratulated the Wellington team on its win and said he hoped that a return visit could be arranged before the season was finished. He tliauked his own team for their behaviour on and off the field.' "The Wellington defence was just a little bit too good to allow us to get going," he said. On behalf of the Canterbury team, Mr. G. Roberts thanked the Wellington Association and expressed the Canterbury men's disappointment that they had not been able to make a draw of the game.

Mr. J. A. Milbnrn proposed the toast of "The Wellington Football Association and the Wellington Team." He commended tbe action of the sole selector in bringing along some of the younger players, which ho thought was a step in the right direction, but noted at the sumo time that the selector had not omitted some of the more experienced players. It was particularly pleasing to the New Zealand Council to notice the way in which the W.F.A. fostered the code in surrounding districts, and the speaker paid a tribute to the excellent work done for Soccer, especially among the boys, by Mr. B. A. Mabin, secretary ,of the W.F.A. The Wellington solo selector, Mr. G. F. Aers, in a characteristically happy speech, expressed the opinion that Canterbury had played remarkably good football and were unlucky not to make a draw of the game. "I think Canterbury should have beaten the Wellington team," said Mr. S. Haines, in congratulating the visitors on their performance, on behalf of Wellington players. Mr. E. J. Gates proposed the toast of "The Press."