EMPIRE FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 129, 2 June 1936, Page 14

EMPIRE FOOTBALL

LONDON CONFERENCE

THREE DOMINIONS AGREE

Efforts made by the Australian Soccer Football Association having received the support of the South African Football Association, and last night of the New Zealand Football Association, it is likely that a conference of Britisli Empire football associations will be held in London in the not-distant future.

Although all the Dominion associations have their representatives on the Football Association in London, it was felt by Australia early this year that the time was opportune for a Bntish Empire conference of associations, comprising Australia, Canada, South i Africa, and New Zealand, so that the positions of the Dominion associations could be frankly discussed withjhe Football Association and some concrete schemes be brought.into ope«t«mto assist the game m the colonies, aus to ia was hopeful that with the help of the other colonies it could inaugurate a regular three-yearly, conference with the Football Association and the Empire associations. . It was felt in Australia, said their letter to the English Association, that unless some method- of direct contact was made sooner or later with the Football Association the game in the Dominions would not receive the moral and financial support that had become necessary from time to time from the Football Association. To obviate any possible misunderstanding on the position of the game generally in the Dominions it had been decidedat the Australian meeting to ask the Football Association to convene a meeting or representatives of all Dominion associations to be held in London to discuss how the game could be assisted generally within the Dominions of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. „ _ .. , In reply to Australia, the English football Association wrote saying that it had been decided that if similar reauests were received from the other colonies the matter would be given consideration. . . South Africa has communicated to the British and Australian Associations its unanimous approval and support of the proposal. NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE.

When correspondence on the subject came before last night's meeting of the council of the New Zealand Football Association members agreed that the project should be supported. The principal supporter was Mr. Frank Campbell, who advised an immediate reply to Australia and a letter to the English Football Association by air mail. He thought that recent gestures of the English Football Association, such as the presentation of the F.A. Trophy and the gift of a number of footballs, indicated that something might be done along the lines of a scheme he had suggested to the English Football Association' some years ago. That was that every fourth year an English team should come out to one of the colonies, the players to

number'about 24, and be young,men. The English Association would pay the transport charges to and from the country visited, and the colonial associations would be responsible for the tour in their respective countries. Such visits would keep colonial associations up to date in football. Other members lent strong support

to the Australian proposal, and the motion requesting a conference was passed unanimously.