FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 12762, 15 March 1906, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO ASSOCIATION. The Committee of the above Association, in their annual report, state:— The Association now consist of eleven clubs, having seven senior, nine junior, and eleven third grade teams, whilst nineteen schools teams play the " soccer" game. Nine teams entered for the junior cup competition, won by the Mornington team. Eleven teams entered for the third grade competition, being a record number. There was no competition for the Wednesday Cup last year. Your Committee look forward to a resumption of tho Wednesday competitions this year, and urge all interested to use their best endeavor to bring it about. A New Zealand team -toured New South Wales last June, and worthily upheld the reputation they earned when the New South Wales team visited New Zealand. Otago are to be congratulated on having supplied seven representatives for the tour—viz., Messrs S. N. Brown, M. Chadwick, E. Newman, F. Ussher, J. Harrison, G. Middlemas, and H. Morrison. Your Schools Committee have pleasure in reporting that they were privileged to carry through what must be admitted to have been the most successful season of schools football that ha? yet been run under the auspices of the O.F.A. No less than nineteen school teams entered for rhe conirelition, and it was deemed advisable to divide the teams into two grades. This ] roved a wise step', the teams being .nore e\enly than in past years. The total receipts from all sources were i£l4 12s Bd, and the expenditure £l4 Bs. The Committee impress upon the Association the absolute necessity of fostering schools football by every possible means, for signs are not lacking of a great future for the game, and 'the one road to success is through the schools. The thanks of - the spectators and playera alike are due to those gentlemen forming the Referees' Club. Your Committee would tirge explayers to join this olub. The carnival held during the year was carried through with great success, the net proceeds derived from same by the Association being, roughly, £435. With the proceeds of the carnival at their disposal, your Committee have been using every effort since the close of last season to put the various grounds in a thoroughly good condition. Culling Park should prove the best ground under the control of the Association. It will be the only one at which admission can be charged, and should be a big source of revenue. The North Ground lias been drained, filled in, top-dressed, and lengthened, and should be a very good senior ground. The Asylum Ground has been extensively drained, raiSTd, and grassed, and will *be another first-class! senior ground. .The Oval, has been levelled, top-dressed, and fenced, and will show a vast improvement on its previous state. Your Committee hear with pleasure of tho formation of an Association club in connection with the No. 1 Battalion O.R.V. The Committee congratulate Mr R. A. Farquhareon, the Rhodes scholar, who has~been a prominent " soccer" player for many years, having played for both the Mornington and Wakari Clubs. He has represented Otago, also New Zealand, at various times. SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION CLUB. The Committee, in their annual report, congratulate the members on the improved position of the first eleven, who have gone up from sixth to fourth position. The second eleven have also been-imbued with the "Excelsior" spirit, and have managed to raise themselves from the inglorious position they held the year before—namely, 'the bottom rung of the ladder—to a place four rungs higher up. During last season the club were unfortunate in losbg the services' of the captain of the first eleven (Mr Allen), who had to return to the Old Country on private business. ZINGARI-RICHMOND CLUB. The annual report states:—The first fifteen during the year just held their own, a peculiar feature being the number of drawn games. The second fifteen had a very successful season, and must again be complimented. The following were, the various records:—First fifteen, played 11, won 4, lost 4, drawn 3; second fifteen, played 10, won 6, lost 2, drawn 2; third fifteen, played 9, won 4, lost 4, drawn 1; fourth fifteen, played 9, won 1, lost 8; Wednesday A team, played 10, won 5, lost 4, drawn 1; Wednesday B team, played 7, won 1, lost 6. The members who gained honors were B. Spiers, B. Collie, and AH Low, all of whom acquitted themselves well. The finances of the club are healthy. It is recommended that an official be appointed to specially look after ihe accident insurance branch.