SOCCER

Evening Star, Issue 19519, 29 March 1927, Page 9

SOCCER

MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Mr A. W. Smith presided at the weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the O.F.A. Mr Ruddiman and Mr Fullerton were welcomed to the committee by the chairman, who said he was sure their presence on the committee would help it materially in carrying out the work entrusted to.it. Messrs Ruddiman and Fullerton briefly responded, and the latter emphasised the importance of encouraging young people to play the game.

Mr Ruddiman expressed his readiness to undertake propaganda work on behalf of the association. Tho New Zealand Football Association notified that nominations for tho Chatham Cup would close on May 1. It was decided that Messrs M'lnnes and Fullerton be appointed a Match Committee. Messrs M’Crorie and Ruddiman were appointed a Grounds Committee. Mr M'Oallum was elected chairman for the ensuing year. It was decided that the representation of the association at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association be left in the hands of Mr Campbell, the delegate in Wellington. The Secretary of the New Zealand Football Association wrote stating that he was forwarding two footballs for use in the matches for the Football Association trophy, which would be played in Dunedin this season. It was decided to start the matches on the first Saturday after Easter, and to close the entries on Thursday, April 14. Permission was granted to tho Technical College Old Boys’ Club to send a first grade team to play the Christchurch Technical College Old Boys’ Club at Easter.

It was decided to hold a meeting of delegates in tho Returned Soldiers’ Association’s rooms next Monday to consider ways and means of raising finance.

Tho Leith Club wrote a: king for the use of a ground at the Oval.—Referred to tho Grounds Committee.

It was decided to communicate with tho secretaries of local sports bodies asking that no fixtures be played on June 18 and June 25, the days on which the Canadian team wonld play against Otago and Now Zealand respectively. , ‘. ho New Zealand Council wrote offering two prizes of £5 each, to be allocated to the schools which sold the most tickets for tho matches between the Canadian and Otago teams and the Canadian and New Zealand teams respectively. The Post and Telegraph Club wrote stating that it had decided to enter a second grade team this season. The club would like to have the use of the Oval for the convenience of players who worked shifts.—Referred to the Grounds Committee. Mr Jas. Fletcher wrote with reference to the question of design and inscription on the cup presented by him. —lt was resolved that tho name of the cup be the Otago Football Association Fletcher Challenge Cup, and also that the cup bo competed for by the senior grade teams. It was decided to send a proposal to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association that eliminating competitions for school teams be held in each island, and that matches between tho champion teams in tho North and South Island respectively bo played in Wellington and Christchurch alternately. Tho Mosgiel Club wrote stating that owing to lack of support and a shortage of playing members it was reluctantly compelled to disband.—lt was decided to thank the club for its support in the past, and to express the hope that it would be able to form a second, grade team. Mr Alex. Cook wrote resigning his position as a member of the Management Committee. He would still be pleased to do what he could for the association.—lt was decided to ask Mr Cook to withdraw his resignation. The Secretary of the New Zealand Football Association forwarded a letter received from the Australian Public Schools’ Soccer Football Association with reference to a proposed tour of a team of school boys in 1927. The Australian Association stated that it desired to arrange an international school boys’ tour, and negotiations bad been entered into with the English Schools’ Football Association to send a team to England and receive in return a British team of school footballers during the following season, The writer asked if the authorities controlling school football in the dominion would be willing to receive during the season a representative team irom Australia. The Australian authorities would be prepared to accept a New Zealand team either this season or next. The writer said he was confident that an exchange of teams would give a wonderful impetus to the code - in both countries. Tho cost of travelling through the dominion would be borne by the New Zealand Foothaf Association. It was not anticipated that there would be the slightest difficulty in billeting the boys. It was suggested that August and early September would be the most suitable time for a tour. Mr Anderson expressed the opinion that the association should strongly support tho proposal. Such a match would create a great deal of interest. The Chairman said tlio matter required careful consideration, and it was decided to refer it to Mr Bell for a report.