CHATHAM CUP DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 19697, 26 October 1927, Page 3

CHATHAM CUP DISPUTE

NORTHERN CLUB'S PROTEST

WAS RUDDIMAN ELIGIBLE ? As in nearly every branch of sport there arc times when a good deal of trouble arises over matters connected with the sport, and the Soccer game is no exception to the rule, in this case the Northern Football Chib seems to have good reasons for creating a stir, as the question involved the winning or the losing of the much-prized Chatham Cup. The final match was played in Wellington, and the Dunedin team was unable to field their original eleven members. They had with them, however, Tom lluddiimin, who had boon ten years a member of the club, and who strongly maintained that he was eligible to play. The rule which governs the eligibility of players in the cup competition reads ns follows“ In the competition proper each player, except a player who lias played for his club in the previous season, and lias never played for any other club, must have played twice for his club in the current season seven days at least previous to the match.” Mr Ruddimnn maintained that the rule was designed to prevent a club from “ringing in” players; and be maintained that ho was provided for by the words “ except _ a player who has played for his club in the previous season.” The officials of the N.Z.F.A., however, held a different view, and the actions ami statements of several members of the council prevonied Ruchliman from playing. Tho team therefore bad to play a man short. The club has already taken action, its first resolution being that it stoutly denied the statements in the council secretary’s letter.

It was further resolved that,. as a preliminary to further action, if tho necessity arose, the club should ask the council for answers to various questions hearing on the matter, and in doing so the club felt that it was fully entitled to ask and receive definite replies to each question. It was decided—“ Tha t this club, knowing tho correct facts of the council members’ overtures to the chib’s president in his capacity as team manager, and to certain of the players,. is not prepared to accept the council's decision.” It was also agreed that unless tho matter was reconsidered by the council the local secretary of the O.F.A. be asked to invite the secretary of the N.Z.F.A. that it desired the case and the whole facts governing it placed before the Football Association in England. Mr Rigby, who presided at a special meeting held last evening in the club’s pavilion, stated that they had enough evidence to prove to the council or anyone that the club’s stat.cmcnis were correct. Ho was manager of the team in Wellington, and ho explained how M'Cormack. one of their injured players, had stated that the coach advised him not to take tho field. He was told by an official that the council had held a meeting and had decided that Rnddiman was ineligible to play. When he went to tho manager of the Ponsonby team and explained the position he said that they would abide by the rules. Ho was not “sport enough ” to allow Rnddiman (who had been a member of the club for ten years) to play. Air Rnddiman ami several others endorsed the president’s remarks, and strongly recommended the club taking action.

The Chairman also pointed out that another reason for sending the protest was to show the public how thev wore treated in Wellington. He thought (hat the manager of the Ponsonby team showed poor sportsmanship in not allowing Rnddiman to play. At the conclusion of the meeting the Chairman referred to the keenness of the members of the team, when they so generously paid all their own expenses to try to bring honor to their club. The club was not in a very satisfactory financial position, and he hoped that ibe various functions which had been arranged would prove to be sue-ccs-lTd. Me. wished to thank all those wlio laid organised those functions for the benefit of iho club. Special mention. ho said, should he made of the indefatigable efforts of Mr Riach to raise funds to make tho trip.