SOCCER CODE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 1210, 7 January 1925, Page 5

SOCCER CODE.

ENGLISH TEAM'S PROPOSED TOUR. £350 REQUIRED LOCALLY. Reference to the guarantee that wouki be required from the Manawtitu Football Association in the event of the English team visiting New Zealand this year was made by Mr J. C. Young, a member of the executive of the association, in conversation with a "Standard" reporter to-day. "The Manawatu Association," said Mr Young, "would have to raise £350 in cash before the visitors left England. That would be our quota of the £7OOO required to have New Zealand •included in the tour. Further, the New Zealand tour would only provide for six Saturday and six week matches. Should it be arranged the Englishmen would arrive in New Zealand about July, after playing in Australia. It would be the first occasion upon which an English team lias toured the Dominion, but opinion as to the advisability of proceeding with the project is divided. It is pointed out by some that soccer, being the English national game, is vastly superior to the code as played in New Zealand and that therefore most of the matches played here would be a 'walk-over.' On the other hand some point out that such a tour would do much to improve the standard of the gome in New Zealand." Mr Young further pointed out that the heavy expense of the tour was partly attributable to the long sea voyage and partly to the fact that many of the players would be professionals in receipt of a substantial salary. Personally, he thought that Palmerston North would be prepared to meet its quota if it was decided to proceed with negotiations for the tour. The Chinese match at Palmerston North, it would be remembered, had resulted ia receipts totalling over £2OO.