SOCCER SPLIT

Northern Advocate, 4 July 1928, Page 6

SOCCER SPLIT

NEW ASSOCIATION MOVEMENT. ROUNDLY DENOUNCED. » .MISLEADING PROPAGANDA. ) (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. Following upon the decision reached on Monday to form a new Auckland City and 'Suburban Football Association, the following statement was made by the chairman of the Auckland Football Association, Mr A. Menzies, last evening: “1 would first warn eluib officials and players of the serious consequences which might ensue should they become associated in any way with the so-called new association or play under its jurisdiction. “It is regrettable that certain people, who are fully aovare of the 'manner in which football is controlled, should attempt to mislead innocent players not aware of the real .position into certain disqualification. “It is also a matter for regret that the names of several prominent citizens have been used without their permission and published as a list of elected officials of the proposed new association. Newspaper reports of the meeting giving these names would certainly lead the public to believe that they had identified themselves with this unsportsmanlike movement, which had its birth solely in refusal of the club to comply with the decision of its elected controlling body. “I have had communications from Sir George Fowlds, Mr W. J. Fletcher and Dr McDowall, who entirely dissociate themselves from any connection with it. The names of Mr H. R. MacKenzie and Captain Braidwood were also published as vice-presidents. The former gentleman is on the other side of the world and can have no knowledge of the matter, while Captain Braidwood has been for many weeks, unfortunately, on a bed of sickness, and his condition has been so serious that ho could not possibly have discussed the matter with anyone. Quito likely many of the others whoso names were used to try to establish the movement with the public are in much the same position. ■“lt is noticeable that the movement is headed by those far past the playing stage, and also by others whose clubs have never in the past seen fit to clothe themselves with the mantle of authority, and the consequences to them cannot be so serious as to young players whom they have set out to mislead. The suggestion that professionalism is coming into its own in this Dominion is poor compensation .to a player who finds himself ineligible to represent cither province or Dominion in playing the game he loves.”