SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 8

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

PREPARING FOR THE COMING SEASON. News and Notes. The V.M.C.A. Club held its annual meeting last week. A letter from the secretary of the W.P.A. containing two important motions to be placed before the Centre on March 18, was received. These motions are Important insofar as they will have some material effect on senior matches m Wellington. They are: (1) That a junior player who has played two senior games and is required to fill a vacancy m the senior team through the absence of a player with the rep. team, such games not to count against his reverting to junior grade; (2) that a reserve league be formed m place of the senior B grade, such player to be able to fill the vacancy m senior teams as often as required. Some clubs are especially keen to see these motions carried, for as will be seen they open up a lot of new ground. Clubs carrying two senior teams can, under these conditions, if their junior teams are leading m any competition transfer one or more of their senior players back to junior grade and so make a surety of at least one event m the season's competitions. At the Marist Club's first meeting W. Hannafin was made club captain. Delegates were appointed to the Centre. . These consisted of Messrs. G. Fitzgerald, E. Sharpe, and W. Thomas. Coaches were also appointed for the coming season. Practice will commence to-day if grounds are available. Included m the N.Z. cricket team which played two test matches against New South Wales was C. C. Dacre, who m the first game scored a very fine century. He plays Association football m Auckland for North Shore and is one of the finest players m New Zealand. He was a member of the N.Z. team which visited Australia last year and performed finely throughout the tour. He is the only player so far to represent N.Z. m both sports. The Diamond Club held its annual meeting during last week at which the attendance was very large. The meeting was an enthusiastic one and augurs well for a successful season, it being the intention of the club to enter teams m almost every grade of competition. A new secretary m the person of Alex. Auld was appointed and he should do well m this position as he is very keen. He is a fine half-back and has represented^ Wellington on many occasions m various games. ; , Mr. A. Barnett, secretary of the Wellington Harbor' Board, was re-appoint-ed president and he takes a very keen interest m the welfare of the .club. . Messrs. A. E. Wells, H. Liversage, and E. Bidgood were re-appointed as club delegates to the Wellington Football Association. The first two are members of the Management Committee of the W.F.A., Mr. Wells having been the chairman of committees on. several occasions. It is rumored that Mr. Wells does not intend to stand for re-election at the coming annual meeting which is to be held on the ISth inst., but if this is so, every effort should be made to persuade him to alter his decision. It is also stated that the hon. treasurer, Mr. W. Duncan, desires to retire, but it will be a great mistake to allow him to do so. He has acted as treasurer for many years' past and is easily the record holder of the position. The Scottish Wanderers Club Is composed of keen players who have been practicing at Miramar for the past two weeks. The annual meeting of delegates of the Wellington Football Association will be held on Tuesday, March 18, m the V.M.C.A. rooms, when the 33rd annual balance-sheet and report will be presented. .. During the past season 14 representative matches were played, of which seven were won, five lost and two drawn.. During the season a New Zealand team of players journeyed to Australia. The following men from the Wellington Centre found a place m the team: G. Campbell (V.M.C.A.), W. Brownlee (Thistle), N. McArthur (V.M.C.A.). C. Ballard (V.M.C.A.), J. W. Kissock (Hospital), W. Thomas (Marist). The report states that the question of playing areas is becoming an increasing anxiety to the Centre, and ways and means for overcoming this difficulty will have to be seriously faced by the incoming management committee. On several occasion a shortage of referees was experienced, but the committee sincerely thanks the many gentlemen who gave so much of their time to act m this onerous position. Financially, the past season has been one of anxiety to the committee, principally owing to small gates due to bad weather conditions. Losses were made upon the representative teams sent to Manawatu, Canterbury and Auckland. The Manawatu trip being generally looked upon as propaganda work and the loss there need not be taken seriously, but the Canterbury and Auckland results aro distinctly disheartening and contrasted unfavorably with results when these teams played m Wellington. Tho report states that Wellington m the past has done its share In promoting tho game at considerable expense to itself, and when visits are required by Wellington teams the Centre should reasonably expect that other associations desiring these vlßlts should endeavor to make such arrangements that at least expenses^ of such visits are met. Failing any*such arrangement, it is suggested that a system whereby the home association receives all the gate moneys and pays all expenses when sending a team on tour, be considered. — I