OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20060, 29 March 1927, Page 7

OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Football Association was held last night. Mr A. N, Smith presided. Mr Ruddiman and Mr Fullerton were welcomed to the committee by the Chairman, who said ho 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. The New Zealand Football Association notified that nominations for the Chatham Cup would close on May 1. It was decided that Messrs MTnnes and Fullerton be appointed a Match Com ittee. Messrs M'Crorie and Ruddiman were appointed a Grounds Committee. Mr M‘Callum 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 complete 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 o the first Saturday after Easter, and to close the entries on Thursday, April 14. Permission was granted to the Technical College Old Roys’ 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 the Returned Soldiers’ Association’s rooms next Monday* to consider ways and means of raising finance. The Leith Club wrote asking for the use of a ground at the Oval.—Referred to the Grounds Committee. It was decided lo communicate with the secretaries of local sports bodies asking thar no fixtures be played on June 18 and June 25, the days on which the Canadian team would play against Otago and New Zealand respectively. i ho New Zealand Council wrote offering two prizes of £5 each, to be allocated to the schools which sold the most tickets for the matches between the Canadian and Otago teams and the Canadian and New Zealand teams respectively. r lho Post and Telegraph Club wrote stating that it had decided to enter a second grade team this season. Iho 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 the name of the cup be the Otago Football Association Fletcher Challenge Cup and also that the cup be competed for by tho 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 the North and South Island respectively be played in Wellington and Christchurch alternately. Tho Mosgiel Club wrote stating that owing to luck of support and a shortage of playing members it was reluctantly compelled to disband.—lt was decided to thank tho 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. Ho would still be pleased to do what he could for the association. —It 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 w*ith reference to a proposed tour of a team of school boys in 1927. The Australian Association stated that it desired to arrange an international schoolboys’ tour and negotiations had 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 tho authorities controlling school football in the Dominion would be willing to receive during the season a representative team from Australia. Tho Australian authorities would bo prepared to accept a New Zealand loam either this season or next. Tho writer said he was confident that an exchange of teams would give a wonderful impetus to the code in both countries. Tho cost, of traveling through the Dominion would bo borne by the New Zealand Football Association. Tt was not ftiiticipa+od that there would be the slightest difficuhy in billeting tho hoys. It was suggested that August and early September would lie the most suitable time for a tour. Mr Anderson expressed tho opinion that tho association should strongly support the proposal. Such a match would create a great deal of interest. The chairman said the matter required careful consideration, and it was decided to refer it to Mr Bell for a report.