FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 5

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT The fiftieth annual report of the Otago Football Association states, inter alia: — The result of last year’s operations was, from a financial point of view, far from satisfactory. The interest taken in the Canterbury and Auckland matches helped the gate receipts considerably, again proving that if more matches of this type could be arranged the finances would be greatly improved. During the year the association lost the services of Mr A. Mcßae and Mr McNarey. and thanks'are due to both for the valuable support and assistance given during their term of office. Latex* in the season. Messrs Munsie and Fleming were elected to fill the vacancies. In accordance with the recommendation from last annual meeting, the president of the Referees’ Club also attended,the weekly meetings and.his assistance at all times has been much appreciated Matches in most grades were well contested, and this year, in order to save time, the Chatham Cup fixtures were played in conjunction with the Fletcher Cup games. _ ...,■. Three entries were received for the Chatham Cup competition. The matches were contested by Mosgiel, Maori Hill and Northern. Mosgiel were the Otago finalists, but were defeated in the South Island final by Western, the score being 4—3. Two senior representative matches were played during the season, these being between Otago and Canterbury for the J. E. Jones Cup, and Otago and Auckland for the English Trophy. The former match, played on June o, aroused great interest, and resulted in a win for Canterbury by 8 goals to 5. Canterbury also sent down a junior team (Fifth Grade) to play against a local Fifth Grade representative team, the result being 6—l in favour of Canterbury. The match for the English Trophy was played on June 17, Auckland defeating the local team by 5 goals to 2. The following players represented Otago during the season: —Otago y. Auckland, at Dunedin, on'June 17: A. Hall, G. Taylor, G. Anderson. A. Stenhduse, G. Sutherland. N. Buchanan. W. Rogers, L. Groves. G. Nicolson, J. Skinner, W. Steven; J. Anderson. J. Gilchrist and I. McNarey. Otago v. Canterbury, at Dunedin, on June 5: A. Hall, G. Sutherland: S. Ruddiman, A. Pauli, C. Skinner. I. McNarey. W. Rogers. J. Skinner, iA. Davidson. W. Steven and T. McFarlane. Thanks are due to Mr J. Gilchrist for his good work in training the Otago team. • Once again the secondary schools have played a prominent part in the game, and this year 14 teams were registered In June a team from the Technical High School met a Christchurch Technical team at Christchurch; and in August, two teams from the 0.8.H.5. travelled to Greymouth to take part in games against the Greymouth High School. The Primary Schools Committee reports that the season was a successful one, though spoiled at times by wet weather. Sixteen teams —eight A Grade and eight B Grade—entered the competition. The standard of play was good, North-East Valley winning the A Grade, with Anderson’s Bay runnersup- while the B Grade was won by Tainui. with Mornington runners-up. The association’s thanks are again due to the Referees’ Club for the assistance given during the season, and appreciation has been recorded of the time given to the game by members of this club. Under the new rules this body will have direct representation on the Management Committee. Eleven clubs were affiliated to the association, and the total number of teams, including secondary schools, was 48 distributed over the grades as follows:—First Grade. 9; Second Grade, 8- Third Grade. 6; Fourth Grade, 5; Fifth Grade. 8; Sixth Grade. 12. Two teams from the Otago University and one from the Training College entered the competition during the season. The grounds during the season were in excellent order, and the association thanks Mr Tannock and his staff for their work during the year. It was with deep regret that the news of the sudden death of Mr J. A. Miiburn was received. Mr Milburn was well known in Association Football circles throughout New Zealand, and was for some years chairman of the New Zealand Football Association. He was for many years a member of the Otago Association, and served a term as chairman. Though for some years past he resided in Wellington he always took a keen interest in the affairs of this association His sound advice and administrative ability will be much missed in the football world To those club members who have already left New Zealand on active service, and to those now waiting to go the association wishes the best of luck and a safe and speedy return. The association extends to all players and supporters its best wishes for the approaching season.