PROSPECTS. FOR SOCCER

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 9

PROSPECTS. FOR SOCCER

REVIVAL OF THREE CLUBS TOURNAMENT FOR BOYS i ■. ■ • (By “Centre-ForwardL”) Though the Taranaki Football Association has not yet held its annual meeting and there is therefore no definite news regarding competitions, there are indications of a healthy competition in the code this Reason. The Stratford club, last year’s champion, has a very strong playing membership and does not expect difficulty in fielding a full team every Saturday in a competition that will be enlivened by the revival of the Hawera club and the resuscitation of Caledonians at New Plymouth under the designation of Thistle. Moturoa is likely to have the youngest team in the senior competition, and Albion is reported to have a strong combination. Nothing definite has. yet been announced by Waitara or Pifates, but there is a suggestion that the old Manaia club may be revived. If. the Manaia club enters a team it seems likely that a southern division competition will be' started. Nothing definite has been suggested in this direction yet, however. Although one or two of last season’s players have left the Stratford district, the loss has been more than balanced by the enrolment of at least seven new players. There are twenty playing members available to the club so -far. The biggest loss to the club is L, Henderson, who has moved to New Plymouth and joined a club there. H. Longstaff, who was a supplementary goal-keeper to Millar played a useful game on the wing, has gone to the newly-formed Hawera team, ,but in his place the team will have Upshall, formerly Albion left hhlf, who, it is understood, will live at Stratford this winter. S. Crichton, who has moved to Kaponga, will also be available, and N. J: Cheney, Strathmore, has signified his intention of playing. W. Vemey (inside left), G. Arbuckle, R. Jackson and C. Faulkner are four ' more useful new members. The club will commence its activities to-moniow with training on the Regan Street ground. Stratford’s first match will be played on Easter Monday at Hawera. The Hawera club has challenged Stratford for the Chinese Cup. The, Stratford team will take the field in a complete new outfit. Mr. A. H. Hillock has presented a set of pants, and other members of the executive are combining to provide a new set of vertical stripe jerseys. Mr. W. A. Brown has again provided the club with a new ball. The most important event for Taranaki soccer this season will be the North Island primary schools championship tournament to be held in New Plymouth in August. The' Taranaki Primary Schools Football Association will hold its annual meeting at New Plymouth next week, when preliminary arrangements for the tournament will be made. It is: expected each primary school at. New Plymouth and the Waitara school will again be represented in the weekly competitions. In this grade, too, it seems likely that a southern division will be necessary for there is every possibility of four school teams in Central Taranaki being continued this season, and there is talk of a boys’ team at Hawera.