FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

THE NORTHERN LEAGUE GAME. ENGLISH TEAM NOT TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. [Per Pbess Association.] AUCKLAND, January 31. Mr Sam Houghton, who has been associated with the Northern League game in New Zealand since its incep- . tion, has just returned to Auckland from the Old Country, where he acted as the New Zealand League's representative in placing matters of importance to that body before the Englishauthorities. The New Zealand League , has of late been very anxious to obtain j a visit from a first-class English team | this, season, recognising that nothing \ would be more beneficial to the game j in New: Zealand than a tour by the best exponents of League football. . Mr Houghton placed, this matter before the Home authorities, and receiv- I ed a very fair., and sympathetic hearing. The English League considered the project very favourably, and stated that nothing would please it more than to accede .to New Zealand s wishes, but it would obviously be impossible to send a team to the dominion without including Australia, in . the tour, and in the face of the friction between the New South Wales League ! and the English body it was not pre-

pared to do that. Mr Houghton, however, states that in his opinion the rupture will be healed before long, and he considers that although New Zealand will_ not be visited this season, the following year should see an English team out here. With regard to the question of a New Zealand team going _ Home, he was assured that the dominion- would be given first chance if he wanted it. Of course, a visit from England would do vastly more good to the game here than.a tour to England by a Maoriland team.