ENGLISH FOOTBALL VISITORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20018, 6 August 1920, Page 7

ENGLISH FOOTBALL VISITORS.

$ -- LEAGUE TEAM WELCOMED “ PALS AND COBBERS.” A reception to the visiting English team of League footballers was held ja the City Council Chamber this mornjng. The Mayor (Dr Thacker, M.P.) presided over a largo and representative attendance. Tho Mayor introduced to the meeting Messrs S. Foster and J. Wilson, managers of the visiting team, and Mr Howard Wagstaffe, the team’s captain, describing him as “probably one of the greatest footballers •on tho earth.” Ho extended to the team a hearty welcome. It was delightful, ho said, to have Englishmen coming to New Zealand to fight the battles of sport rather than New Zealanders going overseas to fight the battles of Empire as they had clone from 1914 to 1918. Both the departure of the New Zealanders for the war and the arrival of English sportsmen strengthened the silken threads of Empire. “ You have been our pals during tho war,” said tho Mayor, “and have fought in common against the hideous Hun, and we are glad to have yon among us.” New Zealand had produced many champions. Recently the great tennis champion who went west brought the Davis Cup practically to Australia, and now the Australians had gained the ashes of Rugby League football. He was sorry that Rodgers, one of the team, had had to he left behind hi Auckland. One of the great things in the war was that footballers of nil codes fought together as pals. If by some Impiiy incident the whole Rugby code could he unified it would be a happy result and greatly aid international football. Men of the Empire had fought together ns cobbers; he thought they might play together in tho same spirit. Ho had very much pleasure in welcoming the team to the Garden City. (Applause.) __ Mr Foster said that the team was delighted to come to Christ■chnh'.h. New Zealand was a glorious country, hut it had its drawbacks, for ho had put on about one and a half stone since jus arrival. (Laughter.) “If there is one little fly in the ointment or the tour this year it is that we have st the ashes,” ho said. “We came o,>.r with the grim determination to taka back the ashes we brought over. However, wc are satisfied that our opponents had tho best out of the three games, and accept the result in the way it should be accepted.” The team was greatly pleased with the reception which .had been accorded it.

Mr WagstaCo endorsed Mr Foster s remarks, lie said this morning’s weather made tliem feel as though they were in England. Wherever Rugby football was spoken of New Zealnnu was in high estimation, and ho hoped that to-momnvvs game would ba worthy of the best traditions. In the course of further remarks the Mayor said;-—"I am sure the English team will agree that if there are to be two codes of football in this country wo want to work amicably with them.”

On the call of Mr Wilson the team gave three hearty cheers, for “Dr Thacker and the cltv of Christchurch,” and one for the Mayoress- Citizens present responded with three cheers for the English team. The visiting team tomorrow is oa follows; Full-back—E. Stacey. Three-quarters—W.' -T. Stone, U. Wagslaft'c, A. Davis, E. Bacon. Halves—E. IV. Jones, J. Parkin. Forwards—J. Cuncliffe, J. Cartwright, S. Skelhorn, B. Gronow, J. Hilton, J. Clark.

New Zealand’s representatives in the match against them "to-morrow will be

Full-back—M- IV. Loveridgc*. Thrce-quarfers—K. If verson, J. Sandoys, C. Woolev, A. M’Clym.out. Halves—W. J. Mitchell, J. Poison Forwards—S. C. Walters, W. Somers, W. Stormont, H. Avery, J. Bennett, N. Bass.

Resenes—Backs, M. Pollock, W. p, Ciiiney; forwards, E- Herring, 'J. bcott.

The referee will Le 'Air A. Hooper and tho touch vuL'es Messrs C. J Pearco and J. J. Stevens.