School’s edict upsets young soccer player

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 26

School’s edict upsets young soccer player

By 1

DAVID LEGGAT

Even if he gets the necessary written permission from his school, it . seems unlikely that Neil Caswell, the youthful Shamrock goalkeeper, will be able to play for the club in the Midland Coachlines Soccer League this season. Caswell became the youngest player ever to play in a southern regional league match when he kept goal for Shamrock against Technical in the first round of the competition this season on April 7, then aged 14 years 11 months. But under long established rules, his school, Hornby High School, has first call

on his services. In a letter to Shamrock, the Canterbury Football Association has said that Caswell . will be deregistered unless the school gives authorisation for him to play for the club. The C.F.A. secretary (Mr Ron Crates) confirmed that if permission is given, Caswell will have a free reign to play for Shamrock and' his school, provided the matches do not clash. “I" he gets permission toi play both grades and if the? headmaster is quite happy about it. then he can do it,” said Mr Crates. A spokesman for the club (Mr Peter Fletcher) said that]

the club was “quite happy”i with this arrangement, although it would prefer to be able to use Caswell more often. He will be able to play Coca-Cola matches for the under-1& team on Sundays

and Mr Fletcher emphasised that once permission was obtained he would immediately be re-registered. The headmaster (Mr A. E. L. Britton) said the school and the club had agreed that there was no conflict of

’(interest. “We see eye to eye' -ion the situation and no problem exists at all,” he jsaid. j However there is an added I /] complication. In previous ? seasons, school soccer) si matches have usually kicked!

off at 1 p.m. This year many! .of Hornby High School’s ; will evidently start at 3 p.m. ; which will prevent Caswell from playing for Shamrock, . whose games usually begin ' .at 2.45 p.m. In addition he ; has been refused permission >

:'to travel to away matches with Shamrock. Mr Bert Caswell, the boy’s father, said he went to see j the headmaster (Mr A. E. L. Britton) before the first (match of the competition (with the intention of sorting out any possible problems. I He was told that under no j circumstances would Caswell Ibe released to play for i Shamrock if it meant he | would miss a game for the school. But Mr Caswell was j told that if his son fulfilled j his commitments to the i school there would be no (objection to him playing for Shamrock after the school season had been completed.

>! Mr Caswell said his son I was understandably upset. > I Another who is unhappy is )!the Shamrock coach, Mr Jimj • I Rea, who now finds himself' :!without a goal-keeper fori ijhis league game with Pa-! Ijpanui W.M.C. at Riccarton ! Domain tomorrow. ; “This boy is good enough to play southern league soc- ; cer. If he is good enough, regardless of his age, he : should be in,” said Mr Rea. His first-choice goal-keeper, ’ Phil Straw, is injured, leaving Mr Rea in an awkward situation.