FOOTBALL ON THE BASIN RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL ON THE BASIN RESERVE

RESERVES COMMITTEE FAVOUR THE ... ■ V PROPOSAL. J In despair for grounds for tho coming season, a; deputation consisting of .Messrs. F. G. Courtenay, 11. N. Holmes, and J. Roberts, representing the Wellington Football (Soccer) Association, waited :oii \\lio ' Reserves Com- 1 mitteo of the City Council with'tho request, that" the Association should 'bo,permitted''to play, on the Basin Reserve, this winter. \ •' ■ Mr. i Courtenay said; that .'they represented between 1100; and' 1200' members, 'and, in common, with'other bodies, they were'finding it i a greatVdifiicul ty','' almost an insuperable one; to 'find' grounds for their players. With regard to possible objections, he'understood that ,thb Cricket Association, which contributed to the upkeep of the groupd, would ihako no as 'their .game" (Soccer) did hot damage tho' turf—there were no scrunis, ' and' spikes in the soles of: tho boot's wqre'. forbidden;Tho Association had: been placed in' an unfortunate position owing to the loss of' the' polo ground at Miraniar, where they had hail'four grounds! The 'Association was not a wealthy body, and it had been outbid for those grounds. ■ The Basin Reservo had been used for lacrosse on occasions last season, and Association football T»ds not so rough on tho turf as lacrosso. Mr. Roberts said, in reply to 'questions, that' two games could easily be played without interfering with tlio prepared cricket pitches. ' , When consultod, Mr. Glen, liend gardener, said that they would', be .getting up some :of. the turf next month,-and if the Council allowed football to be played on tho Basin Reservo he'doubted if thoy could get oii with the work. ' '

Mr. Roberts mentioned that football was played during the winter on the Konningtori Oval in London, and' the authorities'' of that ground held that, so far from injuring, football improved the • ground.'■ •" " ' The Chairman (Mr. J. P. Luke) said/ ho knew thcro was a shortage of grounds, but fclio Council was doing all in its power by providing grounds at Anderson Parkj ICelburne, and Duppa Street. They would consult Glon and givo the request evory consideration. It is understood that the Committee, after consultation, decided to recommend the Council to grant the use of tho eastern half of the Basin Reserve to tho Football Association, subjcct to certain conditions'.