NORTHERN LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1913, Page 5

NORTHERN LEAGUE FOOTBALL

English team may come to new zraland: (BT TELEGHAPH— -J'KESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 31st Jasuary. Mr. Sam Houghton, who has been associated with the Northern League game in New Zealand since its inception, has just returned to Auckland from the Old Countiy, where lie acted as the New Zealand League's representative in placing matters of importance to that body before the English authorities. The New Zealand League has of late been very anxious to obtain a visit from a first-class English team this season, recognising that nothing would be more beneficial to the game in New Zealand than a tour of the best exponents of League football. Mr. Houghton. placed this matter befpre the Home authorities, and received a very fair and sympathetic hearing. The English League considered the project very favourably, and stated that nothing would please them 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 face of the friction between the New South Wales League and the English body, they were not prepared to do that. Mr. Houghton, however, states that in ltis opinion the rupture will b«* liealed betoif loiig. nnd lit- roundel* that, although Xpw Zealand will not be visited Ibis m>;i<!oii. tile following year should h-v an English toim nut here. With regnid to the question of n Xpw Zealand team going Home lie wop nseured that the Dominion would br given tlio fiist chance if sire wanted it, but of eouisi' a visit from England would do 'vastly more good to lho game here than a tour to England by a New Zealand team.