CHATHAM CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 20

CHATHAM CUP

READERS' OPINION

Condemnation of the Chatham Cup competition is expressed by a correspondent, "Jay," who writes: —"May I commend yon for the sentiments you express in connection with the Chatham Cup competition. This competition has been one of the great bugbears of our code for a, considerable time past, and it is up to-'the New Zealand Association to take some sort of action. The expenses involved —which

are far more than the ordinary club: can bear —are totally out of proportion with the importance of the contest. There must be.few cases indeed in which debts are not incurred by those teams which reach the semifinals. The N.Z.F.A. is frequently: called upon to advance moneys for the "purpose of travelling, with . the result that clubs involved are left in a semibankrupt state for years after. That teams which happen to reach the finals' should bo obliged to travel all 'over New Zealand in the course of the competition only creates more expense, and. the 'gates' received from these matches scarcely recompense the N.Z.P.A.. for financial advances to other teams. . . . It is my honest opinion that the sooner the Chatham Cup is dropped,. and a more suitable competition put in its place, the better it will be for Association football in New Zealand, ; . .'.* A DIFFERENT VIEW. A different view is. . expressed by "Omco," who writes as follows:—"I am sorry to notice the idea of tinkering with the Chatham Cup has once again been mooted. The suggestion that only champion teams from each, province should play for the cup is not a fair one at all. I believe only once in the history of the cup (at least ia Wellington) have the championship winners also proved to be the cup winners and that was last year when Marist won the 'double.' The donors ■• of this fine trophy specified that it be played for on similar lines to the English Cup competition. Seeing that the New Zealand Council refused to call the cup, the 'New Zealand Soccer Cup,' because it was presented by the men of the H.M.S. Chatham, surely they will now keep to the conditions under which it was given. Each final has proved popular, and although some clubs find it hard to travel, the difficulty must be tackled and overcome by co-operation' between the New Zealand Council and the different football associations. Tha Chatham Cup ties themselves draY larger crowds than ordinary champion: ship matches, and a certain 'sum' of money should go from .each, to help teams travelling.'" . . .