ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL West Coast District

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1948, Page 7

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL West Coast District

(By Shoot Straight) Owing to impossible weather conditions all games in the Grey district had to be postponed last Saturday and the postponed fixtures will be played to-day as follows:— Senior: „ Reefton v. Runanga at Reef ton (J. Timlin). ■■■ m . Taylorville v. Cobden at Taylorville (F. Bishop). Blackball v. Greymouth at Blackball (A. Pickering). Kick off, all games, 2.30 p.m. Schoolboys; . Blackball v. Greymouth at Blackball. , „ Runanga v. Cobden at the Rec. Both games start at 1.15. Originally, a challenge match between the Nelson and Westland representatives for the Emms Shield and the Dawson Cup was set down for to-day at Greymouth, but it had to be postponed on account of the Nelson Association being unable to arrange satisfactory transport at the present time. This ,announcement has caused considerable disappointment, as the fixture was being eargerly looked ’ forward to by West Coast supporters. Nelson are to submit a substitute date later. In the meantime, the Westland Centre at a special meeting, decided to extend invitations to the Buller Association for home-and-home games this season and also are asking the Canterbury Association to send over a strong representative side at a convenient date. The published itinerary of the Australian soccer team which is to visit New Zealand during August and September, does not allocate any game to this district. This fact has caused the Westland Centre to make strong representation to the New Zealand Council for the inclusion oi Greymouth in the fixture list, even if it means an extra game. Another matter that will have to be taken up seriously by the Westland Centre is the question of securing another ground in the Greymouth area. Two more boys’ teams could be easily obtained if a ground were available. Westland district boys are very keen to see their best eleven pitted against the South Island champion schoolboy’team, Buller, not with any idea that they can win, but in order to gain’ experience from good quality match play. By the way, it is reported that the Buller boys coaches are Messrs Geordie Newman and Blyth, old Buller representatives who used to play for the well-known Millerton All Black. Newman in addition, had English Third Division experience, so the Buller lads are certainly in capable hands. One pleasing feature of the Westland senior competition this season, is the quality of the refereeing, which is giving almost universal satisfaction. Obviously an odd mistake is made now and then, one hundred per cent., satisfaction beingimpossible to obtain. All the senior clubs on the coast except Blackball have suffered disappointment this season in not being able to obtain new jerseys. Taylorville, Runanga and Greymouth have all made keen inquiries but have up to date, received no satisfaction.

Items of Interest: The Liverpool (England soccer team is having a triumphal tour of the U.S.A, both as regards to playing and financial results. The turnstiles are clicking to capacity whereever they appear. Altogether eighteen first-class English and Scottish teams are on tour, visiting countries as widely separated as Iceland, Mexico and the Argentine—to say nothing of all the European countries. According to the 8.8. C. wireless they are drawing capacity crowds everywhere. The New Zealand Football Association has sent Major Kean, of Wellington, to participate in- the International Soccer Conference to be held during the progress of the Olympic games in London. Major Kean has instructions to secure a visit to New Zealand as early as possible of an English team. A visit to England by a New Zealand schoolboy team has been voted and is being strongly supported.

Taylorville seniors to play Cobden at Cobden: Whyte, D. Graham, Malone, McFarlane, O'Brien, G. Erskine, Steel, W. Erskine, J. Dando, H. Graham, Kilkelly, Hoggarth and B utterfield.