LEAGUE FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8343, 1 February 1913, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

VISIT BY ENGLISH TEAM PROBABLE NEXT YEAR. Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 31. 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 Country, where he 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 before 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 bo impossible to send a team to the Dominion without include ing 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 his opinion the rupture will be healed before long, and he considers that, although New Zealand will not be visited this season, the following year should see an English team out here. With regard to the question of a New Zealand team going Homo he was assured that the Dominion would be given the first chance if she wanted it, but of course a visit from England would do vastly more good to the game here than a tour to England by a New Zealand team.