SUBTLE MOVE

NZ Truth, Issue 1191, 27 September 1928, Page 16

SUBTLE MOVE

F. A. and Renegade Faction (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) The Auckland sporting public had a broad grin to itself last week at the display of the "brotherly love" that exists between the Soccer factions which are at the moment supposedly indulging m peace parleys m order to heal the breach between the .Thistle Club and the A.F.A. and the formation of the illegal or at least unrecognized City and Suburban Association. '.■■.,' TYQRING the week the Suburban As- *-^ sociation announced that it would hold a five-aside tournament on Victoria Park on the Saturday and the advertisements contained the subtle phrase "any player' eligible to. compete," besides exhorting the public to "roll up and see the crack Soccer players of New Zealand at Victoria Park." - Now, since the New Zealand Soccer Council has denounced the renegade body throughout the country and has warned officials and players of the consequences of participation m the affairs of the City and Suburban Association, there is more than an iota of justification for the allegation that there was, m the announcement of. the five-aside tournament a veiled attempt to mislead the public and Soccer players alike. Furthermore, the A.F.A. rep. team by' their defeat of Wellington followed by the draw at Auckland the Saturday afterwards, became the "crack players of N.Z." m that they were the holders of the Dominion premiership. A correspondent signing himself "Soccer Sport" wrote informing the public of the "unsportsmanlike action" of the A.F.A. m removing their goal-posts from Victoria Park at 11 a.m. on the day of the tournament without notifying the Suburban crowd, their mortal enemies to to speak, of their intention so to do. The Suburban Association, of course, thought it only fit 'and proper that they should use the property and belongings of their enemies without the tj.sual .courtesy of asking permission, as'^heyrT'h^dr' idone before , on another ground, 'arid so they no doubt felt that they had quite a legitimate cause for complaint. However, the reply of the A.F.A. chairman, Andrew Menzies, which at the time of writing — five days after its publication — has not been publicly disputed or contradicted, reveals a strange "sportsmanship" and honesty of purpose. It was said by Menzies that on the announcement being made public that football was to take part on Victoria Park which had already been declared closed for winter sports, the A.F.A., desiring to know the reason why, approached the powers that be of the City. Council as to why they should make flesh o£ one and fish of another m the way of ground apportionment and the reply to their inquiries was certainly surprising. VERY SUBTLE It was learned that the representatives of the Suburban Association who made the application for the use of the ground, led the city officials to understand that the tournament to be held was for all Soccer players m the city and m fact that this was a function to mark the cementing of the peace m the Soccer world which had been dislocated for the last few months. The parks arid reserves staff of the city, so it is stated, being sports, gladly acceded to a request that they understood was to have such happy augury and consequently the topdressing and turf work that had been set m train .for the cricket season was discontinued, m fact ' some Jof it was undone m order to provide grounds for this auspicious occasion. The result of this alleged mis- ■ representation, it is said, was that the request was granted and it is felt by many that the subtfe wording of the announcements of the Suburban Association regarding their tournament being open to any competitors and being a dis- . play by the crack Soccer players of N.Z. was to bolster up their excuse for the ground. . . , At all events, only eight teams of five took part for "handsome prizes" and m goal-posts rather rough and ready after the "unsportsmanlike action" of the A.F.A. m removing' their goal-posts from • a ground that had been declared closed for the season and for the use of which they . had never been asked. Meantime, the senior competition of the A.F.A; is m a very interesting position with Ponsonby and Tramways on level pegging at the top. On Saturday Ponsonby, after facing a three-goal deficit, struggled gamely and m the end drew, which places them two points behind the corporation side with a game m hand. Much will depend on the next two games of each of the clubs, but Trams have much the easier row to hoe and Ponsonby have to meet North Shore and Trams still, which may make their task beyond them.

, The grlorious uncertainty of the game, however, is its charm and the Ponies are noted -fighters. They have got together a well-balanced side, whereas the trams, thougli. m much improved condition, are likely to be without Spencer, their centre-forward, whose place will be very diffisult to fill.