THE SOCCER GAME

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 April 1927, Page 7

THE SOCCER GAME

MEETING OF COMMITTEE SENIOR DIVISION DRAW A meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Football Association was held last evening. Mr. A Menzies presided. Mr. George Baildon was present for a short time during the early part of the evening. He spoke on the question of grounds, he said that if he was returned in the coming election he would always do his best for the soccer game and other sports in general. GROUNDS COMMITTEE In the report presented by the chairman of the Grounds Committee, Mr. F. H. Baker, it was stated that the season would open on April 23, and would take up 24 Saturdays, 14 of which would be set aside for competition in the senior grade. Provided there were entries from eight teams in the senior division two complete rounds would be played. If, however, at the completion of the first round it was found, through postponements, etc., impossible to complete the second round, the four leading teams in the first round would have to play off for the championship; and a one-round competition for the remaining four teams would be inaugurated for a trophy to be provided. It was found that at the present time it was not possible to lay down a definite programme for the season owing to the possibility of the Chatham Cup competition not being carried on with in Auckland. TEAMS TO TOUR It was suggested that the representative team should go on tour early in August, after the completion of the Canadian tour and meet Otago on August 13 and Canterbury coming North on August 20. During the week between the Canterbury and Otago match it was suggested that efforts would be made to arrange a game with one of the other Southern associations. This would probably take place at Timaru. SOCCER IN SCHOOLS Brothers Luke and lauating were welcomed to the meeting. They both stated that they were pleased to find that the Catholic Schools’ Football Association had been affiliated. Soccer was the only practical game for their schools owing to the various shapes and sizes of the boys. It was put to the meeting whether there should be six or eight teams in the senior grade. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the senior grade should comprise eight teams. Much time was also spent in discussing the merits of these teams, in view of the applications for affiliation from the Navy Depot and Onehunga teams. The chairman said that the growth of junior teams during recent years fully justified the increase in the seniordivision by two. The following nominations were then approved: Thistle, North Shore, Ponsonby, Northcote, Tramways, Y.M.C.A., Onehunga and Navy Depot. The senior and second division draws were arranged for the opening day as follow: Senior Division. —Thistle v. Tramways, at Blandford Park, 3.30 p.m.: Ponsonby v. Navy Depot, at Blandford Park, 2 p.m.: Y.M.C.A. v. North Shore, at North Shore; Onehunga v. Northcote, at Northcote, 3 p.m. Second Division. Takanini v. Thistle; Tamaki v. Newmarket; Northcote v Ponsonby; North Shore v. Birkenhead; Manurewa v. Onehunga; Y.M.C.A. v. Metropolitan; Glen Eden v. Kiwi. The third division will be drawn on Thursday evening. D. Morris, of Onehunga, late of Thistle, was regraded to the second division. The committee appointed Mr. A. J. Hyder to act as delegate on the New Zealand Football Association Council.