Canadian Soccer Team Arrives

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 9

Canadian Soccer Team Arrives

A STRONG COMBINATION MANAGER INTERVIEWED lit and well, the members of the Canadian soccer team arrived at Auckland by the Niagara this morning. The party, which consists of 19 players and a manager, were welcomed on their arrival by representatives of the New Zealand Association and the Auckland Association. Interviewed this morning, the manager of the team, Mr. J. Adams, stated that the team which is about to make a tour of the Dominion is undoubtedly much stronger that the Canadian team which visited Australia last year. “They are Canada’s best, and are all very fit and well trained,” says Mr. Adams. THE CRACK OF THE TEAM “Noseworthy is our crack,” continued Mr. Adams. “He is the only one of the present representative team who went to Australia last year, and is a goal-keeper of wide experience, and lately he has improved out of all knowledge. Noseworthy has represented Canada for years, and the soccer fans in New Zealand, will have something to gaze at when he is seen in action with his thorough tactics. “In mentioning crack men, I must not forget such players as Brolley, Paynter and Percy Francis,” said the manager. “They are all men who have seen big international games, and, in fact, since the game of soccer has improved to such a great extent In the land of the maple leaf, we are not carrying with us any passengers. They are all good.” LIKE OUR “ALL BLACKS” Something like our All Blacks, the Canadian team was beaten shortly before leaving on this trip, once at Vancouver and again at Nanaimo. However, this was expected, since the majority of the team hail from the coast, from towns which are snowed up during the football season, and consequently many had never kicked a ball until the big final matches. THE VOYAGE ACROSS Coming across the Pacific the weather was very fine and the sea was as calm as a mill-pond all the way. Calling at Suva, a game was arranged—Canada v. an Island representative team. Although it was an easy win for the Canadians they thoroughly enjoyed the outing and it gave them a chance to stretch their legs. Training on the voyage, however, was not neglected. All the players were out of bed at six o’clock in the morning to take part in various keep-ing-fit methods, among which were included such exercises as skipping and running. Fortunately a light-heavy-weight wrestler, Louis Pergantas, was also aboard, and lie took the boys on one after the other every morning. This afternoon the team went into training at Victoria Park, and this evening at five o’clock they will attend a civic reception at the Town Hall. They play their first match at New Plymouth on Wednesday, and on June 3 they will take part in one of their hardest games. That will be against Wellington.