SOCCER TOURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 326, 11 April 1928, Page 11

SOCCER TOURS

PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN VISIT

ECHO OF CANADIAN TRIP Diffidence over the advisability of , New Zealand going ahead with negotiations for the tour of an Australian Soccer eleven this season was expressed by Mr. Andrew Menzies, the chairman of the Management Committee of the Auckland Football Association, last evening. In view of the heavy loss on the recent Canadian tour, Mr. Menzies thought that New Zealand should walk warily for the coming season. The New Zealand Football Association wants the A.F.A. to guarantee £2OO for two matches at Auckland,” Mr. Menzies said, “and although we would be fairly safe, wet weather would cut things pretty fine.” Mr. Bannister: The New Zealand Association does not seem to be able to run a tour successfully. Mr. Menzies: I have heard a great deal of criticism of the running of the Canadian tour, but can you point out where it was badly run? SIDELIGHTS ON CANADIAN TOUR Mr. Wilkes: Yes; the cost of a special train which lost itself down Gisborne way somewhere. Mr. Bannister: And the £99 it cost to send New Zealand Association men to each centre to run the tests. Mr. Menzies: No; there is nothing wrong with that: in fact, we would like to see more of headquarters. What accounted for the loss was the £ 2.000 set aside for assembling and paying the Canadian players £3 10s a week even while on steamer. A Member: Professionalism, that's what it is. Mr. Menzies: What I cannot understand is the way we always give visiting teams every chance of defeating our own men, New Zealand paid a trainer £ 6 a week to look after the Canadians. Mr. Baker: I believe there is more than the financial standpoint to be considered. An Australian tour would raise the status of tlie game in New Zealand, and act as an incentive to the leading players to train in an endevour to get into the New Zealand team. I move that we guarantee the New Zealand Association the £2OO on condition that the itinerary of the tour is amended to give Auckland the first game and the last game.

The motion was carried, with the understanding that the proposed tour be fully discussed at the forthcoming annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association.