THISTLE SOCCER CLUB’S WITHDRAWAL ACCEPTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 381, 15 June 1928, Page 7

THISTLE SOCCER CLUB’S WITHDRAWAL ACCEPTED

“PUBLIC AND CLUBS BEHIND ASSOCIATION”

‘•We have gone a long way to meet the Thistle Club in the past, and the public will think we have no backbone unless we decide to carry on without it now.’ f jpiTlS was the opinion of the chairman of the Management Committee of the Auckland Football Association, Mr. Andrew Menzies, who presided at a special meeting of the committee last evening to consider the withdrawal of the Thistle Club from the association’s competitions. The club reached its decision on Tuesday evening, after a deputation of its players and executive had waited on the A.F.A. over the suspension of a clubmate, Kay. for disputing the decision of the referee in the Belmont-Thistle match last Saturday. •In all the six years I have been chairman of this committee,” continued Mr. Menzies, “we have never had a dispute with any other club but Thistle. They have fallen out with us three times. “We all know it is impossible to get a referee who will give entire satisfaction to everybody, but it is significant that none of the other clubs have complained about the referee Thistle objects to. “UNSPORTSMANLIKE ACTION” “I believe we have the remainder of the clubs and the public behind us in this. Thistle had a remedy for their grievance in an appeal to the New Zealand Council. Had they availed themselves of it this committee would have done everything in its power to expedite a decision, so that Kay could have played on Saturday ha.d the appeal been upheld. “Rather than that, the Thistle committee acted in a hasty, unsportsmanlike and un-British manner. They would try to spoil the code, which they say they love. They have drawn out when w© need their assistance most, but notwithstanding we can still attract the public to Blandford Park with good games. “We will need to be careful about admitting teams in the future. In the case of the Thistle Club, it is evident that the senior eleven players control the club committee. To prevent this we could endeavour to amalgamate senior clubs with no junior teams to junior clubs with no senior teams. “NOT CHASING THISTLE” “I believe it would be wrong,” concluded Mr. Menzies, “for us to chase the Thistle Club and attempt to heal the breach.’ Mr. Baker stated that the Thistle junior team had nothing to do with the club's decision. The boys were suffering for the actions of the senior players. Ho suggested that the malcontents could be classified as undesirables, and then the committee would have the power to prevent them joining up with any other clubs. As a finance committee man. Mr. Leo inquired about Thistle’s outstanding fees. The committee decided that it could suspend the players till such time as the fees were paid. Mr. Fraser stated that it was a question of half a dozen players and three committeemen acting on behalf of the Thistle Club. Mr. T. G. Wilkes: If that is the case, we will soon hear from the remainder. The men who have done it, will be kicked out. Mr. Menzies then moved that the Thistle Club’s letter and withdrawal from the competitions be received. Mr. Fraser seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. “At the end of the year we won’t be one whit worse off without them,” remarked the chairman.

NOT A STAR CHAMBER’

A.F.A. JUDICIAL COMMITTEE Certain remarks which have appeared in another quarter referring to the judicial committee of the Auckland Football Association as a “star chamber,” were taken exception to by the chairman of the association's management committee, at its special meeting last evening. “The report that players were not given the opportunity to give evidence is ridiculous,” stated Mr. Menzies. •Eighteen of Kay’s supporters were present, and all who wished to give evidence were heard, including the coach of the opposing team, who spoke in Kay's support.” How can such be likened to star chamber methods?”