Soccer Breach May be Healed

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 440, 23 August 1928, Page 1

Soccer Breach May be Healed

NEGOTIATIONS PENDING QUESTION OF CONDITIONS For some time past the split in the Soccer code has been receiving the attention of several prominent business and professional men, who are keen supporters of the game but not connected with either of the rival camps. These enthusiasts have been engaged in a laudable endeavour to heal the breach caused by the breakaway of the Thistle Club and the formation of the City and Suburban Association. Although no official information is available for publication, the progress of the overtures has been a matter of common knowledge in Soccer circles, and last evening a meeting was held at which there were present delegates from the A.F.A. management, the senior A.F.A. clubs, the Suburban F.A. and the clubs composing it, together with the business men who have been voluntarily acting as peacemakers. NOT ACCEPTABLE Certain conditions of reunion were suggested, but the idea of the new association being recognised as a separate body, conducting its own competitions, and an interchange of players permissible, with players of both bodies available for rep., games, did not appeal to the delegates of the senior clubs which have remained loyal to the A.F.A., and solidly supported it with absolute unanimity during the break. This idea, if adopted, would lead to Soccer being on a similar basis to local cricket, where the A.C.A. and the local suburban body have a mutual recognition of each others players, and a delegate from the Suburban Association sits with the senior cricket club delegates to constitute the local management. No finality in regard to the Soccer breach was reached last evening, and the representatives of the suburban association were divided in the modifying of the terms for reunion. Some wished to insist on full recognition as a separate authority, while others were prepared to abandon selfdetermination and return to the parent body. No agreement was reached but with a fuller understanding of the differing angles from which those now in the separate camps view the situation, it is to be hoped that a continuation of negotiations will result in the break being completely healed.