SOCCER SPLIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 7

SOCCER SPLIT

NEW CONSTITUTION SUGGESTED

HEALING THE BREACH Mr. J. F. W. Dickson, one of the presidents of the Suburban F.A., which broke away from the A.F.A. at the time of the Thistle dispute, communicates to the Press the following suggestions for the constitution of a new body to control the Soccer code in Auckland: “(1) It is agreed that, subject to an amended constitution, there should be one controlling body for Soccer football in Auckland.

“(2) There should be a series of leagues: (a) A senior league with two divisions; (b) a junior league; (c) a juvenile league; and (d) a boys’ league.

"(3) Each club would be constituted as heretofore.

“(4) Each league committee would be set up by the clubs of that league, by appointing their own delegates to form that particular league committee. “(5) In the case of the senior league if two divisions as suggested is insisted upon, then each division would set up its own committee from the clubs appointed as indicated. “(6) To form what is to be the A.F.A. committee, each of the two senior divisions of the senior league will appoint delegates in proportion to the number of senior clubs it controls, e.g., if each division had six senior clubs, then there would be six delegates from each division. These twelve delegates, with a representative or representatives to be appointed from each of the lower leagues, would constitute the management committee of the A.F.A. Each league or divisional committee would have control of its own §xtures, etc., and in the case of the two senior divisions, not only fixtures, but finance. In matters of policy, major finance, representative fixtures, etc., the ultimate control would naturally vest in the A.F.A. Management Committee.

“These suggestions are not original, as this is the system adopted in Ure Old Country, and the system of representation is the same as is used in the Rugby and League codes. Why should it not be adopted in Auckland? We have never at any time suggested half control of Soccer football in Auckland, but we do say |hat no one or two committees can control over 2,000 players. It is simply an impossibility. “At present the A.F.A. committee is elected by about 50 delegates, these being appointed by the clubs, so that juniors, third and fourth grades, etc., vote to appoint the A.F.A. committee, and anyone is eligible for election. If there are sufficient representatives pf juniors, etc., they will have preponderance of voting power. To show howunwieldy and cumbersome the present constitution is, take Blandford Park.

“The position is that Blandford Park requires £4O a week to pay. It is common ground that it is not making this amount. We suggest that the management of Blandford Park should be delegated by the A.F.A. to the Business Men’s Committee, the A.F.A., of course, having full representation on the Business Men’s Committee. If this is done, then we will get the co-opera-tion of all Soccer enthusiasts, and, under any circumstances we must not lose Blandford Park. We look upon a reorganised system of control as essential and fundamental. If the clubs in my association, affiliated with the A.F.A. then we would have, say, eight delegates, and we are not egotistical enough to believe that eight can outvote fifty delegates of the A.F.A. From this point of view we cannot depart, although everything is subject to improvement or modification. These are merely suggestions of mine, but I trust they will form the basis of a settlement.”