PERFECT HARMONY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 586, 12 February 1929, Page 1

PERFECT HARMONY

THISTLE FOOTBALL CLUB’S AFFILIATION

MR. DICKSON OUTLINES FACTS Following on the announcement made last week that the City and Suburban Football Association' appeared to be dying a natural death in the first year of its life and that one of its leading clubs, the Thistle Club, had applied for affiliation to the Auckland Football Association, Mr. J. F. W. Dickson outlines the position, from his point of view, in the following letter to The Sun: “The brief report that the Thistle Club had applied for affiliation seems to have been misinterpreted, and this report does not cover the position. The dispute which arose between the Auckland City and Suburban Football Association and the Auckland Footbcill Association really terminated some time ago. Shortly, the facts are that Dr. McDougall and the Business Men’s Committee eventually brought the representatives of the two associations together, and an agreement to coalesce was agreed to by both parties. The executive of the A.F.A. agreed to a reconstruction or reconstitution of the association. “Under this new scheme, representatives of the players will have direct representation on the committee, and, in f;< t, will form the committee. The association is to be divided into leagues, each league having control of its own affairs. The scheme is one that has met with the approval of the Suburban Association. The Auckland Executive has endorsed it, and it is now a matter for the whole of the A.F.A. to endorse what has been agreed to by its executive.

“In view of the fact that the parties were in agreement and that the A.F.A. had agreed with the contentions of the Suburban Association for a reconstructed A.F.A., it was agreed that the various clubs of the Suburban Association should apply for affiliation, so that when the executive of the A.F.A. puts the terms of the agreement before the general meeting of all players, ah parties will be represented. “The applications for affiliation were therefore made in terms of this arrangement entered into some months ago. It was also agreed that Dr. McDougall, Mr. Menzies and I should not comment upon the arrangement made until it was made jointly. Unfortunately, the facts of the Thistle Club applying for affiliation have inadvertently been allowed to be published by the A.F.A. and may lead to misunderstanding, and I think that now the football season is looming not very far ahead, it is- well that the public should know the true position, namely, that an amicable settlement has been arranged which is satisfactory to all parties concerned. “The Auckland City and Suburban Football Association has already expressed and again expresses its deep appreciation for the untiring efforts of Dr. McDougall and to the other members of the Business Men’s Committee, whereby the present controversy lias been brought to a solution honourable to. both parties. These facts should be made known in order that in future there may be perfect harmony m trie Soccer world.”