SOCCER FOOTBALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 912, 4 March 1930, Page 10

SOCCER FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATION’S 41ST ANNUAL REPORT CONTROL BOARD’S REVIEW The notice in yesterday’s SUN of the forthcoming annual general meeting of the Auckland Football Association on March 18. at the Y.M.C.A., comes as a reminder that the Soccer season is fast approaching, and clubs are busy Holding their annual meetings in preparation for the coming winter. The annual report and balance sneet of the Board of Control has now been "circulated among the clubs iu good time, so that the delegates at the annual meeting to be held a fortnight tonight will be able to voice the views of their club members oil the many subjects which will come up for discussion. REVISION OF BY-LAWS Accompanying the annual report and balance sheet is a complete revision of the by-laws of the A.F.A. Last year the constitution was amended and overhauled in a very drastic fashion, but the by-laws were not suoject to tbe same careful revision, and ill places were not in harmony ■with the constitutiou. The complete revision now submitted makes a very lengthy and painstaking document, which will keep the delegates busy at the annual meeting. BOARD OF CONTROL’S REPORT 111 reviewing tbe work of last season the Board of Control points out that the outstanding features of last season were the change from a management committee to a Board of Control, with divisional committees; and the institution of senior A and B divisions, with relegations and promotions from one to the other. The board expresses its considered opinion that the change over was all for the good of the code, as it brought the clubs and affiliated associations into closer contact and at the same time left the Control Board freer to deal with the many important matters affecting the game outside the club competitions. In regard to the system of relegation and promotion from A to B grades adopted last year, under which Shore and Belmont go down and Manurewa and Philomel come up, this is rather too drastic in providing for dropping two clubs out of only eight engaged, and suggests that this season only one club in each grade should be affected by the system. representative matches The board reports on the visit of Wellington on two occasions as challengers for the English trophy, and appreciates the sporting spirit of the Wellington Football Association. It also congratulates the Auckland sole selector on Auckland still being undefeated in its Football Association trophy matches, and the teams representing the province for the manner in which they upheld the prestige of Auckland both on and off the field. The representative games with the Royal Navy proved most attractive features, and the match between the French cruiser Tourville and H.M.S. Philomel was one out of the common, which attracted a large crowd, but was unfortunate in striking such bad weather conditions. COMPETITION MATCHES Owing to pressure of the time limit it was found impossible to play off the Chatham Cup knockouts among the local clubs, and the board appreciated the manner in which the clubs which still had a claim to play off their games surrendered their chances to allow the Tramways Club to go to Wellington as the Auckland representative club, and bring back the trophy p.fter a meritorious win. A novelty was introduced during tbe season iu the shape of Soccer contests by artificial floodlight, and during the fine weather they were highly successful, but continuous wet weather during the middle of the season caused frequent postponements which hampered the playing off of the night games. The board hopes to continue the electric light games during the season, and as the flooding of the ground by searchlights has been greatly improved by the motor-cycle night races during the summer, they should prove a great attraction during the coming winter. The business house competition drew keen entrants in increased numbers, and after attractive midweek competitions, the Auckland Milk Company was to be congratulated in winning the play-off from the Auckland Power Board.

FINANCE AND MISCELLANEOUS The board expresses its indebtedness to tbe Referees’ Association for the invaluable assistance given in providing control of the games played. The thanks of all concerned were due to these men for the thankless task they so cheerfully undertook throughout the season, but it was felt that the methods of selection and appointment of referees might be improved on, and it is hoped that amicable and satisfactory arrangements in this direction can be made this season The board also placed on record the valuable work done by the judicial committee, and was pleased to have associated with it Mr. W. E Grant who replaced the board’s previous member, Mr. A. W. Baker, when he resigned.

Finance still continues to cause the board some concern, and the position has to be studied with care before any new liabilities are assumed. The gate returns were not up to estimates, and the cause of this should be thoroughly probed and remedied. Thanks were due to the majority of the debenacHnr, derS , f ° r thelr s P or tsmaniike Hi “voluntarily foregoing inter- , on their investment, and the splendid response made bv them was encouraging. But the board puts the situation with candour in advising the clubs that the financial outlook is not hopeful unless considerable improvement takes place. Blandford Park has proved to be in better order than ever, and permis sion to the Stadium Company to form a cinder track for motor-cycle races had been given in exchange for iro piovements to the grounds. Thanks were due to the Press, honorary sur Scons, the A .M.C.A. for use of meeting rooms, the St. John Ambulance, aim man> others for assistance so cheerrulij given to help the game along Ihe annual balance sheet shows a. surplus of £931 assets over liabilities, .with a bank overdraft of £391.