Soccer: Boost for Tauranga

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Ron Boyle's 33-year-old dream came a step closer to reality yesterday when New Zealand Soccer confirmed that Tauranga City had been asked to apply for the vacant spot in next year's national league.

Boyle first kicked a ball at the Bay of Plenty club as a 14-year-old in their inaugural season, 1967.

With his playing days behind him, he now has a firm hold on the presidency reins.

If the club's application to chase the place in the 2001 Qantas National League - left vacant when Nelson Suburbs opted out - is successful, all seven federations would be represented.

To get the nod from the code's parent body, Boyle and his committee must convince New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan and his board that they will meet the league's strict criteria.

"We are confident we can do that," said Boyle, who has called a meeting for tonight.

"We know we have facilities as good or better than any in the country. We have had good financial support in the past and know we are looking at about $70,000 to get through the first season, but we don't want to be a one-season wonder.

"We won't be paying our players, but might look at some incentives. We have got where we are without players whose first inclination is to put their hands out. We don't believe there are any players in New Zealand good enough to be paid to play at this level."

Somewhat ironically, Tauranga City, who played second fiddle for many years to Mt Maunganui, these days play their football at Mount's old home ground at Links Ave Reserve.

"We have a 10-year renewable lease from the council which began when we switched from Wharepai Domain at the start of the 2000 season," Boyle said. "We were keen to move to the Mount because there had been suggestions that rugby league was looking to move in. We have inherited one of the best soccer facilities in New Zealand."

With a team comprising many home-grown players who had come up through the ranks, City won the Bluebird Northern League for the second successive season in 2000 and with it the right to compete in a tri-series playoff.

In a heartbreaking defeat, Tauranga City went down 1-3 to Dunedin's Caversham and with it lost the right to challenge the bottom-placed national club championship side, Metro, for a place in next year's league.

"That was devastating," Boyle said. "After playing so well, a whole season's hard work was undone.

"It was the one game in which the boys didn't perform.

"I had all but resigned myself to another season in the northern league when we heard there might be some problems at Nelson."

Now the club, who have built their team around promising youngsters - including Boyle's son Shane, Terry Lockyer and 21-year-old goalkeeper Richard Pedley - and stalwarts Dion Bartosh (their top goalscorer), Paul Probert and Brett Derry, can only wait and hope Boyle's dream is fulfilled.

Caversham president Colin Anderson said he was very disappointed with the decision to invite Tauranga City.

"We will make a decision by early next week on whether we are going to challenge City's right to play in the league," Anderson said. "We are not too happy."

Under its rules, NZS has the right to determine the league's make-up.