你好 nǐ hǎo
新西兰中文周 New Zealand Chinese Language Week (23 – 29 September 2018) is coming
to a close and to celebrate we are looking back at an event from 1924 - the Chinese
Universities Association Football Tour of New Zealand.
In 1924 the
New Zealand Football Association organised the Chinese University Students’
Tour, which saw them play 22 games across New Zealand, including one game in Rotorua.
In the 1920s, Rotorua had a relatively small Chinese population. In the 1921 Census there were 30 Chinese residents living in the Bay of Plenty of which 14 lived in Rotorua. This event was covered favourably and widely by the media at the time, and drew interest from locals.
In the 1920s, Rotorua had a relatively small Chinese population. In the 1921 Census there were 30 Chinese residents living in the Bay of Plenty of which 14 lived in Rotorua. This event was covered favourably and widely by the media at the time, and drew interest from locals.
 |
| Source: Hawera & Normanby Star, 6 June 1924, p. 7. Courtesy of Papers Past. |
On the 11th
August the Chinese soccer team arrived in Rotorua by rail from Auckland. The team
played a game in Rotorua on August 13th before returning to Auckland
on the 15th.
The Press
Association reported that despite the strong wind and cold rain attendance at
Arawa Park was good. The Rotorua team won the toss and had the advantage of the
wind in the first half. Despite this no one scored in the first half.
In the
second half Kennedy scored for the home team and Lowe scored for the Chinese
team. The New Zealand Herald reports that
a player named Tai kicked a second goal, while the Press Association reports
that a player named Jap scored the second goal. Regardless of who did kick that
goal the game ended China 2, Rotorua 1. This was only one of four games they
won. They drew six and lost twelve during their 22 game tour.
Another point in the game reported was that during the second half one of the Chinese players was
knocked out and a substitute had to be brought on.
 |
| Source: The New Zealand Herald, 14 August 1924, p. 6. Courtesy of Papers Past. |
While
in Rotorua the Chinese team visited many of the thermal sights and enjoyed local Māori performances. The New Zealand Herald reported that the team was ‘delighted with
the reception extended to them.’
This was
reiterated at the New Zealand Football Association committee meeting where it
was decided to write to Mr. M. L. Richards to thank him for arranging the
Rotorua part of the tour, and express that the Chinese team ‘much enjoyed
the programme of entertainment.’
 |
| New Zealand Football Association. [New Zealand Football Association] :Chinese Universities Association Football. N.Z. tour 1924. Souvenir programme. [Chinese Universities v Wairarapa. Masterton. 17 July 1924]. Published by Geo Hunt, Gladding and Co., 24-25 H.M. Arcade, Auckland.. Ref: Eph-A-SOCCER-1924-01. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23052246 |
This post
was written thanks to Papers Past, a free resource offering access to millions
of pages of digitised New Zealand newspapers.
This post
was written by Graeme.
