23 DECEMBER 1998
THE PRESS
by Tony Smith
Former All Whites goalkeeper Alan Stroud will play for Rangers in next year's Canterbury Premier Soccer League and would like to see a national provincial competition introduced.
Stroud confirmed yesterday that he had opted to rejoin Rangers rather than sign for a Southern League team "because Rangers is my club".
"It would take more than the Southern League to lure me away from Rangers.
I'm a bit disappointed in the Southern League. I feel it's really a bit of a trade-off while they muck around and try to set up a national league."
Stroud, 36. who won National League and Chatham Cup winners' medals with Christchurch United, said it was time New Zealand introduced a national representative competition.
The sooner they go to a provincial competition the better. It's the way to go in New Zealand. Provincial sport is so more intense."
Stroud played for Nelson in the 1997-98 summer National league, but sat out the winter season because of family commitments.
"I turned out a few times for the Rangers Masters. It was a bit of fun. They draw your position out of a hat before the start of a game."
But Stroud had a hankering to play in goal again at the top level and made himself available after learning Stu Poole, the Canterbury goalkeeper of the year last season, wanted to play out in the field next year.
Stroud's re-signing will be a major boost for Rangers, who have lost last year's player-coach, Mike Fullen.
Stroud said he was not interested in the coaching job, although he was prepared to help out at training sessions.
"I've got a whole string of young goalies to coach next year and I'd rather do that than be a player-coach and be responsible for selecting a team."
Stroud has been training with Christchurch United's New Zealand under-23 training squad goalkeeper Robbie Barraclough and predicts a big future for the youngster.
"He's only 20, but he's got a really good head on him and a good work ethic as well."
Barraclough, who has just been named in an extended national senior training squad, has attracted the interest of Nelson, which will play in the Southern League next year.