XN000022-1980-08-30 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1980

OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE INCLUDE THREE GAMES ROOMS FOR PLAYING TABLE TENNIS, A TRAINING OR LECTURE ROOM AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT STORES.

DISABLED PERSONS AND ATHLETES CAN ALSO MAKE FULL USE OF THE INDOOR GAMES HALL AS A RAMP HAS BEEN BUILT AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE ARENA. SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE CHANGING AND SHOWER ROOMS.

REGIONAL COMMISSIONER KICKS OFF

YUEN LONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE MATCHES ****

THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER FOR THE NORTHWESTERN NEW TERRITORIES, MR JIMMY SWEETMAN, PRAISED THE YUEN LONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR ORGANISING MORE DISTRICT-WIDE SPORTS ACTIVITIES.

MR SWEETMAN WAS OFFICIATING AT THE KICK-OFF OF THE SECOND ANNUAL YUEN LONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE AT YUEN LONG STADIUM TODAY (SATURDAY).

LEAGUE MATCHES ARE BEING ORGANISED BY YUEN LONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE, WHILE THE LOCAL DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IS PROVIDING FUNDS.

MORE THAN 200 PLAYERS FROM 17 TEAMS HAVE ENTERED THE COMPETITION, THE FINAL OF WHICH WILL BE HELD EARLY IN NOVEMBER.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS INCLUDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS, LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND VILLAGES.

MR SWEETMAN SAID THE YUEN LONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION HAD A LONG HISTORY AND LOCAL PEOPLE HAD ALL ALONG SHOWN A SPECIAL INTEREST IN FOOTBALL.

THE ASSOCIATION JOINED THE THIRD DIVISION OF THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEAGUE 20 YEARS AGO AND WERE PROMOTED TO THE FIRST DIVISION TWO YEARS LATER.

THE TEAM HAD A STRONG POSITION IN THE FIRST DIVISION FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS DURING WHICH, HE SAID, IT HAD EXPERIENCED BOTH UPS AND DOWNS.

IN 1979, THE TEAM REACHED A GLORIOUS MILESTONE IN ITS HISTORY BY DEFEATING A STRONG SEIKO SIDE TO WIN THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CUP. MR SWEETMAN SAID HE BELIEVED BOTH YUEN LONG RESIDENTS AND FOOTBALL FANS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WERE PROUD OF THIS RESULT,