ISSN 2422–8710
FANZ
THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE Issue Eight, October 2017
All Whites shoot for World Cup glory Showdown in Wellington
CHRIS WOOD THE STRIKER WITH THE WORLD AT HIS FEET
All White Chris Wood. Photo: Shane Wenzlick
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FOOTBALL MAGAZINE THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS FANZ: OFTHEFOOTBALL
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Contents
Issue 8 October 2017
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FANZ: The Football Magazine is published by Friends of Football Inc. Editor: Josh Easby email:hurricane.press@mail.com www.friendsoffootballnz.com The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the group’s membership. All contents published in this issue remain the property of the appropriate copyright owner and may not be reproduced or copied in any form, print or digital, without the prior permission of the copyright holder. ISSN 2422–8710
Do–it-yourself grandstands
36 Around the country
The lengths to which fans will go News from the regions. to watch they footy in comfort.
20 Media awards finalists
Who’s in the running for what.
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FEATURE STORY The making of a star
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A special sponsorship
26 Another day of golf
Friends of Football get together How Chris Wood got his chance to for another round of golf. follow his football dream.
34 What’s coming up
Friends of Football events.
35 International Diary
News about our national sides.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS ISSUE Unless otherwise stated, all the photographs in this magazine are the work of Phototek’s Shane Wenzlick, the Official Photographer to Friends of Football. We are grateful to Shane for giving us access to his photographic library. 2
38 Football Dad
It’s not easy being a devoted father.
40 Friends of Football Get off the grass
Andrew Dewhurst’s final word.
We remember those we’ve lost.
When the All Whites played the All Blacks ...
How our region fares in latest FIFA World rankings.
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30 Obituaries 13
Oceania news
What our group is all about, who we are and how you can join.
While one team dreams of World Cup glory, another is given a helping hand by Friends of Football.
A classic match–up
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WINNER NZ’S FOOTBALL PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR 2015
THE FRIENDS’ DIARY Upcoming Friends of Football events include:
AVONDALE RACE DAY
November 30, 2017 Our members are heading to Auckland’s Avondale Racecourse for another day’s fun. See page 34 for more details.
www.friendsoffootballnz.com FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
FROM OUR EDITOR
Hudson’s bravery deserves reward Josh Easby ONE OF THE key requirements for a New Zealand football fan is having patience. On the international scene, our successes have been few. But how much satisfaction have they given us? Those nights in 1981 when we stayed up and watched the All Whites perform miracles against Saudi Arabia and China ... Watching Steve Sumner and Steve Woodin score against Scotland at the World Cup in Spain ... That night in Wellington when Leo Bertos and Rory Fallon combined to send our team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with THAT goal against Bahrain ... Three draws. Unbeaten in group play ... The pride of knowing New Zealand football has come a long way since losing 11-0 to Manchester United half a century ago. Now we have a chance to climb another footballing mountain, a chance for this generation of All
Whites to become as revered as those who have gone before. After a prolongued battle for qualification in South America, Peru has emerged as the last remaining obstacle between the All Whites and a berth at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. When the players step onto the pitch at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, they’ll have the support of a capacity crowd and a television audience willing them on. Their journey began soon after our last World Cup campaign ended in defeat against Mexico four years ago. Since then, the All Whites have developed into a confident, positive side, willing to go forward against national teams much higher in the world rankings. Sure, there have been rankles along the way — complaints about the lack of regular competition,
questions about the levels of commitment from players in and around the squad. At times, coach Anthony Hudson has been criticised for giving too many fringe players the chance to wear the All Whites shirt. But all along he’s said his mission was to get his team to Russia. He’s clearly been willing to take risks, both in selections and tactics, to find the right formula for the games that count. I’m glad he didn’t react to criticism and pressure by opting for a conservative approach. Our previous international successes were not achieved by safety–first thinking, and neither will our next. If he achieves his mission of taking us to Russia, Hudson’s name will rightfully go alongside those of Adshead and Herbert, never to be forgotten. Good luck to him.
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THE MAKING OF A STAR How Chris Wood became New Zealand football’s hot property
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SPECIAL FEATURE
FANZ editor Josh Easby tracks the early
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hen Chris Wood was 14, he was already a big unit. Strong and tall, he had been playing as a junior at Cambridge Football Club, in the Waikato. He was also big on self–belief. He wanted to play senior football before the 2006 season was finished, and he made sure first team coach Stu Robertson was aware.
career of All White striker Chris Wood ... and how good advice and support has taken him to the top of the game. So, where did Wood’s football career really start? Born in Auckland in December 1991, Wood’s first club was Onehunga Sports, where he learned to enjoy team sport, encouraged by his parents, Grant and Julie. Keen to learn more, he joined Wynrs, the Auckland–based academy established by former All White Wynton Rufer. There, he was encouraged to develop his technique.
By the age of 11, the Wood family had moved to the Waikato rural town of Cambridge and he registered to play junior football with the local club. Younger sister Chelsey had also taken to football and when the pair weren’t training with their club, they were practising by playing against each other.
Cambridge first team 2006 with Wood third from right, back row, and father Grant extreme right, back row. Photo: Masterpiece Photography. Wood was finally picked on the sub’s bench for a game in the Northern League’s second division. As the match wore on, Wood finally got his chance. Cambridge member Ken Hobern, a friend of the Wood family, was delighted and as the youngster went on as a sub, he promised the youngster $100 if he could score a goal. Chris Wood’s first goal in senior football was just minutes away. His goal celebration included a joyous rubbing together of his fingertips, already anticipating his winnings. He was about to get his first payment as a footballer.
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Onehunga Sports ... clearly proud of his footballing roots, Wood tweeted his congratulations when his first club won the ISPA Handa Chatham Cup/Lotto Northern League double this year.
“He has stayed humble and you can tell he knows where he came from, from Auckland and Hamilton, and he is living the dream." —Wynton Rufer FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Cambridge Open Grade Hawkes 2002. Wood is on the extreme left, middle row. Photo: Masterpiece Photography.
Cambridge U-19s team 2006 Wood is second from right, front row. Photo: Masterpiece Photography.
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Wood’s next coach was Paul Christopher whose Hawkes team played Open Grade football in the Waikato competition. And by the time he was 14, the lanky youngster was ready to play senior football. He made his Cambridge debut in the Northern League and ended the 2006 season with a trip to Napier to play for his club in the satellite section of the annual national U-19 tournament. It was Wood’s first taste of controversy — all part of being an exceptional player. Cambridge won the tournament’s satellite final but it quickly transpired that the squad contained two players, including Wood, who were only 14. Tournament rules stipulated the minimum age was 15 and Wood was a few weeks shy of his birthday. As a result, Cambridge missed promotion to the main group at Napier. But the talk about Wood — and the impact he had despite being deemed too young to play — all helped raise his profile.
That summer, Wood left Cambridge for Hamilton Wanderers, who played in a higher division of the Northern League, and who were a feeder to national league club Waikato FC. His club coach was Roger Wilkinson who had previously been an academy coach with English club West Bromwich Albion. Wood’s coach at school — the private Hamilton school of St Paul’s Collegiate — was Mike Groom, who played 20 games for the All Whites and was passionate about developing technique through samba–style football. With the help of his coaches, Wood made the step up and became one of the youngest players in the national league. By then, he had also come to the notice of national selectors and he
Wood’s first appearance in a New Zealand shirt as he wins selection to the U-17s. was picked to play for New Zealand at the FIFA Under 17 World Cup. Wilkinson decided it was time to help Wood chase his dream of professional football by arranging a trial at West Brom. Another All White who helped with advice was defender Che Bunce who had also started his career as a junior at Cambridge. FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
SPECIAL FEATURE Wood’s mother, Julie, told Stuff. co.nz: “We spoke to a couple of people before we made the decision to come over, (to the UK) one being Che Bunce, asking what do you think we should do, and he said if there’s one piece of advice, it’s that one of you travels with him to support, so that’s what we did.” Julie Wood headed to England with her 16-year-old son for the trials that started his professional career. Che Bunce, another All White who gave good advice to the Woods.
“He’s got something that coaches can’t coach, and that’s that he’s in the right place at the right time, and the better strikers all have that ability. He’s a goalscorer, and I think they’ve recognised that.” — Roger Wilkinson
Wood about to score one of his early international goals, against Solomon Islands in 2009.
to Andrew Voerman, Stuff.co.nz
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“We had a free kick and it was in the centre circle, and I was sat on the sideline, and Chris took that free kick and shot, and the ball went straight above the goalkeeper’s head, and he scored. But the thing to me was, who shoots from the centre circle? “Only someone who has an incredible sense of self belief, and that’s something that was in his DNA. He might have missed a couple of chances, but what made him so unique and so successful, was that it wouldn’t diminish his sense of self belief and his confidence in himself at all.” — Mike Groom describes a Wood goal scored for his St Paul’s Collegiate team interview by Andrew Voerman for Stuff.co.nz
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Now 25, and the all-time third-highest scorer for the All Whites, Wood becomes Burnley’s record signing scoring at Wembley Stadium on his club debut. Photo: Burnley Football Club
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proud sponsors of
Ph. (09) 415 1888 MOB. 021 628 283
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mark@kappanz.com Mark Elrick
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CELEBRATING OUR GAME
A sponsorship that’s special
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hile New Zealand football’s finest players await their chance of World Cup glory against Peru, another group of players are keenly anticipating their own shot at sporting achievement. A group of Auckland athletes with intellectual disabilities are ramping up their training regimes, as they prepare to compete at the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games. Their pinnacle event will be held in Wellington from November 27 to December 1. And in the lead–up to the Games, the players have another occasion to look forward to. On Sunday November 5, the Auckland Special Olympics squad will be presented with new strip, match and training balls, and kit bags, provided by apparel company Kappa and sponsored by Friends of Football. The presentation will take place at half-time of Auckland City’s ISPS Handa Premiership match against Canterbury United at Kiwitea St, Sandringham. The match kicks off at 4.35pm. Nine footballers from Special Olympics Auckland, and three team management, are set to take part in the Games. The kit presentation will be made by former All Whites Earle Thomas and Friends of Football founder Brian Turner.
Thomas, who is Chair of Friends of Football, said his members could feel proud of their support for a group of footballers who fully deserved the chance to enjoy the thrill of taking part at a national event. “Friends of Football are pleased to be able to support the Special Olympics Auckland football team and wish them well at the National Summer Games”. Thomas said he was grateful to Kappa’s Mark Elrick, another former All White, for recognising the importance of providing football uniforms that would lift players’ spirits. He also thanked FoF committee member and former Northern Football president Alan Yates for putting together the sponsorship. Alice Black, the head coach of the Special Olympics Auckland Football Team, said: “The athletes and coaches very much appreciate the support of Friends of Football and the uniforms will look awesome. “For the first time this millennium we will be bringing a football team to the National Summer Games, which we are very excited about. “All of the athletes and volunteers are eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to compete with and meet athletes, especially from other regions,” said Mike Ringrose, Chair for Special Olympics Auckland. Held every four years, the Games is New Zealand’s largest event for people with intellectual disabilities
and will see athletes of all ages compete in football, swimming, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting, and tenpin bowling. Special Olympics Auckland athletes will compete in athletics, basketball, ten pin bowling, football, indoor bowls and swimming. Special Olympics New Zealand is a year-round programme of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 7,000 athletes throughout the country train and compete in 13 different Olympictype summer and winter sports. Special Olympics New Zealand also offers athletes leadership development through its Athlete Leadership Programme, health screening via Healthy Athletes®, and encourages social inclusion through Unified Sports®, where intellectually disabled athletes are combined in teams with unified partners (without intellectual disabilities). Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides athletes continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community. Special Olympics New Zealand – www.specialolympics.org.nz
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Bumper crowd in store for Wellington World Cup tie MORE THAN 20,000 tickets sold in the first hours after Ticketmaster opened sales for New Zealand’s FIFA World Cup intercontinental series match against Peru in Wellington. The match is looking likely to challenge records for football attendances in New Zealand — and whatever the final size of the crowd on November 11, the record is sure to remain with Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.
Calling all Football Ferns and All Whites
Largest football crowds in New Zealand football history: 35,179 All Whites v Bahrain, Westpac Stadium, 2009 33,626 All Whites v Mexico, Westpac Stadium, 2013 31,853 Wellington Phoenix v LA Galaxy, Westpac Stadium, 2007 In May 1967, an estimated 26,000 filled Auckland’s Carlaw Park to watch Auckland play Manchester United. The largest home crowd to support the legendary 1982 All Whites were the 21,101 who packed Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in 1981.
Reunion: Members of the 1982 World Cup squad caught up this year for a low–key gathering to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their remarkable achievements.
Friends of Football strongly support the concept of reunions that enable friendships formed through our game to grow. Please let us know of your reunions so we can help promote them. Email: secfof@gmail.com 12
FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL is building a database of New Zealand international players to help make sure you get the chance to participate in football-related events and gatherings. But you need to make sure we have your contact details. Since last year’s 125th Anniversary of Football Dinner in Auckland, Friends of Football has been working with NZ Football and the Football Foundation to set up a database of living internationals. The database has already been used to provide ticket offers to All Whites and Football Ferns international matches and to social events. Your contact details will be used solely to keep you connected to the sport you love – we won’t pass them to any third party without your approval. If you are an ex-All White or Football Fern please email your details to the secretary of Friends of Football - secfof@gmail.com. Please share this on your social media or contact your ex team mates - the more we can spread the word the better.
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HERITAGE OF OUR GAME
Back row (from left): Adrian Elrick, Eddie Dunn, Ricki Herbert, Tim Twigden, Peter Simonsen, Andy Haden, Sam Malcolmson, Gary Whetton, John Hill. Middle row: Keith Mackay, Stu Wilson, Brian Turner, Bernie Fraser, Frank van Hattum, Lin Colling, Duncan Cole, Alan Hewson, Dave Bright, Gary Cunningham, Ken Cresswell, Bruce Robertson. Front row: Alan Whetton, Steve Sumner, Greg Burgess, Kevin Fallon, Bryan Williams, John Adshead, Graham Mourie, Bobby Almond, Dave Loveridge, Billy McLure. Photo: Radio i Sports Foundation.
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t’s difficult to imagine in this modern era of professional rugby and with today’s football internationals playing all over the world ... But there was a time when New Zealand’s biggest rugby and football stars could share the pitch, have a few beers afterwards and swap sporting stories. The time was 1982. The newly–named All Whites were revelling in the public popularity inspired by their arduous against– the–odds qualification for the FIFA World Cup Finals in Spain. The All Blacks were still smarting from the bad blood of 1981 when media coverage of New Zealand’s national sport was dominated by the protests, boycotts and riots that accompanied the Springbok tour. All Whites coach John Adshead saw an opportunity for the two sports to align their promotional efforts for the benefit of his squad in the lead–up to Spain.
Adshead worked for the Radio i Sports Foundation, a charitable body run by an Auckland radio station. He challenged the All Blacks to play a few exhibition matches — half a game of rugby and half a game of football. The above photograph records this special meeting of the codes before the sides played in Auckland. At one event, played at Mt Wellington’s Bill McKinlay Park, several thousand spectators turned up to watch the All Whites play the All Blacks ... with a special guest to kick things off. The guest was American actor David Hasselhoff, in New Zealand to promote his top–rating television series, Knight Rider. Who won the exhibition matches? On the pitch, the matches were engineered to finish as honourable draws. Off the pitch, football gained so much positive publicity, it was clear which sport had benefitted the most.
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When the All Whites took on rugby’s All Blacks
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CELEBRATING OUR GAME
A seat in the stand — grassroots–style When you love your football but it doesn’t come neatly packaged in a stadium, what do you do? If you’re like some fans, you’ll find a way to create your own excitement — and even your own stand. Waiheke Island have been adding some excitement to the Northern Regional Football League’s second division this year with a large support base who take to the grassy banks with their flags, banners and flares to cheer on their side. In the Waikato, the fans prefer a bit of homemade comfort such as these West Hamilton United supporters who built their own grandstand– on–a–trailer (below left). Cambridge fans, meanwhile, bring their own vehicular ‘corporate box’ to John Kerkhof Park in the form of this corrugated steel construction on the back of a ute.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
CHARITY DINNER & AWARDS EVENING EVENT: NZ Football Charity Dinner VENUE: Westpac Stadium, Wellington DATE: Friday November 10, 2017 TIME:
6.30pm — late
DRESS: Black tie/formal NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL in conjunction with the Football Foundation extends an invitation to the Friends of Football to celebrate all things football and raise funds for the Football Foundation. This dinner will be held on the eve of the All Whites v Peru match, at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, providing you with the chance to socialise with football friends and experience some of the build–up to the World Cup qualifier. Dinner includes pre-dinner drinks and canapes with a threecourse meal, entertainment and a charity auction to support the NZ Football Foundation. The evening will also include awards for: Men’s/Women’s Player of the Year, Men’s/Women’s Youth Player of the Year, Men’s/Women’s Futsal Player of the Year, Team of the Year, Referee of the Year, Coach of the Year, Friends of Football Medal of Excellence and the NZ Football Media Association’s Footballer of the Year. Tickets cost $150 – $180 depending on choice of tables. Please email Kerry Greene at New Zealand Football for more information or to book your ticket. Email: kerry.greene@nzfootball.co.nz. 16
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GROWING OUR GAME
Foundation sees more room to grow
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here is a new duo at the helm of the New Zealand Football Foundation with Jodi Tong stepping up to the role of chair and Carolyn Steele providing support as deputy chair. Tong takes over from departing chair Mark Stewart and will work closely with chief executive Noel Barkley as the Foundation continues in its goal of providing targeted funding to support the
Jodi Tong growth of football in New Zealand. Tong and Steele are both existing members of the New Zealand Football Foundation Board. “From day one, both Jodi and Carolyn impressed me with their passion for taking the Football Foundation to the next level,” says Barkley. Deputy chair Carolyn Steele brings
governance experience to the New Zealand Football Foundation. Stewart acted as chair of the New Zealand Football Foundation over two terms, from 2010 to 2011 and again from 2015 to 2017. He will leave a significant legacy after contributing greatly to the Foundation’s governance and a generous $500,000 donation. The donation was matched by Sir Eion Edgar, who is the Foundation’s honorary patron. “Stepping into the shoes of Mark Stewart was always going to be a big ask,” Tong says. “Mark has made a phenomenal contribution, both personally and financially, to the game and the Football Foundation wouldn’t be where it is today without him.” The new chair believes the Foundation is well placed to continue growing the game. “Our aim is to be an enduring Foundation, so we apply a long lens to our strategic planning,” says Tong. “We have a goal to grow our capital base to $10 million by 2030, as the faster we grow the more we can distribute to the areas of the game that need it most.” Tong says the Foundation also has a goal to raise its awareness among the football and wider community so it is better positioned for bequeaths or gifts. Her executive background is in
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Carolyn Steele marketing and strategy and she has worked at senior level for a number of large companies in the fast-moving consumer goods and primary industries. She is currently General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Artemis Ltd. Steele has substantial experience in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and investment management, as well as governance experience on not-for-profit public and private boards. Both Tong and Steele have firsthand experience of elite sport after representing New Zealand in rowing. The New Zealand Football Foundation is a registered charity, created to raise funds for the development of football in New Zealand. It was set up with $4 million of funds following the All Whites’ participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen as its patron.
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NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Past winners 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2015 2016
Mick Seed Ron Armstrong Ian Ormond Maurice Tillotson Brian Turner Roy Drinkwater Keith Nelson Alf Stamp Tony Sibley Brian Turner Brian Turner Grant Turner Keith Nelson Steve Sumner Colin Walker Kevin Hagan Grant Turner Ceri Evans Michael McGarry Noel Barkley Noel Barkley Michael McGarry Noel Barkley Paul Halford Darren McLennan Chris Jackson Batrum Suri Jason Batty Fred de Jong Kris Bouckenhooge Fred de Jong Graham Little Graham Little Andy Boyens No award Grant Young Grant Young Ben Sigmund Ben Sigmund Roy Krishna Aaron Clapham Allan Pearce Chris Bale Winston Reid Winston Reid
Last year’s awards: All Whites coach Anthony Hudson collects the trophy on behalf of 2016 winner Winston Reid from Keith Block (left) and Brett Clark (right), representing awards sponsor Connect New Zealand. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.
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ew Zealand’s football media will gather on the eve of the All Whites v Peru match to honour those who have served the sport well through writing, editing, broadcasting and photography. The New Zealand Football Media Association will also reveal who has won the New Zealand Footballer of the Year Trophy. Nominees for the media awards and guests will find out who has been recognised for their media achievements this year at a function prior to New Zealand Football’s November 10 dinner at Westpac Stadium. The Footballer of the Year will be unveiled at the main dinner. The media awards, and the NZ Footballer of the Year award, are again sponsored by Connect NZ in association with Zoom. Connect NZ are authorised resellers of the Zoom Video Conferencing suite of products throughout New Zealand, offering affordable plans for all business sizes.
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NZ Football Media A
COCKTAIL FUNCTION & AWARDS EVENT: 2017 NZ Football Media Awards VENUE: Westpac Stadium, Wellington DATE: Friday November 10, 2017 TIME:
5.00pm — 6.30pm
ENTRY: By invitation The NZ Football Media Association and Friends of Football gratefully acknowledge the support of awards sponsors Connect NZ and Zoom.
OUTSTANDING WORK by New Zealand’s best football writers, broadcasters and photographers will be celebrated at the 2017 Football Media Awards. This function will be held in the Member’s Louge at Westpac Stadium, immediately prior to the NZ Football and Football Foundation charity dinner. It’s the third year that the annual awards run by the New Zealand Football Media Association have been held in partnership with Friends of Football and NZ Football. The NZFMA started life as the New Zealand Soccer Writers’ Association and was set up primarily to help sports journalists cover the Rothmans League, founded in 1970 and notable as the country’s first national league in any sport. The group’s first media awards were held in 1980, with a Writer of the Year and Programme of the Year recognised. Further categories were added in photography in 1981 and broadcasting in 1986. The awards have since evolved to incorporate publications and a regional, community and website writer category.
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wards
RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT
This year’s finalists for the NZ Football Media Awards have been announced:
Recent winners 2006 Andrew Dewhurst 2007 Jason Pine 2008 No award 2009 Jason Pine 2010 Jason Pine 2011 Jason Pine 2012 Jason Pine 2013 Jason Pine 2014 Jason Pine 2015 Jason Pine
REGIONAL/COMMUNITY WRITER OF THE YEAR The NZFMA introduced this category in 2011 and the winner is picked from Writer of the Year entries who do not work for national or major metropolitan publications and/or websites. Last year’s award-winner, Enzo Giordani, was the fourth different winner in this category's five–year history.
WRITER OF THE YEAR Finalists
Enzo Giordani
Finalists
Tracey Hodge (in-the-back-of-the. net) Bruce Holloway (in-the-back-ofthe.net) Phillip Rollo (Nelson Mail) Previous Winners 2011 Anendra Singh (Hawke’s Bay Today) 2012 Phillip Rollo (Waimea Weekly) 2013 Jeremy Ruane 2014 Philip Rollo (Nelson Mail) 2015 Enzo Giordani (in-the-back-of- the.net)
WEBSITE OF THE YEAR This category was introduced by the NZFMA last year to reflect the growing body of work online.
Finalists
www.aucklandcityfc.com, edited by Gordon Watson www.cambridgesoccer.co.nz, edited by Josh Easby www.thejourneyfan.blogspot. co.nz, Dave Webster www.yellowfever.co.nz, Yellow Fever
TV BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR Finalists
Jason Pine (Sky TV) Narelle Sindos (Sky TV) Gordon Watson (OFC TV) Recent winners (TV and radio combined) 2003 Michelle Pickles 2004 Michelle Pickles 2005 Michelle Pickles Recent winners (TV only) 2006 Andrew Gourdie 2007 Andrew Gourdie 2008 No award 2009 Andrew Gourdie 2010 Andrew Gourdie 2011 Gordon Glen Watson 2012 Gordon Glen Watson 2013 Andrew Gourdie 2014 Jason Pine 2015 Jason Pine
AUDIO BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR Finalists
Riccardo Ball (TAB Trackside) Jason Pine (NZME) Yellow Fever – Phoenix City (Patrick Barnes, Cameron McIntosh, Previous Winners Andrew French and Dave 2015 www.thejourneyfan.blogspot. Richardson)
co.nz (Dave Webster)
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Michael Burgess (NZ Herald, Herald on Sunday) John Palethorpe (in-the-back-ofthe.net) Dave Webster (The JourneyFan) Recent Winners 2003 Simon Kay 2004 Terry Maddaford 2005 Michael Brown 2006 Michael Brown 2007 Michael Brown 2008 No award 2009 Michael Brown 2010 Michael Brown 2011 Tony Smith 2012 Michael Burgess 2013 Michael Burgess 2014 Michael Burgess 2015 Michael Burgess
PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR Finalists
Fully Committed: The Ben Sigmund Story, by Ben Sigmund and Jason Pine The ‘History of Eastern Suburbs AFC: 1934 – 2015, by Sam Jeffery and Ernest Wong Recent Winners 2001 — Stand Up If You Love The Kingz, by Grant Stantiall and Michael Stephen 2002 — Sitter magazine, edited by Bruce Holloway 2003 — Canterbury Centenary, by John Small
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RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT 2004 — Spikes History, Rangers FC 2005 — Soccer Talk magazine, edited by Glen Price 2006–08 No award 2009 — Ricki Herbert – A New Fire, by Russell Gray 2010 — Ryan Nelsen’s Road to the World Cup with Tony Smith 2011 — The Waikato Chronicles, by Bruce Holloway 2012 — Strength In Unity, edited by Jeremy Ruane 2013 — Soccer by the Silverstream – 100 Years of Soccer on the Taieri, by W. Cliff Anderson 2014 — FANZ Special Auckland City FC Issue, edited by Josh Easby 2015 — The National League Debates, by Bruce Holloway
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Holloway (centre) receives his award last year for Publication of the Year, from Connect NZ’s Keith Block (left) and Brett Clark.
Finalists
Andrew Cornaga (Photosport) Cameron McIntosh (Photomac) Michael Welsh (Dr Yomcat Shoots) Shane Wenzlick (Phototek) Recent Winners 2003 Shane Wenzlick 2004 Shane Wenzlick 2005 Michael Bradley 2006 Andrew Cornaga 2007 Shane Wenzlick 2008 No award 2009 Hannah Johnston 2010 Andrew Cornaga 2011 Shane Wenzlick 2012 Andrew Cornaga 2013 Andrew Cornaga 2014 Hagen Hopkins 2015 Shane Wenzlick
MATCH PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Finalists
Auckland City, edited by Gordon Watson Papatoetoe AFC Ladies, edited by Andrew Kirk Waitemata, edited by Mark Reid Recent Winners 2000 Otago FA 2001 Island Bay United
2002 Island Bay United 2003 Lower Hutt City 2004 Lower Hutt City 2005–9 No award 2010 Cambridge FC 2011 Napier City Rovers 2012 Petone 2013 WaiBOP United 2014 Waitemata 2015 Waitemata
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR The judges select an annual Football Photograph of the Year from the portfolios of those submitted in the Photographer of the Year awards. Last year’s winning image was this Shane Wenzlick shot (right) captured during an Auckland City match at Kiwitea Street.
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s e i d l O n e d 2018 Gol l a v i t s e F l l a b t o o F d l r ll built on o a b t W o o F f o lebration ce A week long raternity F d n a ip h s Fun, Friend
d 2018 n 2 2 h t 5 1 d • April n la a e Z w e h•N Christchurc
Men’s and Women’s
www.christchurchgoldenoldies.com 24
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CELEBRATING OUR GAME Reunited (from left): Mal Bland (16 appearances for New Zealand), Ray Mears (10 appearances), Max Davis (one appearance), and John Legg (12 appearances).
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ootball has a happy way of bring together old friends — and this photograph provides ample evidence. Four former New Zealand internationals got together for a re-union in Australia, providing the
chance for them to reminisce about shared experiences in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mal Bland, Ray Mears, Max Davis and John Legg all featured for the New Zealand team in that era, and were also among the pioneers of
the national league which launched in 1970. All four had spells with Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs, while Bland, Davis and Legg also played for Gisborne City. Davis and Legg also turned out for Blockhouse Bay.
Oldies lining up for Christchurch
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ormer All Whites and Ferns will take the pitch with less–accomplished (but still active) players at next year’s Golden Oldies celebration in Christchurch. The level of interest is typified by the entry of a Ben Sigmund– led team in the inaugural Golden Oldies Football Steve Sumner Cup. Sigmund’s team, to be called Canterbury Reunited, will contest the competitive 35+ grade. Sigmund, (left), who only retired from professional football at the end of the 2015 season, is rejoining a bunch of former Canterbury football mates to take part in the Golden Oldies event and the team has its sights firmly set on taking home the Steve Sumner Cup. The cup has been introduced in honour of the legendary All Whites captain who passed away earlier this year. “It will be a real thrill to reunite with my old Canterbury players and OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL
enjoy what I know will be a week chock full of good times — on and off the pitch,” says Sigmund. “While we know Golden Oldies football is meant to be about participating, there is a certain prize up for grabs that I know the lads will be keen to get their hands on. It would be a terrific honour to win the inaugural Steve Sumner Cup which is such a fitting tribute to a legendary New Zealand footballer.” Sigmund’s football career began with Christchurch United in 1998 as a 17-year-old before embarking on a professional career that included 35 Games for the All Whites and eight years and 181 games for the Wellington Phoenix. Football is one of four new sports included in the Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration 2018 along with basketball, squash and lawn bowls and joins six other sports — rugby, cricket, netball, hockey, softball, golf — to be played in Christchurch in April. 25
A DAY ON THE GOLF COURSE EVENT: Friends of Football Golf Day VENUE: Maungakiekie Golf Club, Auckland
More than 30 teams of football enthusiasts took to the golf course in April forthe Friends of Football second annual charity golf day.
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FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
FOSTERING FRIENDSHIP
Our players had a choice of winning a Korando or an SSR edition SsangYong Actyon ute to a value of $29,990 if they holed in one at this par 3. We didn’t find a winner this year but we’re sure to have more great prizes for next year’s tournament.
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Friends of Football thanks New Zealand Football for its promotion and support of its third annual charity golf day. We also thank all the sponsors who donated prizes, and especially DB Breweries and SsangYong. FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL are grateful to the following sponsors who donated other prizes on the day: Nike Factory Store Onehunga, Executive Travel, Tim Brown, TAB, GCL Logistics, Mark Burgess, The Golf House, Eagle Technology, SsangYong, YHI, Winston Reid, Steven Laus, Bridgehouse (Warkworth), Vodafone, Monet Café (Newmarket), DB Breweries.
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FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
The best $40 you’ll spend in football
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urely, there’s no better value in football than the $40 required to become a financial member of Friends of Football. We no longer require members to pay annual subscriptions — once you have paid your one– off $40 joining fee, you receive perpetual membership (subject to conditions). Your $40 provides you with many benefits: Discounted prices to FoF events — our members saved $20 on the price of tickets to NZ Football’s 125th anniversary dinner, for instance. Priority to special deals on tickets and functions at top football events (such as international games). Preview copies of this magazine before it is made available to the public, and you can order hard copies at cost price. Access to various Friends of Football events held throughout the year.
Our group is expanding the range of its activities all the time, looking to host events that foster friendship, recognise achievement or show support for the game in New Zealand. Over the past few years, we have hosted racedays at Avondale Jockey Club and supported charity racedays at Ellerslie Racecourse. We hold our annual golf day in Auckland every April. Other events have included a re–union at Auckland’s Newmarket Park, and pre–match lunches in Cambridge with special guest speakers such as Ricki Herbert and Brian Turner.
Friends of Football Sponsored by
Our members and supporters keep in touch through our Facebook group which you can find at: facebook.com/ friends of football nz
WWW.FRIENDSOFFOOTBALLNZ.COM Friends of Football keeps members up to date through its website, designed and edited by Dwayne Barlow, a long–time football enthusiast based in Matamata.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS ISSUE Unless otherwise stated, all the photographs in this magazine are the work of Phototek’s Shane Wenzlick, the Official Photographer to Friends of Football. We are grateful to Shane for giving us access to his photographic library. OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL
To read the previous issues of FANZ, go to: http://issuu.com/hurricanepress 29
Steve Sumner 30
(1955 – 2017)
FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
OBITUARIES
Our game loses a legend
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ew footballers in New Zealand have earned as much adoration for their leadership and ability to inspire as former All Whites captain Steve Sumner. Sumner lost his battle with prostate cancer in February, dying at his Christchurch home and surrounded by his family. He was 61. The legend of New Zealand Football, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in September 2015, endured six rounds of chemotherapy and defied the odds before his health deteriorated at the start of this year. New Zealand Football Chief Executive Andy Martin said Sumner’s passing was a sad day for the football community in this country. “Steve was not only a great footballer, he was also a great man and he will be sorely missed,” said Martin. The CEO said Sumner will be remembered as one of the most influential footballers this country has ever produced. “What he and the All Whites team from 1982 achieved in that FIFA World Cup campaign put New Zealand on the world football map and his legacy will last forever,” he said. “We were fortunate to have a great time with Steve at the 125th anniversary of New Zealand Football last year and it was a special occasion for him in particular to reflect on all the amazing moments he was part of in the All Whites and in New Zealand Football.”
After serving an apprenticeship with Blackpool, the English-born Sumner came to New Zealand in 1976 to begin his football career with Christchurch United where he won the League title in his first season. Sumner went on to win six Chatham Cup titles — the only player to have won six Chatham Cup winner’s medals — and five league titles. The attacking midfielder’s international career spanned from 1976 to 1988 where he represented a record 105 times, 58 of which were A internationals where he scored 22 goals. He holds the record for the most goals scored in an international when he scored six goals during New Zealand’s 13–0 defeat of Fiji during the 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign. His goal in the 5-2 loss to Scotland in the 1982 World Cup was the first from an Oceania player at a FIFA World Cup and he was one of only two scorers for New Zealand from that tournament, alongside Steve Wooddin. In 1991, Sumner’s feats for the All Whites were recognised when he was inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame. In 2010 he was awarded FIFA’s top award, the FIFA Order of Merit, before the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, along with Johan Cruyff and former South African president Thabo Mbeki. In 2015, Sumner was awarded Friends of Football’s Medal of Excellence.
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Last year, New Zealand Football ran a ‘Play it For Steve’ campaign during the Chatham Cup which raised awareness for Prostate Cancer and it well supported by football clubs around the country which was a mark of respect for the man. Also in 2016, the grandstand at English Park in Christchurch was renamed ‘The Steve Sumner Stand’ in his honour. A staunchly proud Cantabrian, Sumner was humbled by the occasion. In October last year, Sumner was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for Services to Football at Government House in Wellington. Mr Steven Paul Sumner of Christchurch, surrounded by his family, was presented with the award by the Governor General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy during the Investiture ceremony. He will be remembered as a great of New Zealand Football and New Zealand sport.
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OBITUARIES
Football’s innovative leader
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ew Zealand football has lost one of its most successful leaders and administrators with the death in Auckland of Harry Dods after a lengthy illness. He was a former chairman of Auckland Football and New Zealand Football and will be remembered within football for helping introduce innovative ways to raise funds for the sport. A qualifed accountant, Dods moved to Auckland in the mid1970s from New Plymouth where he had been an active member of New Plymouth United, a club for which he was made a Life Member. He was employed by the Auckland Football Association and with Eden FC’s Roy Cox the pair became a formidable partnership who used innovative fundraising methods that helped raise money needed for New Zealand’s 1982 World Cup campaign. Dods became the CEO of the successful 1982 World Cup
Bobby Couwenberg (Eastern Suburbs) ONE OF THE national league’s earliest strikers, Robert (Bobby) Couwenberg died in Auckland this year, aged 63. Couwenberg played 134 games for Eastern Suburbs between 1970 and 1984, scoring 41 first team goals. Club chairman Chris Ruffell said: “Bobby was a real gentleman, an outstanding player and a valued contributor to the men’s premier team. “Our condolences go out to his family”. 32
Harry Dods campaign, and was able to watch his son Glenn become a key member of the squad that qualified for the finals in Spain. Dods later became chairman of Auckland Football Association, and then the chairman of the NZ Football Association. He and his great friend Cox were strongly supportive of the women’s game, helping it establish its own
organisation structure. In 2001, Dods was appointed National Games Director for New Zealand Special Olympics, organising 14 sports for 1800 competitors with the assistance of 750 volunteers. He was both the founding Chairman of Sport Auckland as well as founding Trustee, Chairman and Treasurer of SENZ Charitable Trust, an organisation set up to provide training and employment opportunities for young adults. He was a trustee for the Mt Wellington Stadium Charitable Trust, the organisation responsible for Bill McKinlay Park. Dods was a Life Member of the Auckland Football Federation and its predecessor, the Auckland Football Association, as well as the Auckland Junior Football Association. Friends of Football sends its condolences to Harry Dods’ partner Judy, and to the Dods family. Dods was 83.
WAIKATO LOSES TOP COACH FORMER HAMILTON AFC and Waikato women’s coach Jeff Coulshed died in July. He coached Waikato women to national tournament titles in 1988 and1989. Coulshed was a Hamilton AFC player in the 1960s and 1970s after emigrating from the UK in 1963. Jeff played for Hamilton, interrupted by a spell in Australian football. He then coached Hamilton to the Northern League title in 1979 and led them back into the national league. Jeff Coulshed FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
OBITUARIES
Sport mourns former NZ captain
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ew Zealand Football has joined the Mainland region in mourning the loss of Tony Laffey, who starred for his country in the 1950s and was captain on several occasions. Born in Christchurch in 1925, Anthony Joseph Patrick Laffey had a distinguished career in first-class football and represented New Zealand against teams from Hong Kong, Austria, New Caledonia and Costa Rica. In all, he made 10 appearances for New Zealand between 1955 and 1959 and skippered the side in four of those.
He would have added to that tally had a 1956 tour of South-East Asia that he was selected for not been cancelled. Regarded as a gentleman on and off the field, his leadership qualities also came to the fore when captaining several other teams, namely Western AFC, Canterbury and the South Island. He made 28 appearances for Canterbury, five for the South Island and was a Chatham Cup winner with Western in 1955. Laffey also won the English Football Association Trophy with Canterbury in 1957 and received individual recognition in being
Colin Shaw — prolific striker who loved winning
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ormer All White and Blockhouse Bay stalwart Colin Shaw has died in Auckland. “Colin distinguished himself as a striker of some renown with the All Whites and Blockhouse Bay and he will be sorely missed. The football family remembers Colin with affection and respect,” AFF Chairman Glyn Taylor said. Born in the Isle of Man, Shaw scored eight goals in five appearances for New Zealand and was a star for the Blockhouse Bay club in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His goals
led Blockhouse Bay to a Chatham Cup and National League double in 1970, the inaugural year of the league. He finished that season with 15 National League goals in only 14 matches. In other highlights, he scored two goals in the 1970 Chatham Cup final against Western Suburbs — which ended in a 2-2 draw — and then scored the winner in a 3-2 replay victory a week later. His proficiency continued and he plundered more goals with 20 strikes in just 18 National League appearances in 1971.
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named Canterbury FA Sportsman of the Year on two occasions. Equally adept at centre half or left back, he was not tall for a centre half but compensated for this with a great sense of anticipation and was also a very good distributor of the ball. He made his debut against South China in 1955 and played in all three matches of that series. He held his position until the 1958 season when towering Dutchman Theo van den Broek became the first choice for New Zealand but was back in the team in 1959 to take on Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa.
Colin Shaw A number of Shaw’s former teammates were present when the teams and supporters of Bay Olympic and Birkenhead United marked his passing before their Lotto NRFL Premier League game with a minute’s silence. Shaw is survived by his wife Margaret, his children and grandchildren.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
As well as having an entertaining day at Avondale Races, the Friends of Football raceday also provides opportunities for businesses or individuals to sponsor races and get national naming rights for them. Please contact us for more information — it can be a very cost effect way to promote your business.
A FUN DAY AT THE RACES EVENT: Friends of Football Raceday VENUE: Avondale Racecourse, Auckland DATE: Thursday November 30, 2017 TIME:
Noon — 5.30pm
FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL invite members and supporters to join us at Avondale Racecourse, Auckland, on November 30, 2017, for an afternoon of racing. This is an entertaining day and chance to catch up with friends, regardless of whether you are a follower of horseracing or not. This is our third year of holding this event. Your ticket includes entry to our private function room, a buffet lunch and a complementary drink on arrival. Tickets are only $40 pp and you can book individually or for tables of eight or 10. To book your ticket, email Friends of Football at secfof@gmail.com. 34
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F ANZ
INTERNATIONAL DIARY Getting behind our national teams
THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
THE FOOTBALL FERNS are back in action in November after confirmation of a two–match tour to Thailand. Tony Readings’ side will take on their Thai counterparts in a pair of ‘A’ internationals on November 25 and 28 in Bangkok with kick-off times and venues still to be confirmed. After six months of inactivity since the Cyprus Cup in March, Readings is relishing the prospect of taking to the field again so soon after a similar trip to the United States. “It’s really good for us to have the opportunity to build on some of the things we managed to achieve in the USA,” he says. “It was obviously a really tough tour because you’re playing against the best team in the world away from home. But we took some massive learnings and we made some steps towards where we want to be in 2019,” he adds. “We’d lost a bit of momentum after the 2016 Olympic Games with only one tour in 12 months so to be able to build on the USA tour and get that momentum back is going to be important for us.” The results didn’t quite go the way of a revitalised Football Ferns group in the States as a promising 3-1 loss to the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champions in Denver was followed with a 5-0 defeat a few days later in Cincinnati. But it was always going to be extremely difficult for 19th-ranked New Zealand against the world number one and Readings is expecting his players to be able to express themselves more fully against Thailand, ranked 10 places lower than the Ferns. “It’s important for us that we’re playing a mixture of teams between now and the World Cup in terms of
Paige Satchell (13) playing for the NZ Invitational XI against the Football Ferns’ Kate Bowen at QBE Stadium this year. Photo: Shane Wenzlick. style and quality. They don’t come any better than the USA away from home so, in those types of games, you’re getting tested defensively and your transition has to be impeccable, otherwise you get exploited,” he says.
FERNS FIXTURES Thailand v New Zealand Bangkok November 25, 2017
Thailand v New Zealand Bangkok November 28, 2017
“Against Thailand, all of those areas are going to be tested again but we also hope we can assert ourselves with the ball a bit more and maybe dictate the pace of the game — a bit like the USA did to us.” Thailand are no strangers to the Kiwi camp after travelling to these shores to take on a New Zealand ‘A’ side last December. The hosts
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won all three matches of that tour in Auckland — 3-2, 2-0 and 3-1 respectively — but Readings has plenty of admiration for the Thai approach. “Looking at what we’ve faced against them in the past, they’re a team that does want to play football — they try to build possession from the back and look to hurt you with the ball.”
ALL WHITES FIXTURES FIFA World Cup qualifiers New Zealand v Peru Westpack Stadium, Wellington 4.15pm, Saturday November 11, 2017 Peru v New Zealand Estadio Nacional de Lima, Peru 9.15pm, Wednesday 15 November, (Thursday 16 November 3.15pm NZT).
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AROUND THE COUNTRY News from football’s regions
THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE resigned and return to Australia in August. Karyn Walters is Interim CEO while the WaiBOP board searches for its fourth lead executive in five years.
NORTHERN referees have recognised their high achievers for 2017 with a series of awards. The Harcourts Cooper & Co Referee of the Year was Allan Wilson who was also voted the Referees’ Referee of the Year. The Referees’ Coach of the Year was jointly awarded to Andrew Wilson and Stephen Fletcher. The Personality of the Year was Santi Vega, while the Referee’s Assistant Referee of the Year was Stephen Merriman. The Rudi Hoffman Memorial Award recognising a referee who embodies the ‘spirit of NFF Referees’, was presented by the inaugural winner of this award, Peter Manning to Wendy McNeely for her dedication to developing fitness in Northern referees.
AUCKLAND Football are advertising the position of Manager for the Northern Regional Football League (NRFL). The role is responsible for implementing rules, regulations and operational requirements associated with the running of the competiton. Applications can be sent to the Interim CEO Bob Patterson here: ceo@aucklandfootball.org.nz.
WAIBOP FOOTBALL are still seeking a replacement for Chief Executive Mark Christie who 36
CENTRAL FOOTBALL have named their Hawkes Bay award winners for the year. Central Football CEO, John McGifford presented Napier Marist with the Ray Bowater Memorial Trophy for Junior Club of the Year. The Nick Penny Cup for Administrator of the Year went to Hayley Christison (Eskview Utd). The Terry O’Neil Cup for Contribution to Coaching was awarded to Bruce Barclay (Havelock North Wanderers). The Peter Tait Cup (Services to the Game) went to Phil Holt. The Perano Cup for Women’s Player of the Year was won by Aleesha Heywood (Taradale) while Angus Kilkolly (Napier City Rovers) won the Terry Parkin Cup for Men’s Player of the Year. Special recognition was also made of the following for their contribution to the HB game in 2017; Jimmy Calder (Eskview utd), Steve Doyle (Port Hill), James McIntosh and Ben Roughan (Napier Marist).
CAPITAL AND Central Football are jointly launching a Youth Premier League (formerly referred to as Regional Youth Development League) to begin in 2018.
The competition for 14th grade boys will begin in mid-August 2018 with four Capital Football teams joining five representing the Central region. At the conclusion of the league, representative squads will be selected for the Capital and Central Football regions.
MAINLAND FOOTBALL have recognised clubs and individuals at the region’s end-of-season awards night. Special awards for Service to Football were presented to Craig Bowen (Halswell United) and Matt Hickson (Christchurch United). The Eileen Langridge Administator of the Year was awarded to Halswell’s Bowen. More than 200 football enthusiasts packed the Sixty6 function room for the awards and for an entertaining Q/A session with former All White Ben Sigmund.
FOOTBALL SOUTH have celebrated the end of the winter football season with their regional prizegiving event. Sportsperson of the Year (male) went to Dunedin Technical’s Tim McLennan, while the Sportsperson of the Year (female) was Eleanor Isaac of Queenstown Rovers. Male Personality of the Year was Dan Todd (Roslyn Wakari) and the Female Personality of the Year was Patrina Roache (Dunedin Technical). Referee of the Year was Calvin Berg. FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
F ANZ
FURTHER AFIELD What’s happening in Oceania
THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
Draw made for OFC Champions League THE GROUPS for the 16th edition of Oceania Football Confederation’s premier international club competition have been confirmed following the official draw for the 2018 OFC Champions League. Taking top position in Group A is Papua New Guinea champions Lae City Dwellers who will be making their third-consecutive appearance in the competition. Joining them are competition debutants Nalkutan FC, who claimed Vanuatu’s top berth after winning the VFF National Super League then defeating Port Vila Football League champions Erakor Golden Star FC in their play-off. Fiji Vodafone Premier League runners-up Ba FC and the winner from the Qualifying Stage of the OFC Champions League were also drawn in Group A. The make-up of Group B includes the winner of Solomon Islands’ Telekom S-League, Tahiti Ligue 1 VINI winners AS Dragon, New Caledonia Super Ligue runner-up AS Lossi and Erakor Golden Star FC. In Group C the defending and eight-time champions Auckland City FC have drawn Fiji Vodafone Premier League winners Lautoka FC, Papua New Guinea runner-up Madang FC and AS Venus from Tahiti. Drawn first for Group D, New Zealand Premiership winner and three-time OFC Champions League runner-up Team Wellington will meet their 2016 and 2017 OFC Champions League semi-final opponent AS Magenta in the group stage after the New Caledonia champions were drawn in second position.
The runner-up from the Qualifying Stage and the second-place team from Solomon Islands have also been drawn in Group D. Each group in the OFC Champions League will meet at their hosts’ venue to play each other once over three match days with two rest days between games.
The three match days for Group A and Group B will be played between 10-18 February. Group C and Group D’s encounters will follow from 24 February to 4 March. The draw to determine the quarter-final and semi-final matches will be held after the completion of the Group Stage. — Courtesy OFC.com
How Oceania nations fare in latest FIFA world rankings NEW ZEALAND are now ranked 122nd on the updated FIFA World rankings for national teams, down from 109th spot at the start of the year. While Germany, Brazil and Portugal led the rankings when released on October 16 while New Zealand’s opponent in the FIFA World Cup qualifer series, Peru, was rated the 10th best side in the world. Oceania nations were in the lower section of the rankings, with the notable exception of New Zealand. Solomon Islands have been the notable improvers, climbing from 187 to 152 this year. Latest rankings (from 200 teams): 122nd: New Zealand 148th: Tahiti 150th: New Caledonia 159th: Papua New Guinea th 188 : Vanuatu 175th: Fiji 152nd: Soloman Islands 193rd: Cook Islands, Samoa Since their highest placing of 42 in 2002, the All Whites have had a roller coaster journey through the rankings, slipping in and out of the top 100. In early 2016, New Zealand dropped to their lowest point in the list at 161, but after their success at the OFC Nations Cup, where they earned tickets to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, the squad saw a strong comeback reaching 88th place.
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Football Dad Slicing and dicing A COLD, WET and slimy piece of tomato slapped into the back of Football Dad’s neck. ‘Yuck!’ bleated Short Podgy Kid. ‘Mum knows I don’t like tomato but she keeps putting it on my sam’iches.’ A second slice of tomato emerged from the back of the car, followed a curving flight path between the two front seats and landed on the large volume knob on the Blaupunkt car stereo. ‘Shooootttt!’ screeched Winey Know-It-All. ‘You nailed it!’ ‘Yeah, boyyyyeeeee!’ replied Short Pudgy Kid, bellowing at the top of his voice and kicking the back of Football Dad’s driver’s seat. ‘Told you I would hit it!’ The annual pre-season match with Small Seaside Town FC had been a tradition at the club for three decades. Football Dad was not a fan. It was meant to be a turnabout exercise in which one team would travel the 57.2 km over the hill to face the opposition. For the last three years, Small Seaside Town FC had ‘struggled a bit finding roadlegal vehicles to transport the kids,’ according to the junior convenor. So Football Dad, coach of the 11th Grade team — tradition dictated all grades clash, but it was mainly the older kids — had to take a team across. Again. For the third year in a row. ‘If you could keep your tomato to yourself, that would be marvellous,’ Football Dad asked politely but 38
firmly, wiping the soggy slice from the back of his neck. ‘Don’t think your mother would approve of you tossing it around my car.’ Seven kids jammed into the Anonymous Japanese PeopleMover, the Youngest One in the front with her father. ‘Bit wet over there,’ she observed dryly, pointing to the large dark
Raj From India piped up from the back row of the seats: ‘Mister, mister ... I feel like I’m going to be sick.’ grey crowd dumping rain on Small Seaside Town, 20 km away in the distance, down the hill. ‘Awesome!’ bellowed Short Podgy Kid, enthusiastically leaning forward between the two front seats and staring straight at Football Dad. ‘The pitch will be really muddy so we will get really filthy! Whoop whoop!’ ‘Ewwwww … ’ muttered Skinny Prissy Girl. ‘Yuck.’ ‘Worried your flash pink Nike boots might get dirty?’ goaded
Whiney Know-It-All. ‘Fail!’ Football Dad felt the back wheels slide on some gravel around a tight bend. The People-Mover shuddered as he braked. Raj From India piped up from the back row of the seats: ‘Mister, mister ... I feel like I’m going to be sick.’ More tomato whizzed through the car. Raj From India copped it square in the forehead, from where it slid down on to his notes. He gagged, reached for the electric window button, and leaned his head out of the car. ‘Mister we need to stop please,’ he asked, gagging a second time. Football Dad slammed on the anchors off a bend, careering onto the roadside grass. The car had barely come to a halt, a moment later, when Raj From Indian sprung forth from the vehicle, sprawling to the ground. Football Dad yanked at the handbrake and leapt from the car. A football came flying out of the door, followed by another. The second hit Football Dad in the shoulder as Raj From India chundered into a small ditch.
FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
FOOTBALL DAD A LONG–TIME WRITER, Football Dad’s identity has been a well– kept secret in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty where his Football Dad columns first appeared in the WaiBOP United magazine, The Range. Since then, the columns have been republished as an ebook .... revealing the author to be Jeff Neems. His book is available at www.amazon.com.
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FRIENDS Our aims & purpose FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL is an independent group of people with a common interest in sharing their love of the ‘beautiful game’ and its rich and proud history as the globe’s most popular team sport. We’re passionate about protecting and promoting the positive aspects of the game to others — young and old — and the benefits it provides to the wider community. Our Vision We’ll create opportunities for people to share their love of football without boundaries of age, colour/ ethnicity, gender or status. Our Mission To promote the positive aspects of football as widely as possible, particularly among young people. To foster fellowship and a love for the game among friends spanning
all spheres of football — playing, administering, officiating or supporting — from the cradle to the grave.
(c) To foster friendship and collegiality through social and business networking opportunities between members and others.
Our Goals/Objectives (a) To harness knowledge and information about football through the skills and experience of its members and to utilise this knowledge and information for the general benefit of the game in New Zealand. (b) To recognise and acknowledge publicly those who have made a significant contribution to football in New Zealand.
www.friendsoffootballnz.com
facebook.com/friendsoffootballnz
HOW TO JOIN US MEMBERSHIP of Friends of Football is open to anyone who supports our group’s goals and objectives. We have a $40 joining fee which entitles you to perpetual membership unless you die, resign, are declared bankrupt, are convicted of a serious crime or bring the game ofw football into disrepute. To join, email our secretary at secfof@gmail.com, with brief details including name, address and preferred email and phone contacts. You can pay by direct deposit (online or at any bank) to the Friends of Football bank account at the BNZ Dominion Rd branch: Account details: 02 0144 0285148 02 (please give your surname and initials as reference). 40
FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
OF FOOTBALL
Meet our committee
Chairman Earle Thomas
Earle Thomas, Chairman Thomas played 49 times for New Zealand between 1967–80, scoring 19 goals, and he captained the All Whites 1975–76. For his club Mt Wellington, he scored 99 goals in 187 games. He has held senior management roles with sportsgoods firms Spalding, Top Flite and Calloway. He’s now a director of a sports importing business, and still coaches junior football. Thomas became chair of Friends of Football in 2017, taking over from John Morris.
Brian Turner, Founder Debuting as a 16–year–old, Turner played 102 times for New Zealand, including 59 full internationals, between 1967 and 1982, and in three World Cup campaigns. He played professionally for Chelsea, Portsmouth and Brentford and was three times NZ Year Player of the Year, and three times Auckland Player of the Year. As an assistant coach or manager, he took part in two World Cup campaigns, and was coach Ricki Herbert's assistant with the undefeated All Whites squad at the 2010 finals in South Africa. He was admitted to football's Hall of Fame in 1995.
Cathleen Bias, Secretary Having worked for New Zealand Football between 2006 and 2015, Cathleen brings to our committee a thorough knowledge of the processes that drive the game in this country. Her work for NZF covered projects and events, and overseeing Goalnet, the sport’s player database. She has also worked as team manager for the NZ U–17 women’s team and follows other sports, including BMX. Chris Curley, Treasurer Chris Curley is a retired company executive with more than 40 years’ experience centred on the senior executive roles of Company Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Manager for the listed public companies Auckland International Airport Limited and Ceramco Corporation Limited. Chris played all his football for the Eden club starting at age 10 in 1958 and retiring in 1980 after 12 years in their senior team.
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Founder Brian Turner
Cathleen Bias
Chris Curley 41
OUR COMMITTEE
Sam Malcolmson, Committee A member of the 1982 All Whites who qualified for theWorld Cup finals in Spain, Malcolmson continues his involvement in football through media work and coaching school football in Auckland. He’s coached at senior level and been an administrator, utilising business skills gained with sports companies such as Adidas, New Balance, Umbro and Starter. Sam Malcolmson
Armin Lindenberg
Josh Easby
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Armin Lindenberg, Committee During 18 years as a newspaper journalist, Lindenberg covered the 1981–82 World Cup campaign and two Olympic Games, winning NZ Sports Writer and Sports Journalist of the Year awards. The last 25 years, he has worked as a communications consultant, specialising in media relations, corporate and stakeholder communication. He is a Life Member of Eastern Suburbs AFC and of the NZ Sports Journalists Association, and a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand. Josh Easby, Committee Cambridge–based Easby has written about football for 40 years, editing books, match programmes, websites and since 1997, the daily email newsletter There’s Only One Arthur Bottom for fans of English League Two club York City (of which he is a former director). He's on the committee at Cambridge FC. He's the owner of book publishing company Hurricane Press and was deputy chair of Radio New Zealand for six years. Mark Burgess, Committee A dual New Zealand international, Burgess played 50 cricket tests for his country and played once for the New Zealand football team (against
Manchester United). As a youngster, he was New Zealand Football Player of the Year in 1965, and represented the national U23 team. In the 1990s, Burgess served on the national council of New Zealand Soccer (now NZF). Steve Laus, Committee Laus played more than 300 games at top level for various northern clubs including Bay Olympic, Central United, East Coast Bays and Onehunga Sports. He’s the North Island manager for a national auto parts supply company, and brings his commercial expertise as well as his knowledge of football to our committee. Alan Yates, Committee Yates is a former player, coach, administrator and football broadcaster whose election to the FoF committee coincides with the completion of his five–year term as President of the Northern Football Federation. After being on the books of Liverpool FC as a youth player, Yates emigrated in 1970, joining Auckland club Eden as a player and playing national league for North Shore United. He coached at Takapuna and East Coast Bays with whom he won promotion to the National League. He was CEO of Cornwall Cricket Club and is now Business Development Manager for the Schofield Group. Andrew Dewhurst, Committee Andrew began broadcasting with The Radio Network in Wellington in the 1990’s before moving to Auckland as one of the original hosts on Radio Sport. Now director of his own media and PR company Gracie Productions, Andrew splits his time between broadcasting on football and tennis FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
and managing sports clients. He played National League (briefly) and Northern League football. Ryan Dawkins, Committee Ryan was co–opted to our committee in 2017, bringing football knowledge and sales leadership expertise to our team. He played many seasons of national league football as a defender for Waitakere United. Professionally, he has a proven record in sales management and is currently the Sales Director for sports apparel company Score Sportswear.
Andrew Dewhurst
Alan Yates
PHOTOGRAPHER Phototek’s Shane Wenzlick is the Official Photographer to Friends of Football. We are grateful to Shane for giving us access to his photographic library for use in our publications and at our events.
Steve Laus
WEBSITE Dwayne Barlow maintains our website. The owner of Dwayne Barlow Media and Marketing Ltd (DBMM), he is a long–time football administrator with Matamata Swifts and is the communications manager for WaiBOP Football. He was the editor of the award–winning WaiBOP United matchday magazine, The Range.
Ryan Dawkins
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GET OFF THE GRASS The final word from Sky Sports commentator Andrew Dewhurst Everyone is a critic in this game that we all love so much; I guess in that regard I am no different. But rather than be critical for the sake of it, could we all try to be constructive? I am bored of those who at the first opportunity suggest our teams are ‘crap’ or that our players are ‘not up to it’. I say this in the context of the U-20’s performance at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Korea. Everyone is an expert, but plenty are simply boorish, usually from the comfort of an armchair. The team emerged from the group with a win, draw and loss (against heavyweights France) and became the first to progress to the R16 of a World Cup outside of New Zealand without being a ‘lucky’ third place team. I say fantastic, what an achievement, celebrate this team and what they are doing on the world stage! Then, if you like, debate the minor points of the campaign or the ‘style’ of game, but do so in the context of a fantastic set of results.
Slow to start against Vietnam, superb at times against Honduras, and a mix of bravery, luck (good and bad) and brilliance (with a dash of naivety) against the French. While enjoying this team and their achievements, I am even more convinced that New Zealand must produce more technically gifted players and for them to be encouraged in our systems and by our coaches. Two examples for me are James McGarry and Sarpreet Singh, both of whom have struggled for their big break and recognition in spells at Wellington Phoenix. In my opinion, both are players who can ‘own’ the football in tight situations. A clever touch to control, vision to see the next pass, and the skill to execute – they don’t look out of place alongside much more vaunted opponents.
And they often make it look simple — we are not always talking about a 50 metre through ball, often it is these high-level IQ players who can unlock an opposition with a series of simple, short passes. I am not involved in coaching or high-performance pathways, but coaches, please, if you have players with that extra level of skill, the ‘touch’ that separates them out from otherwise and vision to unlock an opposition, do all you can to encourage them to develop and prosper, and have the patience to stick by them if their physical strengths take longer to manifest.
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To read the previous issues of FANZ, go to: http://issuu.com/hurricanepress
FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE