Bloc 5

The Blue Brazil

2012-01-15T18:04:00.002+13:00

“...I remember working in Burntisland and it was a cup game with Morton and there were no buses running so I walked nearly 8 miles and it had been snowing to get to see Cowdenbeath play Morton and the sad part about it was that Cowdenbeath lost 1 nothing but that didn’t matter it was the anticipation walking from Burntisland to Central Park and seeing Cowdenbeath.” - Ross Birrell

Thanks to Ali Reggae for putting me on to this.

It's one member one vote

2012-01-10T21:38:00.000+13:00

"And whilst I was sitting in my overpriced seat, in virtual silence, I also became aware that I was watching players paid so much that, each season, they threatened the very existence of my club. I’m not so naïve as to believe there was ever a golden age of benign chairmen running the game with a strict utopian, Socialist doctrine. But, if the game was to evolve and progress, spiralling levels of greed that ruthlessly exploited the tribal loyalty of fans, was not something I wanted to be part of.

The Premiership marketing goons had turned me and thousands of other supporters into customers, just as if we were visitors to a multiplex cinema. The experience was controlled and choreographed to the point where even my bloody pies were themed. And so I responded, not like a fan who’s heart belonged to my club, but like the customer that modern football had sought to make me. And, in 2006, I chose to stop going."

Read more here:- Why I swapped Bolton Wanderers for FC United of Manchester

"At Union it's all about heart and soul"

2012-01-05T01:37:00.001+13:00

"The club has been selling 10,000 shares in the Alte Försterei (Old Forester's House) stadium in the east Berlin district of Köpenick, allowing fans to have a say in how the ground develops in the future. The shares cannot be bought en masse by an oil-rich sheikh or an American family looking for a neat way to juggle billions of dollars of debts."

Read more here:- Berlin football club sells its soul - but only to fans

Eff Cee Bee

2011-12-28T22:52:00.000+13:00

PS Ricki Sherbert

2011-12-19T21:25:00.002+13:00

Yesterday I counted at least 21 Kiwis on the pitch at Kiwitea Street for round 6 of the ASB Premiership.

Might I suggest that if you're going to deride and degrade our national league then you should get your facts right.

Yours sincerely
Richie

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Nine

2011-12-08T14:13:00.001+13:00

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Parts Six, Seven & Eight

2011-12-08T13:01:00.000+13:00

Whenever they're playing in your town...

2011-12-06T13:19:00.003+13:00

...get yourself to that football ground

Auckland City FC (aka The Pride of Sandringham) v Kashiwa Reysol
Thursday, 8 December
Kick-off 11:45pm (NZT)
Live Sky Sport 1

Kiwitea Street open from 8pm for screening of THE BIG MATCH. All football fans welcome.

Auckland City: The Underdogs

2011-12-05T13:27:00.000+13:00

"Auckland achieved their greatest success at the 2009 Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Against all odds the plucky team of truck drivers, interior decorators, school teachers and shop assistants beat the champions of a multi million dollar Arab league (the host nations’ team Al Ahly) and the champions of one of FIFA’s largest confederations (TP Mazembe of Africa – who came runners-up at the 2010 Club World Cup).
...

No matter what happens in Japan, Auckland City FC and Kiwitea Street will remain a bastion of “heart and soul” football in an increasingly commercialised football world. It is how football used to be and, in my opinion, how football should be."

Read more here:- Slide Rule Pass: A blog about football

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Five

2011-12-05T13:18:00.002+13:00

Slide Rule Pass

2011-12-04T22:58:00.000+13:00

"Tomorrow, Auckland City fan Richard McIlroy will introduce his team."

Read more here:- Slide Rule Pass: A blog about football

Commitment (Part II)

2011-12-04T20:01:00.001+13:00

“But we’re leaving nothing to chance. Although we’re amateurs, we are 100 per cent committed to winning. We’re training every day, so the differences are minimal. Most of our players work 40 hours per week, then train with us, and in some ways that’s tougher than being in a professional environment.” - Auckland City FC Coach Ramon Tribulietx

“For a small amateur team like ours, it’s going to take something absolutely out of the ordinary to get any kind of result. I don’t think the public back home understand how big an achievement it was winning two games in Abu Dhabi." - Auckland City FC Captain Ivan Vicelich

Read more here:- FIFA.com: Auckland duo eye new sensation

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Four

2011-12-04T14:11:00.003+13:00

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Three

2011-12-02T21:22:00.002+13:00

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Two

2011-12-01T16:09:00.001+13:00

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part One

2011-11-30T14:07:00.001+13:00

Dear Ricki Sherbert

2011-11-27T21:50:00.000+13:00

Today I counted at least 19 Kiwi players on the pitch at Kiwitea Street for round 4 of the ASB Premiership.

Yours sincerely
Richie

Ramon's gonna teach us punk football

2011-11-22T22:14:00.000+13:00

"Starting as underdogs in such fixtures is a given for the part-timers, but with daily pre-tournament training sessions, not to mention several full internationals and ex-professionals in their ranks, Spoonley believes they are well equipped for the challenge."

Read more here:- Spoonley: It's not mission impossible

Meet the owners

2011-11-21T18:04:00.001+13:00

The Premier League and the Football League are dead to me

2011-11-19T00:10:00.001+13:00

"The EPL has pinched a penny too many, the FL has retained a vertebrae too few. And because of that, I want nothing more to do with them. *Sulk*. *Waaaahhhh*. Between them they have killed or surrendered too much. Greed is now all encompassing, it’s not even subtle anymore."

Read more here:- Going Cold Turkey

Detached and disillusioned

2011-11-18T23:58:00.000+13:00

"I dislike the fact we’re meant to bow before the Premier League as if it is the be all and end all. I dislike the patronising of lower league supporters, as if we’re mad to consider watching our local team...

I dislike that modern football means we should start at 1992 and nothing else...

Modern football is a religion. And I’m either losing mine completely or having a serious crisis of faith."

Read more here:- Losing my religion: Why I'm close to giving up on football

I have a gem of a ...video

2011-11-18T23:38:00.001+13:00

Squeal with delight as Adam McGeorge (NZ), Ian Hogg (NZ), Chad Coombes (NZ), Danko Koprivcic (NZ), Sam Campbell (NZ), Adam Dickinson (UK), Paul Urlovic (NZ), Grant Young (SA), Matt Williams (NZ), Bobby Spoonley (NZ), Ki Hyung-Lee (SK), James Pritchett (NZ), Greg Uhlmann (NZ) etc etc walk behind Guinness World Record holder Paul Gothard ...what's that I hear you say Ricki Sherbert? No Kiwis in the ASBP? The words "no idea" spring to mind.

ACFC Team Sponsorship Fund: 2011 Club World Cup, Japan

2011-11-17T16:07:00.003+13:00

The ACFC Supporters Club want to sponsor Super Sammy Campbell.

Super Sam has been a loyal ACFC squad member for a number of years. He's not always the first choice centre back but when required he always steps up and puts in a great contribution - most notably the victory over TP Mazembe at the 2009 CWC (when ACFC earned New Zealand football enough money to save our New Zealand national league from extinction).

Contact me if you want to contribute $25.

Read more here:- ACFC Team Sponsorship Fund

Commitment (Part I)

2011-11-09T00:33:00.002+13:00

"In bidding to repeat their 2009 heroics, Auckland City’s players have been training every day for over a month, and the results speak for themselves, with four wins from as many matches. Those victories have included a 3-1 friendly win over professional opponents, Australia’s Central Coast Mariners, with Auckland’s players dedicating themselves to a demanding schedule despite full-time professional and study commitments."

Read more here:- Mulligan: Auckland won't be daunted

Help the Aged...

2011-10-26T00:18:00.002+13:00

...one time they were just like you, drinking smoking cigs and sniffing glue.

"The project in Miles Platting and Newton Heath is designed to help older people get the basic help and/or company some lack and which you would expect to get from a good neighbour.

...

To help people prepare for volunteering we have organised some training (on working with older people, on basic first aid and on food hygiene) which will provide new knowledge and skills. This training will also provide certification (e.g. the Food Safety gains you an RSPH Level 2 Award), providing extra help to any volunteers who are applying for jobs."

FCUM. Greatest football club on the planet. Fact.

Read more here:- Well-Being, Good Neighbours Schemes

3 o'clock on a Saturday

2011-10-25T20:07:00.002+13:00

Super League Liner

2011-10-24T22:27:00.000+13:00

United owners take helicopter back to London...

2011-10-24T21:42:00.003+13:00

...United fans take train.

Read more here:- Up up and away

While the majority eat ice creams...

2011-10-24T21:30:00.002+13:00

Add to favourites

2011-10-11T00:31:00.001+13:00

AS Magenta v Auckland City FC, February 2011

One of my favourite photos. 9 players ready, willing and able to play for the All Whites thanks to ACFC. Good news is they're all back this season.

Photo by Alaine Vartane

Rich, richer, richest

2011-10-08T14:03:00.002+13:00

Michael Cockerill does his best to explain why fans of "football" could be forgiven for not supporting the A League this season. Spot how many times he uses the words "rich", "richer" "richest" etc.

Read more here:- A richman's toy (warning: reading this will make you feel ill)

See if you can find: money; billion; richest; revenue; dollars; investment; million; investors; economy; spend; red ink; corporate networks; government networks; speculate; accumulate; highest-paid; and bank.

It matters. It matters a lot.

2011-10-04T18:27:00.002+13:00

Auckland City FC tshirts

2011-09-30T18:21:00.002+13:00

The design:

Old style football - like the type that appears on the crests of many established football clubs throughout the world, ie Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Benfica, Spurs, Norwich, Rangers, Wigan Athletic, FC Basel etc.
Laurel wreath - a reference to the clothing worn by terrace casuals across the football stadiums of the world.

The ball and wreath image has been used by various Ultra groups for a number of years. More recently the ball and wreath image has been used by football supporters around the world to signify many of the principles which are central to Auckland City FC's operation, ie affordable football ($50 season tickets, children under 15 free); players who make huge sacrifices to hold down day jobs/tertiary education and still train 4 times a week; and a club run on the dedication and hard work of volunteers.

The colour: AUCKLAND CITY LIGHT BLUE

The price: $35

Wear the tshirt and support the club and the principles it stands for.

"It's a more genuine achievement..."

2011-09-11T15:34:00.001+12:00

Kick Racism out of Football Writing

2011-08-19T23:14:00.017+12:00

I’m not sure if you saw Bryce Johns’ item in the Herald on Sunday the other week. 46 year old Bryce Johns reckons football was more "manly" when he played but now he’s about “to start walking from the sport” because the game is full of foreigners who cheat.

Bryce Johns singled out a number of Auckland City FC players and said they were cheats simply on the basis of their foreign names.

A respected expert in this area wrote to Bryce Johns pointing out the racist elements of his item. Bryce Johns’ response was that because he has “a 25-plus year writing background”, “more than 20-years playing Northern and Central soccer”, “an NZS coaching badge”, “coached 1^st XI school teams” etc this somehow entitles him to make racist comments.

Obviously Bryce Johns isn’t aware of Professor Paul Morris’ research into diving and simulation in football:-

“Diving is stereotypically thought of as a 'foreign' behaviour by certain sections of football supporters and media in the UK. When the discussion of simulation is raised, it is often accompanied by an overseas name and rarely that of an Englishman. Dr Morris completely refutes the idea however that diving is more culturally accepted in other countries outside of England and also rejects the suggestion English players are less likely to dive than their foreign counterparts.”

“This behaviour (diving) has no national boundaries; everyone does it, it even occurred unprompted during our research trials," he jokes. "Diving does seem to have become more common in the last few decades in English football, but the fact there has been an increased influx of foreign players into the Premier League during that time is purely incidental. One can point to the fact there is now far greater technology to analyse games, people see football in a far different light than they used to. Sure, there are players that seem more likely to dive, but their nationality cannot be considered a factor. This is purely individualistic behaviour we are talking about."

Below are links to some resources so that you can be more informed than Bryce Johns, The Herald on Sunday, The New Zealand Herald, APN etc.
Show Racism the Red Card
Football Unites, Racism Divides
Let's Kick Racsim Out Of Football
NZ Race Relations Commission

We must be of community benefit even before any success on the field

2011-08-19T22:39:00.002+12:00

FCUM is set up as an Industrial and Provident Society (Community Benefit Co-operative). Central to its constitution is the requirement that the club must be of benefit to the community.

Recently FCUM CEO Andy Walsh gave a seminar about the FCUM vision, fan owned football clubs, FCUM's community work, FCUM organisational structure, FCUM budget, FCUM's search for a home ground, AFC Wimbledon, Exeter City FC etc.

The seminar has been uploaded to YouTube in 15 parts:
Part 1 - Revolution into Reality
Part 2 - Equal Shares
Part 3 - Monetary Benefits
Part 4 - Rash Decision?
Part 5 - Balancing Football with Community Benefit
Part 6 - Wider Influence
Part 7 - Communicating with Members
Part 8 - Organisational Structure
Part 9 - Players' Wages
Part 10 - Personal Background
Part 11 - Other Clubs
Part 12 - Top End of Football
Part 13 - FIFA
Part 14 - Non Football Fans
Part 15 - Closing Statements

It's well worth a look.

“We felt that for far too long fans as the customers of the game have just been largely ignored and marginalised and exploited ...the fans themselves are just treated in quite a despicable way by most of the football clubs because they see that their ultimate loyalty is something to exploit not something to actually bring in and use effectively with developing the club.” - Andy Walsh, CEO FCUM

"Finance capital doesn’t like competition and finance capital has moved into football ...finance capital works on the basis of domination and eliminating the opposition, well you can’t eliminate the opposition in sport. Without the opposition sport doesn’t exist. So that model is fundamentally flawed and it needs to be challenged." - Andy Walsh, CEO FCUM

Polish Reds

2011-07-29T22:52:00.003+12:00

On a changing room wall in West Auckland

2011-07-03T20:04:00.000+12:00

On a hill in Colwyn Bay

2011-05-28T23:15:00.000+12:00

Llanelian Road had a capacity restriction of 2000 for this game. FC United were allocated 1000 tickets. They took 2000 supporters. Those who couldn't fit into the ground (some 500-odd) set themselves up on a hill in a paddock overlooking the pitch. F**king magic!!

Not in the wider interests of football

2011-05-28T22:23:00.001+12:00

"As football's reputation continues to be tarnished by soaring debt, political scandal and superinjunctions, proof is needed that the sport retains a soul. Step forward AFC Wimbledon. Under dark Manchester skies, the club formed by supporters for supporters produced a golden moment on Saturday, overcoming Luton on penalties to win the Blue Square play-off final and seal their place in the Football League.

...

Nine years. That is how long it has taken AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans 12 days after the original Crazy Gang was stolen away from them and relocated to Milton Keynes, to rise from the Combined Counties League to League Two, taking in five promotions and many more plaudits along the way, notably from the heroes of the club's 1988 FA Cup final win over Liverpool. Dave Beasant, who saved a penalty in that win at Wembley 23 years ago, described this rise from parks football as the club's greatest moment."

Read more here:- It only took nine years

Here's an article from 2009 about AFC Wimbledon's promotion to the Conference (their fourth promotion in seven years):- From Crazy Gang to Culture Club

Now every single one of us loves Paul Vodanovich

2011-05-26T19:10:00.001+12:00

This guy needs a stand named after him or something...

Oh dear oh dear

2011-05-26T15:08:00.003+12:00

"...there was only one way for Manchester United's followers to get a seat for the Champions League final on the open market on Thursday – and it involved paying £574 for a return coach trip and dinner.

Thomas Cook Sport, one of United's sponsors, were selling packages for that sum despite a face value on the tickets of £225. It means the bus trip down the M6 to Wembley (admittedly stopping at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche en route) costs £349 – a pretty expensive way to travel in anyone's book."

They won't need a coach ...the Tube is a far more economical way of getting across London.

Read more here:- Champions League final ticket £225, bus to Wembley £349

Oh dear

2011-05-26T15:03:00.001+12:00

"Against Schalke last Wednesday it had felt strange to witness a European Cup semi-final with the volume turned so low. The people in charge of the music put out a medley of jingly-jangly United-themed pop songs and, worse, pumped out crowd noise through the speakers."

Guess which A League club does this?

Read more here:- Sir Alex Ferguson basks in the euphoria

Up for the Club World Cup

2011-05-09T15:40:00.000+12:00

Don't get shirty - Part II

2011-05-09T11:54:00.001+12:00

Don't get shirty - Part I

2011-05-03T16:59:00.003+12:00

We're going to Colwyn Bay, Que sera sera...

2011-05-01T18:27:00.003+12:00

FCUM face Colwyn Bay to determine who will be promoted with FC Halifax Town to the Conference North next season.

"In the build up to the match, manager Karl Marginson had the FC United faithful create a cauldron of noise and the fans in attendance certainly did not disappoint. Some described the atmosphere as "Rochdale-esque"..."

Read more here:- FC United into play-off final against Colwyn Bay

This is how it feels to be City

2011-04-18T22:36:00.004+12:00

Auckland City is phenomenal. With stuff all support from New Zealand Football, the good folk at ACFC have taken it upon themselves to build a first rate football team, a first rate football facility and a first rate football experience. Viva Sandringham!!

It's run on the dedication of volunteers...

2011-04-18T14:13:00.004+12:00

"McFarland said the squad were mostly university students while the rest worked full-time jobs ranging from signwriting, coaching, and in the retail sector while one was holding down a professional position in the finance industry.

Like their predecessors, however, they had adopted a professional approach to their season and the OFC competition.

"I reckon the players are the most committed in the country," he said. "We train four times a week and play one match so that's five times a week they're all together.

"I don't see any other sides outside of the national team doing that on a regular basis. That's a huge commitment to ask of people who have normal jobs.

"So the players and staff have a very professional outlook but the board and all backroom staff are very organised as well.

"It's run on the dedication of volunteers ... they just love the game so much.""

Read more here:- Lure of FIFA payday on line for Oceania club champions

10 men, We've only got 10 men - Brighton 1 v FCUM 1

2010-12-01T19:09:00.003+13:00

Brighton graded this fixture a Category C match (highest risk of disorder) – a category usually reserved for its arch enemy Crystal Palace. In fact, the last time Brighton graded a match Category C was when Crystal Palace turned up at Withdean 5 years ago. Accordingly, FC United were only allocated 845 tickets - which is amusing because they could probably have sold 4 times that number while Brighton reduced the price of their fans’ tickets out of fear that no-one would turn up.

Category C, You’re havin’ a Laugh: “So, the mockery of the Category C grading had been turned on its head. Best away fans we've had at the Withdean? Probably. Certainly, they were the loudest since Stoke City came to town around six years or so ago. There will be better days for the Albion. Promotion would be rich reward for the Brighton fans whom have fought tooth and nail to keep their club afloat in more trying circumstances. A final thought to the Safety Advisory Committee: Football is nothing without fans.”

Read more here:- European Football Weekends

This extraordinary story has another chapter to run yet: “The Mongol hordes didn’t materialise, as things turned out. Indeed, anyone looking for trouble around Brighton railway station yesterday lunchtime will only have found a handful of bored and cold looking policemen and the pubs humming with travelling support from Manchester enjoying a pre-match drink and trying to postpone having to venture out into the bitter, lacerating cold...

The club brings with it an undeniable and insuppressible sense of event to the match, and even prior to kick-off all of the noise inside the ground comes from the away end, to our left. The myth that it is impossible to create an atmosphere at this ground is being demolished before our very eyes – they just have to work harder for it on account of the distance that they are from the pitch…

Away to our left, a party has already started that doesn’t seem likely to end any time soon. The decision to label this match as a Category C match, the first at Withdean for five years, was an extraordinarily wrong-headed one and the proof of this has come with the impeccable behaviour of the travelling FC United support. The most surprising thing about all of this is that anybody was surprised by this in the first place. Withdean has not – if ever – witnessed anything like this in years and they, as well as their team, thoroughly deserve their place in the draw for the Third Round of the competition…

Meanwhile, another victory has already been won by FC United of Manchester this weekend. If the battle for hearts and minds counts for anything, the noise and colour of the supporters has rolled into another town and out again without incident, and the possibility of the replay being televised may bring further, much-needed money into the club. On top of the decision that was made on Thursday to grant planning permission for their new ground, they have had a brilliant few days and the positive attention that their cup run is bringing them is thoroughly deserved. This alternative vision for the future of football continues to confound and amaze.”

Read more here:- Match of the Week: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 -1 FC United of Manchester

Football and its Discontents: The Restructuring of Australian Football and the Fate of the Ethnic Clubs

2010-12-01T13:23:00.002+13:00

"This paper examines the cancellation of Australia’s National Soccer League (NSL) at the end of the 2003-2004 summer season and its replacement with the new A-League competition. The shift to the A-League resulted in the ethnic community clubs, which had formed the backbone of the NSL for 30 years, being relegated to the state premier leagues... [t]he A-League used high minimum annual budget figures to “price” the ethnic clubs out of the marketplace. However, the “other” Eastern European ethnic element has not been completely assimilated into “Modern Football”. Hardcore supporters of the ethnic clubs continue to express dissent towards “Modern Football” by online forum postings, homemade fence banners, and the like."

"During the mid- to late-1990s, under the leadership of the English-born Mr David Hill (1995 to 1998), a concerted effort was made to “de-ethnicize”, “mainstream”, and “professionalize” the NSL... [e]thnic clubs to be forcibly removed from the NSL in the Hill era included Melbourne-based Brunswick, Sydney-based Parramatta Eagles (clubs traditionally associated with the Italian and Maltese communities, respectively), and the popular Greek/ Greek Macedonian club Heidelberg United from Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs.”

"In 2004 the NSL was disbanded by the then ASA (now FFA). Just prior to this, multi-billionaire, Frank Lowy, once owner of the Sydney City Slickers aka Hakoah and now the CEO of the Westfield property group, had been hired to restructure and reinvigorate Australian football. In October 2003, the ASA had appointed a Taskforce to investigate a replacement national competition, chaired by Sydney businessman and former Sydney City Slickers chairman Andrew Kemeny. The Taskforce received 110 submissions and released its results on 8 December 2003. Ultimately Tony Labbozzetta, Ange Cimera, and like-minded traditional club stalwarts were defeated and a corporatized national league plan was promulgated that involved expelling the ethnic community clubs to the premier leagues of the various states; utilizing a North American style “one-city-one-team” model; and encouraging new private-equity franchise teams."

You can download a copy of this research paper here: Download - Football and its Discontents: The Restructuring of Australian Football and the Fate of the Ethnic Clubs

You can read this research paper online here: Read - Football and its Discontents: The Restructuring of Australian Football and the Fate of the Ethnic Clubs

Speaking of football in the community

2010-11-23T23:28:00.003+13:00

ACFC youngsters to meet refugee challengers
Auckland City Football Club is getting the best of its under-20 side together to take on an “All Refs” side this Thursday.

The “All Refs” are a football team made up from refugees who live throughout Auckland. The team has built up quite a reputation and some its members have played at national level and internationally.

All Ref Walid Omar Hassani (18) has had his fair share of international games and also tried out for Manchester United in 2006. Similarly Mukhtar, who plays in the NZ under-17s, has taken on teams in America, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong.

The Auckland City team will be made up of Academy players and supported by noted Premier side members including ex All White Riki van Steeden and Takayuki Omi who played for the Japanese under-19 side.

Craig Edwards, general manager at Auckland City Football Club said that though the All Refs have a good side, ACFC have put together a tough team to beat.

“These players are the cream of our under 20s crop.” says Edwards.

This is a unique one off event which has largely come about because the Auckland football club is interested to see if they are able to tap into a new talent pool.

“The All Refs have a reputation for being a highly skilled team and this game is a great opportunity for ACFC to get to know more about the players,” says David Cooper of Malcolm Pacific. He and business partner Aussie Malcolm have helped the team members and many refugees by sponsoring team uniforms and fees as part of the Refugees as Survivors programme in Auckland.

The game is scheduled for 6pm on Thursday 25 November at ACFC’s Kiwitea Street ground in Sandringham. Entry is free to all wishing to attend.

Read more here:- Refugees as Survivors New Zealand

"The principle here is putting the supporters and the community at the centre of everything we do...

2010-11-23T23:14:00.001+13:00

...[e]verbody who cares about the game thinks that there's something not quite right at the heart of it and something needs to be done." Andy Walsh, General Manager, FC United.

"'It's the message that was given out on live television...

2010-11-23T22:32:00.005+13:00

...that in football it's the ordinary fans and how they want things to be that matters more than anything else.' [Andy Walsh, General Manager, FC United]...

...The Stretford End, the famous former terrace and locus of United's most passionate supporters, was renamed the West Stand and it's first tier filled with executive seats."

Read more here:- FC United: A punk football fairy tale by Julian Coman.

Some people call it a mid-life crisis...

2010-11-17T21:22:00.007+13:00

...I call it pursuing my creative side.

A sign of things to come...

2010-11-17T20:31:00.004+13:00

Sky buy an 80% stake in the Kingz. One of the first things they do is a new ad campaign. I mean, who on earth thought that it was ever ok to kick an animal!?

We're on the march with Margy's army

2010-11-06T14:57:00.000+13:00

I'll admit to feeling a little teary eyed watching this...

Shades of Stretford

2010-11-06T14:27:00.000+13:00

People standing, singing, waving flags, lighting flares... it's hard to believe it's October 2010 and not October 1982. Enjoy.

Up For The Cup - Part II

2010-10-25T22:08:00.000+13:00

Carlos Roca books the Rebels a place in the FA Cup first round proper against Rochdale.

Up For The Cup - Part I

2010-10-25T21:20:00.000+13:00

An example of the sort of atmosphere that can be generated at crap grounds like Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu, Centennial Park in Ngaruawahia etc

Bloc 5: Live at the BBC!

2010-10-25T21:17:00.001+13:00

Never before seen on tv! BBC World Service Producer Jo Parsons came out to New Zealand in 2002 to do a piece on Bloc 5 and the Kingz for BBC Sport.

Samuel Baxter McIlroy

2010-10-20T21:41:00.000+13:00

On 6 November 1971 a 17 year old Sammy McIlroy made his debut for United against City in front of 63,000 at Maine Road ...and scored!

The Death of a Disco Dancer

2010-10-13T22:59:00.001+13:00

Part One - What killed the Kingz
It can be quite amusing to read comments about the reasons for the demise of the Football Kingz. Usually they’re written by people who never went to a Kingz game and have only really been actively following football in NZ for the past 3 seasons and 9 games (and counting). So here for your enjoyment (and in bullet point format) are the indisputable reasons for the demise of the Football Kingz.

•Too soon for professional football
Think about the problems professional sports leagues and professional sports teams, especially in this part of the world, are currently experiencing. Then imagine what it was like ten years ago when the Kingz kicked off – if you go back 10 years you could probably magnify those problems 100 fold. You only have to look at the current problems faced by the Hyundai A League – is there a club that hasn’t been propped up or isn’t currently being propped up by Football Federation Australia? And this is despite the A League being awash with cash. In the Kingz case there were financial problems only a few weeks into their inaugural season which led to players going unpaid and, in the case of Dino Menillo, walking out. Eventually the Kingz were forced to go semi-professional. There’s some great stories about the players having to get up at 2am in the morning, to check in at the airport at 3am, to catch 6am flights to Australia, to sit around in the airport for the entire day and wait for the bus to take them to the game which usually kicked off at 7pm in the evening – all in the name of cost saving (those were the cheapest flights). Dugdale wasn’t prepared to put up with it and quit as coach. For whatever reason Chris Turner always wanted to push ahead. I really think that football in Auckland and in New Zealand as a whole would be in a much stronger position if the Kingz had closed up shop after only the first year and we had pulled the plug on the Aussie experiment to instead focus on our own national league.

•Poor product
Despite the fact that the NSL was arguably a more credible league than the current A League, it was under resourced and wasn’t really supported outside the ethnic communities. There was stuff all support from the commercial sector (big corporates, sponsors etc) too and most importantly there was no TV coverage. Channel 7 had the rights but wouldn’t show the games! Cue “Nobody Screws Soccer Like Seven” protests. No league can survive without television coverage not to mention television revenue. The A League survives on the millions that Fox Sports pumps in every year – without Fox Sports money there would be no A League.

•Sky TV
Sky bought an 80% stake in the Kingz. In my opinion the Kingz board during the Sky years is largely responsible for killing professional football in Auckland. Who were the suits involved at that time? Maybe you can help me: John Fellet (Sky), Simon Massey (Sky), Paul Smart (Sky), John “Rugby” Hart ...I see a theme developing here. They brought in a string of gutless Melburnians who turned tail and fled after only a couple of games. The Kingz finished bottom of the league and Sky abruptly disposed of their stake. The Kingz never recovered from this ...and neither did professional football in Auckland.

•No support from New Zealand Soccer (as they were then known)
It was a real “them and us” attitude. The situation was in direct contrast to the current position with the Phoenix where NZF not only held the A League licence but has also financially assisted the Phoenix.

Replicate those circumstances in any city, in any country, in any part of the world and the outcome would be the same, namely the death of a disco dancer.

Part Two - What killed the Knights

•Money
More specifically the lack of it from Messieurs Katzen and Lee. It’s ironic that the final death knell was when the FFA pulled the plug on an instalment due to the Knights – which is the complete opposite to the situation with Newcastle Jets, Adelaide, North Queensland, Gold Coast etc etc where the FFA gave those clubs extra money to bail them out instead of taking it away.

•John Adshead
Used what little money he had to buy a string of dud players (third rate/fourth rate journey men) then, when he realised he had made a mistake, fled to Tauranga to play golf with Allan Jones. It always amuses me when Adshead pops up in the paper to offer advice on football matters. Surely if he had any credibility, when the reporter rings up he’d simply say “I was a dismal failure at the Knights and am partly responsible for destroying professional football in Auckland so I really don’t feel I have anything credible to say about the current state of football”. Same goes for Fallon popping up in the media (vis a vis his part in the demise of the Kingz), although at least with Fallon he inherited a team that wasn’t really his - but that’s still no excuse for signing your oldest son!

•No support from New Zealand Soccer
See “Part One – What killed the Kingz” above. It’s particularly pertinent here because the Knights were waiting on an instalment of money due to them from the FFA but which never arrived – I think it’s common knowledge that in the case of the Phoenix, NZ Football is advancing the Phoenix money due to them from the FFA.

"...Oh, but maybe in the next world
Maybe in the next world..."

Reminisce Part One: Come On You Kingz (The Auld Lang Syne chant)

2010-10-10T18:01:00.000+13:00

Inspiration? There’s really only one noteworthy team that does this chant. I’ll give you a clue, they’re (not so) affectionately known as the Fulham of the Midlands for their average support and this chant is one of only three in their repertoire - the other two being Villa/Villa/Villa Villa/Villa/Villa/Villa and Holte Enders in the sky.

The Kiwi Kingz

2010-10-10T17:54:00.000+13:00

Here's some names for you:

Season One (1999-2000)
Jason Batty; Che Bunce; Jeffrey Campbell; Fred DeJong; Mark Elrick; Noah Hickey; Chris Jackson; Lee Jones; Leigh Kenyon; Aaran Lines; Harry Ngata; Jonathan Perry; Stu Riddle; Wynton Rufer; Mike Utting; Riki van Steeden; Ivan Vicelich.

Season Two (2000-2001)
Che Bunce; Mark Burton; Jeffrey Campbell; Gerard Davis; Sean Douglas; Simon Eaddy; Noah Hickey; Chris Jackson; Lee Jones; Aaran Lines; Chris Marsh; Heremai Ngata; Jonathon Perry; Wynton Rufer; Tim Stevens; Paul Urlovic; Riki van Steeden; Ivan Vicelich.

Season Three (2001-2002)
Mark Atkinson; Campbell Banks; James Bannatyne; Scott Bishop; Mark Burton; Jeffrey Campbell; Gerard Davis; Sean Douglas; Lance Eason; Sean Fallon; Chris Jackson; Leigh Kenyon; Heremaia Ngata; Jonathon Perry; Wynton Rufer; Tim Stevens; Paul Urlovic; Riki van Steeden; Craig Wylie.

Season Four (2002-2003)
Mark Atkinson; James Bannatyne; Mark Beldham; Mark Burton; Jeffrey Campbell; Jeremy Christie; Raffaele de Gregorio; Johnny Foundoulakis; Chris Jackson; Heremaia Ngata; Jonathon Perry; James Pritchett; Ben Sigmund; Jonathon Taylor; Steven Turner; Paul Urlovic; Michael Utting; Riki van Steeden; Darren Young.

Season Five (2003-2004)
Campbell Banks; Mark Beldham; Mark Burton; Jeffrey Campbell; Jeremy Christie; Glen Collins; Chad Coombes; Danny Hay; Noah Hickey; Chris Jackson; Heremaia Ngata; Ross Nicholson; David Rayner; Jason Rowley; Brad Scott; Michael Utting; Michael Williams; Tamati Williams; Craig Wylie; Darren Young.

The Football Federation Australia Welfare League

2010-10-10T17:37:00.000+13:00

It’s enlightening to read Australian football fans on Australian football forums refer to their own Hyundai A League as a sham and/or “The FFA Welfare League”. Let’s examine this proposition in greater detail. Here’s a list of clubs that the FFA has propped up, has offered to prop up or is currently propping up:

Perth Glory: FFA owned Perth Glory for a year;

Sydney FC: FFA chairman Lowy’s money bailed out Sydney FC when the club was about to go “belly up” after only a season or two;

Adelaide United: Currently 100% owned by the FFA;

North Queensland Fury: Currently 100% owned by the FFA;

Brisbane Roar: FFA offered to prop up cash strapped “Queensland Roar” at the start of the 2008-2009 season and was about to take control of the club at the end of that season;

Gold Coast United: FFA propped up Gold Coast United last season;

Newcastle Jets: FFA recently bailed out the Newcastle Jets.

Gold Coast United v Newcastle Jets FC - Wednesday, 22 September 2010

2010-09-30T21:50:00.000+13:00

"Tonight I sat down and watched Gold Coast United play the Newcastle Jets. In all honesty it was one of the worst games of football that I have ever seen. It was 90 minutes of total shite, that literally had me feeling like clawing my own eyes out by the time that John Curtis smashed home an injury time winner that was really the only glimmer of quality in a match of total and utter dross. It was such a poor game that I would in all honesty have preferred to have sat down and watched two super, morbidly obese women indulge in a 72 hour tribbing marathon instead of watching that shit." - taken from foggyatnight.blogspot.com

Read more here:-
Perhaps The FFA Could Kindly Tell Us When To Panic (Sunday, 19 September 2010)
Jets Saved, But How? (Wednesday, 22 September 2010)
FFA Boggles The Mind (Tuesday, 28 September 2010)

How the Kingz got Easy Easy (aka The Kingz Fling)...

2010-09-23T14:48:00.000+12:00

...and how ACFC got We’ll Be Coming Down The Road. A true story.

The year is 2000 AD. A young boy, let’s call him Ultra, is scouring the internet for material (images, audio, chants/songs, links etc) for a Bloc 5 website. Back then the internet was still in its infancy (no broadband for a starter) and there were far less football related resources to determine what fans around the globe were up to. Nowadays all you have to do is click on Youtube to find out what football fans are doing from Taiwan to Tel Aviv – so there can be no excuse for turning up and yelling “Who are ya?”, “She fell over”, “Eeyore” and all those 1966 Stockport versus Huddersfield style chants (ie “Build a bonfire, build a bonfire, put the [insert team] on the top etc ”, “In your [insert town] slums, you look in the garbage for something to eat etc”, “Oh [insert town] is wonderful etc”) and thinking that it constitutes decent football support.

The best sites back in 2000 were the European ultra sites ...that’s why Bloc 5 did a number of Fossa dei Leoni style chants. Working out the Italian/French/Spanish/Polish/German/Russian etc words for “songs”, “chants”, “audio” and “images” could be hazardous. I couldn’t tell you the number of times I stuffed up the computer by downloading rogue files/viruses when I thought I was downloading a Magic Fans chant.

I digress. I could see on some of the Scottish football forums and websites that there was quite a bit of reference to a chant with the words “When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army boys we’ll be coming down the road” but there were no audio links and no-one could tell me the tune. Colin fae Manurewa (via Dundee and Arbroath) thought it might have something to do with the Civil War song “We Are Coming Father Abraham” – I wasn’t so sure. Nowadays you could just use the inbuilt microphone on your laptop to record yourself and send it via email as an audio file. I left my contact details on a few Tartan Army message boards hoping someone would get in touch.

The only person to contact me was a Scot living in Melbourne called Ross. He sent me a CD “The Tartan Army: Scottish World Cup Anthems” with the note: “Richard, A cultural masterpiece from Scotland. Cheers Ross” (in return I sent him a copy of Messieurs Stantiall and Stephens’ Pulitzer Prize winning Stand Up If You Love The Kingz season review and a Kingz keyring). There are some great World Cup/Euro Cup anthems on that CD (Big Trip To Mexico, Fergie’s Fusiliers, Viva Scotland etc). In fact, Rod “the mod” Stewart’s Ole Ola and Purple Heather are two of my favourite football anthems of all time. The CD also contains the 1974 Scotland World Cup squad singing Easy Easy. It does not contain We'll Be Coming Down The Road.

Fast forward to 2001 and the Sky TV operated Kingz are looking for an anthem for the start of their third season in the NSL. Being someone with a bit of an interest in these sorts of things I sent a tape recording of some songs (including Easy Easy) through to ...I think it was Dean Pooley ...and Glen (insert name here) was another ...and quite possibly Simon Massey ...all at Sky TV.

What might have been? Here are some of the other tracks that were on that tape: I know The Offbeats’ Dad’s Army was on that tape; I’m pretty confident Ben Gunn’s Viva Scotland (or was it Ben Gunn’s Fergie’s Fusiliers) was on that tape; I’m also confident Bloc 5 favourite On My Radio (The Selecter version) was on there; I think maybe Carry, Go, Bring, Come was also on it (The Selecter or Justin Hinds version, I can’t remember which). I’m not sure why I included Easy Easy. Possibly to show what could be done with glam rock – I mean everyone loves jumping round to Tiger Feet. I didn’t think Sky TV would just copy it. Anyway, I take full responsibility for my part in the Kingz Fling – cue ex-pat Scots to ring talkback radio and whine about how it was the Scotland 1974 World Cup anthem.

Fast forward (again) to 2004. Someone seeing the contact details which I had left many years before on one of the Tartan Army message boards sent me a link to the Tartan Specials' We'll Be Coming Down The Road. I forwarded it on to Colin fae Manurewa (via A House In The Ferry). ACFC did a recording. I wasn’t there for the recording. I’m not quite sure they got it right. I reckon you need to hold the “...down...” in “down the road” for it to work.

What I do remember is a 20 minute rendition of “We’ll Be Coming Down The Road” by the Bloc 5 Boyz when the Knights got hammered 4 – 0 by Melbourne at North Harbour in October 2006. Scott (not Archie) Gemmell came off the field at the end of the game and just stood in front of the Bloc and applauded.

The end.

I don't do crowds

2010-09-21T15:37:00.000+12:00

Hyundai A League, Week 7:
Newcastle v Perth - 6500
North Queensland v Melbourne V – 4500
Brisbane v Adelaide – 7000
Melbourne H v Wellington – 5500
Gold Coast v Central Coast - 2000

...and mine is a faith in my fellow man...

2010-09-15T16:21:00.000+12:00

Liverpool v Brann Bergen, March 1997

Crap football chants - Part Three: Eeyore

2010-09-15T16:17:00.000+12:00

The year was 1988. At the European Championships, England came up against a Netherlands side containing Marco Van.... scrub that, all you need to know is that it was 1988(!!).

Crap football chants - Part Two: Who are ya?

2010-09-15T15:05:00.000+12:00

The names on the back of the shirt.

Crap football chants - Part One: She fell over

2010-09-15T14:55:00.000+12:00

What does this mean? Women can’t walk properly and fall over a lot. Accordingly, that player is like a woman because he can’t stay upright?!

FIFA has run a variety of much publicised campaigns to “kick racism out of football”. Some clubs, notably Sankt Pauli, have done much the same with sexism.

Jumpers for goalposts

2010-09-06T21:13:00.000+12:00

S Y D, N E Y

2010-08-25T21:35:00.000+12:00

As I said to my old mate CK, I bet that when the A League kicked off back in 2005 Sydney FC weren't expecting to average only 12,000 in the regular season of the fourth year of the competition in which they were Premiers. The market for club football in Sydney was illustrated one sunny weekend in October 1998 when over 25,000 Sydneysiders turned out to support the NSL. Sure the league they were supporting was arguably a more credible one ...but Marconi weren't even playing at home ...and Olympic had the bye.

...that this is still football worth watching and that Grimsby is still a team worth fighting for

2010-08-18T20:58:00.000+12:00

Crawley Town 0 Grimsby Town 1

Check out Marianthi SpiralScratch's review of Grimsby Town's first game in the Conference here: Cod Almighty.

Photo taken from Marianthi SpiralScratch's Grimsby Town FC flickr set.

MON has left the building

2010-08-11T15:17:00.000+12:00

I used to support The Villa. Here in NZ you can sometimes tell when someone started following football from the English club they support. Take for example all those Leeds supporters who appeared when Leeds were doing well in the early 1990s and all those Blackburn supporters of the mid 1990s when that club was in the ascendency etc etc.

Villa were pretty big around the time I was born. League Cup victories in 1975 and 1977, First Division Champions in 1980-81 ...and of course 1982. The greatest footballing year of my life (until a bunch of shop assistants, truck drivers, interior decorators, school teachers, window cleaners etc took to the field at the Club World Cup in 2009). In 1982 the All Whites marched on to Spain and Villa lifted the European Cup in Rotterdam. I don’t really support Villa anymore. Reading this blog you may be forgiven for thinking that I don’t support the Premier League. I don’t. Sure I keep a watch out for The Admiral’s performances and I do follow the relegation battles come the end of the season but I don’t follow the other end of the table. Why bother when only 4 (and a half) teams are ever going to win the Premiership – the half is reserved for Spurs and Citeh.

Anyway, there’s been much discussion about why MON left. Some say he was sick and tired of trying to build a competitive side with Randy selling (or looking to sell) his best players at the end of each season – Barry, Milner, Young etc etc. Some are sad to see him go. Others argue MON had more money at his disposal than any Villa manager in recent history and still couldn’t do any better than 6^th place. Arguments which take from the past to explain the present/future are troublesome. Time goes forward not backwards. What was a considerable sum to spend on players back in 2005 ain’t so in 2010.

There was one reader’s comment on the Guardian website which reckoned Villa without MON was headed straight for the Championship. One can only hope. If that happened I might consider supporting them again.

Ruminations on a World Cup campaign (cont.)... I knew I had forgotten something

2010-08-10T21:28:00.000+12:00

10. Vuvuzelas
Completely destroyed the World Cup.

Ruminations on a World Cup campaign

2010-08-05T11:53:00.000+12:00

1. Tommy Smith:

Our best player. His feints, dummies, positioning etc to gain control of the ball and maintain possession reminded me of a real player. But see 8 below.

2. Ryan Nelsen and Mark Paston:

Were good. Obviously.

3. Ivan Vicelich:

I reckon the Italy game was Ivan’s best game in an All Whites shirt. In all three games he was good “mopping up, calming things down, keeping cool and issuing orders”. The sight of Ivan taking the kick off to commence the second half of the Paraguay game nearly made me pee my pants. But if you play an uber defensive “mopper upper” then the other central midfielder really needs to be an outrageously creative playmaker – and with all respect to Simon Elliot he’s a million miles away from that. Did someone say Michael McGlinchey?

4. All Whites v Slovakia:

Probably the worst performance I’ve ever seen from an All Whites side in the last 10 years. Were it not for 3 seconds in the 96^th minute then it would’ve been a very poor start to the campaign. I guess both teams can be forgiven as it was their first up match (and also Slovakia’s first game at a World Cup and the All Whites first game at a World Cup in 28 years) – but it really was like watching two teams wearing lead boots chasing a balloon...in slow motion.

5. All Whites v Italy:

Italy had 23 shots on goal to our 3. On a good day half of those would’ve gone in making it something like a 12 - 2 final scoreline in Italy’s favour. On a great day all of those would’ve gone in making it a 23 – 3 final scoreline.

6. All Whites v Paraguay:

How can you play 3 strikers and yet not have any shots on goal? OK, I exaggerate... we had three. What was Ricki Herbert doing – surely we should’ve just flooded the pitch with our attacking players and pushed everyone forward. We were on the verge of making it through to the second round. I would’ve liked to have heard Chris Coleman’s punditry on ITV – apparently he was imploring Ricki to dispense with the defence minded game plan and push players forward. It was as if not conceding a goal was more important than progressing to the next round!? Maybe Herbert should’ve taken some goalscorers. On that note here is Fallon’s league and cup record for the 3 seasons prior to the World Cup: 114 appearances for 17 goals. Here is Killens: 57 appearances for 6 goals.

7. Luck:

I think we were lucky with the draw – being drawn in the same group as Slovakia (in their first World Cup) and the aging Italians – and lucky with playing Slovakia first up and Paraguay last. I reckon it would've been a different World Cup had we come up against Paraguay first... or been drawn in Group G.

8. Rory Fallon:

I find it hard to support the guy. He turned his back on NZ to go play for England. Even when it was obvious that he’d be forever warming the bench of some third rate outfit, NZ still wasn’t good enough for him. Only when he got a whiff of a World Cup did he show his face. Same goes for Tommy Smith and Winston Reid. I bet neither of them would’ve come calling had there not been a trip to the World Cup on offer. It’s much easier to support those who have put their hand up to play for NZ from the start – you know, Vicelich, Smeltz, Killen, Elliot, Bertos, Paston etc. Guys who have fronted at the Caketin in front of 2000 versus Vanuatu and at QE2 in front of 9000 versus Malaysia etc.

9. Mainstream media coverage:

The mainstream media coverage was just an embarrassment - TVNZ, TV3, The Herald etc etc. A whole lot of people who didn’t know what they were talking about. So too was seeing All Whites players like Winston Reid, Rory Fallon, Tony Lochhead et al appearing in the Womans Day!! It made me ashamed to be a NZ football supporter. Also embarrassing were the many “journalists” who just couldn’t hide their manic hatred of the world game, ie Leggat, Rattue, Eric Young and co.

The Beeb

2010-06-23T19:57:00.000+12:00

Ivan Vicelich makes the BBC's team of the day:

Ivan Vicelich
Centre-back
New Zealand

Auckland City defender was half of the partnership that kept the Azzurri at bay. To restrict the world champions to a single goal leaves the group wide open.

Ivan had a good game - mopping up, calming things down, keeping cool and issuing orders. In approximately the 70th minute the All Whites lost possession on the edge of the Italian goalbox. Winston Reid was down with an injury inside the Italian box and so we were going to be caught short at the back. Ivan runs the length of the pitch to put in a goal saving tackle... not bad for a "retired" 33 year old. Had he scored with that volley I would've cried.

Ivan Vicelich:- representing New Zealand, Auckland City Football Club and our national league the New Zealand Football Championship.

Greatest performance by a New Zealand football team on the world stage? I should coco.

2010-05-21T15:56:00.000+12:00

Thanks to Sa'id Milton for this "Howick New Wave" portrayal of ACFC's performance at the FIFA Club World Cup 2009.

Best fans outside of Kiwitea Street. Fact.

2010-05-21T15:53:00.000+12:00

FCUM v (Bundesliga bound) Sankt Pauli 15.05.10

A tale of two Manchesters

2010-05-01T22:03:00.000+12:00

Last Saturday (24 April 2010) Manchester United played Tottenham Hotspur in a crucial EPL title race match at Old Trafford. The sight of Ferguson on the sideline imploring the crowd to get vocal was rather satisfying. The atmosphere was largely non-existant prior to Nani's goal which put Manchester United ahead 2-1. Even after the goal the crowd could only manage "We shall not be moved" and a half-hearted "Red Army" (in response to Spurs' "Yid Army").

Meanwhile, up the road in Bury, FC United played Matlock Town in what was the final game of the season for the two Unibond Premier teams. It was pretty much a "dead rubber" - neither team was vying for promotion or battling relegation. Yet here's an example of the atmosphere that 2500-odd managed to generate inside Gigg Lane. Heart and soul football:

Stand up if you still believe

2010-05-01T20:03:00.001+12:00

Top drawer football kits: Part 4.

2010-04-22T00:15:00.001+12:00

FCUM third strip

Top drawer football kits: Part 3.

2010-04-22T00:08:00.001+12:00

Man Citeh

Top drawer football kits: Part 2.

2010-04-21T23:52:00.001+12:00

Bologne FC 1909

This is how it feels to be home

2010-04-21T22:44:00.000+12:00

Photo from Mick Dean's new ground announcement gallery.

Stand Free: 1999 - 2010

2010-03-30T21:25:00.000+13:00

Clock End

2010-03-24T23:39:00.001+13:00

Photo courtesy of N-O-L-A Nola.

Top drawer football kits

2010-03-19T21:52:00.000+13:00

Nothing beats the diagonal strip. Fact.

Football fans "kick off"...

2010-03-18T17:53:00.001+13:00

...to the astonishment of the surrounding bankers, lawyers and accountants.

Hogg and Hayne make team of the tournament

2010-03-11T18:16:00.000+13:00

"Barcelona lifted the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 but there were more players who stood out in the 10-day competition...

LB: Ian Hogg (AUC)

Auckland City’s marauding left-back never pulled out of a challenge and showed composure beyond his years, comfortably dealing with everything thrown at him. His bursting runs down the left flank caused Al Ahli problems in the opening game and, despite conceding three against Atlante, it could have been more had it not been for his impressive display.

...

CF: Jason Hayne (AUC)

The New Zealander was due to start the tournament on the bench against Al Ahli, but when a teammate pulled up injured, he was handed a chance to shine. And he did just that, collecting the man-of-the-match award. Restricted against a superior Atlante side in the quarter-finals, he was back on form against TP Mazembe in the fifth-place playoff, scoring twice."

See full team of the tournament here Alves, Denilson, Messi, Hogg, Hayne...

The Football Special

2010-03-10T23:39:00.001+13:00

by New Zealanders for New Zealanders

2010-02-28T14:03:00.000+13:00

Auckland City FC, 5th place, Club World Cup 2010

Now this is what I'm talking about...

2010-02-28T13:54:00.000+13:00

...open terraces, pitch cutting up a treat, standing room only...listen to that crowd!

Making friends not millionaires

2010-02-17T17:09:00.000+13:00

FCUM v Nantwich Town 06.02.10

Photo from Andy Barker's matchday gallery.

Spanish La Liga winners over the last 20 years

2010-02-02T19:43:00.000+13:00

2009 Barcelona
2008 Real Madrid
2007 Real Madrid
2006 Barcelona
2005 Barcelona
2004 Valencia
2003 Real Madrid
2002 Valencia
2001 Real Madrid
2000 Deportivo La Coruna
1999 Barcelona
1998 Barcelona
1997 Real Madrid
1996 Athletico Madrid
1995 Real Madrid
1994 Barcelona
1993 Barcelona
1992 Barcelona
1991 Barcelona
1990 Real Madrid
1989 Real Madrid

English Premiership winners over the last 20 years

2010-02-02T19:33:00.000+13:00

2009 Manchester United
2008 Manchester United
2007 Manchester United
2006 Chelsea
2005 Chelsea
2004 Arsenal
2003 Manchester United
2002 Arsenal
2001 Manchester United
2000 Manchester United
1999 Manchester United
1998 Arsenal
1997 Manchester United
1996 Manchester United
1995 Blackburn Rovers
1994 Manchester United
1993 Manchester United
1992 Leeds United
1991 Arsenal
1990 Liverpool
1989 Arsenal

Top drawer goal celebrations

2010-02-02T19:31:00.000+13:00