To a country boy like me there’s one thing about Auckland football that stands out, maybe more than anything else: how many football clubs there are and how close most of them are to each other. Ridiculously, fantastically close to each other, particularly on the Shore. Okay, there’s the population base to cater for, but you can literally kick a football from one ground to the next. This proximity clearly gives rise to any...
Read More
Mt Albert Ponsonby got smacked 6-0 at home by Melville United on Saturday April 6. I wasn’t there but Grant Stantiall was. Here are some of his pics from the day’s action. You can follow Grant on Twitter at @thekiwicanary. You can view more pics from this match...
Read More
In the latest of our One Minute At… series we’re at Hamilton Wanderers’ Porritt Stadium for their NRFL Premier division match against Waitakere City on April 6, 2013. The match finished 8-0 to Wanderers. It was a lovely sunny afternoon. This week we have not one but two separate minutes of footage. It’s an added bonus we wouldn’t do for just anyone. Why? Each of these one minute movies includes a goal and we thought...
Read More
No-one likes getting spanked. Particularly away from home on the opening day of the season. It’s safe to say this would not have been one of the best days in the history of Waitakere City. It was a decent day for me, however. Oh, and Wanderers too, I guess. But firstly, me. This Saturday was a great father-son bonding afternoon. Nathan, my five year old, accompanied me after being coerced into it with the bribe of a pair of...
Read More
It’s not often you watch someone die on a football pitch. I had that unfortunate experience during the 2003 Confederations Cup in France, not that I knew it at the time. My wife and I used this tournament as a good excuse to have a quick look around France and Switzerland. It was a piece of cake booking tickets, even though actually getting hold of them was a pain in the arse. Something blew up in the ticketing system, meaning...
Read More
Ngaruawahia drew their NRFL division 1 fixture 1-1 with Melville United on Easter Monday. I wasn’t there but master photographer Grant Stantiall was. Here are some of his pics from the day’s action. You can follow Grant on Twitter at @thekiwicanary. You can view more pics from this match here:...
Read More
Everytime I visit a match I’ll take a minute long movie so readers can get a feel for the venue. I don’t promise these movies will be master pieces. They won’t. I’m not Peter Jackson. And I don’t have a million dollar budget. But they’ll do and you’ll get the idea. In the latest in our One Minute At… series we’re at Warkworth AFC’s Shoesmith Reserve for their NRFL division 2 match against Waiuku on March 30, 2013. The match...
Read More
Everytime I visit a match I’ll take a minute long movie so readers can get a feel for the venue. I don’t promise these movies will be master pieces. They won’t. I’m not Peter Jackson. And I don’t have a million dollar budget. But they’ll do and you’ll get the idea. In the first of the One Minute At… series we’re at Glenfield Rovers’ McFetritge Park for their NRFL division 1...
Read More
The thing about football at NRFL division 2 level is that you’re never really likely to watch a team with eleven footballers on the field. You’ll get bits and pieces of quality, and a handful of gems, but little more. Sure, the players are competitive. Most of them can run around with purpose. And tackle. And head the ball. But rare is the occasion you’ll find a side full of players who actually know what...
Read More
Melville United beat Takapuna 2-0 on the opening day of NRFL division 1. I wasn’t there but master photographer Grant Stantiall was. Here are some of his pics from the day’s action. You can follow Grant on Twitter at @thekiwicanary. You can view more pics from this match here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwicanary/sets/72157633116970142/
Read More