FANZ: Issue 7 (2017)

ISSN 2422–8710

FANZ

THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE Issue Seven, January 2017

2016 IN REVIEW

20 REASONS TO FEEL PROUD Football’s birthday joy

All White Luke Adams. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

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Contents

Issue 7 January 2017

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

26 Media award winners

The best of football’s writers, broadcasters and photographers.

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Around the country

News from the regions.

43 Oceania news

How our region fares in latest FIFA World rankings.

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FEATURE STORY 20 reasons to be proud

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Football’s birthday bash

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It’s not easy being a devoted father.

46 Friends of Football

We reflect on a successful year for New Zealand football.

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#PlayItForSteve

Cordwainer Bull explains why How football rallied behind All New Zealand football is a bit like White legend Steve Sumner. beetroot.

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New funding partners

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FEATURE STORY The Pioneer

Our sport finds new backers.

36 It’s all in the name ...

Jeremy Ruane explains the role of nicknames in our sport.

38 Obituaries

We remember those we’ve lost.

Bert Ormond becomes our latest Medal of Excellence recipient.

40 What’s coming up

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Player of the Year

Winston Reid takes title again.

Friends of Football events.

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.

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Football Dad

What our group is all about, who we are and how you can join.

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Get off the grass

Andrew Dewhurst’s final word.

WINNER NZ’S FOOTBALL PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR 2015

THE FRIENDS’ DIARY Upcoming Friends of Football events include:

ANNUAL GOLF DAY

April 2017 Akarana Golf Course, Auckland.

Contact us now for more details of our third annual charity golf day.

Watch our website for confirmed date and details.

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FROM OUR EDITOR

Progress sets up year of optimism Josh Easby SOMETIMES it’s easier to pick holes than it is to see the positives in our sport.

A year ago, for instance, football’s critics were having a pop at the national body, bemoaning the lack of international fixtures and pointing the finger of blame for administrative blunders.

The national league (now the Stirling Sports Premiership) was about to be revamped again, with new entrants and a television deal.

No doubt much of the criticism was justified but it always seems to take much longer for people to acknowledge when things are moving in the right direction.

And sometimes it just takes a bit of a party to bring home the feelgood factor.

In November, football celebrated its 125th anniversary with a dinner hosted by New Zealand Football, and supported by Friends of Football and the Football Foundation.

As you’ll read in this issue, it was a cracking night — a chance to take stock of the sport’s current position.

From many perspectives, things look pretty good.

Anthony Hudson’s All Whites not only got the chance to play at last, they showed we have the makings of a national team that can go into matches set up to take on teams.

The team qualified for the Confederations Cup in Russia, and we’ve got the thrill of another World Cup campaign to come.

The Ferns faced tough competition at the Rio Olympics but came home with credit, and our emerging women players went close to reaching the group stages at the U–20 FIFA World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

Our top domestic competitions have been boosted by increased media coverage.

We now see international games (including age group), Premiership highlights as well as A–League coverage on our television screens — surely, that’s the most comprehensive coverage our sport has ever had?

Live streaming has given fans chance to experience futsal (which is growing quickly), and we’ve even had chance to watch national age group tournament games.

As well as mainstream media, the sport is being well served by the growing number of blogs, websites and club–driven magazines and match programmes, as the latest football media awards demonstrate.

As a sport, we’re not in bad shape.

Over the page, we republish New Zealand Football’s end–of–year summary of 2016, presenting 20 reasons we should feel positive about the game.

Sure, there’s still work to do. The critics will still find something to moan about.

But let’s recognise that 2016 saw progress and we can now look forward to 2017 with optimism and a degree of excitement.

Enjoy the year ahead!

HOW TO GET PAST ISSUES OF FANZ To read the previous issues of FANZ, go to: http://issuu.com/hurricanepress

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2016

was a memorable year for New Zealand Football on and off the pitch.

As we enter 2017, NZFootball.co.nz reflects on 20 of the best moments from 2016 (in no particular order) as we celebrate the success of New Zealand Football at home and on the international stage.

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New Zealand's Moses Dyer and New Zealand's Louis Fenton celebrate winning the OFC Nations Cup in Papua New Guinea. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

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ALL WHITES WIN THE OFC NATIONS CUP

ALL WHITES goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic was the hero in Papua New Guinea as he saved two penalties in the shootout for the OFC Nations Cup title.

All Whites midfielder Marco Rojas finished the job for New Zealand in Port Moresby as they claimed their fifth OFC Nations Cup. New Zealand and Papua New Guinea could not be separated after 90 minutes, and after another 30 minutes of extra time, before the All Whites prevailed 4-2 in a nail-biting penalty shootout.

Through winning the OFC Nations Cup, Anthony Hudson’s team will compete at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia and have drawn Russia, Mexico and Portugal.

The All Whites finished the

year on a high. The tour of the USA showed the world the great potential of Anthony Hudson’s team. Skipper Winston Reid came back into the international fold and made a huge difference as they competed well with Mexico (lost 2-1) and then the USA (drew 1-1) in Nashville and Washington respectively.

The tour underlined their chances of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Marco Rojas scored a great goal against Mexico and then went on to score an important double at QBE Stadium in November as New Zealand defeated New Caledonia 2-0 in Albany.

They backed that up with a 0-0 draw in Kone and banked a vital four points in Stage Three of Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

20 REASONS TO FEEL PROUD The All Whites have a massive year coming up in 2017 and Hudson has formed a world–class team capable of achieving great things on the world stage.

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FERNS AT RIO

THE FOOTBALL FERNS went to the Rio Olympics with high hopes of upsetting two of the world’s best teams in USA and France to get out of their group but they came up just short.

There were plenty of great moments however during their Olympic journey.

The Ferns, thanks to a superb goal from striker Amber Hearn, defeated Colombia 1-0 in Belo Horizonte in a must-win match.

Skipper Abby Erceg was redcarded in the final stages of that win and her red card being overturned was a big moment in the team’s campaign.

They didn’t get the result they were looking for but there were plenty of positive signs for the team for the next three years as they build towards the FIFA World Cup in 2019.

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Serbia raise the FIFA U–20 World Cup after beating Brazil at QBE Stadium.

Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

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U20 WORLD CUP DELIVERS BENEFITS

A POST-EVENT report released in 2016 showed the FIFA U-20 World Cup was a huge success for New Zealand, delivering a positive impact to the country’s economy and a significant boost for football profile, infrastructure and participation.

The report was presented by the then FIFA U-20 World Cup CEO Dave Beeche to FIFA and the NZ Government as part of the Post Event Report, and included an

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independent economic impact assessment.

National GDP increased $30.4m, providing a 134% return on national investment. Specifically for football, a total of $5m investment in infrastructure for New Zealand Football, including playing fields and equipment, particularly by rebuilding football pitches in Christchurch.

Participation in youth football increased 134% in 2015.

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RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

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NZ FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 125TH BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATIONS to mark the 125th Anniversary of New Zealand Football provided a great chance for the football community to reflect on the many highlights over the years.

(For more coverage of this event, see other stories in this issue.)

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ISPS HANDA AND STIRLING SPORTS

BECOME NZF PARTNERS IT HAS BEEN A great year for New Zealand Football in the commercial space as Stirling Sports became the naming rights sponsor for the Stirling Sports Premiership and then ISPS Handa became a funding partner and will be the naming rights sponsor for the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup in 2017.

Stirling Sports have been a great partner for the Stirling Sports Premiership and the competition, welcomed three new teams in 2016 in Eastern Suburbs, Hamilton Wanderers and Tasman United, is closer than anyone imagined.

Dr Haruhisa Handa made headlines around the world when he sang opera song Nessun Dorma at the press conference to announce ISPS Handa had signed a three–year partnership with New Zealand Football.

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ABBY ERCEG

WINS THE WNSL

Erceg has been nominated in the Halberg Awards for Sportswoman of the Year.

WITH THE FLASH FOOTBALL FERNS captain Abby Erceg made history by leading the Western New York Flash to the National Women’s Soccer League title.

In doing so, the composed central defender became just the second New Zealander to win a league at the highest level of female football in the United States and wrote a further chapter for herself in the record books as the Flash had not previously claimed the trophy.

Erceg followed fellow Football Fern Ali Riley, who won the nowdefunct Women’s Professional Soccer League in 2011, also with the Flash.

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Darren Bazeley

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AGE GROUP

SUCCESS AROUND

THE WORLD THE NZ U-20 men’s football team became the champions of Oceania for the sixth time after beating Vanuatu 5-0 in the final in September.

New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said: “I’m very proud, they’re a great set of lads and we prepared hard for this, and for every single game we played looking at the strengths and weaknesses and how to deal with our opponents.”

Gareth Turnbull took the NZ U-17 women to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jordan where they finished on a high, defeating the hosts 5-0 in their final game.

Leon Birnie led the NZ U-20 women to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in PNG where they opened their campaign with an impressive 1-0 win over Ghana.

Abby Eerceg

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NZ FOOTBALL

LAUNCH NATIONAL

CURRICULUM AND YOUTH FRAMEWORK NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL is looking to continue the success of its players and teams on the world stage through the launch of the National Curriculum.

Based on extensive research and world trends, the National Curriculum serves as a guide for player, coach and team development.

Alongside the award-winning Whole of Football and Beyond Football plans, it provides a unified vision for the future direction of the world game in New Zealand.

“The National Curriculum will be a reference point for how we play football and develop our young players,” New Zealand Football Technical Director Rob Sherman says. “

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INCREDIBLE

CHATHAM CUP AND

WKOC FINALS BIRKENHEAD UNITED won the Chatham Cup for the first time with a 3-2 victory over Waitakere City in extra time at QBE Stadium.

Earlier, Forrest Hill Milford United won the Women’s Knockout Cup final for the first time, with a penalty shootout win over fellow Aucklanders Glenfield Rovers.

It was a special day for Northern Football with all four teams in the finals from the Federation.

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NZF LAUNCHES NATIONAL AED CAMPAIGN

NZ FOOTBALL, with the support of ACC SportSmart and F-Marc, were pleased to launch the Smart Start – AEDs in Clubs Programme which includes comprehensive resources, educational and policy support.

The objective is to support all New Zealand Football Clubs and Associations in NZ to have an AED unit and programme accessible to their club members, players and spectators, with the education and support to enable them to react should an event arise.

The launch sees 60 fully funded Smart Start AED units to football clubs per year for 2016, 2017 and 2018.

NZ Football Quality Club Mark (QCM) National League clubs qualified to receive a fully funded Smart Start AED Unit and Programme in 2016.

All other NZ Football affiliated clubs that currently do not meet the revised QCM criteria are able to purchase a discounted and

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subsidised AED unit through this programme. It has been met with nationwide recognition and engagement.

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FOOTBALL

SUPPORTS DIVERSITY

IN SPORT CAMPAIGN SOME OF New Zealand’s most popular sports came together in 2016 to commit to developing and implementing policies, programmes and practices that encourage greater diversity and inclusion across sport.

New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Football, New Zealand Cricket, New Zealand Rugby League, Netball New Zealand and Hockey New Zealand committed to establishing a framework for diversity and inclusion within their organisations.

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RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

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CANTERBURY TAKE NATIONAL WOMEN’S

AND FUTSAL TITLES Ferns Vic Esson and Annalie Longo prepare to lead Canterbury United Pride on to the pitch for their game against WaiBOP at Cambridge.

Photograph: Enzo Giordani

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FUTSAL IS

ON A ROLL! THE FUTSAL NATIONAL League took another step forward in 2016 through its extended series–based format.

For the first time, each of the eight competing federation–based teams hosted a series.

Community engagement activities were shaped around the “Home” events creating further awareness of the futsal pathway and generating home crowds to cheer their local futsal heroes on.

Meanwhile, a growing live stream audience clicked in with about 500,000 minutes viewed live by the futsal community.

The FIFA Futsal World Cup 2020 bid was developed to serve as a catalyst for global change in futsal development.

Taking part in FIFA Futsal World Cup 2020 in New Zealand will assist Member Associations in sharing ideas on the organisation and management of futsal development. New Zealand has in place a goal of “making futsal the nation’s best and biggest smallsided sport, and the world’s leading futsal development system”.

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A THIRD NATIONAL Women’s League title in four years was earned by Canterbury United Pride after a well-deserved 2-0 win over Capital Football in the final at English Park in Christchurch in December.

Meanwhile, the region’s futsal team also became national champions up in Auckland.

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PREMIERSHIP

TITLE HEADS TO

WELLINGTON TEAM WELLINGTON won their first Premiership title with a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind extra-time win over two-time defending champions Auckland City FC at QBE Stadium in Albany in March.

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WANDERERS

ST WIN YNL AT 1 GO

NEW ZEALAND’S new National Youth League champions are competition debutants Hamilton Wanderers who wrapped up a memorable season by claiming the title at their first attempt.

OUR REFEREES

SUCCEED ON

WORLD STAGE FOUR NEW ZEALAND Football referees represented our country at the Rio Olympics. Matthew Conger and Anna-Marie Keighley represented the Oceania Football Confederation as referees while Simon Lount and Sarah Jones worked as assistant referees in the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.

Chris Sinclair officiated at the FIFA Futsal World Cup, and Jones became the first New Zealand woman appointed to A-League panel.

Anna–Marie Keighley It was a great year for NZF referees and further evidence of how widely respected our officials are on the world stage.

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COACH

DEVELOPMENT RISES THE COMPLETION of inaugural OFC/NZF A-Licence and B-Licence qualifications, Junior Level 3 award introduced, qualification criteria introduced to coach in national competitions were all highlights in Coaching Development for New Zealand Football in 2016.

The inaugural OFC/NZF A-Licence was led by New Zealand Football Technical Director Rob Sherman, the 22 coaches from New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tonga and Fiji have gathered in Papakura to analyse and reflect on their progress over the last 12 months, further develop their model of coaching and meet the standards required to obtain the A-Licence qualification.

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ALL WHITE

STARS CAPTURE

GLOBAL ATTENTION ALL WHITES skipper Winston Reid showed his immense value to the team when he played for the first time in over a year on the tour of the USA. West Ham United were not at their best in 2016 but Reid was a rock in the defensive line and is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premiership.

In May, Reid ensured a place in West Ham folklore, scoring the final goal in a 3-2 win over Manchester United. His 81st minute header meant the Hammers and their fans had something to celebrate as they bid farewell to Upton Park ahead of their move to London’s Olympic Stadium.

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LISSINGTON MIXES WITH WORLD’S BEST

FUTSAL WHITE Brayden Lissington (above) earned an opportunity he felt money can’t buy after showing his skills in an online video.

The 24-year-old was voted to take part in the Professional Futsal League (PFL) All-Star Showcase in early August, which offered the chance to rub shoulders with some superstars of the indoor game in an exhibition match and perhaps even earn a professional contract.

“It’s unreal, I still can’t comprehend it,” he said ahead of his trip to Florida.

“If I had all the money in the world, I still couldn’t put together an experience like this.”

The PFL is the United States’ first professional futsal competition and is set to kick off in 2018.

Lissington was named as the NZF Futsal Player of the Year.

Meanwhile in the Championship, Chris Wood is making a name for himself in the north of England.

The All Whites frontman, who was superb during the OFC Nations Cup, has found his goalscoring touch and is key to the chances of Leeds United qualifying for the Premiership in 2017.

Both Wood and Reid have been nominated in the Halberg Awards for Sportsman of the Year.

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ONZM FOR

STEVE SUMNER STEVE SUMNER, who famously captained the All Whites to the 1982 FIFA World Cup, was presented with the award by the Governor General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy during an Investiture ceremony.

The 61-year-old said it was very special to share the occasion with his family.

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CELEBRATING OUR GAME

Dinner provides food for thought

By Cordwainer Bull

T A $1 MILLION GIFT and accolades for two All Whites, one past and one present, were the highlights of a dinner celebrating the 125th anniversary of New Zealand Football.

Held at Auckland’s Heritage Hotel, more than 300 football enthusiasts gathered to share an evening of entertainment, friendship and achievement.

Hosted by New Zealand Football, the dinner was supported by Friends of Football and the NZ Football Foundation.

CORDWAINER BULL is a former Waikato United programme columnist and occasional media gong winner, if you look hard enough. His hobbies include making submissions and disagreeing with experts. His favourite All White was Peter Henry.

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hey served us beetroot for the entree at New Zealand Football’s 125th anniversary dinner.

It was one of those pretentious haute cuisine dishes, lovingly titivated with colourful garnishes, and seemingly designed as much for photographing as eating.

Not that beetroot was ever going to cut it as a conversation piece on a night when the US had just elected a carnival–barking demagogue as president, and some Whangaparaoa bozo had won $44 million on Lotto, as we sat in the Grand Tea Room on the seventh floor of the Heritage Hotel in central Auckland.

But it did beg the question: When did beetroot become a thing? And for that matter, when did 125ths become such a thing?

Much, much later it struck me that this teeny–weeny serving of baby beetroot (a couple of tins of Golden Circle would have done the whole room) was designed as our metaphor for the night.

As far as veges go, beetroot is unfashionable. It’s boring, invariably drowned in vinegar, and no–one really loves it (okay, apart from your Gran).

If NZ Football was a vegetable, it would be beetroot.

But if you artistically floss up this beetroot with trimmings of goat’s cheese and frosted walnut salad, suddenly you have something FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

Brian Turner (left), John Adshead and Steve Sumner enthrall the audience with their memories of the 1982 FIFA World Cup campaign. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

far beyond a strangely coloured, nitrate–intense root vegetable.

That was essentially what we got event–wise at the Heritage: something way better than you might have expected from NZ Football in celebrating its first 125 years.

An organisation which has, at times, struggled with everything from player eligibility regulations to fax machines, delivered an exceptional, seamless evening. Its construction and planning was far in advance of the arguably more “thing–ish” 1991 centenary dinner in Wellington (on the eve of the Chatham Cup final).

There were several audio–visual presentations, including interviews with historian Barry Smith, stage interviews with the likes of John

Adshead, Steve Sumner, Brian Turner, Chris Wood, Michael Boxall and Anthony Hudson, and numerous trips down Memory Lane, in a cogent, well–constructed — and only occasionally self– indulgent — tribute to our football.

Smith is a national treasure, with unrivalled knowledge about our Kiwi football heritage. While he often seems to harbour a pathological desire to personally deconstruct every single erroneous football theory in circulation, he also carries the latent burden of ensuring this knowledge is never lost to the rest of us.

Speaking to Barry later, he made a keen point about the importance of having lively debate within the game, rather than mutely agreeing on issues for the sake of unity.

“The very best thing is to have a dispute,” he said. “It’s only when you argue that everyone gets to really appreciate and understand the issues.”

Meanwhile on stage Adshead explained how he strove to build an environment where players really liked to play, declaring transparency and honest with players was essential, and a key to success in 1981–82.

“If you weren’t going to be playing for me on Saturday you knew on Tuesday,” he said.

Former All Whites were liberally sprinkled among the 300–odd crowd. Seated at the table next to me was one of Adshead’s troops, and one of our greatest All Whites, left back Adrian Elrick. Adrian was even generous enough to 11

Master of Cermonies Andrew Dewhurst (above) interviews current All Whites Chris Wood (left), coach Anthony Hudson and Michael Boxall.

Photographs: Shane Wenzlick.

remember me from the mid 1990s when we were both coaching U–14 rep teams at a national tournament in Timaru.

It’s worth noting that in pre–Ivan Vicelich days, Elrick would have been fourth in the All White caps pecking order behind Sumner, Turner, and the late Duncan Cole, with 92 appearances. These days he is living in Welcome Bay, Tauranga, where he endures the dodgy knees most from that era now sport, and plays bowls with another All White legend, Bill de Graaf.

Master of ceremonies Andrew Dewhurst was superb, striking just the right balance between formality and levity, and throwing in some amazing broadcasting anecdotes along the way.

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He badgered Chris Wood for some dressing room vignettes, perhaps some light–hearted dirt on his fellow team mates, but drew a complete blank.

Wood, who you might have picked as a character from days gone by (remember his underwear– flash goal celebration after scoring against Honduras in 2010?) simply had nothing to add.

But Boxall did his best to fill the vacuum. “The captain (Wood) is like a teacher’s pet,” he confided, to general laughter.

Then there were the Football Media Awards, an important part of our football culture, largely kept alive by the endeavours of NZ Herald subeditor Simon Kay. Michael Burgess (NZ Herald) took Writer of the Year for the third straight year, and Jason Pine trousered both the audio and television broadcaster.

Enzo Giordani was named Community–Internet Writer of the Year. It’s a category that could use a bit more explanatory definition — does it just mean anybody not writing for NZ Herald? — but there can be no question that Enzo is a pretty good fit, regardless of how you dice it. I can’t think of anyone more community–minded, or internet–minded for that matter, in football media than Enzo.

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CELEBRATING OUR GAME

Football Foundation Chief Executive Noel Barkley presents Mark Stewart with a special goalkeeper’s shirt.

Website of the year went to Dangerous Dave Webster, who has metamorphosed from a one–time drunken travelling All White fan into a multi–media phenomenon with his www.thejourneyfan.blogspot. co.nz Programme of the year was well contested, with Waitemata’s 32–page effort (edited by Mark Reid) nudging out Ellerslie and Papatoetoe to take honours for a second successive year. There was a time when programme of the year never ventured outside the national league, but these days national league clubs aren’t even making the cut against these labours of love.

The Media Player of the Year award was won once again by the defensively brilliant but curiously ineloquent All Whites skipper Winston Reid. So great to watch, so hard to listen to. Which is fine, but does make you appreciate Ryan Nelsen so much more in retrospect.

We moved to a Friends of Football “Medal of Excellence” presentation to Bert Ormond, a Scottish–born New Zealand international and coaching legend from the 1960s and 70s. And it should be mentioned, Bert was also a must–read weekly Sunday News columnist for years.

How we could use an insightful weekly commentary like that these days.

Son Iain Ormond, a football VIP in his own right, spoke on behalf of Bert, and said how he had also enjoyed catching up with football people he hadn’t seen for 40 years.

But things got really interesting after Noel Barkley spoke, as chief executive of the Football Foundation, an organisation created by New Zealand Football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup to provide support to the growth of the game in this country.

Barkley introduced a new honorary patron in the form of

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Business Hall of Famer and former NZ Football president Sir Eion Edgar (KNZM) who happily announced he was donating $500,000 to the Football Foundation coffers to a standing ovation.

There was slightly less of an ovation when Edgar then told us not to worry about Trump.

“We need a strong America,” he counselled. Oh dear. Still, if you’re prepared to pony up with $500,000, the least we can do is forgive you a ropey political opinion or two.

But wait, there’s more.

Football Foundation chairman and serious rich–lister Mark Stewart then took the stage and advised he also would chuck in $500,000.

Stewart looks a bit like one of the roadies from Wayne’s World. But if he has a fun haircut, he balances that with a very serious wallet.

At this point I started to worry.

Had I missed something on the invite? Were we all meant to bring a 13

CELEBRATING OUR GAME

Cutting football’s birthday cake: NZ Football president Deryck Shaw (left) with former All Whites captain Steve Sumner. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

spare half a million to the Heritage?

Because I’d not packed the chequebook. I desperately asked my tablemates what they had planned. Maybe a lazy $50,000 each from Tim Adams (Ellerslie), Andrew Kirk (Papatoetoe), Mark Reid (Waitemata), Patrick Barnes (Wellington), and Dave Webster (Wellington) would avoid collective red faces?

But no, they’d seated me at the Miserable Bastards table.

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Embarrassingly, nobody here could be shamed into coughing up even a miserly $5000. Hell, you’d half expect these guys to be asking for doggy bags for the beetroot, next.

So at the break I broke through the perfumed throng of female admirers to shake hands with the genial Stewart, both to congratulate him on his philanthropy — and to casually inquire if, by any chance, we might share a common interest in a new clubrooms complex at

Gower Park, Hamilton.

Turns out Mark’s more of a Canterbury man, but there you go.

May this bloke walk more often through our football halls.

The evening finished with an equally nice touch. New Zealand Football President Deryck Shaw and Sumner cut a 125th birthday cake.

Never got to taste it, but I’d like to think it was beetroot flavour.

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SUPPORTING OUR GAME Football Foundation Chief Executive Noel Barkley (right) introduces new honorary patron Sir Eion Edgar, KNZM. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

Barkley ‘blown away’ by donors’ generosity FOOTBALL FOUNDATION Chief Executive Noel Barkley admits it was hard to keep secret the news of two large donations.

Appointed in his role last April, the former All White and businessman had been quietly building relationships between the foundation and key groups in the sport.

Barkley took the opportunity at the 125th Anniversary Dinner to explain what the Foundation was trying to achieve, and how it had contibruted more than $1.3 million to football projects since it was formed with $4 million of capital

by New Zealand Football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Barkley explained the foundation also wanted to help former internationals to continue to enjoy the game they had served, and explained they would get the chance to become members of the foundation and receive complimentary tickets to future international matches played in New Zealand.

He then introduced the foundation’s new honorary patron Sir Eion Edgar, KNZM. Sir Eion announced he would be donating $500,000 to the Football Foundation coffers, an amazing gesture met by rapturous applause.

Not to be outdone, Football Foundation chairman Mark Stewart — who is set to step down from his position in May — then took the stage and declared he would be matching Sir Eion’s contribution, bringing the total donated to the foundation to a remarkable $1 million.

“I’d known about the donations for a while and it was hard not going out and telling everyone but this provided the perfect platform,” Barkley said.

“I am blown away by the generosity of both Sir Eion and Mark, their donations will make a huge impact as the Football

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Foundation continues to support the growth of our game.”

When appointing Barkley to his role, Stewart said he was an obvious choice.

“Noel brings tremendous know– how to the Football Foundation. As a former All White, he has a great understanding of the code and the business we are in. He has extensive commercial experience having been involved in the FIFA U–20 World Cup and more recently with the New Zealand Golf Open.

“This made him an obvious choice and so we are delighted to bring someone of this calibre on board.”

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SUPPORTING OUR GAME

New funding partner gets behind football in New Zealand ‘Sport has a unique ability to create hope, to break down educational and cultural barriers and to inspire people in a unique way. Sport brings people together and unites communities around the world.’

— Dr Harusha Handa

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WITH A CHALLENGING international programme ahead, New Zealand Football has found a new partner with a strong record of backing sports with bold visions.

DR HARUHISA HANDA (a.k.a.

Toshu Fukami) was born in 1951. He attended Doshisha University where he received a degree in economics.

He studied with the Master Class at Musashino Academia Musicae where he graduated with a major in vocal music. He earned a masters degree in creative arts from WAAPA (West Australian Academy of Performing Arts) at Edith Cowan University, West Australia, as well as a PhD in Literature from the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University.

In Cambodia, Dr Handa was conferred the title of Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei.

He is also a recipient of the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon of Japan.

He won the Honorary Award of Contribution towards the Chinese Choral Enterprise, he has received a distinguished service medal of the State of Western Australia, as well as the keys to the City of Perth and

the City of Swan. He is an Honorary Citizen of Melbourne, an Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Fukuoka, Japan, and the Vice President of the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Dr Handa has founded and supports numerous not-forprofit organisations in Japan and internationally, and is committed to developing many other humanitarian and cultural programs. He serves as the Managing Director of B.C. Consulting Ltd, and manages more than a dozen companies in Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom.

He is also an active author, and has written more than 220 books that have been translated into seven languages. Some of the best sellers include “Secrets for running a Small Business”, “Understanding Japan” and “Lucky Fortune” — of which more than a million copies have been sold.

FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

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ew Zealand Football is pleased to announce ISPS Handa as a new funding partner for the sport for the next three years.

ISPS (the International Sports Promotion Society) have an extensive history of supporting sport in New Zealand. For four years they were the title sponsor for the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open where they played a leading role in the recovery of Christchurch following the damage caused by the earthquakes.

They are the current naming rights sponsor of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Men’s golf open in Queenstown and have made significant donations to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Paralympics New Zealand in recent time.

With all of the donations and sponsorships combined, ISPS

Handa will make a significant contribution to sport in New Zealand on an annual basis for the next three years.

Dr Haruhisa Handa, the founder of ISPS Handa, is delighted to extend their partnership with New Zealand sports to include the nation’s most played team sport in football.

“We have a firm belief in the ‘power of sport’,” said Dr Handa.

“Sport has a unique ability to create hope, to break down educational and cultural barriers and to inspire people in a unique way. Sport brings people together and unites communities around the world.”

“New Zealand is not the only country I have supported football.

I started in South Africa, funding sustainable facilities with Fives Futbol with proceeds supporting local schools and was the title sponsor of Mpumalanga Black Aces for two years where they rose to

‘Our vision is to be the nation’s favourite game and it is with the help of great partners like Dr Handa and his team that we are able to realise this vision.’

— Andy Martin

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SUPPORTING OUR GAME

ISPS Handa will sponsor football’s Chatham Cup fourth place in the premier soccer league. It would be wonderful to see a similar impact in New Zealand”.

Dr Handa, who was made an honorary appointment to the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016 for services to golf and philanthropy, said he was excited to align with football in New Zealand.

“We know that football is the global game,” he said. “The huge participation in football across a range of cultures and backgrounds in New Zealand makes it an ideal game to bring people together. We are excited to have an impact and help New Zealand Football and continue their great work.”

Dr Handa knows 2017 will be an exciting time for the All Whites as 18

Anthony Hudson’s team looks to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“We are told that New Zealand really gets behind this team and we look forward to being part of that.

We are excited about the potential of football at both the grassroots and the elite level.”

New Zealand Football Chief Executive Andy Martin said it was great to welcome ISPS Handa on board as a funding partner and said there was great alignment with their values.

“Dr Handa is well known for being one of New Zealand’s great philanthropic givers. His international philanthropic contribution in sports and beyond are notable, to say the least. We are

delighted that he has decided to invest in football in New Zealand.

“Our vision is to be the nation’s favourite game and it is with the help of great partners like Dr Handa and his team that we are able to realise this vision. We have two strategic priorities of winning on the world stage and getting more Kiwis loving and playing football —with the values that Dr Handa brings to this partnership we expect to achieve great things in football in New Zealand.”

In 2017, ISPS Handa will be the naming rights sponsor for one of New Zealand oldest trophies — the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup which dates back to 1923 — and they will also assist the delivery of the game at the grassroots level.

ISPS Handa support sport to a phenomenal level on a global scale. They have a huge presence in golf — most notably as the naming rights sponsor of the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf and the ISPS Handa Perth International on the European Tour — and they are strongly advocating for Blind and Disabled Golf to be included in the Paralympics.

It is the first time ISPS Handa has aligned with football in this country and they are looking forward to continuing their successful association with New Zealand sport.

ISPS Handa Sponsorship in New Zealand – ISPS Handa New Zealand Football – ISPS Handa Chatham Cup – ISPS Handa New Zealand Men’s Golf Open in Queenstown – ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Golf Open in Christchurch (2012 – 2016) – New Zealand Olympic and Paralympics New Zealand Committees Fundraiser ­— Story courtesy of NZFootball

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RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

The Pioneer Friends of Football chair JOHN MORRIS pays tribute to his former coach, Bert Ormond, who becomes the fifth recipient of FoF’s Medal of Excellence.

Bert Ormond Fact File Scottish clubs Falkirk (1954–58), Airdrie (1958–60), Dumbarton (1960–61) New Zealand clubs Eastern Union (1961), Gisborne Thistle (1962), Blockhouse Bay (1964) NZ internationals 21 games (1961–1964) Coaching Led Blockhouse Bay to the club’s National League/ Chatham Cup double in 1970 Media Popular football columnist for Sunday News for many years Family connections Brother Willie played for Scotland at the 1954 FIFA World Cup and managed his country at the 1974 World Cup. Family legacy Sons Iain and Duncan both played for New Zealand, while granddaughter Vicki was a Football Fern.

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FOR THE LAST three years, Friends of Football have organised successful Celebration of Excellence dinners to recognise significant contributions to New Zealand football.

Recipients have included John Adshead, Steve Sumner, Brian Turner and Ivan Vicelich.

For our latest award, we were delighted to be able to announce the Friends of Football Medal of Excellence recipient at the sport’s celebratory 125th Jubilee Dinner.

This was a most fitting event to recognise a football pioneer who had a transformative impact on New Zealand football.

This pioneer and latest recipient of our Medal of Excellence is Bert Ormond.

Bert Ormond emigrated to New Zealand after a successful playing career in Scotland where he played for Falkirk, Airdrie and Dumbarton scoring 34 goals in 83 appearances, playing in those days as an inside forward.

Bert arrived in Gisborne in 1961 and immediately joined Eastern Union, a football powerhouse in those days, and then Gisborne Thistle where he left a rich footballing legacy. In 1964 the Ormond family moved to West Auckland which is where Bert began a very successful playing and coaching career with Blockhouse Bay, his only other club in New Zealand.

Bert first represented his adopted country in 1961, shortly after

arriving from Scotland, scoring against New Caledonia, and in 1964 he had the honour of captaining New Zealand on its 15 match World Tour. In total, he played in 21 internationals for New Zealand, 17 of them while he was a member of Blockhouse Bay. In 1969, Blockhouse Bay, under Bert’s coaching, qualified for the inaugural Rothmans Soccer League, a controversial decision at the time

by NZFA but one that turned out to be pure genius.

On qualifying, Bert immediately started to assemble a squad for the start of the season.

As a member of that squad I can tell you that we were very well prepared for the rigours of the very first national club sporting competition in New Zealand and consequently we went on to win the first ever National League title and then climaxed the season with victory in the Chatham Cup Final in a thrilling replay at Newmarket Park against Western Suburbs of Wellington.

Blockhouse Bay in those heady days set the standard.

Bert insisted on a professional approach to every game: players had to wear a dress uniform to the game, the team always had lunch together prior to the game, and FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL

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there was always a huge aftermatch function for players and supporters regardless of the result.

It was a formula that other clubs copied.

After the tremendous success of that first season, Blockhouse Bay remained a power in the National League. Bert was coach for seven seasons — the club’s finishing position, in order, starting from 1970, was 1st, 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 3rd, 5th.

He was in charge for 122 National league games of which 63 were won, 27 drawn and just 32 lost (52% winning record).

In 1975, Bert took Bay to the Chatham Cup final again, losing this time to Christchurch United in extra time.

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It was no surprise that after Bert’s retirement Blockhouse Bay never reached the same heights despite having outstanding coaches in Terry Conley and Wally Hughes. Bert’s influence was lost and so was the magic that made Blockhouse Bay a special club under the Ormond regime.

Bert Ormond was more than a great footballer and coach he was also a natural as a weekly columnist who didn’t mind speaking his mind.

Bert was one of the sport’s first high profile “personalities”, writing a weekly column in the Sunday News (then the highest circulation weekend paper) in the 1970s, and helping popularise the sport to a wider audience.

Over that first season and throughout his NL coaching career he became one of the best–known names in New Zealand football as every paper and sports’ magazine in the country sought his comments before and after every game.

It is difficult for the younger generation of footballers to realise how big the RNL was in the 1970s.

The double headers attracted massive parochial crowds at Newmarket Park, scintillating football every weekend and publicity that our game today would die for. Much of the success of football in the 1970s was down to Bert Ormond. He knew the value of publicity for the game he loved and this combined with his passion, FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

his coaching ability, his nous for the game all helped football to regain its place on the New Zealand sporting calendar.

Bert was also a fine storyteller, a superb motivator of men, a keen judge of character, someone who genuinely cared about his players.

He had the knack of being able to bond a disparate group of “no name” players into a tightly knit and highly successful football team.

Bert was a real character and a connoisseur of fine Scotch whisky, in truth any Scotch whisky, of which he would partake of a wee nip just prior to his team talk at the Great Northern Hotel in Queen St before every game.

Bert’s other great attribute, along with his devoted wife Esther, was to raise two boys who both went on to play for New Zealand and have successful sporting and business careers; Iain and Duncan were stalwarts of the Bay teams of the 1970s.

A final comment from John Ewan, the respected sports journalist from Wellington, perhaps summed up Bert Ormond and his football philosophy.

Three Blockhouse Bay stalwarts who all played for New Zealand — John Morris (left), Bert Ormond and Iain Ormond. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

He said: “1970 may be remembered as the year soccer took its great step forward. It will certainly be remembered in Wellington as the year that Blockhouse Bay proved you don’t win matches on past reputation, personalities or anything other than a down-toearth 90–minute involvement from eleven well–drilled players”.

As a member of all Bert’s teams in the 1970s, I can confirm that is exactly what Bert expected and got every week.

The latest Medal of Excellence goes to a legend out west and the man who helped transform football in New Zealand from a very amateur back street kick–about to incipient professionalism: Bert Ormond.

‘It’s been wonderful to see friends and colleagues come up and reacquaint themselves with our family. Myself and Bert have talked tonight to people we haven’t seen for 45 years and it’s like it was yesterday. That feeling is what we play sport for and Bert epitomised that — he had such a passion and commitment for everything he did.

This means so much to our family.’

— Iain Ormond

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Player of the Year 2016 Winston Reid

Finalists in the NZ Footballer of the Year award

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Abby Erceg

Chris FANZ: Wood Amber Hearn THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

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

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson collects the trophy on behalf of Winston Reid from Keith Block (left) and Brett Clark (right), representing awards sponsor Connect New Zealand. Photograph: Shane Wenzlick.

A

ll Whites captain Winston Reid has joined a select group of players who have their name on the New Zealand Player of the Year trophy more than once.

Named the country’s top performing player for a second year running, Reid joins some of the game’s greatest names in taking the honour.

Three–time winners have been Brian Turner and Noel Barkley, while dual winners have included Keith Nelson, Grant Turner, Graham Little, Michael McGarry, Fred de Jong and Ben Sigmund.

All White great Steve Sumner received the award in 1983, the year after he led the national team’s campaign at the World Cup finals in Spain.

The New Zealand Soccer Writers’ Association, as it was in 1970, commissioned the trophy to coincide with the inaugural Rothmans Soccer League and its first recipient was Mick Seed, a key player for that year’s champion club, Blockhouse Bay.

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In the early years, the trophy winner was announced at dinners on the eve of the annual Chatham Cup final.

In the early 2000s, the re–named NZ Football Media Association merged its awards with those administered by the national body.

In the latest award, West Ham United defender and All Whites skipper Reid held off the challenges of international team mate Chris Wood, as well as Football Ferns captain Abby Erceg and prolific striker Amber Hearn.

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson accepted the award on his behalf.

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NZ Football Media A

O

utstanding work by New Zealand’s best football writers, broadcasters and photographers was celebrated at the sport’s 125th anniversary dinner in Auckland.

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.

Among the highlights of the latest awards were those made to broadcasters. Jason Pine won the audio section for the eighth successive year and also collected the award for the television category.

Photographer Shane Wenzlick, of Phototek, landed his fifth

Photographer of the Year award.

Michael Burgess took the Writer of the Year for the fourth year in a row and has now won the award a record nine times.

Waikato writer Bruce Holloway took the award for the Publication of the Year for the third time, having won it previously in 2002 and 2011.

Websites received more recognition this time with Enzo Giordani (in–the–back–of–the.net) and Dave Webster (thejourneyfan. blogspot.co.nz) earning recognition for their work to inform football’s online audience.

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR Winner

www.thejourneyfan.blogspot.co.nz (Dave Webster) Highly commended footballnumbersblog.wordpress. com (Dieter Dvorak) yellowfever.co.nz (Yellow Fever ) in-the-back-of-the.net (Enzo Giordani) This was new category has been introduced by the NZFMA to reflect the growing body of work online.

Judge Simon Kay (Former Writer of the Year) Judge's comments "There is little to separate these websites driven by people whose passion and commitment to football is obvious in every post.

Yellow Fever have long been a mainstay of all things football for Kiwi fans. Dieter Dvorak's footballnumbersblog is fascinating

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Dave Webster (centre) receives his award from sponsors Connect NZ. for those who like a statistical breakdown of games which can be used by coaches to improve performance.

The in-the-back-of-the.net site driven by Enzo Giordani covers a phenomenal breadth of games and issues.

But Dave Webster's journeyfan site edged it with his well– combined pictures and stories from a wide variety of men's and women's matches, plus his opinions on other aspects of the game, all

the while displaying considerable knowledge and wit.

The journeyfan side contains perceptive match reports and a monthly calendar covering off everything of note in New Zealand football. Highlights include his assessment of every programme he can get his hands on from the Central and Capital Leagues (Tawa rated top) and a particularly epic trip to watch Waiheke play Norwest.

The use photos to help tell his stories is also a great trait."

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wards

RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT 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

REGIONAL/COMMUNITY WRITER OF THE YEAR

Winner

Enzo Giordani (in–the–back–of– the.net) Highly commended Phillip Rollo (Nelson Mail) Dave Webster (thejourneyfan. blogspot.co.nz) Previous Winners 2011 Anendra Singh (Hawke’s Bay Today) 2012 Phillip Rollo (Waimea Weekly) 2013 Jeremy Ruane 2014 Philip Rollo (Nelson Mail)

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. Enzo Giordani is the fourth different winner in this category's five–year history.

Phillip Rollo, highly commended this time, won this award two of the previous three years.

Judge Duncan Pardon Judge's comments "I’ve stood on the sidelines at east Auckland’s Te Puru Park — a howling wind coming off the Hauraki Gulf — following the progress of my investment in Beachlands-Maraetai AFC’s striker ($400 a season) and wondering: Is this really worth it?

“Well, it is. Because Enzo Giordani makes me feel positively heroic.

“His blog is a celebration of grassroots football, a tribute to the

Enzo Giordani thousands of fans who crowd the sidelines on a cold winter’s Saturday afternoon to cheer on their team.

“His writing may not follow journalistic conventions but who cares? Enzo’s passion and love of the game shine through in every sentence.

“I was won over by his love letter to WaiBOP United and how it was 10 years before he finally saw them win.

“I hope WaiBOP posted his blog on their changing room wall.

“On behalf of all the long– suffering Saturday afternoon football fans the length and breadth of New Zealand: Enzo Giordani, we salute you!"

TV BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR Winner

Jason Pine (Sky TV)

Highly commended Gordon Glen Watson

Recent winners (TV and radio combined) 2003 Michelle Pickles 2004 Michelle Pickles 2005 Michelle Pickles

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Judge Bruce Holloway (former Writer and Publication of the Year winner) Judge's comments "Sky Sport commentator Jason Pine produced a compelling portfolio of highlights packages from three 2015–16 ASB Premiership matches, in Napier, Taupo and Christchurch.

“There was an infectious quality to Pine's commentary, which made his portfolio impossible to go past.

He has the enthusiasm of a scarf– waving fan, the trivia reservoir of a dedicated anorak and an engaging, cheerful disposition that belies the challenges of the broadcasting landscape at national league level.

“In a season where the code achieved its most comprehensive national league television coverage in 46 years, it is fitting to celebrate Pine's effervescent quality to accompany the season–long quantity.

“His irresistible commentary of the 5–5 draw between Wellington Phoenix and Hawke's Bay has set the benchmark for domestic football.

"No judging summary would be complete without acknowledgement of the quality of one of finalist Gordon Glen Watson's portfolio submissions, a 16–minute highlights package of Auckland's 3-0 win over Team Wellington to reclaim the ASB Charity Cup. “This match was filmed by Auckland City FC TV and distributed

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RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT to OFC TV and via the club's social media channels, and Watson's slick, knowledgable commentary underpins a significant club-based initiative that deserves recognition for its professionalism and signal to other New Zealand football organisations about what is possible in the digital era."

AUDIO BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR Winner

Jason Pine (NZME Radio) Highly commended Yellow Fever — In The Zone (Dale Warburton, Guy Smith, Evald Subasic and David Cross) Phoenix City (Patrick Barnes, Cameron McIntosh, Andrew ‘Frosty’ French, Brandon Clarke) 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

Jason Pine's stranglehold continues in this category which he has now won a record eight consecutive times. The Yellow Fever team were highly commended for the fourth year in a row, while Phoenix City were first–time finalists.

Judge Andrew Alderson (Herald on Sunday sports journalist) Judge's comments The category brought together three quality entries — the radio broadcasting of Jason Pine and the internet podcasting of Phoenix City and In The Zone. Each had moments of brilliance, and football should be grateful for the passion

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and dedication on display.

"In The Zone's entry — which included their 167th and final podcast, an achievement in itself — illustrated an unwavering commitment to the game and a willingness to dissect issues in detail on any given week.

“The bloopers compilation on the final podcast was a self–deprecating touch which would have required meticulous trawling through their archives.

"Phoenix City offered zest as a new podcast. Getting their ‘special guest’ to introduce the episode (examples being Chris Greenacre, Vince Lia and Shane Harmon) was a quality touch. The candour of opinion and breadth of knowledge was appreciated, as was the audio quality.

“An episode from someone’s lounge sounded like it could have been recorded at Abbey Rd. "Jason Pine delivered his customary mix of colour, news and analysis from interviews, correspondence and commentary.

Pine’s agility in waltzing across the field to describe live action remains unsurpassed, he broke the story of Jeffrey Sarpong’s signing, and included snippets from candid chats with Rory Fallon and Rob Morrison.

“In the football media awards equivalent of a penalty shootout, Jason Pine wins by virtue of his versatility across the different disciplines of the genre."

WRITER OF THE YEAR Winner

Michael Burgess (Herald on Sunday) Highly commended Steven Holloway (NZ Herald) Enzo Giordani (in-the-back-of-the. net) 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

Judge Duncan Pardon (Auckland Star football writer during 1982–86, who travelled with the All Whites during their 1986 World Cup qualifying campaign, and currently owns and edits the Pohutukawa Coast Times, a

community newspaper circulating in the Beachlands–Maraetai area.)

Judge's comments "This category came down to a contest between the two NZ Herald football scribes. In the end, I went with Michael Burgess. I was won over by his report from inside the All Whites camp on their trip to South Korea, along with his interviews with Winston Reid and Reid’s West Ham coach Slaven Bilic.

“He was able to shed some light on the thinking of this rather enigmatic All Whites hero.

“Michael’s ability to get people to open up to him can also be seen in his report on Steve Sumner’s battle with cancer.

“The runners-up medal goes to Steven Holloway for his hardhitting reports on the New Zealand football eligibility fiasco.

“And I love Enzo Giordani’s writing, which is a breath of fresh air.”

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The NZ Football Media Association and Friends of Football gratefully acknowledge the support of awards sponsors Connect NZ and Kyocera Document Solutions.

Bruce Holloway (centre) collects his Publication of the Year award from Connect NZ’s Keith Block (left) and Brett Clark.

PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR Winner

The National League Debates,

by Bruce Holloway.

Highly commended FANZ Magazine (Friends of Football), edited by Josh Easby.

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 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.

Bruce Holloway completes his second hat-trick of awards by taking out this category. He was named Writer of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2001, and previously won Publication of the Year as Sitter editor in 2002 and for his Waikato Chronicles in 2011. The Friends of Football magazines edited by Josh Easby won last year's publication category.

Judge Simon Kay (Former Writer of the Year) Judge's comments "Josh Easby's Friends of Football magazines do a superb job covering off much of interest in the past and present of Kiwi football but Bruce Holloway's publication casts a fascinating spotlight on our National Leagues focusing on the less-covered off-field aspects.

“It succeeds in bringing together the myriad opinions of the time, providing a valuable and largely objective insight into the tumultuous evolution of New Zealand's flagship competitions."

The National League Debates

by Bruce Holloway

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MATCH PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR Winner

Waitemata, edited by Mark Reid (left)

Highly commended

Ellerslie, edited by Tim Adams Papatoetoe, produced by Andrew Kirk and Dana Jenkins 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

Waitemata retained this award after winning it for the first time in 2015 and being finalists the year before.

Papatoetoe were also previous finalists.

First presented in 1980, Programme of the Year was won by Gisborne City for the first eight years (1980–87) and then Napier City Rovers for the next 11 (1988–1999, shared with Hutt Valley United in 1992). Napier also won in 2011 for the 12th time, extending the club's record in this category.

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Mark Reid (right) is presented with his award by Connect NZ’s Keith Block (left) and Brett Clark.

Judge Jeremy Ruane (former Regional– Community Writer, Programme and Publication of the Year winner).

Judge's comments "It was great to see entries from as far afield as Christchurch United, and as unheralded a club as Otorohanga, among those submitted by the usual suspects.

“A couple of clubs go beyond producing the humble match day programme, and for this, praise must be afforded Cambridge — whose commemorative publication to mark the greatest year in the club’s history is quite outstanding — and Petone, who go the whole nine yards to contribute to their community via a calendar and regular newsletters to past and present club members.

"But it is one of the key communication organs of any club which is under the microscope where this award is concerned, and the standard this year was impressive.

“After initial assessments, there were seven solid contenders for the Best Programme crown, with

shortcomings in the areas of colour and/or content and/or pictures the main downfall of the rest.

“Ellerslie, Ngaruawahia, Oratia, Papatoetoe, Stop Out, WaiBOP United and Waitemata were the clubs which advanced to the final stages.

"Each club’s effort had at least one outstanding feature — Ryan Kerr–Bell’s column in the 'Narra' programme, for instance, is a great read, while the variety of tales to read in The Range, WaiBOP’s submission, was a major plus. The acknowledgement of life members and elements of the club’s history (Stop Out), player profiles (Oratia), and some outstanding Anzac Day covers — Ngaruawahia and Oratia, take a bow — were standouts in these clubs’ entries.

"However, these were offset to some extent by a combination of the relatively small size of the programme — 16 pages or less of informative content — and nothing on the opposition other than a squad list. Plus, in one entry, a glaring spelling error in a column heading which wasn’t amended in FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT subsequent issues. Small details matter.

"Thus we came down to three entries vying for the Programme of the Year title which ticked the vast majority — if not all — of the boxes which, for this judge, are prerequisites for a top quality programme, among them variety and quality of contributions, use of colour and photography, acknowledgement of the opposition via more than just a team list, and team listings on one highly accessible page.

"As well, aspects such as a contents page, a menu listing, a quiz page and eye–catching covers make a difference, and when someone has gone to great lengths to produce a programme spanning to, in one instance, 64 pages in size, that 'keep' factor cannot be ignored.

"The Most Improved Programme honour goes to Ellerslie, whose excellent use of colour and white space, and variety of reports and photos helped make The Ave a really good read.

"The top two were even harder to separate this year compared to last. For a programme which largely covers just the one team, Papatoetoe Ladies’ effort is a really rock–solid effort, rich in colour, content, pictures and variety. As last year, Highly Commended.

"It’s the small details which make the difference, however, and in that regard, the standard bearers of 2014 again have no equal. From retro covers to player profiles, history features to a minimum three– page look at the opposition, and all points in between, Waitemata’s publication really is top drawer stuff.

“The layout is eye–catching, and the planning, effort and imagination that has gone into making each edition of their programme a unique keepsake of the occasion makes Waitemata worthy winners of the Programme of the Year award once again."

An outstanding example from Shane Wenzlick’s award–winning portfolio.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Shane Wenzlick (left) receives his certificate from NZ Football Media Association chairman Simon Kay. This is the fifth time Shane Wenzlick has been named Photographer of the Year, following his wins in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2011.

His portfolio featured photos from the ASB Premiership and Fifa Under-20 World Cup. It also included the photograph considered to be the Best Single

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Image of the Year.

First awarded in 1981, Andrew Cornaga, highly commended this year, has won this category a record six times.

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RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT Judge Paul Estcourt (former NZ Herald photographer) Judge's comments "Shane Wenzlick's entry covered good action, news and feature pictures.

“The action was superb and the photo of the irate player being sent away by the referee would have made a good sports news photo on any day (see pages 50–51).

“I considered this the single best image of all those entered, with Shane's picture of a player copping a ball to the face a very close second.

“Runner-up Andrew Cornaga's selection was good but in my opinion not quite as good as that of the winner."

Winner

Shane Wenzlick (Phototek)

Highly commended

Andrew Cornaga (Photosport) 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

WINNING PORTFOLIO — This collection of images from Phototek’s Shane Wenzlick earned him the Photographer of the Year award. Other photographs from his portfolio appear on pages 25 and 42–43 of this publication.

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 33

Football community rallies to

#playitforsteve

S

teve Sumner, the inspirational skipper of the 1982 All Whites, has pretty much achieved everything the game in New Zealand can offer.

Cambridge juniors (above) and the Western Suburbs 9th grade Warriors from Wellington (below) get behind #PlayItForSteve.

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At club level, he’s taken home five national league titles and six Chatham Cup winner’s medals.

He played 105 times for his adopted country; 58 of those appearances were in A– Internationals in which he found the net 22 times, a remarkable return for a midfielder.

Off the pitch, he’s been recognised twice by FIFA, winning their Centennial Award in 2004 and their Order of Merit in 2010. He was awarded the Friends of Football’s Medal of Excellence in 2015.

And he can now add the ONZM to his name after last year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

But last year, Sumner (61) made use of his leadership abilities once more to help raise awareness of

prostate cancer, a disease he’s been fighting since he was diagnosed with it in 2015.

With the support of NZ Football, Mainland Football and Friends of Football, Sumner got behind the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s annual Blue September promotion, a campaign designed to encourage men to get checked for early signs of the disease.

NZ Football asked all clubs, teams and players in the sport to dedicate their games to #PlayItForSteve for the last weekend in August, to help launch Blue September.

The weekend coincided with the semi–finals of the Chatham Cup, the competition that still gets Sumner’s heart racing.

The football community got

FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

Sumner (right) celebrates the naming of The Steve Sumner Stand with Friends of Football’s Andrew Dewhurst. behind Steve once more, promoting #PlayItForSteve at local and national level, using social media to create awareness.

On the Saturday, Sumner was a guest of honour at English Park in Christchurch, the ground where he played many club and representative games.

Watched by Sumner’s friends and family, Mainland Football unveiled the new name of the stand at the stadium — The Steve Sumner Stand. * In New Zealand, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with about 3,000 registrations and about 600 deaths from prostate cancer each year Men who develop prostate cancer are mostly over the age of 65. It rarely occurs in men younger than 55. About one in 13 men will develop prostate cancer before the age of 75.

Above: School teams from Hamilton Boys’ High and Cambridge High School get together after their game to show their support.

Right: Nice touch at Auckland’s Kiwitea Street — as the final whistle sounds for Central United’s home game, the scoreboard sends a special message to Sumner.

For more information, visit www.prostate.org.nz.

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HERITAGE OF THE GAME

It’s all in the na Writer JEREMY RUANE puts forward his case to keep our natio

WHAT’S IN a nickname? Quite a bit, actually. So much, in fact, that it has prompted this column to be penned.

JEREMY RUANE has been writing about New Zealand football for more than three decades and is a passionate champion for the women’s game.

His website, www. ultimatenzsoccer.com, has comprehensive records of New Zealand football.

Ruane is a multi–award winner, having won NZ Football Media Awards for Publication of the Year, Programme of the Year and Regional/ Community Writer of the Year.

And he’s well–known by his own nickname — “JR”.

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What there is, of course, is history, and plenty of it. Take the All Whites’ moniker, for instance, a tag which has stood the test of time since it was introduced after John Adshead’s charges first sported an all–white kit in the goalless draw in Taiwan in their third match on the road to Spain ‘82.

Before that match, the ‘All Whites’ chant had never existed, as New Zealand had, by and large, played in white shirts and socks with black shorts for much of the previous decade. And, in years long before that, black shirts and white shorts on occasions.

The Youth All Whites tag, long associated with the U–20s team, stems from the days when the FIFA U–20 World Cup was known as the FIFA Youth World Championship.

Likewise the Junior All Whites nickname. It was known as the FIFA Junior World Championship before it was renamed the FIFA U–17 World Cup, a tournament New Zealand hosted in 1999, in which the host nation’s team was known and marketed as the Junior All Whites.

On the women’s side of the game, the national team was, for a number of years, known as the SWANZ, a nickname sourced from the initials of the Women’s Soccer Association of New Zealand, by which the game’s governing body was known before all the various

national associations were brought under the all–encompassing body we know today as New Zealand Football.

In 2006, New Zealand’s women needed a new nickname, and it was Annalie Longo who came up with the ‘Football Ferns’ tag by which they are known the world over today.

Before that nickname appeared on the world stage for the first time, however, the U–20s squad had their World Cup qualifying campaign to contest, while New Zealand had gained the hosting rights to the inaugural FIFA U–17 Women’s World Cup Finals in 2008.

With these events in mind, and using the Football Ferns’ moniker as their starting point, the Junior Ferns and Young Ferns tags were swiftly introduced by NZF, with the latter name being applied to the U–17 campaign, and the former to all U–20 women’s activities.

Everything went swimmingly initially, until one day some absolute ‘dumbkopf’ in NZF’s ivory tower — I don’t know who, and I never want to! — thought it would be a great idea to cast aside that which had gone before history–wise, and align the names of the men’s age–grade teams with the tags which were serving the women so well.

In other words, associate the Junior All Whites name with the FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

me ... nal team nicknames ...

All Whites (senior men’s team) Football Ferns (senior women’s team) OlyWhites (U–23 men’s team) Junior Ferns (U–20 women’s team) Youth All Whites (U–20 men’s team) Young Ferns (U–17 women’s team) Junior All Whites (U–17 men’s team)

Women’s international Annalie Longo is credited with coming up with the nickname for the Football Ferns in 2006.

U–20 men’s team, and the Young All Whites with the U–17 men’s team.

Can anyone else see the glaringly obvious problem here? Having had the U–17 team known as the Junior All Whites for the best part of twenty–five years, the U–20 team was now going to be known by the same name …

Genius, eh? Sheer mind–boggling genius!

If ever there was an instance where the phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” was ever needed in New Zealand footballing circles, this was it. But someone with no respect for the history of the game thought they knew better …

The confusion which has resulted from this re–branding disaster has ultimately prompted NZF to look to discard the nicknames associated with their age–grade teams, and instead refer to their representative sides as U–20 women’s, U–17 women’s, U–20 men’s and U–17 men’s as necessary.

Not exactly names you could describe as marketable, eh?

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Especially when one compares them with the corresponding tags — Junior Ferns, Young Ferns, Youth All Whites and Junior All Whites — which, quite frankly, were a perfect fit, and made promoting the respective sides very easy from both a marketing and media perspective, as well as emphasising their perfect alignment with their seniors, i.e. the Football Ferns and the All Whites.

Think of it from a player’s perspective. Which would have greater cachet — “I’m an U–20 women’s international”, or “I’m a Junior Fern”? Any code you’d care to mention boasts players befitting the former phrase, but there’s only one code with claims to the latter title, and it ain’t cricket!

Clearly the lack of a nickname to associate with our age–grade representative teams grates with some, as references such as “Wee Ferns” have been noted in recent times.

At the same time, there are folk who would prefer to see no nicknames at all, and all

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representative sides simply referred to as New Zealand — a somewhat impractical viewpoint, in this day and age, given the need to stand out from the crowd where promoting your sport and its achievements are concerned.

So, what nicknames to use?

Well, there’s no point in reinventing the wheel, something which NZF has looked to do every so often in days gone by in a variety of areas. The nicknames have existed for some time — quite a few years in a couple of instances.

Why not continue to use them?

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OBITUARIES

Sport loses a great supporter

Shirley Herbert with husband Clive.

FOOTBALL has lost one of its great supporters in Shirley Herbert who has died in Auckland after bravely battling cancer.

Shirley (86) was well known to football supporters as the wife of football coach and administrator Clive Herbert, and mother of former All White player and coach Ricki Herbert.

Shirley’s influence on her family’s sporting achievements stemmed from her own success as a young athlete.

Encouraged by her father, who was a champion runner, Shirley became the Auckland 100–yards sprint champion.

In 1955, she married Clive, a national cycling champion on road and track, and the pair began a

sports–loving partnership that lasted six decades.

Shirley and Clive were supportive parents for daughter Deborah and son Ricki as they grew up in South Auckland in the 1960s.

Ricki has often credited his parents for his success as a footballer, saying they have been a major influence throughout his career.

As well as encouraging her family’s football activities, Shirley was also a partner in the family’s harness racing enterprise which saw Clive and, briefly, Ricki training and driving pacers.

Shirley was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother and she will be missed by family, friends and the sporting community.

‘Legend’ fondly remembered BRIAN “STAN” STANYER, a legend of Mount Albert-Ponsonby AFC, passed away in October, aged 61.

Stanyer commanded a strong presence in the colours of the club he fell in love with as a first team player in 1977.

He later held coaching and management roles for the club’s senior teams with the Anderson Park outfit.

Since joining the Mount Albert Ponsonby he held every executive committee position and was crucial to its administration and financial well–being.

Mount Albert-Ponsonby club president for the past four years, Stanyer’s loss will be sorely felt by the entire Auckland Football community.

Auckland Football Federation 38

Chairman Glyn Taylor expressed condolences to the Stanyer family on behalf of the local football community.

“Brian Stanyer was a giant of the game, in his stature as a Mount Albert Ponsonby AFC player, administrator and president,” said Taylor.

“He was a pioneer in the 1970s, showing that Mount Albert Ponsonby were capable of matching it with the best in the Northern League and Superclub competitions, a remarkable achievement.

“Brian was a much-loved and revered figure, but his sense of humour ensured there was never any fuss. “Stan” was and will always remain a true Mount AlbertPonsonby hero.”

Brian Stanyer He is survived by his children Dave, Lizzie, Kelsey and Ryan.

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Canterbury stalwart farewelled

FORMER Christchurch United player and coach Rab Brown has been farewelled by friends, family and the football community.

The 63-year-old Scot died in September, nine years after he was first diagnosed with cancer.

He emigrated to New Zealand in the 1970s, joining New Brighton and playing in the national league.

After a season in Blenheim, the home town of his wife Trudy, he returned south and joined Christchurch United.

He became player–coach of United’s Southern League side, helping to develop promising young players. He was assistant– coach to Martin Stewart for the United first team which won the 1991 national league and Chatham Cup double.

In 1993, Brown joined Woolston WMC as a player and became first team coach in 1994.

Brown then spent three seasons as player–coach of the Hillsborough Tavern Sunday League side which included exAll Whites Allan Boath and John Hanson.

Rab and Trudy Brown were married for 39 years and had two daughters, Vanessa and Kirsty, and two grandchildren.

Member of prolific Smith family dies FORMER Canterbury footballer Brian Smith (right) has died in Rotorua, aged 72.

He was best known as a Canterbury rep player but played in New Zealand selection teams in the mid-1960s, including being an unused sub for the national XI’s 11-0 defeat to Manchester United in 1967.

Smith — his full name was Gordon Brian Smith — was widely known as GB or Smithy. He died on Christmas Eve. After a career in the insurance industry, he retired to Rotorua where he became a popular football columnist for the Daily Post.

His family has had more international representatives than any other with his father Gordon playing six times for New Zealand, and four uncles (Bob, Vic, Jack and Roger) all wearing the national shirt.

His father was a New Zealand selector and his uncle Bob was chairman of the NZ Football Association. Bob’s grandson, Ryan Nelsen, captained the All Whites at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Brian Smith, husband of the late Sally, was the father of Greg and Riz, Jacqui and Jeff, Steve and Ange, brother of Louise and Doug, Russell and Lynn.

RECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

White shows game through lens FOOTBALL FERN Rosie White (right) has revealed her off–the–pitch skills as a creative photographer.

The 23–year–old forward, with more than 80 international games to her credit, has published a photographic portfolio capturing behind–the–scenes images of women footballers.

Called The Women Behind; The Beautiful Game, the study includes images taken of players in the Liverpool FC and New Zealand teams.

White has also created a 2017 calendar including her photographs.

She told NZFootball.co.nz she had enjoyed using her camera while travelling with her teams.

“I have been really enjoying my photography. I have been doing a post graduate diploma online in the last couple of years, and I have found a new interest in it. “ To read more on Rosie White’s photography portfolio visit: http://whiterosenewzealand.com/ WhiteRoseBlog.html

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UPCOMING EVENTS

We’re again supporting Macular Degeneration’s annual charity raceday at Ellerslie, Auckland.

CHARITY RACEDAY EVENT: MDNZ Raceday VENUE: Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland Our annual golf day at Auckland’s Akarana Course is always good fun!

GOLF DAY Friends of Football will hold their third annual charity golf day in Auckland in April.

Teams of four play a full round of golf with fellow football enthusiasts, with a stack of prizes to play for.

For more details, watch our website (www.friendsoffootballnz. com) or email our secretary (secfof@ gmail.com).

DATE: Saturday February 18, 2017 TIME:

Noon — 5.30pm

FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL invite members and supporters to join us at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, on February 18, 2017, to support our friends at Macular Degeneration New Zealand.

This is an entertaining day at the races and a chance to catch up with the many football enthusiasts who support this charity day.

MDNZ is a charitable trust that provides awareness, education and support to those who suffer from macular degeneration, a condition that threatens the sight of one person in seven over 50.

Former All Whites coaches Allan Jones and John Adshead are prominent advocates for MDNZ and Allan’s wife Viv is an ambassador for the charity.

In recent years, Friends of Football has booked tickets for the raceday on behalf of members, supporters and their friends, so we can have a great day out and all in a good cause. Ticket price includes entry to the Guineas Room, bubbles on arrival, 3 bottles of wine per table, sumptuous buffet lunch, afternoon tea and lots of surprises throughout the day.

All this is covered by a ticket price of $125.

If you want to come along as part of the Friends of Football group, please email committee member Josh Easby at josheasby@mail.com by January 11, 2017.

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FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

F ANZ

INTERNATIONAL DIARY Getting behind our national teams

THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

ALL WHITES coach Anthony Hudson says he couldn’t have chosen a better draw for his team at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The Kiwis have drawn host Russia in the opening game of the tournament, and Mexico and Portugal.

“There are very little expectations on us with the giants of world football,” said Hudson.

“We want to go to these games and cause an upset. We have three opportunities to do that and we have said from the beginning that we are not going there to take part and enjoy the tournament. We want to go and cause and upset and be strong, perform and make everyone at home very proud.”

He said coming up against El Tri again — after the All Whites played well in the 2-1 defeat in Nashville in October — would be great preparation for the 2017 Intercontinental Playoff should the All Whites qualify.

And finally to take on the European Champions and World No 8 Portugal who boast one of the world’s finest players in Cristiano Ronaldo will be incredible.

“It is such an amazing tournament and to be playing against the champions of Europe especially someone like Ronaldo it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for New Zealand and for our players. It is going to be a special occasion.”

The seven coaches whose teams will contest the Confederation Cup, including New Zealand’s Anthony Hudson (second from left). Photo: FIFA. New Zealand will be in Group A while Group B will comprise Australia, Germany, Chile and the nation that wins the upcoming African championship.

ALL WHITES FIXTURES New Zealand v Russia 6pm June 17 (3am, June 18 — NZ time) New Zealand v Mexico 9pm June 21 (6am, June 22 – NZ time) New Zealand v Portugal 6pm, June 24 (3am, June 25 – NZ time)

U–17 MEN’S TEAM FEBRUARY 11–24, 2017: The Danny Hay–coached squad head to

Papeete, Tahiti, for the Oceania championships which will also provide the qualification pathway to the U–17 FIFA World Cup in India. New Zealand’s group opponents will be New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and hosts Tahiti.

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FERNS FIXTURES NEW ZEALAND competes at the Cyprus Cup in early March.

Group games are: New Zealand v Scotland March 1 New Zealand v Austria March 3 New Zealand v Korea Republic March 6

U–20 MEN’S TEAM DARREN BAZELEY’S U–20 team will compete at the U–20 FIFA World Cup in South Korea in May/ June.

Qualifiers so far for the 24–team tournament include England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Vietnam, Vanuatu and host South Korea.

New Zealand will learn their group opponents when the draw is made on March 15.

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F ANZ

AROUND THE COUNTRY News from football’s regions

THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

NORTHERN referees have recognised their high achievers for 2016 with a series of awards.

The Harcourts Cooper & Co Referee of the year was Chris Trent who also won the Jacanna Customs and Freight Referees’ Referee of the Year.

Wendy McNeely was the Specsavers Harbour/Waitakere Personality of the Year while Les Moorhouse was Northland’s Personality of the Year and took the Mike Stather Memorial Trophy.

Meanwhile, Northern Football has named the five clubs chosen to deliver the New Zealand Football Skill Centre Open programmes following NZF’s new criteria. They are East Coast Bays, Forrest Hill Milford, Hibiscus Coast, Norwest United and Oratia United.

AUCKLAND Football will celebrate the region’s volunteers in February, hosting its annual ‘Cheers Volunteers’ evening at the Onehunga Sports clubrooms.

The evening, on Friday February 10, is a chance for the region to recognise those who work so hard for football on and off the field.

AFF will also announce the next recipients of its Long Service Medals for those who have performed outstanding services to their clubs for an extended period (normally not less than 10 years).

Clubs wishing to attend or nominate medal recipients should contact AFF. 42

WAIBOP FOOTBALL have appointed Mark Hester as the region’s full–time Referee Development Manager.

Hester will oversee operations of the referee group as well as manage referee development programmes.

The role will focus on recruitment, training and retention of referees through providing quality referee delivery and creating a positive environment for referees.

Hester previously filled this role for several years till May 2014.

Since then, he has been Head of Refereeing for Oceania Football Confederation and was also a Referee Instructor on the FIFA Referee Assistance Programme.

CENTRAL FOOTBALL will go into 2017 with a newly–appointed Operations Manager for its Gisborne area. Reporting to the Federation Operations and Game Development Manager, applications closed in December.

WELLINGTON has successfully hosted another series of games for the annual National Age Group Tournament.

Northern Football ran out overall winners with the best record across all games played, having accrued 61 points from the 30 matches in all five age groups.

Winners of the five groups: U16 Boys: Auckland Football U16 Girls: Northern Football U15 Boys: Mainland Football U14 Boys: Auckland Football U14 Girls: Mainland Football

MAINLAND FOOTBALL are building on the success of its women’s football programme, after Canterbury United Pride took the National Women’s League title.

In February and March, the region will host a set of four ‘summer hubs’ to create opportunities for girls up to 13 to enjoy football and make friends.

Sessions will be held at Waimak FC, Ferrymead Bays, St Albans and Nomads United.

Details of dates, times and costs of sessions can be found at Mainland’s website.

FOOTBALL SOUTH will continue staging women’s games in Otago and for the region’s Premier League on Saturdays in 2017, having successfully trialled the switch from Sundays in 2016.

Meanwhile Football South has unveiled a new draft Strategic Plan and is now seeking feedback from clubs in the region to help review it.

Jamie Whitmarsh has been appointed Football Development Officer for the Central Otago area

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FURTHER AFIELD What’s happening in Oceania

THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

Region provides first woman appointee OCEANIA HAS provided world football with its first head of FIFA’s newly–created women’s division.

New Zealander Sarai Bareman has been appointed as Chief Women’s Football Officer. She reports directly to FIFA Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban, and is a member of the FIFA Management Board.

Building on FIFA’s commitment to further support and promote the development of women’s football as well as women in football, Sarai brings a background in finance and football administration to the role.

She also brings a lifelong passion for the game, having played from childhood. Encouraged by her father, a coach, she pursued her love of the game to the highest level representing the Samoan women’s national football team.

Sarai has worked at national association level as the CEO of the Samoan Football Association, where she was responsible for overhauling its financial management and carrying out strategic rebuilding. She then took up a role at confederation level, initially as Operations Manager at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), before being promoted to the role of OFC Deputy Secretary General.

As the only female member of FIFA’s 2016 Reform Committee, Sarai was a strong advocate for change within the organisation, in particular calling for concrete requirements on women in leadership positions at FIFA, which came into force following unanimous approval at the Extraordinary FIFA Congress in February 2016. — Story FIFA.com.

Sarai Bareman

How Oceania nations fare in latest FIFA world rankings NEW ZEALAND have moved into 109th place on the updated FIFA World rankings for national teams, well ahead of their nearest Oceania rivals.

While Argentina, Brazil and Germany led the rankings released on December 22, 2016, Oceania nations were in the bottom quarter of the rankings, with the notable exception of New Zealand.

Latest rankings (from 200 teams): 109th: New Zealand 148th: Tahiti 168th: New Caledonia 170th: Papua New Guinea th 175 : Vanuatu 179th: Fiji 187th: Soloman Islands st 191 equal: 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 2018 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, the squad saw a strong comeback reaching 88th place in September.

Their upcoming matches in 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifying Stage 3 could determine whether they return to the top 100.

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Football Dad The end of the road FOOTBALL MUM was at the door, an expensive craft beer in one hand, and a tall glass of pink grapefruit juice in the other.

‘How did it go?’ she enquired, a little hesitantly.

She could normally gauge the result within four or five seconds.

Football Dad’s face always gave it away.

‘7-0!’ screeched the Youngest One, sailing through the door with a hop and a skip.

‘We pumped them 7–0! Oh, but Mum, that town stank sooooooo bad.’

Football Dad explained: ‘Sewage outfall into the harbour, disgusting but necessary I guess. Tide washing at one corner of the pitch. Parents sucking on RTDs at 11am.’

‘7–0! Woop woop woop!’: Another declaration from the daughter, who promptly ditched her boots and bag right bang-slap in the middle of the kitchen floor, swiped the drink from her mother’s hand and tore off to the other end of the house to share the news with her sibling.

Football Dad slumped in a couch, kicked off his sneakers, and flicked his hat in the general of the coat rack.

A long, satisfying draw on his beer, as his wife joined him. ‘Ahhhhhhhh ... thanks, babe.’

He reached for the battered little notebook in his bag, and leafing through a few pages, began scribbling. Match details, full–time score, the name of the kids who had managed goals. A note or two on things to work on with specific kids.

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Next to his own child’s name, he wrote two words: ‘Fitness. Courage.’

Football Mum leaned over and looked at the notes.

‘Don’t be hard on her. She’s trying.

You know she doesn’t have the other one’s athletic gifts. Just work with what you’ve got.’

A reassuring hand on the shoulder: ‘She will learn. She’ll learn that she either has to try a bit

She crossed out the words ‘fitness’ and ‘courage’ and replaced them with one word.

‘Love.’

‘She score?’ the lanky one asked.

‘Came close!’ exclaimed Football Dad, a grin spreading across his face. ‘A nice turn to beat a defender, little 20–yard dash down the flank, then a wee one–two with the Indian lass she got to the corner of the box, but ever-so-slightly toe–poked it, and it bounced off the post. She was unlucky.’

Football Mum leaned across and grabbed the notebook and pen.

She looked Football Dad square in the eye.

‘I think we need to make a little edit here,’ she said.

She crossed out the words ‘fitness’ and ‘courage’ and replaced them with one word.

‘Love.’

She nudged him with her elbow and handed back his notebook.

‘That’s a note for you.’

harder, or she needs to give it away and try something else. Look at her now, she’s stoked.’

Another squeal from the end of the house — ‘7-0! I mean, really!’

— as the shower was turned on.

Moments later, a small football strip flew from the bathroom door, and into the hallway.

Football Dad nodded, slowly.

Another lengthy chug on his beer, which by now was only a third full.

The Eldest One emerged from her bedroom, smiling and slinking into the living room.

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).

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FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

OF FOOTBALL

The committee of Friends of Football. From left: Earle Thomas, Josh Easby, Armin Lindenberg, Sam Malcolmson, John Morris (chair), Brian Turner (founder), Cathleen Bias (secretary), Mark Burgess, Andrew Dewhurst.

Meet our committee John Morris, ONZM, Chair A member of the Blockhouse Bay side which won the National League–Chatham Cup double in 1970, goalkeeper Morris represented New Zealand from 1970–73 and was Auckland Player of the Year 1977.

He gained NZFA Regional and NZFA Staff Coach certification, coaching school, regional and National League teams. He was NZ Football chair (2002–08) and was a member of FIFA’s Technical Committee.

After 20 years as Headmaster at Auckland Grammar School, he now works as an education consultant here and overseas.

Cathleen Bias, Committee 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

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.

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,

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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).

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 and managing sports clients.

He played National League (briefly) and Northern League football.

Earle Thomas, Committee 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.

Josh Easby, Committee Cambridge–based Easby has written about football for 40 years, 48

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.

the completion of his three–year term as President of the Northern Football Federation.

After being on the books of Liverpool FC as a youth player, Yates emigrated in the mid–1970s, joining Auckland club Eden as a player and later 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.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Steve Laus

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.

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.

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.

Alan Yates

Alan Yates, Committee Yates is a former player, coach, administrator and football broadcaster whose election to the FoF committee coincides with FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

The best $40 you’ll spend in football

S

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.

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.

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SHANE WENZLICK PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR This image from an Auckland City match at Kiwitea Street earned Shane Wenzlick the Photograph of the Year award.

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GET OFF THE GRASS The final word from Sky Sport commentator Andrew Dewhurst IT IS HARD NOT to feel a little despondent over the current state of the Wellington Phoenix in the Hyundai A–League.

And that is against all natural instincts to support, defend and fight for our only professional football club, it is something I have done on multiple levels for many years now and will continue to do in the future.

But, sadly, after much hype and pre-season promises they are failing to deliver big time, and it seems something must change. Best squad ever, top four finish, championship contenders, entertaining football — these and other similarly positively framed phrases rang out from Phoenix HQ throughout August and September.

All we have had since sadly is a line of excuses (players not available, refereeing decisions, travel and fatigue — even heat has been proffered as a reason for poor performance) and substandard football in front of fast diminishing crowds and a less than interested sporting media.

And that is a real concern, the fact that people are becoming quite disinterested in the club and their fortunes. When Ernie Merrick resigned most of the stories emanating out of Wellington and around the country were of a ‘nice guy’ and ‘jovial Scotsman who was friendly with media’, someone who

will ‘be missed’ by everyone.

Where was the in-depth covering of a coach with a record that was worse than the much maligned and investigated Ricki Herbert? Merrick won 31 of 94 games in charge (32.98%) while Herbert won 53 of 154 (34.4%). And it can be argued that Merrick had greater resource at his disposal and (per the club themselves) a more talented squad to put on the park (and a reserve team to help prepare players).

My point here though is not to compare the two coaches, more it is to highlight the lack of concern being shown for the club — by fans and the media. Anywhere they go now they are threatening irrelevance — in Hamilton, Auckland and, yes, Wellington, attendances have been poor.

They say the best friend is the honest friend, well here is some honesty from me. It is to try and put a rocket under this club, to

challenge them to find innovation in their thinking, to suggest that change might be required in areas beyond the playing field to ensure their survival.

Mark Bosnich did what he is paid to do with his recent thoughts — he offered an opinion on the state of the team, the club and their worth to the league. He has been shot down by many since simply for having the temerity to have a cheap shot at us ‘poor Kiwis’ across the Tasman when perhaps people might be better served by taking some of the criticism on board and doing something about it.

In what was promised as the club’s best season in a long time, the Phoenix are in a defensive (if not crisis) mode. Bosnich might be a clown, he might have gone overboard, but some of the questions and criticisms are deserving of a hearing at least.

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To read the previous issues of FANZ, go to: http://issuu.com/hurricanepress

FANZ: THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE