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History for YoungHeartHM

Central League 2026

Current version

Posted May 03, 2026 16:57 · last edited May 03, 2026 17:24

Noah4thenix wrote:
This has been disheartening. Central League 2 doesn't really hold as much weight since it's first promoted club is getting trampled. On the brightside there's no relegation but still

There's still a generally positive beat around the club and on the sidelines to be honest. The club knew they were going to be up against it, and you can see it in the play as well. Some of these younger guys are on a very steep learning curve - that extra touch on the ball or ½ a second of indecesiveness costs you at this level. You could get away with it in CL2, but not in the Central League.

The other side of the coin is that there is no relegation this season, so going ahead giving these young guys an opportunity to play at this level is really an invaluable experience for the side as a whole. Speaking out loud here, it seems to all be about building for 2027 - That's the consensus around the place anyway. It might not be what some people want to hear, but it is what is.

News around that there is also a couple of boys coming back from the US college system over the next few weeks. The only one I can definitively name would be Jackson Bigwood who's played some Central League for Western Suburbs previously, and was involved towards the backend of the successful CL2 campaign last year.

A relatively unknown name to many, but it was nice to see Jack Flood turning out for IBU today. Returning to the club where he played his youth footy, and was also heavily involved in the CL2 campaign in 2025. Think he's gone down to Wellington for uni, but it's always nice to see guys coming out of the regions and getting further opportunities in the game.

Managed to take a couple of photos from the sidelines today too. Yep, that is the mountain poking through in the background.

I was intrigued to see if my crowd approximation last time out was about right as well so I ended up counting heads at H/T (🤣) - One end of the ground behind the goal had about 150, there was about the same # down the opposite end, with maybe another 50-100 on the sideline by the clubroom.

Great day in the sun at the footy. $32ish for 5 beers was also pretty good value on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 🫣

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YoungHeartHM edited May 03, 2026 17:24

Noah4thenix wrote:
This has been disheartening. Central League 2 doesn't really hold as much weight since it's first promoted club is getting trampled. On the brightside there's no relegation but still

There's still a generally positive beat around the club and on the sidelines to be honest. The club knew they were going to be up against it, and you can see it in the play as well. Some of these younger guys are on a very steep learning curve - that extra touch on the ball or ½ a second of indecesiveness costs you at this level. You could get away with it in CL2, but not in the Central League.

The other side of the coin is that there is no relegation this season, so going ahead giving these young guys an opportunity to play at this level is really an invaluable experience for the side as a whole. Speaking out loud here, it seems to all be about building for 2027 - That's the consensus around the place anyway. It might not be what some people want to hear, but it is what is.

News around that there is also a couple of boys coming back from the US college system over the next few weeks. The only one I can definitively name would be Jackson Bigwood who's played some Central League for Western Suburbs previously, and was involved towards the backend of the successful CL2 campaign last year.

Was nice to see Jack Flood turning out for IBU today. He played his youth footy up here in New Plymouth for Western and was heavily involved in the CL2 campaign in 2025. Think he's gone down to Wellington for uni, but it's always nice to see guys coming out of the regions and getting further opportunities in the game.

Managed to take a couple of photos from the sidelines today too. Yep, that is the mountain poking through in the background.

YoungHeartHM edited May 03, 2026 17:03

Noah4thenix wrote:
This has been disheartening. Central League 2 doesn't really hold as much weight since it's first promoted club is getting trampled. On the brightside there's no relegation but still

There's still a generally positive beat around the club and on the sidelines to be honest. The club knew they were going to be up against it, and you can see it in the play as well. Some of these younger guys are on a very steep learning curve - that extra touch on the ball or ½ a second of indecesiveness costs you at this level. You could get away with it in CL2, but not in the Central League.

The other side of the coin is that there is no relegation this season, so going ahead giving these young guys an opportunity to play at this level is really an invaluable experience for the side as a whole. Speaking out loud here, it seems to all be about building for 2027 - That's the consensus around the place anyway. It might not be what some people want to hear, but it is what is.

News around that there is also a couple of boys coming back from the US college system over the next few weeks. The only one I can definitively name would be Jackson Bigwood who's played some Central League for Western Suburbs previously, and was involved towards the backend of the successful CL2 campaign last year.

Just finally, it was nice to see Jack Flood turning out for IBU today. He played his youth footy up here in New Plymouth for Western and was heavily involved in the CL2 campaign in 2025. Think he's gone down to Wellington for uni, but it's always nice to see guys coming out of the regions and getting further opportunities in the game.

A couple of photos from the sidelines today.

Yep, that is the mountain poking through in the background too.

I was intrigued to see if my crowd approximation last time out was about right as well so I ended up counting heads at H/T (🤣) - One end of the ground behind the goal had about 150, there was about the same # down the opposite end, with maybe another 50-100 on the sideline by the clubroom.

Great day in the sun at the footy. $32ish for 5 beers was also pretty good value on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 🫣

YoungHeartHM edited May 03, 2026 17:00

Noah4thenix wrote:
This has been disheartening. Central League 2 doesn't really hold as much weight since it's first promoted club is getting trampled. On the brightside there's no relegation but still

There's still a generally positive beat around the club and on the sidelines to be honest. The club knew they were going to be up against it, and you can see it in the play as well. Some of these younger guys are on a very steep learning curve - that extra touch on the ball or ½ a second of indecesiveness costs you at this level. You could get away with it in CL2, but not in the Central League.

The other side of the coin is that there is no relegation this season, so going ahead giving these young guys an opportunity to play at this level is really an invaluable experience for the side as a whole. Speaking out loud here, it seems to all be about building for 2027 - That's the consensus around the place anyway. It might not be what some people want to hear, but it is what is.

News around that there is also a couple of boys coming back from the US college system over the next few weeks. The only one I can definitively name would be Jackson Bigwood who's played some Central League for Western Suburbs previously, and was involved towards the backend of the successful CL2 campaign last year.

Just finally, it was nice to see Jack Flood turning out for IBU today. He played his youth footy up here in New Plymouth for Western and was heavily involved in the CL2 campaign in 2025. Think he's gone down to Wellington for uni, but it's always nice to see guys coming out of the regions and getting further opportunities in the game.

A couple of photos from the sidelines today.

Yep, that is the mountain poking through in the background too.

I was intrigued to see if my crowd approximation last time out was about right as well so I ended up counting heads at H/T (🤣) - One end of the ground behind the goal had about 150, there was about the same # down the opposite end, with maybe another 50-100 on the sideline by the clubroom.

Result aside, great day in the sun at the footy. $32ish for 5 beers was also pretty good value on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 🫣

YoungHeartHM edited May 03, 2026 16:59

Noah4thenix wrote:
This has been disheartening. Central League 2 doesn't really hold as much weight since it's first promoted club is getting trampled. On the brightside there's no relegation but still

There's still a generally positive beat around the club and on the sidelines to be honest. The club knew they were going to be up against it, and you can see it in the play as well. Some of these younger guys are on a very steep learning curve - that extra touch on the ball or ½ a second of indecesiveness costs you at this level. You could get away with it in CL2, but not in the Central League.

The other side of the coin is that there is no relegation this season, so going ahead giving these young guys an opportunity to play at this level is really an invaluable experience for the side as a whole. Speaking out loud here, it seems to all be about building for 2027 - That's the consensus around the place anyway. It might not be what some people want to hear, but it is what is.

News around that there is also a couple of boys coming back from the US college system over the next few weeks. The only one I can definitively name would be Jackson Bigwood who's played some Central League for Western Suburbs previously, and was involved towards the backend of the successful CL2 campaign last year.

Just finally, it was nice to see Jack Flood turning out for IBU today. He played his youth footy up here in New Plymouth for Western and was heavily involved in the CL2 campaign in 2025. Think he's gone down to Wellington for uni, but it's always nice to see guys coming out of the regions and getting further opportunities in the game.

A couple of photos from the sidelines today too.

Yep, that is the mountain poking through in the background too.

I was intrigued to see if my crowd approximation last time out was about right as well so I ended up counting heads at H/T (🤣) - One end of the ground behind the goal had about 150, there was about the same # down the opposite end, with maybe another 50-100 on the sideline by the clubroom.

I thought $32ish for 5 beers was pretty good value too for a lazy Sunday afternoon. 🫣