I've just returned home to the UK from a year living in NZ. During my time over there I spent almost every weekend watching games in the Northern / Central Regions and also the NZFC. It's the first time I'd ever seen an NZFC game before so I was interested to see what the standard would be like. After going to countless games I noticed the following:
* The NZFC was a decent standard and it's great that ex-pro's such as Neil Emblen, Darren Bazeley, Ki-Hyung Lee etc have been tempted to play in the competition. In the long run it can only enhance the young Kiwi players. Facilities were also generally much better than I expected too.
* There was good media coverage in both papers and on TV of the NZFC. If the game is going to flourish in NZ then it's essential that this continues.
* The Chatham Cup is dying. I was in NZ in 1998 and watched a game between Central United and Western Suburbs at Kiwitea Street. The ground was packed, the setup looked good (PA announcements, turnstiles etc) and there were some good players on show (a young Raf de Gregorio tore Central's defence to shreads, two young Urlovic brothers etc). When I went to Kiwitea Street at the same point this season, the crowd was smaller and the club didn't put on quite the show it did in the past. The standard was poorer too. Add to that the playing of the final at Kiwitea Street (it should be at North Harbour or some such stadium) and it looks bleak.
* I found the whole idea of the regional leagues and NZFC overlapping wholly bizarre. Surely it would be better to have the NZFC and regional leagues playing at the same time in the summer months? Maybe even introduce an end of season play-offs for the winners of the three regions to decide who gets promoted to the NZFC (criteria depending of course). That would make the season far more exciting. The Chatham Cup could then see regional clubs have a crack at NZFC teams a la the FA Cup. It would also mean no conflict of interest as players couldn't turn out for two different sides in different competitions. I for one would love to see Central take on Auckland City in the Chatham Cup (albeit ownership would need to be sorted out).
* Promotion of the regional leagues is poor. I looked for club websites to find out about players and stats etc but only Melville (fantastic website!), Wellington Olympic and Central really provide in-depth and up-to-date websites. I think, in this day and age, this is something club's need to look at to maximise sponsorship and fan accrual opportunities.
* The final point is where does football in NZ go from here. Should the NZFC be looking to expand it's number of franchises (ie: Nelson, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Whangarei etc) or is getting a Christchurch / Auckland team into the A-League the way to go? Also, perhaps there could be scope in future for getting clubs for the UK or other countries in Europe and South America to tour NZ (throw in Australia if needs be) and play against the NZFC or A-League clubs in pre-season?PSG552008-07-28 22:47:22
* The NZFC was a decent standard and it's great that ex-pro's such as Neil Emblen, Darren Bazeley, Ki-Hyung Lee etc have been tempted to play in the competition. In the long run it can only enhance the young Kiwi players. Facilities were also generally much better than I expected too.
* There was good media coverage in both papers and on TV of the NZFC. If the game is going to flourish in NZ then it's essential that this continues.
* The Chatham Cup is dying. I was in NZ in 1998 and watched a game between Central United and Western Suburbs at Kiwitea Street. The ground was packed, the setup looked good (PA announcements, turnstiles etc) and there were some good players on show (a young Raf de Gregorio tore Central's defence to shreads, two young Urlovic brothers etc). When I went to Kiwitea Street at the same point this season, the crowd was smaller and the club didn't put on quite the show it did in the past. The standard was poorer too. Add to that the playing of the final at Kiwitea Street (it should be at North Harbour or some such stadium) and it looks bleak.
* I found the whole idea of the regional leagues and NZFC overlapping wholly bizarre. Surely it would be better to have the NZFC and regional leagues playing at the same time in the summer months? Maybe even introduce an end of season play-offs for the winners of the three regions to decide who gets promoted to the NZFC (criteria depending of course). That would make the season far more exciting. The Chatham Cup could then see regional clubs have a crack at NZFC teams a la the FA Cup. It would also mean no conflict of interest as players couldn't turn out for two different sides in different competitions. I for one would love to see Central take on Auckland City in the Chatham Cup (albeit ownership would need to be sorted out).
* Promotion of the regional leagues is poor. I looked for club websites to find out about players and stats etc but only Melville (fantastic website!), Wellington Olympic and Central really provide in-depth and up-to-date websites. I think, in this day and age, this is something club's need to look at to maximise sponsorship and fan accrual opportunities.
* The final point is where does football in NZ go from here. Should the NZFC be looking to expand it's number of franchises (ie: Nelson, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Whangarei etc) or is getting a Christchurch / Auckland team into the A-League the way to go? Also, perhaps there could be scope in future for getting clubs for the UK or other countries in Europe and South America to tour NZ (throw in Australia if needs be) and play against the NZFC or A-League clubs in pre-season?PSG552008-07-28 22:47:22
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From the Chatham cup point of view, something does need to be done so that the NZFC sides can play in it. That might revive it somewhat, because you are right, it is dying in its current form.
Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.
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Maybe, the cup should go on tour, NH is not the best venue to hold the final.
Any wear but there..
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I agree with NH not being an ideal location. Heaven knows I tried getting there on several occasions from central Auckland and it was a pain in the butt. I think to tour the final would be a good idea, but dependent on the two sides that make it, ie: two Auckland teams should play at NH or Ericsson, Wellington should be at Westpac etc, etc. As long as it's in a stadium that creates a special occasion.
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