TW v Waitak Semi + Dave Farrington Tribut

Team Wellington Set to Tackle Champions Waitakere United in first ever NZFC Semi-Final at Newtown Park

Team Wellington will look to continue their hot streak of form by knocking over current NZFC and Oceania Club Champions, Waitakere United, in Wellington�s first ever NZFC home semi-final next Saturday evening, March 14 - kick off 5 pm.

�We lost the NZFC Grand Final away to Waitakere last season � and we owe the West Aucklanders for that � but this is the biggest home match Team Wellington�s had in the five years of the NZFC,� said Team Wellington Chairman, John Dow.

The semi-final will also double as �Davey F Tribute Day� to celebrate the outstanding contribution made to Wellington football by David Farrington, who passed away last December after a courageous battle against cancer.

�We couldn�t have picked a better time to strike Waitakere. Our team is on a roll, we�re scoring goals and key players like Andy Barron and Luis Corrales have hit top gear just at the right time. We�ve got a fantastic opportunity to bag a good home win before the second leg in Auckland,� said Dow.  �Adding to that is the very special day we want to have to remember the great contribution that Dave Farrington has made to Team Wellington and Wellington football�.

On a fine run of form, Team Wellington has won five of its last six matches in its successful charge towards the semis, scoring 19 goals on the way including a resounding 4-1 win over Waikato in the last match of the round robin phase.

In the same match, Luis Corrales claimed his 12th goal of the season to make the lethal Costa Rican the NZFC�s runaway golden boot winner.  Coinciding with the purple patch has been Andy Barron�s return to the side for the last 4 games. The dynamic midfielder has gained an impressive call up to the All Whites squad and bagged three goals himself in an outstanding return from injury.

Other players to impress have been ex All White Jimmy Bannatyne, the goalscoring keeper who has firmed up the defence since returning in the last 2 matches, and he could also be faced with an internatonal recall plus ex-Scottish professional Bryan Little who looks set to plunder some goals in the team�s run to the championship.

Team Wellington coach, Stu Jacobs, said that �While you have to respect a side with the recent success Waitakere has enjoyed and a side that performed admirably at last year�s World Club Champs, our boys are buzzing and confident. We�ve got every chance of knocking Waitakere over.�

�         Kick off is 5pm, Saturday ,March 14 at Newtown Park.

�         Entrance is $10 for adults, children under 16 are free.

Davey F Tribute Day

A feature of the match will be the commemoration of David Farrington. �Davey F� as he was known to much of Wellington�s football community, particularly his army of friends at Miramar Rangers, first joined the club as a junior in 1957.  In his football CV Dave:

�         Made a club-record 178 first-team appearances for Miramar Rangers

�         Led Miramar�s women�s side to five successive championships in the 1970s, coached Wellington and New Zealand women�s teams and won the Asian Confederation�s Cup in 1975.

�         Led the Miramar men�s side to huge success during the 1980s including promotion to the National League and coaching players of the calibre of Oceania Payer of the Century Wynton Rufer, England striker John Fashanu and England age group international Peter Mendham. 

�         Signed off his career with a final Chatham Cup triumph in 2004 � 1-0 over Waitakere, who Team Wellington play in the semi-final.

�         Dave was made a life member of Miramar Rangers in 1984, and at various times had served as a Board member, President and Chairman. Dave was also Team Wellington�s general manager for the past two seasons.

Throughout all of this he was involved with some of New Zealand�s finest young footballers, including Wynton Rufer, the Chote brothers, Billy Harris and Malcolm Dunford.

�Dave was a footballing legend in this city. He played, coached, won trophies and gave his time to our sport ceaselessly for over fifty years.  That in itself is something we may never see the likes of again, as people drift in and out of the game and times have changed. He was still heavily involved in football as Team Wellington�s General Manager when he passed away. We are very keen to celebrate Dave and everything he�s done for the game and this match is a fitting opportuntiy to do that. I believe it is very important to keep alive the spirit of quality people like Dave as he stands for all that is good in the game of football� said Team Wellington Chairman, John Dow.

Part of the tribute on the day will include a pre-match presentation to Jann Farrington and a minute�s applause for Dave, followed by a giant Ball Juggling Competition at half-time with local junior teams.  �Dave would have liked that � kids and football were two of his great loves� says Jann Farrington �I�m sure this will be a very special day and hopefully capped off with a great result�.

Also underway is the community driven petition requesting the City Council rename Miramar Rangers� home ground, Centennial Park, as �David Farrington Park� - to recognise his enormous contribution over so many years. This petition will be on hand at the ground during match day for people to sign.

People are invited to arrive at Newtown Park 15 minutes before kick-off, 4:45, to participate in the tribute and the presentation to Jann.

Chris Milicich talking things up ...

http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/show-news.asp?ID=3569