Vale Hard News

The Fever is deeply saddened to report the passing of Fever original Hard News, known to the real world as David Cross.

News was one of New Zealand’s most committed football fans - an original member of Football Kingz fan group Bloc 5 and, of course, Yellow Fever and White Noise.

In the Kingz days News famously did same day round trips, driving from Wellington to Auckland to watch the likes of Andy Vlahos and Che Bunce. That’s genuine passion.
 
He was involved with the Fever for so long that the Nix surprised him with his own retirement at their 2015 awards night. He carried on.

Above all else, he was a great friend. We will all miss him very much. Our thoughts are especially with his wife and son.

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So sorry to hear this. I never met David, but have hung round here long enough to know how much of the YF is due to his efforts. Thoughts are with those who knew and loved him.

Are we applauding for him tonight? 

Absolutely shocked by this.  RIP Hard News. Thoughts go out to family and friends.  

First met him as a kid in the Bloc at Kingz games.

A lovely man with a beautiful heart who had plenty of time for others.

My thoughts go out to his close friends and family.

RIP.

I was hoping he'd be around to see his beloved Tractor Boys promoted. A true Ipswich fan beside the Phoenix. I think the Kiwi way to describe him would be "A bl00dy good sort" or "A good kiwi bastard". whichever, I will miss his encouragement towards new fans to the YF and football in general. Then there was the awesome road trip to Napier on the bus.

Thanks HN for all your effort, humor and work. From a QPR fan to an Ipswich, I hope you get promoted.

I first met him when the Kingz started up, he drove huge distances to support our first pro team. He watched local games everywhere as well. Above all he was a great guy, a wicked sense of humour and incredibly intelligent. This has come as a shock to me, I didnt realise he had been ill. We have lost one of the sorts of people that in the background has meant our sport has grown. A wonderful guy, RIP Dave aka fat bloke. (mini inside joke referring to a former Aussie Kingz player)

This legend was the first person to take me to see my first ever game of pro football way back when - New Zealand Knights v Sydney FC in 2005.

Picked me up all the way over in East Auckland to take me out to Albany, and then back home again, I have no clue where he lived at the time, but it definitely wasn't in Auckland! 

I don't actually remember too much about the game either (apart from losing), but I remember the singing, the chanting, the swearing and the laughs, and I was hooked. 

Safe to say that night a seed was planted that helped me grow my love of the game. A time in my life when football was pretty low on the list of priorities otherwise.

Love to the family and all those who knew him.

Rest easy David, and thank you. 💛🖤

Sorry to hear this. RIP Hard News.

Today is Hard news indeed. As a foundation member, I remember well his chants and energy. He will never be forgotten. Yellow fever is a Wellington and NZ cultural icon now and a portion of that is because of his dedication.

Hard news to take indeed. One of the originals and very much an integral part of the special spirit of the fever - especially in those halcyon early days. 
RIP
COYN

I was hoping he'd be around to see his beloved Tractor Boys promoted. A true Ipswich fan beside the Phoenix. I think the Kiwi way to describe him would be "A bl00dy good sort" or "A good kiwi bastard". whichever, I will miss his encouragement towards new fans to the YF and football in general. Then there was the awesome road trip to Napier on the bus.

Thanks HN for all your effort, knowledg ,  passion, humor and work. From a QPR fan to an Ipswich Town fan, I hope you get promoted.

Sorry, posted twice somehow. Probably HN so shocked that I said nice things about him, that he's manipulated this from the beyond. And if it was you HN, I meant every word except the misspelt ones.

Very sorry to hear this. Even though I have only known of Hard News through this forum, 
I appreciated his enthusiasm, dedication and passion for Yellow Fever, the Phoenix and all things football. 
Thoughts are with his family and the Wellington YF community

I only know Hard News as a titan of Phoenix Fandom and as one of the originals of the Yellow Fever, and well as a voice of authority and excellent banter on the forum. 

Rest in Peace, sir.

I feel we need a Fever Hall of Fame, and he’s gotta be the first name in there! 

We’ll be applauding in the 58th minute.

Thanks Hard News

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Will miss you Newsy. Glad Piney did the message on the broadcast.

Gotta  admit that tribute to Hard News had me reaching for the tissues. Is certainly going to be missed just as he has been while he fought that friggen disease.
Never forget him bowling up to me at the first YF call out to people and introducing himself and he used to always make a point of saying hi to me someone who didnt take part in the local scene, He used to call me Stevie the only person to ever do that, we used to have a laugh because he was so busy helping get things up and running he forgot to sign up to YF so i actually joined before him.

His "dont make me have to bring out the ban stick" played a prominent part in the early days of the forum.

We never caught up regularly but im going to miss our chats and TXT catch ups.

RIP News   

R.I.P 😔😥

A great NIX man and NZ Football man. Always appreciated his insight and humour.

Nice to see him recognised on the TV.

The infamous ban stick quote Steve still resonates in ones mind.

Can someone drop the game tribute? I was caught moving tvs (houses)

Here it is https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qPI2CcegxSgm4AgCPzPCaaclL23v_fYG/view

I feel so sad. 

News was the person who first dragged me into the Fever. I'm glad he did.

He was a very good person. You couldn't find anyone who didn't like him. I feel grateful to have spent so much time with him over the last 15 years. I will miss him lots.

Was shocked to hear it at the game, a huge part of what makes the yf the yf and the Phoenix the Phoenix.

RIP

I was shocked when I heard this news today.
I first met Dave before he called himself Hard News when he was a member of the infamous goalnet yahoo group (before things like this message board came along. It was the days of things like Sitter Fanzine (which we both contributed to).
I particularly remember being back here in 2002 and spending a day in the pub in Auckland with Dave before going to watch the mighty clash between NZ U20's and Tonga U20s at North Harbour Stadium. Don't remember much of the actual game, think NZ won 2-0 but do remember Dave seeing John Ashead and getting a signed copy of his 1982 book and being told by him how Ipswich were the most influential team in the world! - Never believed it but actually hope they get promoted this season along with Coventry (who I support).
Will miss him, RIP Mr Cross

My favourite memory of him would be at a Team Wellington match at Newtown Park with him in FINE VOICE!   If I remember rightly green boots were in there somewhere...

He was a great character. 

Never meet David (passed him once at the stadium in the very early days,  but there was no way I was saying anything to him - I was in such awe of the great man), but he saved me on this forum more than once.  Was absolutely crucial in all this happening.  He was THE foundation for anything nix newsy, the forum rally point dude, and one who fought the good fight (here, and various other Oz football forums when all Ozzies were seemingly sticking the boot in).  

Genuinely sorry to hear his passing…

I didn’t know Newsy before YF. When I was trying to get things off the ground, I became aware of someone outside my usual circles, quietly keeping an ear to the ground, working out whether what was happening was the real deal or a load of shite.When Newsy slid out of the shadows, it was with both feet. From that point on, there was no more passionate supporter. That enthusiasm was utterly infectious, as many will attest.The best part is knowing that as much as was given, just as much came back — and that was a lot.There won’t be another legend like Newsy.

First person I ever met in Bloc 5 - was a constant in my football world ever since.  Road trips with him were legendary.  Can still picture him singing in his NZ kit on the promotion SBS did for their 2010 World Cup coverage in Australia.

This sucks :(  But knowing how that illness works, I'm glad he's not in pain anymore.

Will you miss you mate.

Such sad news, Hard News has been a staple of the NZ Football scene for an age. I remember meeting him in Bloc 5 back in the Kingz days. Many shit chats about football and beers were had over the years. I had no idea he was ill - RIP mate, you'll be missed.

I dont know how to put into words the way I Feel about this. 
I dont remember the first time I met HN for sure but I think it was the 2015 12 Pubs. 
Some of my fondest memoires are Davey F watching Tee Dubs with HN and the rest of the crew, even after moving away from Wellington I relished the chances to see him at Nix games home and away. 
He was the inspiration for me purchasing bright Yellow shoes for Nix games, I'm going to miss sneaker talk and seeing what he pulls out of the wardrobe. 

David CROSS Obituary
CROSS, David Rees. Lost his hard fought two-year battle with leukaemia on 17 April 2026. He died peacefully at Te Omanga Hospice with his family. Dearly loved favourite of his wife Julia and treasured and adored father of Thomas. Beloved son of Tony and Janet. He was an amazing brother, brother-in-law, uncle, godfather and friend, and will be greatly missed by many. The service will be livestreamed with access available on David's online profile via the website below. Messages to the family may also be made via his profile. A celebration of David's life will be held at Maungaraki Baptist Church, 164 Dowse Drive, Lower Hutt on Friday 24 April 2026 at 10.00am. Dress code is casual as David would have wanted. Feel free to wear yellow and/or black. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ, Wellington Free Ambulance or Te Omanga Hospice.