Central League

Had a call from a guy telling me there will be an admission charge for the Wellington United match tomorrow. 

Anyone know if that's true?

First I've heard about it.

Don't know about Wellington United but I see Team Taranaki are charging a gold coin entry. 

https://www.facebook.com/teamtaranaki/posts/146414...

That's a great way to promote and develop football in the region again. 

*development - sign most of your players from outside the region. 

*promotion - charge a fee at the gate for attendance. 

Top work. Clearly a great call to allow them to be a rep team....

I took his claim with a pinch of salt 

To buy them a reserve team?

They have a reserved team. It's their Nix academy U-17 team... that aren't actually in a league and play mid week friendlies

Some must be. Was talking to the academy account on twitter and they were saying they can get fill ins from that team

COMPETITIONS

In New Zealand there is a winter and summer football season. Summer season is only for the elite players and consists of the older age brackets.

The Wellington Phoenix Academy has three groups, U20s, U17s and U15s in the full time programme. In the summer our U20s play as Wellington Phoenix U20s in the Stirling Sports Premiership (National League), our U17s play as Wellington Phoenix U17s in the National Youth League while our U15s play a variety of pick up games against local clubs and Academies.

In the winter we have a partnership with Wellington United FC which sees our U20s play as Wellington United 1st Team in the Men's Central League (MCL), our U17s doesn't play in a competition but has weekly pick up games midweek against Capital Premier/Youth teams. This acts as a reserves to our MCL team. Then our U15s play as Wellington United in the Capital 17th Grade A Competition.

http://www.wpfa.org.nz/howitworks

in was tongue in cheek. They would have a massive squad. Clearly by 'they' you mean Nix

we used to pay years ago for entry and got a program but it stopped when national league and central league fell over as councils have a say and cut of the gate some how that made it better to sell visitors a pie and beer and avoid the paperwork and hassle 

Brian Kaltak not show up to ANOTHER team? Wasn't he announced in the Times Age as their captain when he signed?

Little bit harsh on them there. 4 of their signings are foreign (2 Uruguayan, 1 Italian & an American) the others that come from out of town like Damien Mosquera, Wade Randell and Jake Willetts are actually Taranaki lads returning to the region

Charging a gold coin donation at the gate of Yarrow Stadium is hardly going to deter anyone from going

Wairarapa charge $5 and still get reasonable crowds

Good on them. I quite happily pay to get into any local football that charges at the gate.

HT 1-0 Team Taranaki

Finished 1-0 TT

PN Marist apparently woeful and could have easily been 4-0 to TT

Wests and Olympic draw 1 all

Table after round 1

Interesting reports on the game from both local papers. Rather contrasting views.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/9...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/910...

report on Lower Hutt v Napier game http://m.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11830548 

Back in my Federation days Taranaki paper used to write absolute garbage. Not sure if the coach is the same either, but TT coach would say one thing in the after match and go home and consistently shark on the opposition to the paper.

Word is TT may have fielded an inelligable player.

TT coach this season is Ian McGrath

Saw last 15 minutes of Wests v Greeks. Good sized crowd; several hundred strong - the road leading to Endevaour completely chock full of cars.

That's a good sign. 

I get the feeling that there's more life in club football over the last couple of seasons. Not sure why I have that impression, but it feels that way to me. Amirite?

My kids are at West's so I don't have the context of the wider league's attendance. Ole require their academy players to attend first team games, for example,  so that helps, but at West's junior players work with and are trained by some of the first team players (for teams outside the ole academy, I.e ordinary West's junior players), so there is a good engagement strategy.

I did hear that West's plan on playing all first team home games 2pm Sundays, I think as a plan to gain greater crouds - capture all the people who would come if they were not playing masters etc

I agree that it won't suit everyone, but even if you got 10% of the masters players at the Central league game as specators, you're still up on attendance aren't you?

Stop Out great value $2 to beat the Naki

yeah I'd say they don't have anyone local to do it.

You think?