Watched LH v Seatoun today. LH lost a man around 40min in and Seatoun scored a 90th min equaliser. LH definitely not the team I thought they were, mid table along with Seatoun from what I saw.
Saw most of FC Western v Taradale today. Had to leave with about 20 to go with Western 3-1 up. Just checked the result and see it finished 5-1. Bit more of a blowout than I thought it would be, but Western well worth the win.
They potentially fall into that 'dark horse' category in terms of the league, but it's early days though, so I'll reserve judgement on that until they have to do a bit of travel and come up against the sides from Palmy and Wellington.
Having a 5 hour one way trip to an away in Wellington (or 5.5 hours to Napier) for example game will do that to you, eh?
That's 10 -11 hours of travel if you don't overnight.
Plus at least 1 hour before departure, 2 hours for the game, not including warm up and leg stretching when you pile out of the bus. That's a 14 hour day, minimum.
Every second week or so.
Away from family for half the weekend.
Just being able to pop across Wellington for an away game mid afternoon makes a HELLUVA a difference in terms of time commitment required from players and staff.
There are players in New Plymouth who excelled at Central League level for Team Taranaki, for example, but who would prefer to play Taranaki Premiership than play Central Football Federation Western Premiership (Let alone Central League)Jessie Merino
I would like to see either of the Palmy teams or FC Western win it. Then go on to do really well in Div 1. New Plymouth/Taranaki and Palmerston Nth both have populations of around 100k and both have underperformed for years if not decades on the national level. IMO it's about time they got their act together.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Phoenix fans. We have to win them over one fan at a time.
Having a 5 hour one way trip to an away in Wellington (or 5.5 hours to Napier) for example game will do that to you, eh?
That's 10 -11 hours of travel if you don't overnight.
Plus at least 1 hour before departure, 2 hours for the game, not including warm up and leg stretching when you pile out of the bus. That's a 14 hour day, minimum.
Every second week or so.
Away from family for half the weekend.
Just being able to pop across Wellington for an away game mid afternoon makes a HELLUVA a difference in terms of time commitment required from players and staff.
There are players in New Plymouth who excelled at Central League level for Team Taranaki, for example, but who would prefer to play Taranaki Premiership than play Central Football Federation Western Premiership (Let alone Central League)Jessie Merino
I would like to see either of the Palmy teams or FC Western win it. Then go on to do really well in Div 1. New Plymouth/Taranaki and Palmerston Nth both have populations of around 100k and both have underperformed for years if not decades on the national level. IMO it's about time they got their act together.
Fair enough. If all you want is to stretch your legs before you have a few then head back home for a meal.
J M you said: "Fair enough. If all you want is to stretch your legs before you have a few then head back home for a meal."
I don't want to get into a pissing match about this... That is one way you could look at it. However, I reckon that's a bit dismissive of the realities of the situation.
In your earlier post you did say: "New Plymouth/Taranaki and Palmerston Nth both have populations of around 100k and both have underperformed for years if not decades on the national level. IMO it's about time they got their act together."
I agree that based solely on comparing population bases it is probably fair to say that the geographically challenged cities in the extreme East and West of the Central Federation have struggled since the '80s.
But there are some pretty good reasons for that. It's not just a case of them needing to "get their act together".
I was merely trying to highlight that, due to the extra time commitments involved or required for players, coaches, and support staff (not to mention the extra costs of competing in terms of travel costs and accomodation costs at times) when assessing how they have performed at the national level, it's not quite apples with apples compared to clubs in Wellington, for example.
It's not really a case of them having to "get their act together", it's really challenging for teams in New Plymouth and Gisborne (in particular) to compete at that level.
Not impossible, sure, but significantly more challenging.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Phoenix fans. We have to win them over one fan at a time.
There used to be three 12 team central leagues worth of this stuff.
It was awesome.
It was a challenge for the provincial teams, for sure. But they made sure they were compensated by some good old home town refereeing from the captain's brother in law.
J M you said: "Fair enough. If all you want is to stretch your legs before you have a few then head back home for a meal."
I don't want to get into a pissing match about this... That is one way you could look at it. However, I reckon that's a bit dismissive of the realities of the situation.
In your earlier post you did say: "New Plymouth/Taranaki and Palmerston Nth both have populations of around 100k and both have underperformed for years if not decades on the national level. IMO it's about time they got their act together."
I agree that based solely on comparing population bases it is probably fair to say that the geographically challenged cities in the extreme East and West of the Central Federation have struggled since the '80s.
But there are some pretty good reasons for that. It's not just a case of them needing to "get their act together".
I was merely trying to highlight that, due to the extra time commitments involved or required for players, coaches, and support staff (not to mention the extra costs of competing in terms of travel costs and accomodation costs at times) when assessing how they have performed at the national level, it's not quite apples with apples compared to clubs in Wellington, for example.
It's not really a case of them having to "get their act together", it's really challenging for teams in New Plymouth and Gisborne (in particular) to compete at that level.
Not impossible, sure, but significantly more challenging.
You're probably right. It's a long time since I played Central League football. But I wish Palmy and New Plymouth were able to come up with somebody like that Keighley guy in the Rapa who could drive things forward along the lines of Napier.... and Nelson... and Tauranga...
Interesting results. As discussed here, the Palmy teams will be strong. TK may struggle
Don’t think the palmy teams will be as good as you imagine, Marist a little better if not but the highest I see them finishing is third under a good campaign
Interesting results. As discussed here, the Palmy teams will be strong. TK may struggle
Don’t think the palmy teams will be as good as you imagine, Marist a little better if not but the highest I see them finishing is third under a good campaign
If Tawa & Stop Out are the capital standard in this comp, then i guess PNC v Tawa will tell us more about the relative competitiveness of the federation sides this week.
The weather might be a real leveller this weekend, heavy rain Friday and Saturday up north might make for interesting results.
My picks this weekend: Seatoun v PNM - Seatoun win LHC v Stop Out - Stop Out win PNU v Tawa - Draw Taradale v Douglas Villa - DV win TK v FC Western - FC win
The weather might be a real leveller this weekend, heavy rain Friday and Saturday up north might make for interesting results.
My picks this weekend: Seatoun v PNM - Seatoun win LHC v Stop Out - Stop Out win PNU v Tawa - Draw Taradale v Douglas Villa - DV win TK v FC Western - FC win
Taradale v Douglas Villa will Be an interesting game, I honestly think Taradale will be exceedingly difficult to beat at home. Last year proved they struggle with travel but are hard to stop in Taradale.
But this week they are not playing on their home ground at Taradale Park, as it’s not yet available after cricket season. Though Bond Field is a far better surface than Taradale park, that will likely play into the visiting sides hands.
The weather might be a real leveller this weekend, heavy rain Friday and Saturday up north might make for interesting results.
My picks this weekend: Seatoun v PNM - Seatoun win LHC v Stop Out - Stop Out win PNU v Tawa - Draw Taradale v Douglas Villa - DV win TK v FC Western - FC win
Taradale v Douglas Villa will Be an interesting game, I honestly think Taradale will be exceedingly difficult to beat at home. Last year proved they struggle with travel but are hard to stop in Taradale.
But this week they are not playing on their home ground at Taradale Park, as it’s not yet available after cricket season. Though Bond Field is a far better surface than Taradale park, that will likely play into the visiting sides hands.
The weather might be a real leveller this weekend, heavy rain Friday and Saturday up north might make for interesting results.
My picks this weekend: Seatoun v PNM - Seatoun win LHC v Stop Out - Stop Out win PNU v Tawa - Draw Taradale v Douglas Villa - DV win TK v FC Western - FC win
My picks (based loosely on what I saw last weekend, which was Seatoun v LHC & Tawa v Stop Out and a couple of guesses)
Seatoun v PNM Draw LHC v Stop Out Lower Hutt PNU v Tawa - Tawa win Taradale v Douglas Villa - Taradale Win TK v FC Western - FC Western win
For some reason I feel more invested in Seatoun's results & progress than I do in those of the Nix and AFC. Yet I never played for them, only saw them a few times at the Basin... suppose it's having stayed Karaka Bay with my best mate on trips to Wngtn to see the Nix over the last 10 years, and seeing them playing rubbish at Seatoun Pk on Sat arvos b4 fine nights of fish 'n chips & champagne...
Yea, another big result at Seatoun Park. Next week away to FC Western will be a different test.
As I posted previously, pre-season can be hit and miss, especially for smaller community clubs that don’t have academies or train right through. By the looks of it they have a decent squad and a strong reserves team, so good luck to them! Tyler
Well I got that wrong. Let’s go Seatoun. Good results at the start of the season after a tough pre-season.
The free celebration event on 4 May will include the East Stand open for public viewing, food trucks, live music, face painting, activities for all ages both on the Main Field and around the Stadium, lawn games and more.
The celebration event will run from 9.30am to 12.30pm and be followed by two free Central Football games, kicking off at 12.30pm and 2.45pm.
The games on show; Round 4 Western Premiership New Plymouth Rangers v FC Western (reserves) @ 12.30pm.
Round 6 Central League 2 FC Western v Douglas Villa @ 2.45pm
Gutted I won't get to be there as I'll be out of the country. But if anyone is interested in taking a look around, it will probably be a nice atmosphere to get into prior for an arvo of footy. At least if it's raining, the stands are both covered as well!
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
Yes! Seatoun the coming force. Olympic and Mar beware.
Looking at Cap 1 results, maybe the Olympic and Mar Cap 1 teams. The Central League is a loooooong way ahead of Central 2Jessie Merino
Bigboot
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
Yes! Seatoun the coming force. Olympic and Mar beware.
Looking at Cap 1 results, maybe the Olympic and Mar Cap 1 teams. The Central League is a loooooong way ahead of Central 2Jessie Merino
Bigboot
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
Yes! Seatoun the coming force. Olympic and Mar beware.
Chatham Cup final 1958: Seatoun 7 Christchurch City 1. Record score for the final. And they won it the year b4 too. What goes around comes around. # yougottabeabeliever
Looking at Cap 1 results, maybe the Olympic and Mar Cap 1 teams. The Central League is a loooooong way ahead of Central 2Jessie Merino
Bigboot
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
Yes! Seatoun the coming force. Olympic and Mar beware.
The top of central league is a long way from the bottom of central league!
(I do think you might be confusing cap 1 and cap prem, that said).
Looking at Cap 1 results, maybe the Olympic and Mar Cap 1 teams. The Central League is a loooooong way ahead of Central 2Jessie Merino
Bigboot
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
Yes! Seatoun the coming force. Olympic and Mar beware.
The top of central league is a long way from the bottom of central league!
(I do think you might be confusing cap 1 and cap prem, that said).
I completely agree that the Central League and Central League 2 are worlds apart.
I was just referring to the Seatoun Reserves who play in Cap 1. I believe they beat Olympic 7-2 and Miramar 6-1. But as I said, nothing to read into that either.
I mean this in the nicest way possible, but the Olympic Cap 1 team are 95% eligible to play masters. Ifill is playing in that team! Its not to say they don't play some great football, its just they exist purely as a social team for ex Central League (and EPL) players.
Looking at Cap 1 results, maybe the Olympic and Mar Cap 1 teams. The Central League is a loooooong way ahead of Central 2Jessie Merino
Bigboot
What a result, Seatoun win 2-1 away in New Plymouth. Didn’t expect that. A few other surprises this weekend, what’s going on at Stop Out? I think the bottom two are pretty clear and the fight for relegation.
Yes! Seatoun the coming force. Olympic and Mar beware.
Chatham Cup final 1958: Seatoun 7 Christchurch City 1. Record score for the final. And they won it the year b4 too. What goes around comes around. # yougottabeabeliever
Equalled in 1989 when Christchurch United beat Rotorua City 7-1 at Newtown Park
I’ve watched almost all teams in this league play now and I wouldn’t say that these are the top two teams in the league, despite current standings. Lower Hutt will be up there but don’t think FC Western will. FC Western have played bottom two teams which I think inflates their position. In saying that, New Plymouth will be a tough place to travel.
I’ve watched almost all teams in this league play now and I wouldn’t say that these are the top two teams in the league, despite current standings. Lower Hutt will be up there but don’t think FC Western will. FC Western have played bottom two teams which I think inflates their position. In saying that, New Plymouth will be a tough place to travel.
Maybe so, but you can only play what's in front of you. So to that end they've given a good account of themselves. In fairness I didn't think we'd get anything out of an away day at PNM either so there is something to build on.
Will have a better idea on Friday when I head down the road for a look.
How rough is the Chatham Cup draw on CL2 sides. Playing 2 games in 3 days, many of whom have to travel as well. Then I see that some teams have been able to defer their league games but others have not.
