Mainland Premier League (Part 1)

Tennis still going so time to blog.
Maybe the answer can be found by asking Keith? Must be to give some playing competition to the lads from APFA expected to be in the Dragons squad for the next ASB season.
Teams just need to be affiliated to play in Mainland Football comps.
I don't call adding Fc2011 to MPL building quality! beaten by the demoted team by 6 nil.
I know of one player looking for an MPL club that has already turned 2011 down.

I'd heard a wee rumour that the APFA lads were all registering with Selwyn and playing in mens Div 1/PDL for them and pushing for MPL for 2013 - for me that is logical, helps div 1 and Selwyn and doesnt step on anyones toes by entering a new entity.

So same as last season then?

Was Selwyn in div 1 last season? I'm pretty sure they weren't? (can't say I watched/followed that div much/at all)

on a side note, a few player movements listed here: https://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4206-0-0-0&a=CLEAR
gings2012-01-29 16:33:41

Ooh interesting player movements, nice spotting Gings. Seems weird that there are transfers in between Woolston Tech and Cashmere Wanderers. Will all players need to do so? Good signings for Coastal!

I think those moves between tech and cashmere is for nike cup as the merger hasn't been formalised and the nike cup team is registered with cashmere wanderers (click the team name in the fixtures list).

*disclaimer* this is only my assumption and may or may not be correct.

CashTech....some (older) Tech people couldn't let go of Tech, Cashmere wanted Port Hills City - fresh start, no division along old club lines etc; so looks like the old guard is running the merger. Just a matter of time before cashmere disappears and it becomes Old Tech once more?

Most of those FC Nelson players are like 13/14 years-old. So don't know what that's about. Surely they're not ALL going to be playing first division this year. Van Roland Hlucew, maybe, but that's about it.

@ Luis Garcia, its Nike cup, I'd put money on it.

I thought they had a pdl side and a div 1 side, could be wrong.

When does the season actually start?

According to the mainland site, no Selwyn div 1.

Start dates:
MPL 24/3
Seniors 14/4
Juniors 21/4

Selwyn weren't in div 1 last season but from what I hear they in div 1 this season, not sure if they are going to have a pdl team aswell

might catch some Nike Cup games today
Coastal play at 1PM

Nike Cup: Congrats to Cashmere Tech,the SI regional winners, going through the tourney unbeaten, and conceding only two goals. Casmere were very solid and well organised, with great team spirit. Halswell were in second position, and Coastal third, which I suppose was very disappointing for them, considering the preparation they put in. Overall, some excellent football and very enjoyable.

I'm suprised FC2011 didnt do so well, I heard big things and was expecting them to be right up there. Halswell the suprise package?

The top 3 were actually very close with each other. If you look at the results there are a few 1-0's and 1-1's and it could have gone either way. 20 mins a half doesn't leave a lot of time nor chances for either side and it came down to who took 'em. Was good football all round I thought, and bodes well for future PDL and MPL teams.

Sounds good on a blog/paper.
Fact is most of these kids will have given football away by 18 or 19 years old.
The job of clubs gets made harder because after this age they go and play for school on Saturday plus need to get jobs.

Harsh on the schools TBH. We have 6 schools playing saturday competition (rightly or wrongly, thats another kettle of fish). You've still got the likes of Hillmorton, Cashmere, St Thomas', Middleton Grange, Linwood and a few other state schools who aren't involved in the saturday leagues and have some decent footballing talent in their school roll.

Yes some kids will go and play for one of those 6 schools, thats their choice (except for christs college), but theres also a sizable chunk who stay with their clubs coz they know they'll be better off and playing at a higher level (ie: 14, 15 D1 or PDL for a few).

I'd be more worried about the kids giving up the game fullstop. Work is a reason for some, but things such as refereeing (or lack of), lack of club focus on their age group or not quite being in that top X% may also be the reasons we as a sport need to address.

Does anyone know why the Mainland Football meeting for MPl, WMPL, PDL and Div1 clubs was not held on Wednesday night?

The season gets going from next Tuesday with the first night of Coastal Spirit pre season tournament games,two games with 6.15pm kick off.

good chuckle with the video sig Gings
hope they are not boys we have coached

All of my ex players would've hit the target


Looking forward to the new season, think I'll have to pop along to the CSFC pre season comp for a looksy. Heard Western have lost quite a few so it should be interesting, picking coastal to be quite strong.

I heard 2 players who were in MPL last season have joined Coastal

I'm hoping more of Red Gordon's team can make the MPL. It's real good to see guys 'move up the ladder' inside the club.

see this link for all transfers within the region so far

I hear Tom Batty is likely to move to ChCh United once Canterbury United have completed the ASB Premiership.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yes I heard that too. Bit embarrassing really.

We should play the 'pick the winners and positions at the end of the season' game. Might wait till I see a few pre-season before locking in mine though.

1. Nelson Suburbs.

I'm picking Coastal and Nelson to be fighting for the top (CSFC to win)...Western and Halswell to fight for wooden spoon(Western for relegation)gings2012-02-17 21:52:15

Tom is/was due to play for Nomads in the Coastal pre season, will see on Thursday if that stays same.
Nomads don't pay players so no $$$ there.
Not moving to ChCh United because of any money [didn't move to WoolstonTech for $$ either as he had only played 3 games in MPL before going there from Nomads] as he would still be a Nomads player if Nomads had been in MPL for 2012.
If he is being tempted to ChCh U with a few dollars must mean goalkeepers are on the wanted list by a few MPL clubs.
Told the Nomads lads at training a couple of weeks ago he wants to play MPL at a club with a good home pitch [ASB Park].

I do recall that's what they said about the Phoenix. Just saying.

Halswell will be fine, in fact might be top half. United more likely to struggle especially with talismanic former Nomad Batty between the sticks. Will he become the first keeper to play for 2 successive relegated clubs?

anyone from western on here?

Can't say there's ever been a Western supporter on here sorry. If you're after gossip we are more than happy to spread ill-informed ones.

nah just looking to play recently moved for rebuild - any other div one (or below) teams looking for players?

Coastal.
You're a keeper, right?

I think Stretford End or Poolmister know a bit about Western,can't remember which one though.

We'd be happy to have you down at Western as we've lost a few players from last season. We train tuesday, thursday, saturday at the moment. if you want any further info just send me a message. It would help if ur a defender!

Theres no doubt its gonna be tough for us this year but we still have some quality players. With a bit of hard work we'll be fine i think.

Western have Hamish Cadigan and Phil Thackwell turning out for them this year. HC was not wanted by FC2011 for MPL or PDL.
If this shows the strength of both FC2011 and Western then FC to finish one place above bottom team Western.

Surprised no one has mentioned ferrymead. Still splashing the cash if the rumors are true. Josh from tech going there this year after canterbury duty.