Mainland Premier League (Part 2)

Nah he fills a Tech green Masters 45s shirt better than that.

I never wear green must have been duck blue 

yeah i saw that. He used to captain my Burnside team. Was into his yoghurt

Sad to read of the passing of Nick Gatonyi.

Part of the amazing Hungaria setup in Wellington and successful coach of Cashmere Wanderers in the early 1980's.

Still helping with school teams in recent years.

I think Nick was in charge at Cashmere when they signed a big sponsorship (at the time)  of KLM and become KLM Cashmere Wanderers, with the 1st team playing in KLM colours of several shades of blue. Great mates of Big Joe.

RIP Nick

Yeah I spent a bit of time coaching with Nick. He coached Avonhead in the SSL for a couple of seasons. 

From The Press

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/79671275/ma...

Annual report also available on the Mainland website.

Here is this weeks tips.  Only the first two games with something on it really.  I thought more would pick Bays to be honest, this will be an interesting game I reckon.

I think I was the 1 punter taking Uni-Cash draw. 

All day football Saturday hopefully good weather

Wouldn't it be great if every MPL club was live tweeting simultaneously on Saturday arvo? I reckon Central League and the Jaffa league are ahead of MPL league in that respect. Lift your game Mainlanders!

Yes agreed, I tried to get it pushed via Mainland at the beginning of the year but no deal. Should be part of the criteria like it is up north. Someone posted the other federation's criteria that mentioned it. Perhaps something they can spend their extra $35000 on....

HT Western 1 Halswell 1

After 60 minutes still Western 1 Halswell 1.

10 to go at still 1 - nil between Western and Halswell.

FT Western 1 (Will Shillito) Halswell 1 (Anton McMahon) HT 1 - 1

McMahon now leads that Golden Boot ladder with 6 goal.

Halswell now on 9, Universities and FC Twenty11 8 and Western 7 with Univ and FC a game in hand. 

Congrats to Bench Warmer, Big Cheese, Foal30 and Scottie Rd who all picked the draw. 

Bastards.

Have to be top of the league in something!

I knew Jimmy years ago. He owned the major "Cyclops" yoghurt company in Christchurch.

Really good organic yoghurt in a nice range of flavours. I liked the honey one and the apricot one.

Top bloke - he gave me free yoghurts! He also donated yoghurt to charities in Christchurch.

Comes from an interesting family of prominent left-wing activists, his brother David is a prominent NZ sociologist (Canterbury University) and political activist.

Get out to Garrick Park Sunday next week for Siggie's All Star Charity match which is part of his Christchurch book launch weekend:

- Book Launch Charity fundraiser with 3 course meal Saturday 14 May 7 pm at the Woolston Club ($100 / ticket)

- All Star Football Match 1 pm Sunday May 15 Garrick Park, Woolston with eight former All Whites, some current Canterbury United players, Ben's former team mates, former NZ age group reps, some NZ women's reps

https://www.cashmere-soccer.co.nz/

"As part of our weekend of launching Ben Sigmund's book, there will be an "All Stars" Charity match on Sunday 15th May, 1pm KO at Garrick Park. The amazing line up is below":

We will be running a Junior mini tournament from 11 till 1 pm - all CTFC players are welcome. There will be an inflatable footy pitch, sausage sizzle, Bumper Ball, CTFC Gear sales and the chance to buy Ben's Book "Fully Committed". WE will be selling raffle tickets ($2) to raise money for Sunshine Football, The Neonatal Trust and Junior Football at CTFC. Come down and enjoy the fun!

Some fun quiz questions relating to the above players:

- which player had a father who conceded double figure goals against Manchester United in the 1960's?

- which player has represented NZ at the Touch Rugby World Cup and has also been a top Canterbury tennis player, as well as a footballer?

- which player was on the books of Walsall FC in the UK?

- which NZ-born player played in the youth team at Bury FC in the UK?

- which player spent several seasons playing in Finland?

- which player was an English Universities international?

Results / Scorers

Ferrymead Bays 3 (Andy Tuckey 2, Chris Anderson) Coastal Spirit 5 (Rhys Wiliams 2, Shawn O'Brien 2, Los Lish) HT 1 - 3

Universities 4 (Nikolai Molijn 3, Hamish Foy) Cashmere Technical 2 (Tom Schwarz, Andy Barton) HT 2 - 0

Western 1 (Will Shillito) Halswell 1 (Anton McMahon) HT 1 - 1

Big Pete, I'll have a shot at your quiz questions:

1. Alan Stroud's dad Arthur's NZ XI conceded 11 against Manchester Utd, 31 May 1967, English Park. First floodlit match there (and it pissed down).

2. Eli Doornenbal

3. Tom Schwarz

4. James Solotti

5. Adam Highfield

6. Dan Terris

Updated table:

A couple of firsts after today's  games.

1st time in 93 MPL games Cashmere Technical have conceded 4 goals

1st time in 114 MPL games Coastal Spirit have won four MPL games in a row 

And one more 1st time there has been a 5 - 3 result for the 'away' side.

Eli was a good tennis player 

Coastal were a bit casual but 3 point and 4 goal turnaround is a good weekend. 

how our beautiful game swings in roundabouts! After last week v coastal Uni were a completely different side today, were brilliant all across the park. I'm sure tech will be gutted with that but hard to argue that uni thoroughly deserved the result

In the Mainland Qualifying League (only result I have so far):

Nomads 2 Christchurch United 0

to leave Nomads 7 from 7 and six points clear at the top.

Selwyn 2 Parklands 1

Burwood 3 Waimak 2 (not sure who was at home)

Tim Tam

Your always gutted when u lose, but we lost to the better team today. I thought Uni played excellent and were superb all over the park. It's not just today they played well against us they have been unlucky on several occasions. Also credit to the ref he contributed to a good game . But I always stick by my lads and like the coaching team we were beaten by a better group today , but they gave thier best 

Well well well, I need to put my hand up and say that I messed up BIG TIME. Uni are my 2nd favorite team in the league and I have found a new love for them. I take it alllll back apart from the fact that Ekow is the MESSIAH.

Boy oh boy does this TRAIN love football.

xo

train when u put your hand up don't drop your bong 

Sorry, still sticking with Eli

Well said broonie, you lads have obvious quality all over the park and expect you will bounce back with vengeance next week, quality teams always react. Agree re referees, was a willing contest physically, but the football on show was pleasing to see also

I thought cashmere tech were meant to be untouchable in this league?

They will be champions again,only a matter of time before the wheels come off the coastal train. 

there's only one original "train" as I know it