Northern Leagues

Not clinical enough.

Unsure, I know he was at Central definitely, but not sure whether that was last year or the year before. Played right back for Waitakere United this year and was very impressive 

My post on the Birko ECB game yesterday...

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2014/06/22/the-azzurri-of-the-north-shore/

Decent stuff Enzo! One thing though, Hoffman's winner was off his head from a Del Monte shot (won't have anyone telling me it was meant as a cross).

Thanks! I was too busy taking blurry photos of Del Monte to see it. ;-)

Well done Enzo

Always enjoy your postings. Very balanced views

"Jazz & Swing with the Society Jazzmen - University/Mt Wellington Football Club, Panmure, 7.30pm"

- listing in Herald's What's On with Eventfinder.co.nz, for Friday July 3rd.

Hope the hipsters appreciate all the goodies in the trophy cabinet. Doubt it though.

saw the Glenfield Birko game at the weekend and Glenfield's salary spend seems to be warranted.

So....despite all of the posturing from Rovers and all of the haters from Birko etc, I genuinely thought that I would ask any Glenfield supporters how they feel about this season. Are the real supporters happy competing for the title with this 'super' team - or is it a case of the Emperor's new clothes, a hollow victory that detracts from the  lack of junior grades and player development.

I guess it depends on who you are talking to. The life long supporters of a club will always want to see the team win but for some, its more important how they got that win rather than the win itself. The whole 'team of mercenaries' is going to happen in any league for a team at some point. This year its Glenfield and they tend to go through cycles of doing that so it should not surprise anyone. This 'team of mercenaries' thing tends to piss the older generation off because it was usually one club you were attached to and played for unless something happened that forced you to move for that older generation. Look at SBW and that culture of going for the dollar and playing anywhere you can to get it, there is less of a loyalty aspect for a lot of these players/clubs than what there used to be and thats just a generational change issue

As an example, there are a couple of ACFC lads that are quite open about the fact that for them, its not about who is wearing the shirt, its about the club and winning and that's totally fine. I guess as a sportsman, do you want to play in a team that gets their ass handed to them every week, do you want to win, or do you just want to play with your mates? Depending on what level you are at and where you are at in your life, they are all perfectly reasonable for everyone.. If you are a supporter of an EPL team, the make up of that team changes season to season in terms of personnel but most people do not have an issue with it because they are about the shirt and the club and if someone better wants to play for that team that helps them win, then that is ok. Granted its more focused around money but I was looking more at the supporters principles in it.

And with Glenf@*ld you get well paid to have your arse handed to you !

ACFC! 5th best club in the World, year on year! C'mon youse blues!

Fuck all football on up here this weekend, so went to watch Ellerslie-Melville. Pretty awful game really. Melville looked slightly better, both teams just knocking it long all the time though. Hard to see Ellerslie causing much bother if they get promoted.

ok mate - makes me think you were not even there... 

never saw the game so I won't  comment on the match

Last year , Ellerslie were a very hard to be break down. They were well coached and worked as a team. Most matches were hard fought , they just lacked the fire power upfront against the premier sides to make a difference 

I hope they do get promoted because I agree with their clubs philosophies and values. They have a good youth programme as demonstrated by winning the Auckland CityU17 tourney this year. They look to promote within rather than buy players in

Good luck to them

Can't take any criticism can you?

not from you not really - to be honest your opinion means very little to me - not because I don't rate your view on football, but often because you write things designed 100% for reaction so you can act all high and mighty when we bite back.

Hello there,

Ellerslie are quite a promising team, and well organised, in my view. I couldn't help but note Ellerslie, as well as pushing for promotion, are top of the NRFL Div 1 Reserve League and the Div 2 Reserves, with a great facility being developed at Michaels Ave. 

It's also encouraging to see a club experimenting with other cultural stuff with their "Heritage Round" of matches and "legacy shirts", nice programme, good aftermatch atmosphere, so good on them. Lots of positives there.

A Melville-centric match report by a guest writer is now on-line at http://www.melvilleunited.co.nz/teams/firstteam/

I guess the rubber pellets are black because they are ground down from old tyres......?

Catch up game 

Central Utd v Birkenhead Utd 

Wednesday night at Croatian Club 

Ive heard?

Nick Waldron to ref..... 

Any pics of the Ellerslie shirts?

Great report Bruce - I enjoyed that.

Harry here is a pic - FYI some of the guys tried to grow some "heritage" mo's as well - with mixed results....

Tomorrow Night

Northern Premier League 

Central Utd v Birkenhead Utd

Croatian Club Te Atatu 19:30pm

Confirmed

you should keep using that kit chopah, that's pure class

Central Utd 3 Birkenhead 1 ht

Tade 2, Ilich    Smith

Finished that way. Not clinical enough again.

So.......with a few games to go looks like Bay Olympic and Rovers could be playing each other in title decider (Onehunga with an outside chance perhaps).

Who is the clever money on?

Neither club has spent "Clever Money" to only end up winning the Northern League and both have spent plenty

My money is on Bay Olympic...

Rovers ...

You would think Rovers but then I have not been to watch either side this year.

Some rumour about Danny Donegan spitting on someone from the Birkenhead board? If true, thats absolute shit.

You haven't watched either team but you still put in your 10c of stirring... 

I also don't see you saying its a load of shit too. Playing the man as always aye Dino?

I will clarify things as best I can...

Donegan says he was chewing sunflower seeds and was clearing his mouth.

Birkenhead Club President and witnesses say it was an intentional spit - no seeds involved.

Incident took place at half time.  Birko Club President was stood by Birkenhead changing room, and as Donegan walked up steps beside rooms he turned and spat - distance of about 2 meters.  So, having walked across entire field he chose the very moment he was passing the President to turn and spit out his sunflower seeds.  And onto the concrete walkway outside the changing rooms rather than on the fields.

BTW: I cleaned up both dugout areas the next morning prior to another game  - all the rubbish from the previous day was still there and there was zero evidence in Glenfield dugout of anyone having eaten any seeds of any sort.

Hope Bay Olympic can steal it, but hard to see it not being Rovers.

Buffon

What happened to Birko today against Wanderers ? 4-0 hiding I hear 

Don't worry we gave Ngaruwahia there first win today

Saw that, were you at the game. Willy will be fuming 

Yeah was up there after our game, Watched the first half and then ended up watching the game that was on the bottom field. Went to penaltys and was rather funny trying to see the goalkeepers try save pens. ( it was a over 35's match )

Central Utd v Three Kings Utd POSTPONED today waterlogged pitch

Re-arranged for Tuesday night Croatian Club 7:30