Kingz and Bloc 5: Those Were The Days

I love this thread

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=1086238302

Get on it. 

Really enjoying watching the old clips , etc and some great memories of games at North Harbour and Mt Smart.

The thing that sprung to mind watching some of the first 2-3 seasons that at times the Kingz weren't that bad - they were certainly entertaining ,although part of that was the weird coaching decisions by the "Ingham twins".

It was really only in the last 2 seasons when the money ran out that things were abysmal - Sunday afternoon crowds of about 1000 with players who were only of Northern League standard.

Someone mentioned in earlier thread the worst players to play for the Kingz-my nominations would be Miyazawa , Harries and Martin (2 ozzie State league footballlers). Memories also of Lammers - he was obviously okay judging by his record but was dreadful for the Kingz.

Hopefully someone will find the Marconi game at Mt Smart and the screamer by I think Johnathan Perry (will have as its bloopers some misses by Lammers).

Great memories ! 

I think when it first started everyone was hoping thatthey would do well so that a second team like ours could have joined. Considering the football numbers that live in Auckland,  they really let their team and club down by not showing up. I would love to see another attempt as now football is being taken a bit more seriously and a Derby between the two could be fun.

Any footage of Aaran Lines wonder free kick against i think Marconi in one of the first few seasons knocking about?

this one?

Here you go Buffy

Have these words ever been uttered before?

See who is keeping for Marconi?

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroo-claims...

That Trajanovksi miss late...  tegalesque.

Thanks - loved the footage.

Reminded me of referee Perry Muir's moustache - I have a vague memory of their being a fanzine or website celebrating his facial hair.

Yeah.  At first glance I thought it was Ruggy but then spotted the 'tache and realised it was our Perry.

Boom. Purchased.

Some where (I think) I still have some copies of 'Stand up if you love the Kingz' which was a review of the first season by Stack and Grant Stantiall.

If you want one let me know and I'll go hunting for them.  Think they are in the garage.

My Kingz shirt collection. Still  missing a few

The Middleby and Rufer shirts were match worn that I bought from Grant Stantiall. Not sure about the Ngata shirt. Was it possible to get replica shirts printed back then?

Whereas, my favourite Kingz players would be:
Rufer, Ngata (We love you Harry because you've got grey hair...), Aaron Silva, Denis Ibrahim, Jacko, Buncy, George Goutzioulis, Utting, Andy Vlahos, Ivan Vicelich, Jonny Tambouras, Patricio Almendra, Raf De Gregorio, Mark Burton. 

Love your work Milts!

Always thought it was Marconi for some reason. Glad you remembered what i was on about anyway.

Linesy could always hit a free kick. Remember his assist for Nelsen in the 2002 Nations Cup final at Mt Smart? I'm probably biased but the free kick above is probably one of the best in either NSL or A-League history.

One of the best things i remember about the Kingz were the out of town fans. Sadly we Aucklanders  for a number of reasons simply didnt support the team on a consistent basis but there were a solid crew of out of town fans who travelled to every game. Some of them driving from Wellington.

The ones who drove from Wellington were stupids.

But appreciated :)

Was Almendra any good? Vaugely remember him when watching the off game.

Very good on his day - would draw a lot of nasty tackles. Or tackles that seemed nasty, given his (over) reactions. Was a class above his team mates in terms of skill and speed of thought and feet. Probably tried to do too much

Got a good Chilean contingent coming along too.

My friendship with a much slimmer and less bald Hard News was cemented in a dodgy Peugeot on a non-stop return trip to Auckland for a Kingz game. Might have been 1999 or 2000? It was epic.

Utting was so terribly bad and amazingly good back then.

One of my lifes great regrets was letting that car go.  Sigh.

I remember the end of season do for the second season, they showed a montage of Wazza in all his different gear for the different theme nights... art...

I remember Showgirls

Traditions remain.

Never liked him after he ballsed up that penalty trying to be a clever cod.

hmmmm

Little throwback to the Goutzioulis goal and a potted career history. 

https://in-the-back-of-the.net/2016/05/19/throwbac...

Their pre season games might have already been mentioned , but the Kingz gave me my first taste of live football. Not sure what year it was maybe 2000, I wouldve been about 8, they played a exhibition game at Alpine energy stadium in Timaru vs a Mainland 11. Not sure how many other small towns they visited but remembered it had a pretty good turn out. Next time Im back south I'll find the match programme, my old man loves filing these things.

I can remember a pre-season weekend where they played in Wanganui on Friday night (vs Marconi maybe) and in Palmerston North on Sunday vs a Manawatu selection.

Gordon Glen-Watson was superb for the Manawatu side.

Drove to Wanganui Friday morning then stupidly drove home to Hamilton after the Wanganui game that night then drove there and back to Palmy for Sunday.  I can remember the trip back on Sunday was at some stages done at a ridiculous - and dangerous - pace.

As dangerous as the way you drove that mini-van back from Wellington on the first away trip in Season 2, complete with soundtrack by The Selector?

I put 20 minutes on the other van between Taihapi and Waieraki.

Pussies.

I have photos of that game in Palmerston North somewhere. I should try and find them. Played at Memorial Park.

Totally being pedantic for the sake of it but wasn't the game in Palmy vs Manawatu AFC? The only Kingz or Knights game I ever attended....

I think it may have been called Manawatu AFC but I think it had some non Manawatu AFC players as well.