You'd think so.
So no Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Arsenal. Unlikely to be Man Utd or Chelsea.
Think Everton, Spurs or Newcastle are likely.
Football United - July 2014 West Ham and Newcastle visit
I'm not fussed who we get. The big clubs are likely to leave out all their players who would have played at the World Cup anyway.
You'd think so.
So no Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Arsenal. Unlikely to be Man Utd or Chelsea.
Think Everton, Spurs or Newcastle are likely.
Man Utd are also involved in that tournament with City and Liverpool, so that's them out.
Spurs playing in the US on 19 and 26 July...
Can't see it being THFC ...
I don't really understand the fascination and attraction of seeing EPL teams in festival/gala/promotion games, beyond revenue generation. This is probably a result of growing up in England, being cursed or blessed, depending on your point of view, to be born into a Toon family. Of course, I appreciate that it's a chance for people to see an EPL team in Aus/NZ, but it's still a friendly game, an event for the fans, rather than a meaningful match. The Liverpool game in Melbourne had an amazing crowd and an surprising amount of people travelling from NZ. I don't think any other club, playing in Aus/NZ would get that level of support or atmosphere. The Man Utd game in Sydney was subdued in comparison. The best 'big' games in NZ, for me, have been the meaningful matches, The Adelaide game before the Galaxy game, the All Whites World Cup qualifiers and the Phoenix in the playoffs.
Let's hope we can get a home play-off this season and a run to the Final
Our ties to British football used to be very close, especially before the early 1990's when the EPL started and player wages and club appearance fees rocketed. So, there's some history there and sentimental attachment. Not really worth spending too much money on bringing out EPL sides on a pre-season jaunt though. Ticket prices will probably be fairly steep. I saw a few English teams tour here in the 1980's and tickets were cheap - so cheap a teenager like me could afford it from his pocket money.
Last English top-flight club to tour here was Everton in 1987 as reigning Div. One champions. Fielded a lot of first teamers like Peter Reid, Graeme Sharp, Gary Stevens, Trevor Steven, Adrian Heath. Attracted sizeable crowds of 8000 in Chistchurch and 16,357 in Auckland. Everton won 3-0 v a Canterbury selection and 2-1 v Auckland. Game was to celebrate centenary of the Auckland FA:
http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/everton-nz87.html
This showed the improvement in standard in NZ football after the reigning English champion Man United thrashed the All Whites 11-0 in Christchurch in 1967 with Best, Charlton, Stepney, Kidd etc playing (also beat an Auckland XI 8-1):
http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/manutd-nz67.html
Your side Newcastle played four matches here in 1985 v the All Whites with Beardsley, Gascoigne , Roeder etc. and won 2-1, 3-2 and 4-0 with one 2-2 draw. Not too bad for a NZ side completely made up of amateurs. Crowds 3500 - 6000:
http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nz-intres-det80.html#85
Christchurch United (then known as "Trans Tours United") drew with England B (Joe Corrigan, Viv Anderson, Alan Kennedy, Glenn Roeder, Paul Mariner, Brian Talbot, Gordon Hill etc.) on England B's five match tour in 1978. England B beat the All Whites in three matches and Otago:
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmB.html
http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nz-intres-det70.html#78
Some of the biggest names in English football wound up at the end of their careers here playing for clubs in our national league - such as Trevor Brooking, Paul Mariner, Mick Channon, Justin Fashanu; Kevin Keegan played a series of exhibition games for regional selections vs. the All Whites in 1985. Amazing that it would appear financially attractive for former England internationals at the end of their careers back then.
Sheffield United played at the Basin in 1976 or was it 75? Spuds played at the Basin a year after and brought a full Spuds squad of first teamers. Hoddle, Coates, Perrymen, Jennings, Willie Young etc. Luton Town also came here and AFC Bournemiuth too. With the England "B" team were John Hollins from QPR andJohn Middleton from Derby County along with Paul Mariner. When the England team cam out here they brought David Platt from Villa, Paul Parker whom had just joined United from QPR. Hope this brings back a few memories.
I'm picking it's Everton
I'm picking it's Everton
funded by the 4 Kings.
Bring Hibs over. 35,000 sell out
I'd be happy with West Ham
I'd be happy to see Hibs or Partick. Any EPL team so long as they played their normal first choice team and not a bunch of reserves.
I'd be happy to see Hibs or Partick. Any EPL team so long as they played their normal first choice team and not a bunch of reserves.
agree
I'd be happy to see Hibs or Partick. Any EPL team so long as they played their normal first choice team and not a bunch of reserves.
agree
I almost forgot, Heart of Midloathian were here in the 70s as well.
Motherwell were here as well in the 90s?
Bring out Brechin City or Berwick Rangers!
Dunfermline at Westpac, about 2000 people were there. Should bring Hearts out, will bring about 400,000 fans with them( could give them the share certificates). Would be happy to see any team. Would love for Crewe to come out and play but don't think 200-500 fans would bring the club much money
I'm picking it's Everton
funded by the 4 Kings.
I actually hope it isn't us. We are better off playing decent European opposition in Europe/ North America.
winston's westham would be sweet
Hi,
For those interested, a full results listing of UK sides which have visited here in days gone by can be found here:
http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/british_touring_teams.htm
When time permits, I'll add venue details.
Cheers,
JR
I'm picking it's Everton
funded by the 4 Kings.
I actually hope it isn't us. We are better off playing decent European opposition in Europe/ North America.
I remember Watford coming here in '82. I was most interested because I was learning piano and all I knew about football (apart from that Steve Sumner was the one with the moustache) was that that was Elton John's club.
Veitch saying the Hammers for two games, Dorkland and the RoF
Veitch saying the Hammers for two games, Dorkland and the RoF
Woo hoo!
Veitch saying the Hammers for two games, Dorkland and the RoF
Just emailed Hammers media dept. asking for confirmation. Auto reply: "may take up to 28 days to reply". Hmmm...
Bet Winston won't be available.;)
Didn't someone say it was a top team?
Maybe Big Sam wants to come down and smash some doors/heads in at New Zealand Football?
Didn't someone say it was a top team?
Said Top 10...My Prem Table says West Ham are 10th.
Two were mentioned a month or so to go. One was a top 10. One wasn't. Thus I'd assume west ham was the non-top 10.
I heard something on ZB sports news last night, saying in negotiations with Westham, Domey wants to gauge whether they would be able to sell out Auckland and Ring of Fire before commiting (my words)
I heard something on ZB sports news last night, saying in negotiations with Westham, Domey wants to gauge whether they would be able to sell out Auckland and Ring of Fire before commiting (my words)
If the top 4 are out that means no Arse, MCity, L'pool or Chelski......so it could be some ordinary mid table team like Man U....LOL. I know, old joke ,but its so much fun.
The news headline said West Ham but the article did not confirm. West Ham would be an OK choice if the others were not available. Lots of people would have heard of the Hammers....there would be a nice tie in with Winston Reid. The kiwi press would really get into that. Who else? Everton would be OK. Fulham...no. Not sure if you are talking about sellout crowds for these games......if you did Akld and Wellington one of the games has to be midweek(too expensive to host them for over a week). Mid week in Wellington might get 20,000. Auckland on a weekend...who knows? you would hope for 30,000 but I would not hold my breath.
I reckon in Auckland Winston alone would drag along an extra 5 - 10,000. Jaffas are into worshipping celebs.
Would it really be a good idea to play one team twice 3-4 days apart? If you were going to bring them down for two games it would make more sense to play a NZ selection, maybe even All Whites, for the Auckland game. That way you keep it different and fresh for the public.
You would need to give Auckland the first game. Should the Nix lose the opening match at ROF, a game in Auckland you may only get about half of what might have originally turned up should they have had the first game, about 4k or something ..
You would need to give Auckland the first game. Should the Hammers lose the opening match at ROF, a game in Auckland you may only get about half of what might have originally turned up should they have had the first game, about 4k or something ..
fixed.
I'd go watch Wet Spam, I want to see what a fellow Championship side looks like.
Would it really be a good idea to play one team twice 3-4 days apart? If you were going to bring them down for two games it would make more sense to play a NZ selection, maybe even All Whites, for the Auckland game. That way you keep it different and fresh for the public.
Keep it fresh? Well it sounds like the games will be in different cities, so you'd pretty much have an entirely different crowd at each game.
Would it really be a good idea to play one team twice 3-4 days apart? If you were going to bring them down for two games it would make more sense to play a NZ selection, maybe even All Whites, for the Auckland game. That way you keep it different and fresh for the public.
Keep it fresh? Well it sounds like the games will be in different cities, so you'd pretty much have an entirely different crowd at each game.
But for the second game you watched the first one on TV. And there is a danger that West Ham wins the first one comfortably. I think seeing the contrast between the Phoenix and the All Whites would be quite fascinating and a prospect that just isn't possible except under (these) rare circumstances. Bringing in NZF would also help share the costs and bring in all their sponsors.