Football United - July 2014 West Ham and Newcastle visit

I watched another at the Solway Showgrounds, Masterton. (Hitched up from Wngtn. as a schoolkid).

Hi all,

The tour was sponsored by BOAC, and the itinerary was:
May 15, Carlaw Park, Auckland
May 19, Palmerston North Showgrounds
May 22, Athletic Park, Wellington
May 23, Solway Showgrounds, Masterton
May 26, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
May 29, English Park, Christchurch
June 2, Rugby Park, Invercargill
June 5, Caledonian Ground, Dunedin
June 7, Basin Reserve, Wellington
June 10, McLean Park, Napier
June 13, Newmarket Park, Auckland

"We are more than happy to welcome two great clubs like Blackpool and Sheffield United for this series of matches throughout New Zealand", says the chairman of the New Zealand Football Association, Mr Bob Smith.
"The tour is the greatest thing that has happened in the history of soccer in this country.
"And the soccer horizon looks even brighter because if this season's venture is a success - and I have no doubt it will be - it is the wish of the guarantor to repeat the programme for the next four years and probably longer. The effect on the game here will be terrific".
The tour promoter, Mr Alan Gillot, would like to match the winner of the Blackpool-Sheffield United series with another leading British or European club next year in this country.

The above is from the tour programme, while following are some extracts from the 1966 NZ Soccer Annual, which reviews the 1965 year.

A highlight of the 1965 season was undoubtedly the visit to New Zealand of the two First Division English clubs Sheffield United and Blackpool. For many years there had been visions of two first-class overseas sides being seen in action against each other in this country, but the high cost of bringing them from the other side of the world without any adequate guarantee prevented the NZFA taking such a move. But thanks to the generosity of a sponsor (who wishes to remain anonymous) it was possible last year to negotiate a tour of this nature. It is gratifying to know that the venture proved successful, notwithstanding that "gates", particularly in the main centres, failed to come up to expectations.

On account of the disappointing results of the New Zealand team during its overseas tour the previous season, it was decided not to play either Sheffield United or Blackpool against local sides, but to match them against each other in a series of games for a cash prize to the winner. It was hoped to keep the number of games down to a total of not more than eight, but the sponsor's representative wanted eleven in New Zealand.

It is to be hoped that more tours of this sort will follow. It is known that other First Division English teams are keen to tour New Zealand during their off-season. Now that the NZFA is working more closely with the Australian Soccer Federation, there is every reason to believe that we will see more of this type of football in New Zealand, and, if present progress is maintained in developing our own local players, then matches can be played against New Zealand sides.

Cheers,

JR

Thanks SK. Legend!

That is a brutal schedule. I guess the teams only saw football grounds and hotels. plus they would have been sick of each other by the end of it.

"Now that the NZFA is working more closely with the Australian Soccer Federation..." ROFL.

The Basin, Watched Sheffield United and Spuds and QPR play there, England played at Athletic Park and England "B" played at the Basin. If only they stuck in some decent floodlights, the Basin would be an asset.

So Budgie is on it again today...he is "confirming" West Ham to Wellington

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9972280/EPLs-West-Ham-United-set-for-Wellington-visit

But also suggesting that there is talk of a 4 team tournament with Nix, Roar & Newcastle, which would see Wellington host a double header of Nix vs Roar & Newcastle vs West Ham, with other fixtures held in Auckland & Dunedin...Tickets for Wellington in the $100-$120 range

Man Stuff really seem to be following the forums lately, hopefully sooner or later we get some FACTs reported as according to earlier stuff reports Everton had been confirmed :P

If those ticket prices are true, together with all the World Cup players missing, I fear a disaster.

Not to say I'm not looking forward to it, I just cannot see many shelling out those prices for a friendly.

I'm sure there will be cheaper tickets, but how much cheaper?

Well not so much a financial disaster (although I'm sure they'd like a profit), more a PR disaster and potentially embarrassing.

I would love nothing more than 30,000 to turn up, but I fear it might be half that, or less!

Was talking to a non-Nix fan at work this morning and he said he'd be keen to go and I asked if he'd pay a hundred bucks for it. He actually thought I was joking. He thought tickets would be $40ish. I pointed out nothing's confirmed yet of course.

Just out of curiosity, how much are tickets to home EPL game at Upton Park?

I have always had a soft spot for The Hammers, but not really sure it is soft enough to fork out $100 to $120 a seat (x4) that becomes staggeringly unaffordable.

$100 would be ridiculous, I think the $40-50 range would be acceptable to most people.

If its a round robin tournament, I wonder if the West Ham/Newcastle match up would be in Auckland. That might help sell out Eden Park.

http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130601/v-tottenham-hotspur-h_2236896_3215475 -

For a Category A game,  just over $100, as it turns out. 52 pounds for non-members.

Cat A (top 7 in premiership) 55 pounds up to 72 pounds, unless you're disabled (financially?) then 39 pounds.

Cat B (remainder) 43 pounds up to 54 pounds,  "          "                    "                  "           then 27 pounds.

You would hope, anyway

To put my following statement into context, I am a foundation member, have gone to most Wgtn games over the years, and a fair share of pre-seasons etc as well, so wouldn't consider myself too much of a band-wagoner.... but...

I have about 0% excitement for these games. And I don't really know why.

Maybe it's a sour taste from the end of the season? Or the fact that it's a completely meaningless game? Or given recent restrictions on the personal budget, I'm a bit nervous about how much it might cost? Or that I really don't follow the EPL too religiously?

Anyone else in the same camp? Not trying to put a downer on it, just interested if I'm alone here.

If its a round robin tournament, you would assume there would be 2 games at each venue so 100 per game is actually a good deal.

venue 1 team a v team b and team c v team d

venue 2 team a v team c and team b v team d

venue 3 team a v team d and team b v team c

just as a comparison, tickets for the Boca Jnr game were:

Gold: Adult $69, Children $32, Family $180
Silver: Adult $48, Children $22, Family $125 

That was a month after the 2010 World Cup and drew 11,751 fans.

Considering this was written by Dave Burgess, whos 'sources' told him that the team we were talking to was Arsenal, a team that Domey later openly stated that he was not talking to, I'm not going to believe a single thing in this article until it is confirmed by the Nix.

$100 for two games on the same day would certainly be more acceptable.

Paying the same price as you would for a competitive EPL game in London would not be.

The article states Nix vs Brisbane as a curtain raiser to Newcastle V West Ham, perhaps thats a game better suited for Auckland?.

I would much rather watch Nix vs an EPL team in Welly, with Brisbane vs the other EPL team as the curtain rasier. But guess thats just personal preference    

Wellington had better get the Wellington vs West Ham game if the writer is correct about the format. I can't really see why Newcastle would be playing Brisbane in NZ. Is there really a strong public interest in seeing that?

Edit I thought they were talking about the Australian Newcastle. Not so bad. But would much rather see Wellington vs either EPL team here.

Do we have to sing I'm forever blowing bubbles?

if West Ham have a large travelling fan base, then this is perfect opportunity for the YF to set the bar for the rest of the season and out sing them. 

$100 is mental, especially when you consider the weather at that time is going to be pretty cold (not that ticket prices should be determined by weather).  Pre-season games are notoriously boring, with the main focus mainly on increasing player fitnes meaning teams have often completed a full training session before the game. Players don't want to get injured, and really couldn't give 2 fucks about the actual game result. $50 maximum.

I would not attend any match if over $50..end of story.  Nothing games.

Im with you . Include these games as part of season ticket package, then great, Ill be there.

Im aint paying a huge amount to watch a pre-season 'friendly' were the stars are probably not there, or play half pace for half an hour, or where there are constant subs every 5 mins.

Maybe you should ask Bubbles

So what's the deal we know so far please? Wgton 26 July, and game in Dunnydin?