History for Big Pete 65

Great to have all the touring sides and results listed in one place - thanks once again to the diligence of the amazing Jeremy Ruane.

One glaring mistake in this list though (watch out for reaction from the IRA!!!) - "League of Ireland" was a rep side from the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland - and so a long way from being a "British" touring team!!! Sean Byrne from that side immigrated and played for Gisborne City and NZ. He sadly developed motor neuron disease and died in 2003. A legendary player in NZ in the 1980's. Sean's obituaries: http://www.dundalkfc.com/history/irish-football-bits-bobs/sean-byrne-tribute-by-ian-gillies-new-zealand/

http://foot.ie/archive/index.php/t-9524.html

So. interesting (and sobering) to note that out of 89 games between the NZ national team, provincial selections and club sides, and British pro club sides and FA elevens (discounting national teams which also feature on the list), the record reads:

P: 89       W: 6         D: 5      L: 78

and that included lesser teams touring like a Welsh FA eleven, Cardiff City (a minor team in the 1960's), Bournemouth and Dunfermline Athletic.

First win by a NZ side was a Central Region selection v Cardiff City in 1968.

The only NZ club side to get a result vs. British teams was Christchurch United who beat Hearts in 1976. Canterbury (mostly Christchurch United) also drew with Glasgow Rangers in 1975 and England B in 1978. I saw Canterbury losing narrowly 1-0 to a strong QPR side in 1983 (Clive Allen, John Gregory, Glenn Roeder). Truly Chch Utd were the Manchester United of NZ football in those days!

So, the challenge for the Phoenix is to match Christchurch United in beating a British club side.

Only two other NZ clubs have played touring British teams - Napier City Rovers and Mount Wellington lost to a Bournemouth side whose assistant manager was one Harry Redknapp in 1982. Harry came out of retirement to play his last games when Bournemouth were short of players late in the tour.

So the Phoenix will be only the fourth NZ club side to play a pro British team. Auckland City of course have only played pro teams from other countries in the World Club Championship.

Great to have all the touring sides and results listed in one place - thanks once again to the diligence of the amazing Jeremy Ruane.

One glaring mistake in this list though (watch out for reaction from the IRA!!!) - "League of Ireland" was a rep side from the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland - and so a long way from being a "British" touring team!!! Sean Byrne from that side immigrated and played for Gisborne City and NZ. He sadly developed motor neuron disease and died in 2003. A legendary player in NZ in the 1980's. Sean's obituaries: http://www.dundalkfc.com/history/irish-football-bits-bobs/sean-byrne-tribute-by-ian-gillies-new-zealand/

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/story.asp?newsid=7103

So. interesting (and sobering) to note that out of 89 games between the NZ national team, provincial selections and club sides, and British pro club sides and FA elevens (discounting national teams which also feature on the list), the record reads:

P: 89       W: 6         D: 5      L: 78

and that included lesser teams touring like a Welsh FA eleven, Cardiff City (a minor team in the 1960's), Bournemouth and Dunfermline Athletic.

First win by a NZ side was a Central Region selection v Cardiff City in 1968.

The only NZ club side to get a result vs. British teams was Christchurch United who beat Hearts in 1976. Canterbury (mostly Christchurch United) also drew with Glasgow Rangers in 1975 and England B in 1978. I saw Canterbury losing narrowly 1-0 to a strong QPR side in 1983 (Clive Allen, John Gregory, Glenn Roeder). Truly Chch Utd were the Manchester United of NZ football in those days!

So, the challenge for the Phoenix is to match Christchurch United in beating a British club side.

Only two other NZ clubs have played touring British teams - Napier City Rovers and Mount Wellington lost to a Bournemouth side whose assistant manager was one Harry Redknapp in 1982. Harry came out of retirement to play his last games when Bournemouth were short of players late in the tour.

So the Phoenix will be only the fourth NZ club side to play a pro British team. Auckland City of course have only played pro teams from other countries in the World Club Championship.

Great to have all the touring sides and results listed in one place - thanks once again to the diligence of the amazing Jeremy Ruane.

One glaring mistake in this list though (watch out for reaction from the IRA!!!) - "League of Ireland" was a rep side from the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland - and so a long way from being a "British" touring team!!! Sean Byrne from that side immigrated and played for Gisborne City and NZ. He sadly developed motor neuron disease and died in 2003. A legendary player in NZ in the 1980's. Sean's obituaries: http://www.dundalkfc.com/history/irish-football-bits-bobs/sean-byrne-tribute-by-ian-gillies-new-zealand/

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/story.asp?newsid=7103

So. interesting (and sobering) to note that out of 89 games between the NZ national team, provincial selections and club sides, and British pro club sides and FA elevens (discounting national teams which also feature on the list), the record reads:

P: 89       W: 6         D: 5      L: 78

and that included lesser teams touring like a Welsh FA eleven, Cardiff City (a minor team in the 1960's) and Dunfermline Athletic.

First win by a NZ side was a Central Region selection v Cardiff City in 1968.

The only NZ club side to get a result vs. British teams was Christchurch United who beat Hearts in 1976. Canterbury (mostly Christchurch United) also drew with Glasgow Rangers in 1975 and England B in 1978. I saw Canterbury losing narrowly 1-0 to a strong QPR side in 1983 (Clive Allen, John Gregory, Glenn Roeder). Truly Chch Utd were the Manchester United of NZ football in those days!

So, the challenge for the Phoenix is to match Christchurch United in beating a British club side.

Only two other NZ clubs have played touring British teams - Napier City Rovers and Mount Wellington lost to a Bournemouth side whose assistant manager was one Harry Redknapp in 1982. Harry came out of retirement to play his last games when Bournemouth were short of players late in the tour.

So the Phoenix will be only the fourth NZ club side to play a pro British team. Auckland City of course have only played pro teams from other countries in the World Club Championship.