Although the game wasn't great, I enjoyed other aspects of attending.
Public transport is definitely the best way to get to a game - met a lot of supporters on the bus from Linwood, a thirty minute trip.
A real mix of supporters from different backgrounds, all up for a chat about the Phoenix and football in NZ in general and glad to connect with other people with a shared passion, breaking the isolation of mostly living our day-to-day lives in a society where most people don't have the same level of interest.
Starting where I live in Linwood, in one of the poorer parts of town, a Maori bloke got on wearing a Phoenix shirt and told me he was taking his teenage son to his first ever game of football.
A happy group of African teenagers got on wearing EPL and European football shirts.
A large middle class family got on the bus in more upmarket Cashmere (mum, dad, three teenage sons) all wearing Phoenix scarves.
A family from Finland (mum, dad and two young kids) got on and sat behind me.
They weren't going to the game and had arrived in Christchurch the day before, mum a doctor, dad in IT, trying out NZ for a year as a possible immigration destination ("everybody back home is worried about the threat of Russia at the moment").
They were fascinated to learn about the local football scene and the A-League.
Cashmere Technical has just gained two new junior players (their football-mad son and daughter) - on my advice the parents will contact the club.
In Spreydon, a well-informed dedicated fan of similar middle age vintage to me wearing his Phoenix hoodie got on and we engaged in chat about the Phoenix's form this season etc.
We're lucky here to benefit from definitely the best and (for the time being) most affordable bus service in NZ - $2 full fare for unlimited two hours travel ($1 Community Services and kids) with a MetroCard.
____________________________________________
Great to be seated in a stadium with 14,000 other fans too.
When the A-League authorities and NZ Football see such numbers, it can only help start some momentum towards a Christchurch A-League franchise.
We all enjoyed the noise and (often joined in with) the chants started by the section of Yellow Fever supporters.
Two more years of the three year deal for the Nix to play in Chch - no doubt they'll play better next time.
Public transport is definitely the best way to get to a game - met a lot of supporters on the bus from Linwood, a thirty minute trip.
A real mix of supporters from different backgrounds, all up for a chat about the Phoenix and football in NZ in general and glad to connect with other people with a shared passion, breaking the isolation of mostly living our day-to-day lives in a society where most people don't have the same level of interest.
Starting where I live in Linwood, in one of the poorer parts of town, a Maori bloke got on wearing a Phoenix shirt and told me he was taking his teenage son to his first ever game of football.
A happy group of African teenagers got on wearing EPL and European football shirts.
A large middle class family got on the bus in more upmarket Cashmere (mum, dad, three teenage sons) all wearing Phoenix scarves.
A family from Finland (mum, dad and two young kids) got on and sat behind me.
They weren't going to the game and had arrived in Christchurch the day before, mum a doctor, dad in IT, trying out NZ for a year as a possible immigration destination ("everybody back home is worried about the threat of Russia at the moment").
They were fascinated to learn about the local football scene and the A-League.
Cashmere Technical has just gained two new junior players (their football-mad son and daughter) - on my advice the parents will contact the club.
In Spreydon, a well-informed dedicated fan of similar middle age vintage to me wearing his Phoenix hoodie got on and we engaged in chat about the Phoenix's form this season etc.
We're lucky here to benefit from definitely the best and (for the time being) most affordable bus service in NZ - $2 full fare for unlimited two hours travel ($1 Community Services and kids) with a MetroCard.
____________________________________________
Great to be seated in a stadium with 14,000 other fans too.
When the A-League authorities and NZ Football see such numbers, it can only help start some momentum towards a Christchurch A-League franchise.
We all enjoyed the noise and (often joined in with) the chants started by the section of Yellow Fever supporters.
Two more years of the three year deal for the Nix to play in Chch - no doubt they'll play better next time.