Page 89 - NUAFC EBook

We are 15!

What a great 15 years we have had as a Club! From It’s Got To Be Good For You !
our inaugural year in 1969 when we fielded one team in the Excitement, disappointment, Triumph, failure, fantastic
Waikato 2nd Division, through to the end of 1983 and a place goals, miserable misses — these were the ingredients
in the Northern League 1st Division! experienced all supporters of the Green Machine during the
A man with vision was responsible for our successes 1983 season. Familiar faces from the previous year plus some
on the way through the seasons - Joe Templeton, our exciting new prospects augured well for the Club and, in
Founder and Patron. He well remembers those in 1968 who retrospect, the Club should be well pleased with the result.
said soccer would have no future in Ngaruawahia! Joe started it Although not quite the triumph expected it was by no means a
all off as he filled the positions of Coach, Manager, Trainer failure.
and Transport Officer! We can look forward to 1st Division Status in 1984. At our
Early in the Club's history we were approached by disposal we have two 'tried and true' coaches in Dave Hall and
Affco Rangers to amalgamate. We accepted their moving in Bernie Carmody who will be great assets in our future plans. Add
with us and gained Northern league status painlessly. Dave to that the experience behind the scenes of Mary, Charlie Senior,
Hall entered the scene shortly afterwards and was the driving Charlie Junior, Liz Gorman, George Sunnex, Eddie Callaghan
force behind our rise from 4th to 1st Division in five short Senior and Sandy MacDonald, which will ensure an enviable
seasons. backup.
The Club's weekly bulletin (started in 1979) The Youth team was thrown in at the deep end and,
continues to provide interesting reading of happenings, although they never won a game, the experience was invaluable. We
personalities and match reports, and is read as widely as must remember that these lads, the bulk of whom were around
England, Canada, South America, Australia and many parts 15, were playing against teams comprising lads at least two
of New Zealand. We have had many a laugh at ourselves years their senior, and who had played together before. Their
through this instrument. My thanks go to John McDermid and inauspicious beginnings wasn't helped by mismanagement but,
Armstrong & Springhall Social Club for making this they stuck together, and if they do that for another couple of
Bulletin possible. seasons, they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with (and
We were saddened in June by the loss of Georgean take the Youth Team Title).
Miller, a staunch supporter of our Club. Her passing away left Like the Youth Team, the 2nd Division had a hard row
a void that will he felt for a long time. to hoe. Coached by who-ever happened to be there on the night,
Wasn't that a great day when our Senior Team paraded some­times overloaded, sometimes shorthanded with players,
in their travelling uniform! Ripples flowed out around the they never had a cohesive force throughout the season. Capable
district and there were many envious opponents - especially in of good play they often slipped into mediocrity, mainly because of
the Hamilton Clubrooms after our 0-2 loss to City. Here we the team changes and poor coaching (and a lack of interest
were beaten but not defeated! didn't help their cause at all.
A sneaky rumour went around the Club that it was With a fair balance of youth and experience there are
Glen Gray who had paid for me to take my family to Canada plenty of indications that all problems can be overcome, although,
so that he could get control of the Weekly Bulletin!!! unfortunately the present 1983 Coach Graham (Pom) Howard is
Thanks Glen and Liz for continuing in my absence - it's about to be transferred South by the Army. However, if the right
appreciated. I was not too impressed with Canadian person takes hold of the reins you can be sure they will have the
Professional Football, and from the sketch done of me in support of the team and the Club.
Calgary, they weren't too impressed with mine! The 1st Division, in many ways, has proved to be the
Being our second Yearbook, there was much to be most disappointing team in the Club. Well Coached and
learned from our first (hurried) effort in 1982. I hope this Managed by Bernie Carmody and Eddie Callaghan, with a
edition meets with a more interesting response. All teams were wealth of talent knocking on the Northern League door, when the
approached to submit reports for inclusion, and it is a bit chips were down they were found wanting.
disappointing that several squads had nothing to report. At times during the season the teams played brilliantly -
However we have ended up with a partial record of 1983, better than at other times they were abysmal! Old heads George Sunnex,
no record at all. Rod Hill and Bruce McIntosh were supplemented by the
Some of the highlights of 1983??? youthful exuberance of Chris Spray, Grant Carlson, Elliot Cathro,
• Collapse of the Unicol 5-a-side pre-season tournament Peter Magee and Eddie Callaghan Jnr; but still, for some
• Not being accepted for the Rotorua pre-season tournament unaccountable reason, the results were not forthcoming consistently
• Advancing to the second days play of the Cambridge enough.
tournament # Nacho Reye's 12-day suspension It is well known within the hierarchy of the Club that the 1st
• 9th & 11th Grade teams won their Divisions Division is the hardest to control and motivate as they are the
• Glenys Fraser represents NZ at the World Womens Body- Reserves to the Northern League and may be called upon at a
building Competition moment's notice. It is an accepted disruptive situation, but also
• We are invited to apply for Super League status one that all clubs experience. It causes a good deal of infighting
• Council commences new field development but, often, players themselves tend to make things worse with
• Elliot Cathro and Keith Mackrell were selected as Waikato arguing and having a total lack of understanding. Let us all be
reps aware of the problem and give full support for the 1984 season.
The Northern League is one team I have had the most
• Regan MacDonald invited to Canadian Soccer Clinic dealings with. Who can forget the exciting win against Ellerslie
• Senior team equipped with travelling blazers with total dedication from all team members — the narrow loss
• the sponsorship gained from Affco, Hertz and Radio Waikato. to Takapuna with the goal in the dying seconds that wasn't a goal at
The Club has now moved out of its fledgling stage and all. Like the 1st Division, they have taken us to the heights of
has started to spread its wings. Those in the administration are ecstasy and plunged us into misery on other occasions.
prepared to move with it - are you? On the positive side we have to remember some of the
brilliant goals scored through the season — Keith Mackrell's hat-

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