Shop Assistants FC

Allez the truck drivers! Come on the interior decorators! Forza window cleaners! Viva shop assistants! Haway the school teachers!


Auckland City Football Club
"The People's Club"

Join us here: messageboard for "dreams and songs to sing of the glories round the fields of Sandringham."

lookalikes

Jumpers

...on a bridge in Hamilton (October 2000).

Songs of freedom

Dad buys Tango

This post is for Benjamin (see comments to Monday, November 2, 2009 “Memory, All alone in the moonlight…” post below) and anyone else who has “…ever really, really really loved a…” football. I’m not sure if you can make it out, but amongst other things the receipt says: “The Farmers’ Trading Co. Ltd… 1 x Tango Rosario Soccer ball - $73.50(!!)… Sports & Fishing Equipment… 06/07/82…”.

Me and our kid definitely loved that Tango Rosario Trilast. It was used sparingly and, after each use, it was always gently wiped down with a warm wet cloth and liberally caressed with leather polish. It was heavy as hell (even on a dry day). You could break your leg kicking that thing and those of you who have seen me run the 100 metres during the half time break of a Sunday 9am (pre-church) Kingz match at Ericsson will know that my legs aren’t exactly bulging with muscles - unlike Monsieur R Duncan.

I’m not sure where the Rosario fits in the line of Tango footballs. It was only later that I realised that the ball used in ’82 was the Espana not the Rosario – I just thought it was the same ball being knocked about by Rossi, Rumenigge, Maradona, Platini, McIlroy, Zico et al out on the fields of sunny Spain (hence it says “Official FIFA World Cup design”on one of the pentagons). I still have it – only the bladder has shrunken right up inside and so I can’t locate the nozzle to inflate it. Does anyone have any remedies for a Tango Rosario with a shrunken bladder?

You’re right Benjamin, that iconic triangular Tango design lends itself to be drawn on a variety of things, including school books.

Simon and the Admiral

Oh Ryan Nelsen you are the love of my life,
Oh Ryan Nelsen I'd let you shag my wife,
Oh Ryan Nelsen you're Kiwi through and through.

Team Wellington v Auckland City, 4:15pm Saturday 14 November 2009

What a kerfuffle! This game has been scheduled to be played in Wellington for over 2 months now - but it seems that it's only in the last couple of weeks that they've worked out that Newtown Park is doubled booked and so the k.o. has had to be pushed back from 2pm to 4:15pm. Who's to blame? I can only assume that when the good folk at Team Wellington learnt back in August that the game was to be played down there they contacted Newtown Park who were able to wisely inform them that the Park was already booked and then the good folk at Team Wellington immediately reported this to the good people at New Zealand Football. I can only assume, therefore, that it's not until the last couple of weeks that the good people at NZ Football have cleared their voicemail/checked their fax machine/looked at their email and realised the problem. Maybe I've got this all wrong.

Why do they make it so difficult for us supporters to support the game in this country? What could've been a leisurely day in the sun and a huge gate for Team Wellington has been tarnished somewhat by this balls up.

Anyway, we'll all still be there. Feel free to join us if you want to sink a few beers, run through a few All Whites chants, reminisce about the olden days, celebrate NZ football, slap each others thighs, wrestle etc etc.

I can only hope that to atone for the balls up, whoever was responsible has provided plenty of free transport to get people from Newtown Park back to the Westpac Trust Stadium in time for for the All Whites k.o.

keep on keeping on
Richie

Why do birds suddenly appear...

One of these three played professional football at Rotherham. Which one?

Lynfield College apparently

Tickets!! Anybody! Probably stuck in a queue or something

OK, so it seems a good number of the football hardcore either aren't going or haven't been able to get tickets. Which begs the question - just who has bought these 30,000-odd tickets? Dear God, please don't let this be an Old Trafford affair (tour parties eating icecreams in the stand during crucial Champions League matches) or another David Beckham fiasco.

Tea towel

Who would've thought. Thanks to Tony for the image.

Biscuit tin

Does anyone have a picture of the '82 coaster set? Roy?

Memory, All alone in the moonlight...

...look into my eyes, the eyes, the eyes, not around the eyes...

Because you asked...

You're a demanding lot. Here's the lyrics to accompany "Song ideas for All Whites v Bahrain".

http://www.box.net/shared/kdn5x6jpal

[left click on above link then choose download or preview]

We have a new total

Over 30 downloads of "Song ideas for All Whites v Bahrain"! Straight in at number one. Here it is again for those who missed it:

http://www.box.net/shared/29nkkajs5b

[remember left click on above link then choose download or play]

Graffiti on the walls that says we're magic...

On a wall in South Auckland: "Ricki Herbert: Played in the World Cup Finals in 1982"

Banner time

The more banners the better I reckon: “Marching On To Spain”, “Steve Sumner Walks on Water”, “NZ 2 CHINA 1”, “If anybody can the Kiwi can”, “Thanks but no Yanks”, “This is a bed sheet” etc. Someone just has to do a “Bobby Almond is Magic” banner – maybe they could borrow it off the kid below (looks like his initially said “Booby Almond is Magic”).

All Whites v Hungary, Mt Smart Stadium, February 1982: “Bobby Almond is Magic”; “NZ 11 Wonders of the World”; “We had the Roos for breakfast, Then we had Chinese, Now we’re getting Hungary”.

I’m all for making this a celebration of NZ football and reckon people should be encouraged to bring along local club banners. Add a touch of authenticity to the occasion by holding up Manurewa FC (Adshead, Van Hattum, Bright, Simonsen), Huntly Thistle (Almond), Gisborne City (Fallon, Mackay, Cresswell, Hill, B Turner), Hanimex North Shore (Cole, Elrich), Trans Tours United, Stop Out etc banners.

Oh, suits you sir!

There’s been much talk about attire for the big match on 14 November.

I still don’t think you can beat the Maori Army approach quite superbly demonstrated by Ash and Jeremy in the Thursday, October 15, 2009 “All Whites! Maori Army!” post below.

I also like the rather cunning Sheikh, Rattle and Roll approach modelled by Colin “Have you ever seen Dundee” Cook in the photo below. A reader writes: “The Bahrain players will be so confused seeing all these “Princes of Persia” yelling for the All Whites that their heads will quite simply explode.”

If you’re not keen on the above then how’s about a “Spirit of ’82” angle. You know, dust off your Naranjito t-shirts (as modelled by a youthful Ooh Aah Rufer below) or dress up as your favourite ’82 All White – I’ve included a few (eerily similar) portraits here.

Failing all that, add a bit of credibility to the occasion by wearing your Kingz strip (first season baseball strip, infamous fifth season Chelsea shirt etc). I know I’ll be holding up my vintage Football Kingz scarf – the original Stantiall production with the sticky screenprint!

Marching On To Spain - Take Two

There’s a bit of talk on Adam and Sam’s blog about the ’82 anthem. I don’t remember “Heading For The Top”. In fact, the first time I heard that song was when I borrowed the record off my old china Roy in approximately 2002 - I was surprised to see “Heading For The Top” as the A side. My memory is of “Marching On To Spain” being the anthem and being played all the time back in ’82 (hence it says “Official Squad Anthem” alongside “Marching On To Spain” on the record sleeve). Plus, I could be wrong but I don’t think Tina Cross had anything to do with “Marching On To Spain”. On the record a “Vince Harris” is credited with the song – I wonder what Vince is up to these days. He’s the only one I’d entrust with the task of creating a new anthem (if required). What do you say Vince!

Verse 1:
We're the All Whites and we're marching off to Spain
We'll score goals goals goals
And we'll score some more again
We’re New Zealand let’s put soccer on our map
So come on all New Zealanders let’s sing and shout and clap

Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites clapclap clapclapclap

We’re New Zealand let’s put soccer on our map
So come on all New Zealanders let’s sing and shout and clap

Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites clapclap clapclapclap

Verse 2:
We’ve got spirit that’s what makes our team so great
We’ve got drive drive drive
Our opponents know their fate
We’re New Zealand and we’re on our way to Spain
So come on all New Zealanders let’s hear it once again

Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites clapclap clapclapclap

We’re New Zealand and we’re on our way to Spain
So come on all New Zealanders let’s hear it once again

Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites clapclap clapclapclap

Finale:
We're the All Whites and we're marching off to Spain
We'll score goals goals goals
And we'll score some more again
We’re New Zealand let’s put soccer on our map
So come on all New Zealanders let’s sing and shout and clap

Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites clapclap clapclapclap
Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites clapclap clapclapclap
Kiwis clapclap clapclapclap
All Whites!

Marching On To Spain

The All Whites marching on to Spain in 1982 was one of the greatest moments of my life and this piece of music has played a huge part in making me the person that I am. You see, I like to "sing and shout and clap". Especially at the football.

I reckon you can tell alot about a person when you find out how old they were when the All Whites took on Scotland, the Soviet Union and Brazil in '82. I feel for those who were, say under the age of 5 years at the time and so not able to fully appreciate the occasion (or, heavens forbid, weren't even born!).

I spent 4 days in a row searching for this record in the 45s at Real Groovey. I found it on the third day - there's something biblical in that. Some how I knew that I would find it - yet it was the only copy I found. If I was ever interviewed for that Weekend Herald Canvas Magazine feature "What would you save if your house was on fire?" I would without hesitation say my World Cup 1982 Official Team Record (featuring the World Cup Squad and special guest star Ray Woolf).



The A side that was a B side:

Alot of people said we'd never make it through,
Said it was just a great impossibility.
But as we pressed ahead they saw what we could do,
and what was once a dream became reality...

All Whites! Maori Army!

Bazza's boys Ash and Jeremy keeping it local.

Get yourself down to the Look Sharp Store, Victoria Street East, Auckland CBD and pick yourself up one of these and/or one of these.

Photo courtesy of Oi Oi Edgecumbe's Plains Rangers FC website.

I hear you...

"When Johnny comes marching home"
We have a boy in our defence
Ryan, Ryan
El Hadji Diouf think he's immense
Ryan, Ryan
He plays his football at Blackburn
But now he wears the silver fern
Ryan Nelsen All Whites capitan
nana nana nana nana na na na na...

"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"
He's big he's bad he's Timothy Brown
The hardest man in all of town
With kung-fu kicks beware
Come and have a go if you dare

"Anarchy for the UK"
I am an All Whites fan
I am from New Zealand
I know what I want and I know how to get it
I wanna see the All Whites in South Africa
I wanna be a Kiwi

"Ole ole ola" [Jazz hands]
Oh Ricki Herbert
We're World Cup dreaming of '82
Ole ole ole ole ole ole ola
Ole ole ole take us to South Africa

"We shall not be moved"
We shall not we shall not be moved
We shall not we shall not be moved
Just like a team that's going to South Africa
We shall not be moved

"Geordie bootboys"
We are the Mori, the Mori Ori
Oh we are mental and we are mad
We are the loyalist football supporters
The world has ever had

"Can't take my eyes off of you"
dada da dada dada da da
dada da dada dada da da
dada da dada dada da da
dada da dada
Oh Ryan Nelsen you are the love of my life
Oh Ryan Nelsen I'd let you shag my wife
Oh Ryan Nelsen
You're Kiwi through and through
Oh Ryan Nelsen...

"Sloop John B"
So hoist up the John B sail
See how the main sail sets
Call for the captain ashore oh let me go home
Don't wanna go home
Don't wanna go ho-o-ome
This is the best trip I've ever been on

"E I E I E I O"
E I E I E I O off to Africa we go
And when we win the trophy this is what we'll sing
We're the All Whites
Super All Whites
Nelsen is our King

Confession - not enough ole: I didn't have enough "oles" in the download version of "Ole ole ola". See also that, thanks to your suggestions, I've changed it slightly - check these guys doing it:



and these guys:

Oh when the Saints...

Further to my comment in the download from the "Song ideas for All Whites v Bahrain" post...

Stoke (tune is traditional but draw out "reds" on first line and "in" on second line - I think it's generally accepted that this is the more preferable version):



Spurs (after they go through it twice slow, which is great, they break out into sound and repeat - I think it's generally accepted that this is a bit "old hat"):

Song ideas for All Whites v Bahrain

Ladies and gentleman, Mr Ric Le Roc “I could feel at the time there was no way of knowing...”:

http://www.box.net/shared/29nkkajs5b

[left click on above link then choose download or play]

O Epoe Tooki Tooki

I’ve been pretty keen on getting All Whites fans to sing O Epoe Tooki Tooki at matches. I reckon the circularity and “boy scout camp fire sing-a-long” nature of that song would make it a good terrace chant. Here’s the Wiggles doing it (apparently the words translate as something like “At night up straight, at night up straight thrusting” which is kind of peculiar for a children’s song):

It could be our “Doe a deer”:

Football culture and New Zealand have never really been a good fit – much like football culture and Australia, the Pacific, North America and Canada. I like the idea of embracing those elements which have made it difficult for football culture to take off in this country – you know, finding cool in the uncool/finding football in the un-football. For example, the term “soccer”. It’s clear to me that NZ Football should have stuck with the name NZ Soccer/Soccer NZ as the term “soccer” is quite frankly much more hip. I mean, how great is Johannesburg's new “Soccer City”? See also the “Celtic Soccer Crew” and Auckland’s own “City Soccer Casuals”. As another example, it took a Burton Albion supporting mate of mine to awaken me to the idea of singing “All Whites! Maori Army!” at matches.

Shifting the Goal Posts: Kingz Kick for Cash

This is an excerpt from the abovenamed article that featured in the 11 May 2001 issue of the New Zealand Business Times (!!):

Bloc 5
One thing that is certain is that the Kingz in whatever shape they take the field next season can count on the support of their very own fanatics in the shape of Bloc Five.
The several hundred singing chanting fans have become a feature at home matches and are recognized by management as being an essential part of the Kingz mix.
“Our fans are everything, without them we are nothing,” says Chris Turner.
He says the Bloc Five rowdies have helped attract fringe fans who come to the football because they see it as a good night out.
They also make up a large proportion of the 400 strong fan club and wear a sizeable number of more than 600 replica kits sold by the club.

Dear Ricki

Michael McGlinchey is your best player.

love
Richie