Eff Cee Bee

PS Ricki Sherbert

Yesterday I counted at least 21 Kiwis on the pitch at Kiwitea Street for round 6 of the ASB Premiership.

Might I suggest that if you're going to deride and degrade our national league then you should get your facts right.

Yours sincerely
Richie

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Nine

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Parts Six, Seven & Eight

Whenever they're playing in your town...

...get yourself to that football ground

Auckland City FC (aka The Pride of Sandringham) v Kashiwa Reysol
Thursday, 8 December
Kick-off 11:45pm (NZT)
Live Sky Sport 1

Kiwitea Street open from 8pm for screening of THE BIG MATCH.  All football fans welcome.

Auckland City: The Underdogs

"Auckland achieved their greatest success at the 2009 Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Against all odds the plucky team of truck drivers, interior decorators, school teachers and shop assistants beat the champions of a multi million dollar Arab league (the host nations’ team Al Ahly) and the champions of one of FIFA’s largest confederations (TP Mazembe of Africa – who came runners-up at the 2010 Club World Cup).
...

No matter what happens in Japan, Auckland City FC and Kiwitea Street will remain a bastion of “heart and soul” football in an increasingly commercialised football world. It is how football used to be and, in my opinion, how football should be."

Read more here:- Slide Rule Pass: A blog about football

Edit:- new link www.scribd.com - Auckland City: The Underdogs

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Five

Slide Rule Pass

"Tomorrow, Auckland City fan Richard McIlroy will introduce his team."

Read more here:- Slide Rule Pass: A blog about football

Commitment (Part II)

“But we’re leaving nothing to chance. Although we’re amateurs, we are 100 per cent committed to winning. We’re training every day, so the differences are minimal.  Most of our players work 40 hours per week, then train with us, and in some ways that’s tougher than being in a professional environment.” - Auckland City FC Coach Ramon Tribulietx

“For a small amateur team like ours, it’s going to take something absolutely out of the ordinary to get any kind of result.   I don’t think the public back home understand how big an achievement it was winning two games in Abu Dhabi." - Auckland City FC Captain Ivan Vicelich

Read more here:- FIFA.com: Auckland duo eye new sensation

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Four

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Three

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part Two

The Pride of Sandringham: Let's Go Oriental - Part One

Dear Ricki Sherbert

Today I counted at least 19 Kiwi players on the pitch at Kiwitea Street for round 4 of the ASB Premiership.

Yours sincerely
Richie

Ramon's gonna teach us punk football

"Starting as underdogs in such fixtures is a given for the part-timers, but with daily pre-tournament training sessions, not to mention several full internationals and ex-professionals in their ranks, Spoonley believes they are well equipped for the challenge."

Read more here:- Spoonley: It's not mission impossible

Meet the owners

The Premier League and the Football League are dead to me

"The EPL has pinched a penny too many, the FL has retained a vertebrae too few. And because of that, I want nothing more to do with them. *Sulk*. *Waaaahhhh*. Between them they have killed or surrendered too much. Greed is now all encompassing, it’s not even subtle anymore."

Read more here:- Going Cold Turkey

Detached and disillusioned

"I dislike the fact we’re meant to bow before the Premier League as if it is the be all and end all. I dislike the patronising of lower league supporters, as if we’re mad to consider watching our local team...

I dislike that modern football means we should start at 1992 and nothing else...

Modern football is a religion. And I’m either losing mine completely or having a serious crisis of faith."

Read more here:- Losing my religion: Why I'm close to giving up on football

I have a gem of a ...video

Squeal with delight as Adam McGeorge (NZ), Ian Hogg (NZ), Chad Coombes (NZ), Danko Koprivcic (NZ), Sam Campbell (NZ), Adam Dickinson (UK), Paul Urlovic (NZ), Grant Young (SA), Matt Williams (NZ), Bobby Spoonley (NZ), Ki Hyung-Lee (SK), James Pritchett (NZ), Greg Uhlmann (NZ) etc etc walk behind Guinness World Record holder Paul Gothard ...what's that I hear you say Ricki Sherbert? No Kiwis in the ASBP? The words "no idea" spring to mind.

ACFC Team Sponsorship Fund: 2011 Club World Cup, Japan

The ACFC Supporters Club want to sponsor Super Sammy Campbell.

Super Sam has been a loyal ACFC squad member for a number of years.  He's not always the first choice centre back but when required he always steps up and puts in a great contribution - most notably the victory over TP Mazembe at the 2009 CWC (when ACFC earned New Zealand football enough money to save our New Zealand national league from extinction).

Contact me if you want to contribute $25.

Read more here:- ACFC Team Sponsorship Fund

Commitment (Part I)

"In bidding to repeat their 2009 heroics, Auckland City’s players have been training every day for over a month, and the results speak for themselves, with four wins from as many matches. Those victories have included a 3-1 friendly win over professional opponents, Australia’s Central Coast Mariners, with Auckland’s players dedicating themselves to a demanding schedule despite full-time professional and study commitments."

Read more here:- Mulligan: Auckland won't be daunted

Help the Aged...

...one time they were just like you, drinking smoking cigs and sniffing glue.

"The project in Miles Platting and Newton Heath is designed to help older people get the basic help and/or company some lack and which you would expect to get from a good neighbour.

...

To help people prepare for volunteering we have organised some training (on working with older people, on basic first aid and on food hygiene) which will provide new knowledge and skills. This training will also provide certification (e.g. the Food Safety gains you an RSPH Level 2 Award), providing extra help to any volunteers who are applying for jobs."

FCUM.  Greatest football club on the planet.  Fact.

Read more here:- Well-Being, Good Neighbours Schemes

3 o'clock on a Saturday

Super League Liner

United owners take helicopter back to London...

...United fans take train.

Read more here:- Up up and away

While the majority eat ice creams...

Add to favourites

AS Magenta v Auckland City FC, February 2011

One of my favourite photos.  9 players ready, willing and able to play for the All Whites thanks to ACFC.  Good news is they're all back this season.

Photo by Alaine Vartane

Rich, richer, richest

Michael Cockerill does his best to explain why fans of "football" could be forgiven for not supporting the A League this season.  Spot how many times he uses the words "rich", "richer" "richest" etc.

Read more here:- A richman's toy (warning: reading this will make you feel ill)

See if you can find: money; billion; richest; revenue; dollars; investment; million; investors; economy; spend; red ink; corporate networks; government networks; speculate; accumulate; highest-paid; and bank.

It matters. It matters a lot.

Auckland City FC tshirts

The design:

Old style football - like the type that appears on the crests of many established football clubs throughout the world, ie Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Benfica, Spurs, Norwich, Rangers, Wigan Athletic, FC Basel etc.
Laurel wreath - a reference to the clothing worn by terrace casuals across the football stadiums of the world.

The ball and wreath image has been used by various Ultra groups for a number of years.  More recently the ball and wreath image has been used by football supporters around the world to signify many of the principles which are central to Auckland City FC's operation, ie affordable football ($50 season tickets, children under 15 free); players who make huge sacrifices to hold down day jobs/tertiary education and still train 4 times a week; and a club run on the dedication and hard work of volunteers.

The colour: AUCKLAND CITY LIGHT BLUE

The price: $35

Wear the tshirt and support the club and the principles it stands for.

"It's a more genuine achievement..."

Kick Racism out of Football Writing

I’m not sure if you saw Bryce Johns’ item in the Herald on Sunday the other week.  46 year old Bryce Johns reckons football was more "manly" when he played but now he’s about “to start walking from the sport” because the game is full of foreigners who cheat.

Bryce Johns singled out a number of Auckland City FC players and said they were cheats simply on the basis of their foreign names.

A respected expert in this area wrote to Bryce Johns pointing out the racist elements of his item.  Bryce Johns’ response was that because he has “a 25-plus year writing background”, “more than 20-years playing Northern and Central soccer”, “an NZS coaching badge”, “coached 1^st XI school teams” etc this somehow entitles him to make racist comments.

Obviously Bryce Johns isn’t aware of Professor Paul Morris’ research into diving and simulation in football:-

“Diving is stereotypically thought of as a 'foreign' behaviour by certain sections of football supporters and media in the UK. When the discussion of simulation is raised, it is often accompanied by an overseas name and rarely that of an Englishman. Dr Morris completely refutes the idea however that diving is more culturally accepted in other countries outside of England and also rejects the suggestion English players are less likely to dive than their foreign counterparts.”

“This behaviour (diving) has no national boundaries; everyone does it, it even occurred unprompted during our research trials," he jokes. "Diving does seem to have become more common in the last few decades in English football, but the fact there has been an increased influx of foreign players into the Premier League during that time is purely incidental. One can point to the fact there is now far greater technology to analyse games, people see football in a far different light than they used to. Sure, there are players that seem more likely to dive, but their nationality cannot be considered a factor. This is purely individualistic behaviour we are talking about."

Below are links to some resources so that you can be more informed than Bryce Johns, The Herald on Sunday, The New Zealand Herald, APN etc.
Show Racism the Red Card
Football Unites, Racism Divides
Let's Kick Racsim Out Of Football
NZ Race Relations Commission

We must be of community benefit even before any success on the field

FCUM is set up as an Industrial and Provident Society (Community Benefit Co-operative).  Central to its constitution is the requirement that the club must be of benefit to the community.

Recently FCUM CEO Andy Walsh gave a seminar about the FCUM vision, fan owned football clubs, FCUM's community work, FCUM organisational structure, FCUM budget, FCUM's search for a home ground, AFC Wimbledon, Exeter City FC etc.

The seminar has been uploaded to YouTube in 15 parts:
Part 1 - Revolution into Reality
Part 2 - Equal Shares
Part 3 - Monetary Benefits
Part 4 - Rash Decision?
Part 5 - Balancing Football with Community Benefit
Part 6 - Wider Influence
Part 7 - Communicating with Members
Part 8 - Organisational Structure
Part 9 - Players' Wages
Part 10 - Personal Background
Part 11 - Other Clubs
Part 12 - Top End of Football
Part 13 - FIFA
Part 14 - Non Football Fans
Part 15 - Closing Statements

It's well worth a look.

“We felt that for far too long fans as the customers of the game have just been largely ignored and marginalised and exploited ...the fans themselves are just treated in quite a despicable way by most of the football clubs because they see that their ultimate loyalty is something to exploit not something to actually bring in and use effectively with developing the club.” - Andy Walsh, CEO FCUM

"Finance capital doesn’t like competition and finance capital has moved into football ...finance capital works on the basis of domination and eliminating the opposition, well you can’t eliminate the opposition in sport.  Without the opposition sport doesn’t exist.  So that model is fundamentally flawed and it needs to be challenged." - Andy Walsh, CEO FCUM

Polish Reds

On a changing room wall in West Auckland

On a hill in Colwyn Bay

Llanelian Road had a capacity restriction of 2000 for this game.  FC United were allocated 1000 tickets.  They took 2000 supporters.  Those who couldn't fit into the ground (some 500-odd) set themselves up on a hill in a paddock overlooking the pitch.  F**king magic!!

Not in the wider interests of football

"As football's reputation continues to be tarnished by soaring debt, political scandal and superinjunctions, proof is needed that the sport retains a soul. Step forward AFC Wimbledon. Under dark Manchester skies, the club formed by supporters for supporters produced a golden moment on Saturday, overcoming Luton on penalties to win the Blue Square play-off final and seal their place in the Football League.

...

Nine years. That is how long it has taken AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans 12 days after the original Crazy Gang was stolen away from them and relocated to Milton Keynes, to rise from the Combined Counties League to League Two, taking in five promotions and many more plaudits along the way, notably from the heroes of the club's 1988 FA Cup final win over Liverpool. Dave Beasant, who saved a penalty in that win at Wembley 23 years ago, described this rise from parks football as the club's greatest moment."

Read more here:- It only took nine years

Here's an article from 2009 about AFC Wimbledon's promotion to the Conference (their fourth promotion in seven years):- From Crazy Gang to Culture Club

Now every single one of us loves Paul Vodanovich

This guy needs a stand named after him or something...

Oh dear oh dear

"...there was only one way for Manchester United's followers to get a seat for the Champions League final on the open market on Thursday – and it involved paying £574 for a return coach trip and dinner.

Thomas Cook Sport, one of United's sponsors, were selling packages for that sum despite a face value on the tickets of £225. It means the bus trip down the M6 to Wembley (admittedly stopping at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche en route) costs £349 – a pretty expensive way to travel in anyone's book."

They won't need a coach ...the Tube is a far more economical way of getting across London.

Read more here:- Champions League final ticket £225, bus to Wembley £349

Oh dear

"Against Schalke last Wednesday it had felt strange to witness a European Cup semi-final with the volume turned so low. The people in charge of the music put out a medley of jingly-jangly United-themed pop songs and, worse, pumped out crowd noise through the speakers."

Guess which A League club does this?

Read more here:- Sir Alex Ferguson basks in the euphoria

Up for the Club World Cup

Don't get shirty - Part II

Don't get shirty - Part I

We're going to Colwyn Bay, Que sera sera...

FCUM face Colwyn Bay to determine who will be promoted with FC Halifax Town to the Conference North next season.

"In the build up to the match, manager Karl Marginson had the FC United faithful create a cauldron of noise and the fans in attendance certainly did not disappoint.   Some described the atmosphere as "Rochdale-esque"..."

Read more here:- FC United into play-off final against Colwyn Bay

This is how it feels to be City

Auckland City is phenomenal.  With stuff all support from New Zealand Football, the good folk at ACFC have taken it upon themselves to build a first rate football team, a first rate football facility and a first rate football experience. Viva Sandringham!!

It's run on the dedication of volunteers...

"McFarland said the squad were mostly university students while the rest worked full-time jobs ranging from signwriting, coaching, and in the retail sector while one was holding down a professional position in the finance industry.

Like their predecessors, however, they had adopted a professional approach to their season and the OFC competition.

"I reckon the players are the most committed in the country," he said. "We train four times a week and play one match so that's five times a week they're all together.

"I don't see any other sides outside of the national team doing that on a regular basis. That's a huge commitment to ask of people who have normal jobs.

"So the players and staff have a very professional outlook but the board and all backroom staff are very organised as well.

"It's run on the dedication of volunteers ... they just love the game so much.""

Read more here:- Lure of FIFA payday on line for Oceania club champions