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!!