Vale: Harry Dods – a leader who introduced innovative sports fundraising

posted in: News, Obituary

One of New Zealand football’s most successful administrators, Harry Dods, will be remembered for introducing innovative fundraising methods that helped football perform at a higher level.

He was a former chairman of Auckland Football and New Zealand Football.

Dods died in Auckland in March 2017 after a long illness. He was 83.

A qualified accountant, Dods moved to Auckland in the mid-1970s from New Plymouth where he had been an active member of New Plymouth United, a club for which he was made a Life Member.

He was employed by the Auckland Football Association and with Eden FC’s Roy Cox the pair became a formidable partnership who used innovative fundraising methods that helped raise money needed for New Zealand’s 1982 World Cup campaign.

Dods became the CEO of the successful 1982 World Cup campaign, and was able to watch his son Glen become a key member of the squad that qualified for the finals in Spain.

Dods later became chairman of Auckland Football Association, and then the chairman of the NZ Football Association.

He and his great friend Cox were strongly supportive of the women’s game, helping it establish its own organisational structure.

In 2001, Dods was appointed National Games Director for New Zealand Special Olympics, organising 14 sports for 1800 competitors with the assistance of 750 volunteers.

He was both the founding Chairman of Sport Auckland as well as founding Trustee, Chairman and Treasurer of SENZ Charitable Trust, an organisation set up to provide training and employment opportunities for young adults.

He was a trustee for the Mt Wellington Stadium Charitable Trust, the organisation responsible for Bill McKinlay Park.

Dods was a Life Member of the Auckland Football Federation and its predecessor, the Auckland Football Association, as well as the Auckland Junior Football Association.

Friends of Football sends its condolences to Harry Dods’ partner Judy, and to the Dods family.

Dods was the loved father and father-in-law of former All White Glenn and Caterina, Stephen and Daisy, Jody and Adrian and was a loved grandfather.

Harry (Henry) Dods (1933-2017)