Stories and information about the heritage of football in New Zealand
Thirty years ago this week, a star-studded England squad toured New Zealand to help Kiwis celebrate a century of football in Aotearoa. The centenary celebrations included a double-header of internationals between the All Whites and England. On June 3, 1991, … Read More
A century ago, women’s football took some key steps towards the establishment of the women’s game in New Zealand. Fledgeling teams took part in games widely reported by the newspapers of the day. In this special feature for Friends of … Read More
The demise of Auckland’s Newmarket Park in 1979, when the nation’s ‘Home of Football’ was destroyed by a landslide, has left a void as a venue dedicated to the sport. But the ground – now rehabilitated and used as a … Read More
It was one of New Zealand football’s famous wins – a two-goal home victory against Australia’s Socceroos on April 2, 1989. Here’s a chance to relish the match highlights from this FIFA World Cup qualifying game, played at Auckland’s Mt … Read More
Football has five nominations at a special staging of the Halberg Sports Awards. New Zealand football’s biggest achievements over the past decade are being spotlighted at a special version of the annual Halberg Awards on Wednesday March 24. Due to … Read More
Auckland Anniversary Day holds a special link with an historic match played under floodlights more than half a century ago. On January 27, 1964, Swiss Cup champions FC Basel came to Auckland’s Blandford Park to play a New Zealand team … Read More
Born in 1947, Barbara Cox grew up learning that a woman’s role was to cook and clean and take care of her husband. So when her husband, Roy, signed her up to a local football team in 1973, Cox’s life … Read More
It’s difficult to imagine in this modern era of professional rugby and with today’s football internationals playing all over the world … But there was a time when New Zealand’s biggest rugby and football stars could share the pitch, have … Read More
Pioneering coach Bert Ormond joined the roll of recipients of Friends of Football’s Medal of Excellence when he was honoured in 2016. Friends of Football chair John Morris paid tribute to his former coach at an NZ Football-hosted dinner to … Read More
Legendary All Whites coach John Adshead was awarded Friends of Football’s inaugural Medal of Excellence at a special tribute dinner in 2013. Adshead received the freshly-struck medal at a sold-out dinner held on October 18, 2013, at the Auckland Grammar School … Read More