Obituaries about people of significance to football in New Zealand
A stalwart of Waikato football, Matamata AFC’s Barry Simonsen, has died, aged 85. The Matamata Swifts have shared the following news with members and the wider football community: “VALE // Barry Simonsen “We are devastated to learn of the passing … Read More
Former All White and New Zealand football Player of the Year Ian Ormond has died in Auckland, aged 72. Ormond was widely considered to be one of the best New Zealand players of his generation whose mercurial talent with the … Read More
Jeff Tozer, a coach who had a huge influence on Waikato club football over the past four decades, has died, aged 70. Tozer was instrumental in helping various clubs improve their coaching and helping teams play at Northern League level. … Read More
To many outsiders, Putaruru Rangers have defied all manner of sporting logic. In a town of 4,000 people, and in the rugby-mad district of South Waikato, there would be far easier places to set up a football club. Surrounded by … Read More
Football clubs throughout the upper North Island have shown their respect for Ngaruawahia United president Jared Williams who died last week, aged 39. Clubs throughout Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty shared a minute’s silence before weekend matches, and players … Read More
Abie Petraska, the mother of the late Dave Petraska, has invited friends of her son to gather to celebrate his life. Petraska, a former football writer, died this month in Colombia after catching the COVID-19 virus. Friends are invited to … Read More
Former football writer, fan and all-round enthusiast for the game Dave Petraska has died in Colombia. Petraska, well-known for his caustic wit and football banter on social media, had spent four weeks on a hospital respirator after catching the COVID-19 … Read More
Aucklander Jim Aris, one of the first players to take part in national league football in the 1970s, has died, aged 80. Aris played for the highly successful Mount Wellington club in the Rothmans Soccer League’s opening seasons, and for … Read More
Football joins with many other New Zealand sports to mourn the death of businessman and philanthropist Sir Eion Edgar, aged 76. Sir Eion who was Queenstown-based, had been suffering from pancreatic cancer. He had been the Honorary Patron of the … Read More
Eric Pritchard, whose writing and photography helped grow the popularity of women’s football in New Zealand, has died. Pritchard, an Everton fan, led efforts to promote the women’s game when it was in its infancy during the 1970s and 1980s, … Read More