Latest news from Friends of Football
Football has had a long association with Macular Degeneration of New Zealand, an organisation that works to raise awareness of the disease. High profile football personalities such as former All Whites coaches Allan Jones and John Adshead have led the … Read More
One of New Zealand’s most successful club coaches, Bert Ormond, led Blockhouse Bay to a league-cup double in the inaugural season of the national league in 1970, and he captained New Zealand on their world tour of 1964. He was … Read More
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 … Read More
Friends of Football joins all those in our sport who are mourning the loss of former All Whites captain Steve Sumner who has lost his battle with prostate cancer aged 61. The legend of New Zealand Football, who was diagnosed … Read More
Celebrated football administrator Warwick Gendall became Friends of Football’s sixth Medal of Excellence recipient on the eve of the All Whites’ World Cup qualifier against Peru in late 2017. Gendall was unable to attend the dinner at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium … Read More
Controversial football character Dave Cook has died from cancer the day before the start of the 2016 football season. His death brings to an end the lengthy saga of AFC Fury, a Tauranga-based outfit that he had led into the … Read More
One of New Zealand’s greatest football referees, Ron Harries, has died, aged 82. Harries was a former President of the New Zealand Football Referees’ Association and a Life Member of New Zealand Football and of Capital Football. He was made … 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
One of the pioneers of women’s football in Auckland, Marge Twiname, combined administration at club and regional level with supporting family members in their own pursuit of football success. Marge died in Auckland in 2015 after a long illness. She … Read More
Former New Zealand national coach Juan Schwanner wasn’t afraid to give young players their chance to compete at the highest levels. In 1967, he gave international debuts to schoolboys Brian Turner and Dave Taylor, both of whom went on to … Read More
Friends of Football acknowledges the support of award-winning photographer Shane Wenzlick whose fine work has graced our publications and website since 2013. Wenzlick, who is the proprietor of photo agency Phototek, is a past winner of football’s Photographer of the … Read More
Two of New Zealand football’s highest-achieving All Whites were honoured at the 2015 Celebration of Excellence dinner hosted by Friends of Football. Steve Sumner, captain of the 1982 All Whites, and World Cup veteran Brian Turner received the Friends of … Read More
Long-time All White Ivan Vicelich has become the second recipient of Friends of Football’s Medal of Excellence. He received the honour at the 2014 Celebration of Excellence event in Auckland where tributes were made by his footballing peers. The Medal … 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