Stories and information that contribute to protecting the heritage of football in New Zealand
Thirty years ago this week, the All Whites played three games against top German side Werder Bremen who agreed to let their star striker, Wynton Rufer, play against them. Rufer and the All Whites lined up against Werder Bremen in … Read More
Friends of Football are pleased to announce a new date for their reunion for players and others who took part in games against a touring Manchester United squad in 1967. The event was originally planned for June 2021 but was … Read More
Update: The annual match between Central United and Mt Albert Ponsonby for the Brian Stanyer Memorial Trophy has had to be cancelled. The clubs have called off the Saturday March 19 match due to COVID-related issues. The friendly rivalry between … Read More
The years 1982 and 2010 loom large in any reminiscing about New Zealand football’s glory days — they’re the years our All Whites beat the odds to reach FIFA World Cup finals in Spain and South Africa. But what about … Read More
Forty years ago, the 1982 All Whites set themselves a rigorous schedule of warm-up matches to prepare for New Zealand’s first appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals. With the Spain finals looming in June, the All Whites hosted three … Read More
Aucklander Fabian Ukich, a leader with ‘that special touch that brings people together’, has died after a long battle with cancer. Ukich (44) was a past president of the Croatian Cultural Society of New Zealand and was instrumental in helping … Read More
Former All Whites player and coach Ricki Herbert has featured in a new radio series to mark some of New Zealand’s greatest sporting moments. Herbert was a special guest on an episode of Radio New Zealand’s NZ Sporting History series, … Read More
Between Two Beers is a podcast channel dedicated to sharing rich, insightful and funny stories of previous and current footballers for football enthusiasts in New Zealand. Friends of Football writer Jonno Ross finds out more about the men behind it … 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
Women’s football supporters will celebrate a hundred years of progress when teams from Canterbury and Wellington meet on Saturday December 4. The National League: South Central Series match between Canterbury United Pride and Capital Football has been dubbed ‘The 100 … Read More
Past and present supporters of Auckland club Papatoetoe have helped bring together a collection of photographs, match programmes and other memories from the 1980s. Under the title Papatoetoe AFC – 1980’s – The Glory Years, a Facebook group has become … Read More
If you want some football fun, here’s a teaser to test the knowledge of anyone with a passion for the All Whites AND the English Premier League. Your challenge? Select an all-time New Zealand XI using players who have played … Read More
The success of Wales at the EURO 2021 tournament has revived memories of a visit to New Zealand by their national team almost half a century ago. While the current Welsh team includes international stars such as Gareth Bale and … Read More
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