NRFL Division 2 PAPATOETOE AFC vs AFC FURY 3.00pm Friday 25th March 2016, Murdoch Park, Papatoetoe 1 Papatoetoe Association Football Club Inc Murdoch Park, 27 Chestnut Road, Papatoetoe (09) 278 8011 Club directory Club President David Owen [email protected] 021 672738 Club Secretary Pamela Luhrs [email protected] 300 9112 Executive Committee: Hans Anema Mark Holt Simon Kerr Adrian King Andrew Kirk David Robertson Patrons Ross Robertson Phil Greenbank, JP Neville Culpitt Useful links Website www.papatoetoeafc.org.nz Twitter @PapatoetoeAFC Facebook www.facebook.com/papatoetoe.afc.1959 www.facebook.com/PapatoetoeAfcJuniors 2 1 President’s Welcome I welcome one and all to Papatoetoe AFC Murdoch Park for today’s fixtures of the Northern Regional Football League with us playing opponents AFC Fury, from sunny Tauranga. This being the first game of the division competition I would like to thank the football players, 1st team and reserves, who will wear our name and colours with pride. We all appreciate your willingness to play for our proud club. Keep your heads held high and give it 100% team effort to the final whistle. All the very best for this campaign. To the coaches and staff your tremendous efforts that have been worked upon in the planning and preparation towards this day and onwards, we wish you the very best. To our loyal band of supporters who again will week in week out come along to cheer the teams on and give that added incentive to the players, I am sure we shall share together home and away games in an exciting season during 2016. I thank all persons concerned with our club who have helped to get our season of football off to a smooth start. Your dedicated work behind the scenes is very much appreciated, especially Pam. To all Papatoetoe AFC playing teams – seniors, youth, juniors – our club committee hope you all enjoy your 2016 season in training and game fixtures. This proud club exists and continues to thrive with all your year in year out loyal participation. To our club patrons, life members, visitors, we wish you an enjoyable day of football and hospitality that follows. We welcome AFC Fury coaching staff, players, and supporters – enjoy your day. David Owen Club President PS Well done to our U17 girls’ team who came fourth in the ACFC National U17 tournament held at Western Springs last weekend. 3 2 Opposition History A Little about the team. Originally known as “Western Bay United”, AFC Fury began life in 2001 with a solitary adult men’s football team which played in the Waikato Sunday Soccer League (WSSL), the Club having been declined entry to local affiliated football competition for reasons known best by the then powers that be. The very first game played by the club in the WSSL was in April 2000 at Maramatanga Park and the team was made up of David’ two sons Delme and Duncan, rugby playing friends of Delme, football friends of David such as former Mt Maunganui National League stalwart Grant Proudman and a man who was playing tennis with his family on the nearby tennis courts who was asked to make up the numbers to the required eleven! The Club went through three name changes before settling on “AFC Fury” (Association Football Club Fury). Juniors begun in 2000 and in 2005 both juniors and seniors were accepted in to local affiliated football competition. 4 3 Player Signings Papatoetoe AFC is excited to announce the return of former Reds player Imraan Shah back to the club for the 2016 season. Imraan Shah is another familiar face to the club supporters having made is First Team debut under the guidance of Paul Hillis in 2010, whilst still at high school. Coach Mark Holt knows the ability Shah has; “Imraan is a player that has great feet to work in tight areas and the vision to look up and pick out a pass that puts a team mate in on goal. He has experience and quality that are going to compliment the players around him. A number of the squad spoke about how he can improve our play with various aspects that he brings to our club’. On signing for Papatoetoe, Shah said, "Coming back to Papatoetoe gives me the opportunity to play with friends I grew up with. Also the confidence Mark has put on me knowing that I have not played for a year and half was enough for me to sign. The potential in the players at the club is enormous. I am looking forward to a competitive season ahead." Iwa Shaker and Ishtiyaq Shah have also put pen to paper staying loyal to the cause. Shaker made a huge difference coming on board half way through the season from Mangere United and added valuable goals. Iwa said on signing, “I have always had a soft spot for Papatoetoe, it's the club I first kicked a ball at and have been though many adventures with for 11 years. I spent a few years away learning and improving my football in the Premier League and ASB Premiership and I feel like I can help the young players coming through now at the club. Last year when I came in we weren't in a very good position on the table, we managed to turn that around and fingers crossed we can push for a much higher finish this year.” One of the young players Iwa will be helping along the way is youngster Ishtiyaq Shah. He has come through the One Tree Hill College football academy and was signed last year, although has yet to make a NRFL First Team appearance Mark Holt is singing his praises. “Ish is a player who I have seen transform over four years at OTHC, in 2015 I felt having him around a Men’s set up would improve him as a player and prepare him for game time in 2016. So far in preseason he has pushed his case to start weekly and no one can complain with what he has produced over the last month.” 5 4 Papatoetoe AFC is pleased to announce the signing of former Reds player Sandip “Sandy” Singh back to the club for the 2016 season. Sandy Singh is another familiar face to the club supporters having played multiple seasons for the club prior to time away. Coach Mark Holt is delighted to have been able to attract a player of Singh’s quality back to Murdoch Park. “I have seen him play for a number of seasons and have always made note of his desire to get forward at any opportunity. With Ben Allan leaving for university in Dunedin I knew we had a big whole to fill, but with Sandy we have a ready replacement. His experience will be vital to our squad throughout the season. Sandy has a huge passion to see this club improve and is the type of player who can change a game with a piece of skill or the experience to be in the right place at the right time.” On signing for the Reds, Singh said, “I have signed for ‘Toey’ as I feel there is a great bunch of guys there that can help the club stay competitive for a number of years, hopefully we can gain promotion to get the club back on track to where it should be. Personally I would like to see myself improving as a player with the great coaching staff we have in place.” Papatoetoe AFC is pleased to announce the signings of former Reds player Cody Patterson, Manukau City forward Josh Karika and Fencibles Scott Booker to the club for the 2016 season. Patterson is a familiar face to the club faithful and has scored many a goal for the Reds. In 2015 at Manukau City he scored six league goals, including one in the opening game of the season against Papatoetoe AFC. However coach Mark Holt said it is not just his goal scoring reputation that adds value to the side. “Cody adds experience at a higher level and his aggressive style along with his determination to win is required to compete in this league. He is the type of player that when fully fit can turn a game with his ability to read a situation and make the most of the opportunity. The other thing that can often be forgotten about Cody is his passion for the club and his high regard for it.” On signing for the Reds, Cody said, “I have a strong desire to see the club go further, we shouldn’t be a Division 2 team. Personally I spent a number of years at the club in the Youth and Men’s section and with the structure in place I am pleased to be back here. This is a massive year for us with the signings Holty has got onboard; it is the start of a new era at Papatoetoe AFC. I am willing to put in the hard yards to see this club get better. I also have an emotional attachment to the club that my father loved so much.” Cook Islands International forward Josh Karika has also put pen to paper signing for the club from Manukau City. Last season saw Karika in the top five scorers in the league with 13 goals and Holt knows that is something his side requires in 2016. “After seeing Josh play a lot last season I felt he is a player that would fit into Papatoetoe AFC moving forward.