2/18 Takapuna AFC Welcomes Ngongotaha AFC Lotto NRFL Div 2 7 April 2018 Club History Sponsors Welcome/President’s Report Welcome to our second home game of the 2018 league season – and what a blockbuster fixture we have. We extend a very warm welcome to Ngongotaha FC, their fans, players and officials and look forward to a great atmosphere and an exciting game. It has been an eventful off season for the club but I am delighted that we have started the season in very good shape which should augur well for another season of progress. I believe we have an ideal combination of a strong team-based culture, together with an infusion of new ideas and broader experiences which will serve us well over the course of the season. So, we turn to the new season. The good news is that we have had a largely positive transfer window and have secured most of Joe Daw prime targets, and go into the season with the strongest squad in the past three years. This reflects great credit on Joe with his professionalism and the speed with which he has built a new team. We have continued to invest in the playing squad and go into the season with the strongest squad in my tenure, both in terms of depth and in terms of quality. We have built on our core policy of investing in and trusting youth by bringing in experience at higher levels in key positions. The additions of Matt Chant, Nick Smith, Jono Lewis, Tommy Miller and Jack Taylor all experienced Premier players, together with the arrival late last week of Mitch Miller, will mean there is healthy competition in virtually every position. I look at our squad as we begin my ninth season as President and, without in anyway resting on our laurels, the quality of the current playing personnel shows how far we have come over the past three years. As we all know, there are no certainties in football. There are nine other teams in Division 2 who have varying degrees of ambition, but with probably 6 or 7 who harbour real hopes of reaching promotion. The margins in football are often very small and, over a long season, team spirit, togetherness, collective will and good fortune all play key roles in determining the ultimate outcome. As our first two games have shown, nothing can be taken for granted. Responding to disappointment, as well as not getting ahead of ourselves, will both be important in equal measure over the season. Most of all, retaining a grounded sense of perspective is crucial. Welcome/President’s Report In the bigger picture, these are exciting times for the club – we go into the new season with every opportunity for a concerted challenge for promotion! From a personal perspective, the wonder of football is epitomised by the optimism and sense of adventure that accompanies every season. Whether it is business or sport, I know of no environment where criticism and negativity leads to success. I know that everyone at the club is doing their best to make their contribution to the progress we want for our club. It is this spirit of togetherness which has underpinned the achievements over the past fifty years and will continue to be the foundation of our future success. I have consistently said that our fans really do make THE difference. Energetic, enthusiastic, positive support, both through good and through more challenging times, is critical and I urge everyone to give the team your full backing always – it really can make the difference! With my best wishes for another exciting season. Wayne Hallford President First and Reserves Team Strips Proudly Sponsored by: 1st Team Report View from the Dugout Good afternoon and welcome back to Taharoto Park for this afternoon’s game against Ngongotaha AFC. It has been a very pleasing start to the season with the team fully focussed on the task ahead. Starting the season off with a good win against Te Atatu AFC who were a well organised but had quite a frustrating system to play against. Three points were taken from our first game at home with many positives coming from the game. Backing that up with an excellent away performance, against Northland AFC who I feel have strengthened well over the summer and will cause problems with their direct approach. I thought the lads responded tremendously well after the long travel and early morning needed to get to KeriKeri and thoroughly deserved the win with goals from Thomson Nkoy (72), Tommy Miller (74), and Jack Taylor (85), which shows that he is a force to be reckoned with three goals in two games. I also thought another new signing Matt Chant went very well on Easter Friday and looked to run the middle of the park which gave the team better balance and organisation. The team were very comfortable for most of the game and should really have made the game a lot easier for themselves by finishing off more of the good chances we created, but in saying that the Northland Keeper made many first half saves including a second half penalty save that kept them in the game for longer than they should have been. In the end we had spells last season where we were in similar positions and didn’t finish teams off, costing us valuable points so it’s something we have discussed as a group and are working hard to put right. 6 points from 2 games though so I want to keep it all positive. Today we welcome Ngongotaha AFC who come here on the back of tough start for the Rotorua side. One thing for sure today we will have to be up for a guaranteed battle which I’m positive my players will enjoy and hopefully our added bit of quality will see us through. It’s a very tough schedule ahead and the players will need as much support as they can get so we look forward to a good atmosphere today. Enjoy the game and get behind the lads today as your support really does help. UP THE TAKA BOYS! Joe Daw First Team Sponsors Page LOTTO have sponsored boots for the following players: Brendan Kavanah Matt Chant Takapuna’ s Away Strip is sponsored by: Reserve Team Report Match report away to Northland An early start awaited the team on Good Friday. 0630, we were all on the bus for the long trip to KeriKeri. Thanks go out to Grumpy for putting on bacon butties for the players and coaching staff before we got on the bus. I for one was not a fan of travelling so far for a game of football, however I was quite happy to be proven wrong and that taking the beautiful game to The Far North was a brilliant idea. There was a great crowd of around 300 and the weather was sun, sun, sun! Could the football match the occasion? Mmmmm! We started well and were definitely on top for the first 15 mins. Then, out of nowhere really, we found ourselves 2-0 down. The crowd were getting vocal and the odds were stacked against us. However any Takapuna team that I have coached is always full of character and will never admit defeat. Next thing you know we had pulled it back to 2-2. Brodie Poole scored an early contender for goal of the season, cutting in from the left and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far right corner. We then had an opportunity to take the lead just before half time with a penalty. Our skipper and mister reliable steps up and.....................you can ask him how it went from there! Needless to say, it stayed at 2 a piece at half time. We came out firing in the 2nd half and took the lead within a couple of minutes. Here we go, I thought, time to stamp our authority on the game. This was not to be as Northland upped the anti in front of their parochial supporters. They harried and pressed us from everywhere and created a few chances before scoring to equalize. Flinn pulled off a great 1 on 1 save just before Northland took the lead 4-3 with a rather soft goal. Right, 20 mins to go and the game was slipping. Time to bring on Matt "Road Runner' Hawke. He scored 2 goals, nearly added a 3rd and the rest is history as they say. A very, very hard fought 5-4 win. Not sure if we deserved it, but we will take it. Well worth the 8 hour round trip! Thank you to our supporters and players for making it another great day for Takapuna football! Club Notices FARTS Football Can’t play on Saturday anymore due to work or other commitments??? Have you thought about playing for the FARTS on a Sunday??? The FARTS has a huge tradition within the club for supporting the senior teams with the ability to play games for those players who missed out on Saturday, coming back from injury or just want a kick around. For anyone who plays for the FARTS - they have a great time and enjoy it. If this sounds like you, please contact Ronnie Mathers on 021 178 0622 or email at [email protected] PHOENIX Vs MELBOURNE CITY Come along and support the Phoenix in their final game in Auckland this season. Not only support them but at half time support players from Takapuna’s 8th Grade Newcastle side playing in the half time game .