Well here we are again at the end of another year and while I didn't manage as many posts on the blog as I did in previous years I still did 30 blogs, saw 86 games and took several thousand photos!
OK so this is a bit of a cheat - the actual 4th most read post was my NWL season preview but I actually think this is a better read and not enough of you have read it yet, includes view's from fans, coaches and even a Federation CEO
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
The reason I didn't do as many blog posts as usual was this, The 125th Anniversary book of Wellington United AFC, which I was lucky enough to be asked to write. It was a mammoth task attempting to bring together the history of this great club which includes Diamonds, Zealandia, Hungaria, Wellington Diamond United, Wellington City and Wellington United.
I was very happy with what I managed to produce and really appreciate all the help and support from Wellington United and all those connected to the club past and present. The book has sold out of its first print run, but there should be more printed for next season - a bargain at $30! (Contact me for details)
MOST READ POSTS
I always get surprised by which of my posts end up being the most read and this year was (generally) no exception
Lower Hutt City 3 Stop Out 0, Hilton Petone Cup
My most read post was a match report on the pre-season Hilton Petone Cup competition game between close rivals Lower Hutt City and Stop Out. OK it was a derby game, but it was pre-season and Stop Out had put out effectively a reserve team so how I managed to get the post read by 10 times the crowd that were at the game I really don't know!
That this post was in the top 5 is no real surprise, it is the post in the last 3 1/2 years of doing this blog that has generated the most reaction. It was a report on the W-League game between Western Suburbs and Wellington United, while the game was a 12-0 romp for United, it was the treatment of the women and the attitude to them that gave me my main writing point (hence the title). Will definitely be visiting them again next season to see if things have improved.
Waikanae 6 Wairarapa Utd 2, Capital 2
Another surprising one, A Capital Division Two game watched by a couple of dozen people but one of my most read posts!
OK so this is a bit of a cheat - the actual 4th most read post was my NWL season preview but I actually think this is a better read and not enough of you have read it yet, includes view's from fans, coaches and even a Federation CEO
In last years review I said I was looking at doing more interviews and this year I managed one! (Although it was with two people so does that count as two?). I spoke to Wellington United's Dutch imports Marjie van Dam and Susanne Giesen and it wasn't the greatest. I had asked if I could interview them and they said yes and then someone else suggested I did it right then, so I fumbled through some questions and got this!
TOP 5 GAMES
I got to 82 games this year, including five cup finals, several ISPS Handa Premiership, National Women's League, A-League, Oceania Champions League, W-League, Central League and several lower league games. I saw 367 goals and for a change only five of the games I saw were outside of Wellington (3 in Auckland, 2 in Palmerston North). Here are my top 5 games (in order)
1. Central League
Western Suburbs 8 Miramar Rangers 2
Typically the best game I saw was one I didn't do a report on or photograph! Although I do think if I had my camera I would have ended up missing a lot of photos as Western Suburbs were just so mesmerising in this game. Miramar were no slouches having all their Team Wellington players back for this game but they just didn't have a chance, Wests wouldn't let them get the ball. Wests were playing their system brilliantly, all their players were on form, they shared the goals around with six different scorers. It was Wests day and one of the best displays of football I've seen for along time. Just wish they'd put the highlights up on Youtube!
2. A- League
Wellington Phoenix 4 Brisbane Roar 1
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| The Yellow Fever at the celebrating beating Brisbane Roar 4-1 |
Only last week, but this was a fantastic performance from the Phoenix, probably the best I've seen them play live (I wasn't in Wellington in the Ricki days when they used to make the finals regularly) The pure joy and enthusiasm of the team when they scored was matched by the crowd, especially the Yellow Fever, making for a brilliant atmosphere.
3. National Women's League
Capital 4 Canterbury United 3
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| Capital's Dani Ohlsson scoring her first goal The JourneyFan |
I considered Capital's game against WaiBOP where they won 2-1 with two goals in the last four minutes, but overall outside those four minutes it wasn't a great game, whereas this was a fantastic game. Two closely matched sides, some stunning goals, two teams with a never say die attitude made for fantastic watching and of course it was greatly helped when Mickey Robertson broke through the Canterbury back line in the 94th minute and instead of shooting herself crossed for Dani Ohlsson to score her first goal for Capital!
4. Kate Sheppard Cup Final
Dunedin Technical 4 FHMU 2
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| Dunedin Technical after the KS Cup semi final The JourneyFan |
Everyone loves a fairy tale and Dunedin Technical provided one this season. I had seen them outplay Wellington United in the semi final and while impressed thought they would struggle against whichever Auckland team got to the final. How wrong I was! After 17 minutes they were 2-0 up and even though FHMU pulled one back two more goals before half time effectively gave Dunedin Technical the cup.
5. Central League
Wellington United 6 Miramar Rangers 1
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| Wellington United's Calvin Harris Dr yomcat shoots |
What a way to celebrate your 125th birthday! A resounding thumping of your greatest rivals. Despite going down 1-0 the Academy boys of the United 1st team showed great character and came back for a resounding win, including 4 goals from the stunning Calvin Harris. A player that has a great future in the game and I reckon when he's playing in Europe somewhere I'll be able to say I saw him score 4 against Miramar!
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Now the obvious one to put in here is the NZ U17 women's team who finished 3rd at the World Cup in Uruguay - 3rd!!!! Only the second NZ team ever to finish 3rd at a FIFA Tournament (Auckland City were the other at the Club World Cup). It was an amazing achievement by them and bodes well for the future. But as I don't have Sky I only got to see some highlights of them and didn't cover them so I'm going to be controversial and choose a different team of the year.
For me it was a team I got to see lots of and they are great to watch, The won their league unbeaten, won the Kelly Cup and got to the Semi Final of the Kate Sheppard Cup (a first for this club) and what was more amazing is that they used 38 different players! Normally when a team has used that many players during a season they have been struggling, but it's a testament to the coaching team led by Guillermo Schiltenwolf that the team could have so many changes and still play the way they did. It is the Wellington United Diamonds W-League & Kelly Cup Champions 2018!
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