NUAFC 1968-2018

1992
Just how did we do it?
WAIKATO 1st Division
Just literally days before the season was to start the
club received a call from the Waikato Football Association
asking if we could field a team in the 1st Division to help
alleviate a bye that existed. The club had already
confirmed their Senior, Reserves and a Waikato 3rd
Division side, and most of the players were spoken for.
Doug Marsh, within days, had compiled a list of
possibilities, mainly from those he knew from his schoolboy
contacts. A few adult 'oldies' also appeared on the list and the
Club confirmed that a team would be ready (even when it was
only a paper one).
DAD WILL DO IT
The next problem was that of Coach and Manager: Neil
Gorman was prevailed upon to coach and Sandy MacDonald
to manage with both having sons on the list
With the bulk of the players being schoolboys,
training was scheduled once a week on Monday evenings
with an administration meeting on Thursdays to create the
least interference with their schoolwork.
BLISTER BRIGADE
The first game (at Te Aroha) saw more than goals
appearing. With many of the players pulling on boots for the
first time in a few years there was a rash of blisters and this
brought the team to a literal standstill in the last 25
minutes. Most of the team had never played senior football
and were fronting up to seasoned players.
HIGH SPIRITS
The lads played each game to the best of their
ability and were enthusiastic as they were beaten by their
opponents week after week. With the exception of Tokoroa,
every opponent in the 1st Division played against us in the
correct spirit of the game, making each outing very enjoyable.
The team built a spirit that was the envy of the club and
everyone was willing them to have a win each week.
The only success all season long was when the team
was drawn against the Club's 3rd Division (which subsequently
won their Division) and ran out winners on penalties after 120
minutes of football and no goals in regulation and extra
time.
The team and the spectators will always remember
Mat Williams sliding home the winning penalty shot after Sandy
MacDonald had saved the last two attempts by the 3rd
Division side, Reuben Barnes had shot wide, and Mat's ecstatic
mum, Maxine, punching the air with exuberance, only to
make contact with the door lintel as she did so!
We would be lying if we said that there were no
League wins. Morrinsville discovered that Te Aroha had
fielded one of their players against us in the first match of
the season, and Ngaruawahia was awarded the match - a
technical victory.
FAIR PLAY TROPHIES
Twenty-two matches with only one on-field win
certainly has a telling effect on the character­building
qualities of squad members, and it was just rewards when
the team was nominated for, and won, the Waikato Districts
Fair Play Team Award 1992 and went on to win the major
Trophy at the Waikato Sportspersons Awards evening for
Fair Play Team. Along with the trophies and plaques from both
events came cheques for $100 and $300 respectively, both going
into the club coffers.
FATHER/SONS
The team was captained by 17-year-old Regan
MacDonald who lead by example in his play and generalship.
Both Neil Gorman and Sandy MacDonald achieved their
dreams of playing senior competition soccer in the same
team as their sons: Neil with Shane, and Sandy with Regan
and Andre together (in one game nearly half of the players
were either MacDonalds or Gormans).
AWARDS
The team manage-ment found it very difficult to
sort out Sportsperson of the Year and Squad Member of the
Year due to a high quality 'field'. Sportsman of the Year went
jointly to Reuben Barnes and Regan MacDonald. Andre
MacDonald picked up the Squad Member of the Year and
Player of the Year went to Regan. Reuben Barnes was
awarded the “Super-Wally” Trophy. Glen McLennan was the
“Best Dressed Player” while Neil Gorman was presented
with a personalised T-shirt stating “Hi, I’m Neil, but I’m
having treatment for it!”
Player/Manager
Sandy MacDonald
with the Waikato Fair
Play Team Award.
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