NUAFC 1968-2018

1977
ON AIR
Barney Barnard of Radio Waikato was found on most
senior home games parked beside the old clubhouse relaying his on
-air reports to the region. His gammy leg did not prevent him
providing a colourful and accurate report every 30 minutes.
ARM WRESTLING
Thursday evenings came alive at the end of the season
with some arm-wrestling action. Neil Gorman won by bluff and
guile while George and Ian stayed locked in mortal combat until the
table collapsed.
REP'S
The 1977 Waikato Representative side was made up of
Sean Finn, Ron Little, John Brown, Paul Addison, Bill Trembath, Jeff
Tozer, Colin Shannon, Mike Liddle, John Marshall, Robert
Hutchison, Mike Haddleton with substitutes Gary Dillistone, Fred
Roest and Paul Gemmell.
A match against Hamilton resulted in a 3-2 win to
Hamilton with goals scored for Hamilton by John McDermid, Barry
McKenzie and Keith Nelson. Waikato scored through Mike
Haddleton and John Marshall.
A second clash was played against Combined Services for
a 5-2 win to Waikato. The team comprised: Sean Finn, Doug Snapes,
John Brown, Jim McNeill, Mike Heappey, Mike Haddleton (2), Mike
Liddle, Colin Shannon, John Marshall, G Hancock (2), Robert
Hutchison, Gary Dillistone, Jeff Tozer, M Lepine (one own goal).
COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Four Club members entered the local Council elections -
Ian Todd, Graham Maley, Anne Patterson and Jim Luff.
A DRESSING DOWN
Cambridge Clothing (Auckland) travelled to Ngaruawahia
to meet their Hamilton Branch in a soccer match. In the Hamilton
team were Rod Hill, Dean Haggie, Jason Cargo, Ricky Duffell and
Bruce McIntosh. Auckland won 1-0.
SCUTTLEBUT
The Club "Centre Spot" magazine featured the following
in an article of Scuttlebut by Sideline Sam relating to the birth of
Matt Williams. This small, unobtrusive entry in our local newspaper,
belies the impact on history that this occasion is to have.
Having obligingly waited until his father had made his
valuable contribution to the Mead Cup final, Matthew James
Williams decided it was time to start his soccer career. Immediately
at birth he began exercising his push-pass technique using the
inside of either foot, flexing his tiny fists in frustration when he
found the Waikato Hospital Board had failed to provide a practice
ball.
His high, intelligent forehead indicates the potential of an
accurate and powerful header in later years. Given a little time
Matthew will begin to demonstrate the enthusiasm of his mother
and the skills of his father in the world of soccer. (Dated 30th Sept.
1977)
BABY BOOM
Club babies that made appearances on the scene this year
were via Gormans, MacDonalds, McCaigs, Williams, Barnes and
Morgans.
Representatives
Five Ngaruawahia players were involved in the Waikato
Senior Representative squad this year under the coaching of Les
Vuletich: John Brown, Phillip Bullivant, Malcolm Sowerby, Mike
Liddle & Ken Murray.
Welding Wizard
Charlie Green was the mainstay welder during the
construction of the clubhouse, ably assisted by two other Charlies
plus apprentices.
Clubroom Construction Tales
Two thousand five hundred square feet of roofing was
completed on the new clubrooms covering 4000 square feet of
clubroom over one weekend.
Many were the stories of the exploits of the workers that
weekend. One was the convinced opinion that AFFCo were laying
off workers just so they could spend more time on the Clubhouse
construction.
Another was the appearance on the roof of Glen Gray
(after it was completed) just before his lady arrived on the scene, so
he could ‘prove’ that he did not come down to the club just for a
drink!
What about Malcolm Burt toppling from the roof and
landing perfectly between two of the flooring joists (he knows how
to nutmeg!) ?
It was noted in the club Weekly that $12,970.23 had been
spent on the construction of the new clubrooms.
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