2010...

April

Canterbury United's continued run of success in the NZFC means our MPL side's 1st game will be 1st May.

Saturday 17th April: 30 Junior teams kick off the season today. For the competitive grades: Check out the Tech Results page.

Saturday 10th April: All senior teams have started; including the Womens team playing in the top league this season.

2009...

September

CONGRATULATIONS to the following players selected to represent Canterbury teams at upcoming South Island tournaments:

11th Grade Boys: Liam Gerathy, Logan Hall, Jacob McHutchison, Moss Thompson

12th Grade Girls: Fiona Porter

12th Grade Boys (A): Thomas Isbister; (B): Chis Cooper, Joshua French, Tomas Oates

14th Grade Girls: Johanna Hamblett

and to Terry Hall, selected to coach one of the Canterbury 11th Grade teams.

Club Fundraiser (Box of pens) WINNING NUMBERS

TXT Bill Cowen on 027 349 5102 to claim your prize. You will need to present your winnnig box number.

1st prize: 41

Sunglasses: 223, 324, 484

Nestle Gift Packs: 211, 432, 548

Entertainment Books:  476, 551, 584

Fresh Choice Vouchers: 139, 406, 675

Tui Gear Bags: 40, 71, 281, 445, 586, 590

Lotto Footballs: 29, 43, 88, 93, 225, 258, 267, 328, 375, 411, 516, 580

Lotto Backpacks: 100, 363, 424

26th June: Mainland XI Squad to play Wellington Phoenix Named

Mainland Football  announced the following Mainland XI squad, to the Wellington Phoenix on Sunday 5 July at QEII Stadium.
 
The Mainland XI team is proudly supported by LOTTO who will once again supply the team with their playing strip, and Canterbury Sports Wholesale who will supply the team with their training gear.
 
Congratulations to the following players who have been selected:
Jordan Buchanan (Nomads), Tom Batty (Nomads), Dan Terris (Ferrymead Bays), Matt Boyd (Western), Gareth Rowe Captain (Nomads), Nick Wortelboer (Woolston Technical), Sam Ayers (Nelson Suburbs), Adam Cowen (Woolston Technical), Paul Dirou (Nelson Suburbs), Andy Pitman (Woolston Technical), Stu Kelly (Burnside), Jo Murray (Woolston Technical), Matthew Thomas (Woolston Technical), Russell Kamo (Woolston Technical), Tom Lancaster (Woolston Technical), Hue Frame (Ferrymead Bays).
 
Head Coach Keith Braithwaite, coach to the Woolston Technical Matson’s Premier Football League team, along with assistant coach Mick Curry and Manager Paul Nichols will train the Mainland XI squad over the next week at English Park.

Braithwaite Appointed LOTTO Mainland XI Coach
Mainland Football has appointed Woolston Technical PFL Coach Keith Braithwaite to coach the LOTTO Mainland XI against the Wellington Phoenix at QEII Park on Sunday 3 July.
 
Braithwaite coached  a gritty LOTTO Mainland XI to a 0 – 2 loss against the Phoenix in 2008.  CEO  Mike Coggan said Mainland Football had no hesitation in offering Keith the role again in 2009.  “Keith proved his ability to get a crop of young players up for the challenge last year.  With a bit more luck that side could have scored a couple of goals.  His record and experience is unquestioned and given his knowledge and understanding of local football and previous success at Nomads we are pleased Keith has agreed to coach the 2009 side”.
 
Braithwaite will shortly seek his management team and begin the search for players wanting to wear the red and black shirt.  “I am hopeful of being able to announce a 16 man squad and management team by 15th June.  This is again a great opportunity for local players to pit their skills against the Phoenix.  It gives them an indication of what they need to do to get to this level of football”.  The weekend of 4 – 5 July is set aside for Chatham Cup quarter finals. 

For MPL match reports click here

Team Pages

Read regular match reports from Masters 4 teams the 1923s and Green Devils, as well as Mens Div 3 and now Junior teams. Click here.

FINAL: Woolston Technical 3, Chch United 1

Semi Final: Woolston Technical 3, Ferrymead Bays 3 (after extra time); Tec won 3-2 on penalties

Semi Final: Chch Utd 3, Coastal Spirit 2

Woolston Technical won all 3 group games to top Group B.

Tues 3rd March, TEC 4, Western 0

Thurs 26th Feb: TEC 2, Christchurch United 1

Tues 17th Feb: TEC 2, Nomads 0

Details of draw here 

2008...

October Long Weekend: U19 tournaments x 2

1. National U19 club championships in Napier.

Woolston Technical head to Napier to defend the trophy they won last year.

Saturday results: WIN 1-0 v Miramar Rangers; DRAW 1-1 v Waitakere; WIN 1-0 v Upper Hutt

Sunday results: WIN 2-0 v Welligton United; DRAW 1-1 v East Coast Bays

Quarter Final: WIN 1-0  v Glenfield Rovers

Semi Final: WIN 1-0 v Central United

FINAL: LOSS 1-4 v Petone

2. Christchurch Tsunami U19 tournament, Bexley Reserve

Woolston Technical 17th graders will be competing in this new tournament organised by Coastal Spirit.

Saturday results: LOSS 0-3 v Nelson Suburbs; DRAW 2-2 v Rolleston

Sunday results: DRAW 2-2 v Avon; LOSS 0-5 v Coastal Spirit

Tech finished 4th of 5 in Group A.

Monday playoffs: LOSS 0-3 v Nomads

7th-8th place playoff: LOSS 1-3 v Avon

TECHNICAL FOOTBALL PATHWAY
At the Coaches Forum during the week we agreed on an action plan to start doing things differently at Tech, in terms of giving the players and coaches more structured pathways for development - to senior levels of football, be it club, Canterbury, Phoenix or beyond.

Better than anyone, Mick Curry knows the current approach to training young players for the very top level in English football and with a few senior players and coaches supporting all junior team coaches we have the the basis for an awesome development programme at this club. The time to start is now. February or March is just too late.

The first step is a 'coaching the coaches' session - on Tuesdays. Mick will outline a plan of how to coach 9-11 year olds and 12-15 year olds and then we'll get the opportunity to put in in place under his guidance with junior players on Thursdays. This will serve as a great platform for us all to develop our skills (coaches and players) as well as give us a look at the players vying for selection in A and B squads for 10-15th grade in 2009.

Please pass this email on to your teams (regardless of whether you intend to coach in 2009) and please let me know if you can make it. Any questions or issues to: info@wtfc.co.nz

COACHES ONLY:

Tuesdays, 6-7pm

PLAYERS (2009 10th - 15th grades):
2009 10th, 11th, 12th grade: 5.30 - 6.30pm

2009 13th, 14th, 15th grade: 6.30 - 7.30pm

LOCATION: Ensors

Ex All White back to coach Woolston Tech - Tony Smith, The Press, 8th November, 2008

Former All White Keith Braithwaite is to return to coach his old club Woolston Technical after eight seasons and two Mainland premier league football titles at Nomads United. The ex-Christchurch United national league stalwart agonised over the decision because Nomads "have been fantastic to work with"."But I just felt like I needed a change and a new challenge," said the former Canterbury and Mainland Selection representative coach. Braithwaite said: "Tech was the club where I started my coaching career". After 105 goals in 212 matches for national league club Christchurch United, he joined Christchurch Technical, as it was known then, as a player and assistant-coach to All Whites great Steve Wooddin in 1992.Liverpudlian Braithwaite took over as head coach in 1994, leading Tech to the southern league regional championship in his first season. Braithwaite remained a Technical stalwart, juggling the job with a season as Canterbury-Woolston's national league coach in 1997-98. He stepped down at Technical to focus on a second national league season but was left high and dry when the national body mothballed the league. "I didn't coach for a year and then Nomads approached me," Braithwaite said. Nomads had won just two games in two years before Braithwaite took charge in 2001. He led them to the Mainland premier league title in his third season and repeated the feat in 2007. Nomads also won two English Cup knock-out competition titles in his tenure. He said he had had happy times at Tulett Park and had high praise for the work behind the scenes of Nomads' indefatigable administrator, Kate Kingsland. But he felt he had taken the club as far as he could. His assistant-coach and former Christchurch United team-mate Kevin Calder was "ready to take over" at Nomads. Woolston Technical spokesman Bill Cowen said it was no secret he and the club were "Keith Braithwaite fans" and admired his passion for football. Tech had had "a very busy last 10 years", with its national league association with Christchurch City, ground issues at its Ensors Road home, and its merger with Woolston, he said. There had been a recent turnover of coaches at the club and Tech was looking for some stability under Braithwaite, Cowen said. He said Mick Curry, who started this year as Tech coach, would remain with the club as coaching director. Cowen hoped Canterbury United player Stuart Kelly and occasional coach would stay on as a senior player.
 

CLUB PENALTY SHOOT OUT RESULTS (8th-15th grade) - 20th July

Congratulations to the following players who will represent Woolston Technical Juniors at the Mainland trials POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER DUE TO GROUND AVAILABILITY.

8-9th Grades: Jordan Spain, Andrew Lewis, Jack Condon

10-11th Grades: Matthew Askey, Shaun Cooper, Marcus Ketel

12-15th Grades: Nick Williams, Daniel Whitehouse, James Calverley

12-15th Grade Girls: Johanna Hamblett 

STUART KELLY RETURNS TO TECHNICAL

Scottish pro Stu Kelly is back at Technical - this time in the capacity of 1st team coach for the rest of the  season. He will also run Tec's Junior Academy for Term 3. Kelly answered the call to replace Mick Curry after fracturing his leg whilst with Victorian league side South Melbourne.   Kelly arrived in Christchurch in 2004 and played for Technical and Canterbury United up until the end of the 2007 season. Last year he captained Canterbury United in the NZFC and captain-coached Woolston Technical to the English Cup. Prior to that he played with Scottish side East Stirlingshire after spending 4 years with Glasgow Rangers Youth and Reserve teams as well as representing Scotland at national Youth levels.   Stuart also has 10 years coaching experience in professional club environments - looking after Glasgow Rangers elite youth teams for 3 years, delivering Scottish FA Development programs for 4 years, plus NZ Mainland Girls for 3 years and Woolston Technical. Stuart Kelly also holds the Scottish FA Youth and Children's Coaching Licence, NZ National Coaching licence and numerous other coaching licences from Oceania and Europe.

JUNIOR COMPETITIVE TEAMS UPDATE, 28th JUNE 

Tec Juniors' recorded 10 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses on Saturday (plus one game abandoned).

DIV 1:

19 DIV 1 12th placed Tec lost heavily to 6th placed St Bedes 1st XI

17 DIV 1 2nd placed Tec beat Nth Canterbury (who finished 6th in RD1)

11 DIV 1 =3rd placed Tec could only manage a draw away to tough 6th placed Mid Canterbury

10 DIV 1 9th placed Tec lost by a goal to 7th placed Selwyn

OTHER DIVISIONS: 

17 DIV 3 had their 2nd consecutive win in RD2, over Cashmere (in RD 1 Cashmere came 3rd, Tec 4th) 

16 GIRLS 9th placed Tec had a comfortable win over 10th placed Nomads 

15 DIV 2 5th placed Tec lost in a huge upset to last placed St Bedes who had not won a point all season

14 DIV 3 with no subs 3rd placed Tec beat St Bedes who were relegated from Div 2

13 DIV 2 3rd placed Tec kept the pressure on Selwyn and Western with a win over 4th placed Burnside

13 DIV 5 7th placed Tec absolutely smashed Rolleston (after RD 1 these teams finished = 5th)

12 DIV 2  maintained 1st place with a win by a 2 goal margin over promoted Western 

12 DIV 3 Tec (4th on table) lost by a goal to St Albans Shirley Lasers (RD 1 placings: SAS 2nd, Tec 7th)  

12 DIV 4 Tec Tigers (3rd) and Cashmere Maroon (4th) decided it was too cold, wet and miserable to play

12 GIRLS the Amazons, sitting 8th leapfrogged 7th placed Rangiora with a win in a tight game

11 DIV 2 (B-Titans), currently 4th, lost heavily to DIV1-bound unbeaten Selwyn

11 DIV 3 (C-Eagles) 4th placed Eagles beat 6th placed Western Rovers

11 DIV 4 (D-Leopards) Tec in 2nd place beat Rangiora (after RD 1 Tec finished =3rd with Rangiora) 

MICK CURRY, Director of Coaching
Unfortunately Mick has to return to England immediately for personal reasons. The club wishes him all the best in dealing with his personal situation and Mick will be in touch with us as issues are resolved.
This has necessitated the following actions:

• Friday night Goalkeepers Academy - cancelled for the final 2 weeks of term. We are seeking to put something in place to continue this good work for term 3.
  
• Saturday morning Kick Start programme. This will continue, led by Martin Leavy, with the assistance of one or two of the parents. Martin has recently completed a Small Whites coaching course run by NZ Football.
  
• July Holiday Football School. Unfortunately we will not be able to offer this programme in July. Those registered to date have been contacted.
• Woolston Technical Academy (9th-12th grade). We will have our final session for the term on Monday night. Hopefully by then we will be able to announce who will be running the Term 3 Academy. The club is committed to continuing this and we are in discussions with suitably qualified people now.
• Questions can be directed to:  info@wtfc.co.nz  

SHORTEST DAY AT GARRICK (JUNE 21) - 3 wins (all 2-1) and a draw for Woolston Tech teams

11 DIV 1 started the day off with a well deserved 2-1 win against league leaders Halswell, to take Tech to equal second with Halswell. Goals to Robin and Gabi (who beautifully chipped the tall Halswell keeper) in the first first half were enough even though a late consolation goal was conceded.

12 DIV 2 Tec maintained their lead in DIV 2 with a 2-1 win over Rolleston. A brace of goals to Levi (one in each half) did the job and Tec's fighting spirit came to the fore at the end to preserve the vital 3 points after Rolleston pulled one back. Tec are now 2 points clear with 4 games to go.

PDL The Reserves could only manage a 2-2 draw with last placed Bays. Numbers were down due to exams and Mick Curry was forced to take the field.

MPL A headed goal against the run of play gave Tec the lead midway through the first half and a deflected shot gave Tec a 2-0 lead. Bays equalised late in the half. Ferrymead controlled territory and possession in the 2nd half but stout Tech defence held them at bay for the third 2-1 win to Tec at Garrick on the shortest day. The win puts Technical into 4th

SENIOR TEAMS UPDATE, 14th JUNE

PFL 3rd placed Technical now sit 4th after losing to Coastal Spirit who leapfrog from 4th to 3rd

DIV 4 4th placed Technical drew with 7th placed Burnside

PRES A 1st placed Tec Blue were comfortable winners over 7th placed Coastal Spirit Black

PRES A 9th placed Tec Green lost to 10th (last) placed Burnside and Tec now sit bottom of the ladder

PRES C 2nd placed Tec Blue beat 8th placed Papanui Redwood

PRES C 3rd placed Tec Green dropped a position going down to leaders University College House

MASTERS DIV 1 5th placed Tec were involved in a drawn goal fest against 10th placed University

MASTERS DIV 3 5th placed Green Devils moved up a pot after beating 11th placedRangiora Rovers

MASTERS DIV 3 10th placed 1923 team jumped to 7th after beating 9thplaced Amberley

MASTERS +45 2nd placed Tec walloped 8th Coastal Spirit

WOMENS DIV 1 6th (last) placed Tec  ..3rd placed Avon

WOMENS DIV 3 6th placed Tec ..10th (last) placed Cashmere Spice 

JUNIOR COMPETITIVE TEAMS UPDATE, 14th JUNE 

Tec Juniors' recorded 5 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses on Saturday.

DIV 1:

19 DIV 1 After last week's first win, the 12th placed Tec went down narrowly to 5th placed STAC 1st X1

17 DIV 1 After last week's first loss, 2nd placed Tec beat 3rd placed Avon by a 3 goal margin

11 DIV 1 scored a comfortable win over 9th placed Ferrymead and face top of table Halswell next week. 

10 DIV 1 faced undefeated Ferrymead Bays and went down by 2 goals to stay in the relegation zone

OTHER DIVISIONS: 

17 DIV 3 inflicted only the 2nd defeat for the season on 2nd placed Rolleston

16 GIRLS sitting 7th lost by 4 goals to 5th placed Avon 

15 DIV 2 sitting 3rd could not get a point against 2nd placed Burnside B

14 DIV 3 Missing players due to injury Tec came from behind to draw with Papanui Redwood

13 DIV 2 cemented 3rd with a win by a 2 goal margin over 6th placed Chch United

13 DIV 5 lost by a goal in a high scoring match against Oxford

12 DIV 2  maintained 1st place with a win by a 3 goal margin over 3rd placed Burnside B

12 DIV Tec's trip to Amberley was a painful one with a 4 goal loss 

12 DIV 4 Tec earned a draw against Hornby A who had previously not dropped a point all season

12 GIRLS the Amazons, sitting 8th, lost by 5 goals to 6th placed Parklands

11 DIV 2 (B-Titans) drew with evenly matched St Albans Shirley Galaxy

11 DIV 3 (C-Eagles) went down by the narrowest of margins to Halswell B

11 DIV 4 (D-Leopards) drew against Nomads C in an 8 goal thriller 

JUNIOR COMPETITIVE TEAMS UPDATE, 7th JUNE (after 8 rounds and some redraws)

Tec Juniors' previously unbeaten teams (17 DIV 1 & 12 DIV 2) both suffered their first loss for the season.

DIV 1:

19 DIV 1 chalked up their first win, beating 10th placed Christ's College

17 DIV 1 had their first loss this year - to an older, bigger Chch United, and sit 2nd

11 DIV 1 scored a comfortable win over 8th placed Nomads to cement their position in a tight top 4

10 DIV 1 lost to 5th placed Nomads and remain in the relegation zone(bottom 3 teams drop down)

OTHER DIVISIONS: 

17 DIV 3 beat 9th placed CBHS Black and stay in the top 5

16 GIRLS beat bottom placed Kaiapoi to remain 7th

15 DIV 2 accounted for Bays to sit inside the top 4

14 DIV 3 had a high scoring draw with Coastal Spirit who had dropped down from Div 2

13 DIV 2 cemented 3rd with a win over Bays A

13 DIV 5 who were 7th in DIV 4 beat Ellesmere, who had been 3rd

12 DIV 2  lost in the last few minutes to 2nd placed Burwood, but still lead the league

12 DIV 3 sit 3rd after a win over 12th placed Burwood B

12 DIV 4 beat Papanui Redwood Cobras who had dropped down from DIV 3

12 GIRLS went down to 6th placed Western and remain in the bottom half of the table

11 DIV 2 (B-Titans) sitting 3rd drew with 5th placed Coastal Spirit

11 DIV 3 (C-Eagles) drew with Ferrymead Bays B (they had sat 10th and 11th respectively in DIV 2)

11 DIV 4 (D-Leopards) sit 4th after an easy win over STAC who had dropped down from DIV 3

CHATHAM CUP, Round 2, Monday 2nd June - report from Man in the Stand

On a cool afternoon following morning showers Technical hosted league leaders Nelson Suburbs who were held to a draw at home on Saturday against Burnside. Tec's weekend MPL form had been no more impressive, going down 0-2 to Nomads on Saturday. Nelson dominated the first half hour of the game with Tech hardly able to hold possession for more than a pass or two and having no ball in the opposition half. The goal came in the 25th minute from a corner to the near post which got through sloppy defence. It was followed, almost inevitably it seemed, by a second 5 minutes later. Tech got into their game a little more towards the latter part of the first half and Faichnie made a couple of good crosses from the left  but were unable to convert. Suburbs 2 nil up at the break. Any hope Tech had of snaring the first goal of the second half and making  a game of it was snuffed out immediately after half time. In fact many spectators missed it, like the Tech team who failed to switch on for the recommencement. From the kick off the ball went wide to the left, a cross and easy tap in for an unmarked attacker. 3 zip and the game effectively over at that stage. No Tech spirit surfaced and they rarely threatened - a fairly disappointing effort. Nelson played out time but the score flattered Tech in the end. Tech were never able to dominate midfield (Suburbs' Frazer Maebule saw to that) and whenever they had possession there was little composure or patience. So that's the 2008 Chatham Cup over, out of the English Cup, sitting 6th in the MPL. The manner in which the players finish the season will show the true character of the team. 

MPL, 24th May,  Tech draw 2-2 with Burnside at Burnisde Park. Match report - by Gavin Searle

Burnside and Woolston Technical played out a 2 - 2 draw in a game that was full of incident. Tom Lancaster made the most of a great ball cut back from the goal line to put Technical ahead after 11 minutes. The lead was short lived with Keith Grosvenor showing he can still finish, finding himself clear and in front of goal four minutes later. From a Burnside free kick Technical deflected the ball into their own net midway through the half. Technical drew level when Jamie Smith was judged to be brought down from behind inside the box. Referee Stu Cox did not card the offending player. Jordan Ashton managed to get a hand to the spot kick from Karl Scoullar but could not prevent the ball going into the net. Minutes later Technical were reduced to ten men when James Price was ordered off for descent. In the remaining minutes Burnside were denied by several good saves from Michael O'Keefe.
 

17th May, CHATHAM CUP RD1, Garrick Park - Woolston Technical 2, Coasatl Spirit 1

Sweet revenge as Tech shows true spirit 

A pumped up Tech side started with the wind at their backs in what turned out to be an open free-flowing first half. Spirit's danger man Fifii created all sorts of issues for the Tech defence. One goalmouth scramble saw keeper O'Keefe saving with all 4 limbs (see pic). Tech couldn't get a shot on that really tested the Spirit goal. Disaster for Tech minutes later when no. 5 Jeroen Vink was given a second yellow card for a marginal tackle. At the break the scores were locked at nil all. The second half saw Spirit take a smart free kick that caught the defence napping: 1-0 to Spirit. However Tech showed true fighting spirit and Tommy Lancaster and Ryan Faichnie combined to re-ignite a number of attacks. The equaliser followed from Lancaster and it was 1-1. The writing looked to be on the wall when Spirit were awarded a penalty but O'Keefe guessed right and saved brilliantly - a crucial moment. Tech grabbed the lifeline and lifted, storming back on the counter attacks. The winner came from a left hand cross that Ash Hendry managed to get in the way of enough to force a keeper mistake: 2-1 Tech with 10 minutes to go. Pressure from Spirit (particularly Fifii and Beedles, both of whom looked dangerous at all times) was absorbed with James Price, Jeremey Clement and Alex Harrison showing true grit. Tommy Lancaster won some decisive balls in the middle late in the game and Tech's fighting spirit saw them home for a deserved victory. However  Spirit will be rueing their chances and failure to seize the game when it was there for the taking. Sweet revenge.

JUNIOR TEAM NEWS - after 5 rounds

17 DIV 1 and 12 DIV 2 sides continued their unbeaten start to the season.

DIV 1:

19 DIV 1 were beaten 6-0 by North canterbury and remain in last position.

17 DIV 1 beat 4th placed Nomads 6-3.

11 DIV 1 bagged a late winner to beat previously unbeaten Coastal Spirit 1-0.

10 DIV 1 notched up a second win, beating bottom placed Coastal Spirit 2-0.

17 DIV 3 recorded an easy 8-2 win over Hornby, who were below Tech on the table.

16 GIRLS lost narrowly 2-1 to Papanui-Redwood who were sitting 3rd. 

15 DIV 2 had a high scoring draw (4-4) that saw Christ's College get their first points of the season. 

14 DIV 3 thrashed Cashmere 9-0 who were 3 places above Tech on the table.

13 DIV 2 lost 3-0 to unbeaten Western.

13 DIV 4 lost 5-1 to St Albans Shirley in a mid-table clash. 

12 DIV 2  beat Cashmere, who were sitting mid-table, 6-1.

12 DIV 3 lost 4-0 to top of the table and unbeaten Ferrymead.

12 DIV 4 beat bottom placed Avon Volts 6-0.

12 GIRLS recorded their first win of the season, over mid-table placed Papanui Redwood 3-2.

11 DIV 2 (B-Titans) thrashed lowly Halswell C 10-0.

11 DIV 2 (C-Eagles) were beaten 8-1 by St Albans Shirley in a 9th v 10th clash.

11 DIV 3 (D-Leopards) sitting 6th were beaten 1-0 by 14th placed Halswell Diamonds.

11th May, MPL, Match Report by Mick Curry

Tec’s last game against Nelson started at a quick pace with the home team looking to catch Woolston cold but a great save from Michael O’Keefe kept them at bay and allowed Woolston to play their way into the game. On 15 minutes, Woolston took the lead when Ryan Faichnie got around his marker and crossed a perfect ball into Alex Williams, who controlled, pivoted and dispatched a shot into the top corner of the goal: 1-0 Woolston Tech. The lead only lasted 3mins, with a quick free kicking catching Woolston sleeping making the score 1-1. Nelson were now in control of the game sending wave after wave of attacks into the Woolston area and got their rewards just before half time to lead at the interval 2-1. Woolston came out after the break looking for a quick goal but it just never happened. Nelson came forward playing 1 touch football, slicing open Woolston and if it wasn’t for the brilliant Michael O’Keefe in the goals the score would have been higher than the 4-1 result. All credit to the Woolston boys they kept fighting right to the end.

11th May, PDL, Match Report by Mick Curry 

The 2nd team played Coastal Spirit in the PDL on the Saturday with both teams yet to taste defeat this season and what a game of football. Woolston were soon into their passing game with Coastal chasing shadows and unable to get the ball. Woolston took a well deserved lead, with Sam Fisher playing a through ball for Daniel Mcdowell to run onto and from the edge of the area hit the ball across the advancing keeper and into the goal: 1-0 Woolston. This inspired Coastal, who started to play their way into the game with only the crossbar keeping them at bay. In the 2nd half Coastal piled on the pressure but were again denied, this time by George Cowen who cleared twice of the the line. Woolston weathered the storm and played out the game to record a well deserved victory.

11th May, MPL:

Woolston Technical travelled to Nelson to face pacesetters Nelson Suburbs. After being a goal up through Alex Williams at the 15 minute mark, Tech allowed Suburbs to gain the swift response just three minutes later. Unfortunately Suburbs added another just before the break to go in 2-1 up at half time. Another early on in the second stanza virtually sealed it. Disappointingly, a fourth in stoppage time saw a 4-1 final result. Tech are noe sitting in 5th position on 10 points, 2 behind Western, with a game in hand.

Chatham Cup, Saturday 17 May, v Coastal Spirit, Garrick Park, 2pm kickoff

New Zealand's premier football knockout cup competition, first played for in 1923, gets underway for Woolston Technical in 2008 with a RD 1 clash against Coastal Spirit at home on Saturday 17th. Last year the club made the 4th round before losing to Western. The club has won the prestigious cup but it was way back in 1948. Technical have been runners-up on 6 occasions, the last in 1968. The best 'recent' result was making the semis in 2001. For a full list of the club's Chatham Cup record click here. Wikipedia's Chatham Cup entry is here.

Jack Pelter named in Oly Whites squad 

Woolston Technical defender Jack Pelter (currently with Roy Keane's Sunderland AFC in the English Premier League) has been selected in a 22 man New Zealand U23 Olympic squad, which will be cut to 18 (plus 4 non-travelling reserves) before the Beijing Olympics. Pelts joins other UK-based players Ryan Nelsen of Blackburn Rovers, Fulham's Simon Elliot and Chris Killen from Celtic in the squad - more

26th April. MPL:

Woolston Technical travelled to Ferrymead Bays and ran out 2-1 winners. Jamie Smith scored in the first half to take Tech to a 1-0 lead at the break. Bays equalised early in the second half but Smith scored his second, which was enough to give Tech the points and move to 3rd on the table. 

23rd April, English Cup

In their first attempted defence of the English Cup on Wednesday night, holders Woolston Tech, missing a few regular players, were bundled out 8-3 by Canterbury league team Coastal Spirit at English Park.

19th April, MPL:

Tech beat last-placed strugglers Richmond 4-0 at Garrick Park. The win takes them to 7 points and a share of 4th position, with a trip to unbeaten Ferrymead Bays scheduled for next week.

12th April, MPL:

Woolston Technical's Mainland Premier League (MPL) team drew 0-0 with Nomads at Tullet Park and the Reserves team won 4-2 in the Player Development League (PDL).

Overall Technical senior teams had 9 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses. 

Tech Junior competitive grades had 5 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses in round 2 on Saturday 12th.

MPL: Nil all draw with Nomads. Tech missed out on regaining the Hurley Shield but gained a valuable point on 12th April at Tullet Park.

"In the first scoreless draw of the season both Nomads and Woolston Technical suffered from a lack of good finishers. Nomads had the better of the first half and should have got to the break two goals the better. Woolston had the better of the play for the period in the middle of the second half but could not breech the Nomads goal. Both sides had chances late in the game. The result lifted both sides away from the bottom of the table and both sides will be pleased to have NZFC players back for the next round." - Gavin Searle, 'Game On' Review

5th April, MPL:

Woolston Technical's Mainland Premier Football League team beat Burnside 3-2 at Garrick Park to kick off the Club Day celebrations in style. 

Overall Technical senior teams had 6 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses. 

MPL: 1st win for 1st team. Tec's Mainland Premier League team have put points on the board with a come from behind 3-2 win over Burnside on Saturday, 5th April. After an early penalty put Burnside in front  and a  free-flowing first half, Tec dominated 2nd half proceedings to run out deserved winners. Nyoman Samjuku bagged a 2nd half brace, the first a shot that seemed well covered until Mick Curry's dummy fooled Burnside keeper Ashton and the last defender. The winner came with a break down the right that saw Samjuku break through Ashton's attempted tackle for an easy tap in.

SUBS DUE NOW!  All subs must be paid now - Junior AND Senior sections. Your subs are essential to you playing in an organised football competition. Please contact your coach or team leader so that we don't have to chase you; it isn't the best use of our time. The deadline is looming for "no pay, no play" as you must be a registered player to represent Woolston Technical FC.

MORE HELP NEEDED. We have a busy programme underway at Tech this year and there is a growing list of jobs with too few hands to do them. Some are short term projects, others on-going. If you can help in any way please email your interest here.  

Hurley Shield. "Woolston Technical’s cause was not helped when striker, Harry Hillary-Jenkins was upended after fives minutes and took no further part in the game. Western opened their season minutes later when young Geoff MacIntyre scored then Sam Miles scored to double Western lead before the break. The second half begun with Ben Hughes cautioned for diving after he tried to stay on his feet after being clipped down in the penalty area. Western were reduced to ten men after Blaze Weiclawski was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle. Late in the game Woolston Tech had a shot cleared off the line with Western keeper Matt Herd then tipping a shot from Ljubo over the bar. This ended the scoring chances with Western winning 2-0." - Gavin Searle

Club Day - 5th April at Garrick Memorial Park to celebrate the 1st team's first home game at Garrick and the season opening for all other teams. All WTFC Junior teams will be presented at the clubrooms at the Woolston Club, after watching the 1st team's game and participating in special activities and prize draw. 'Family Hour' rules apply until 6pm (responsible behaviour and language). If you haven't experienced the clubroom atmosphere before come on down to see what makes Woolston Technical the family friendly club. Download the info flyer here:  club_day_5apr08.pdf (214.31 KB)

22 March:

Tec start with 1-0 loss to Nelson. Nelson Suburbs managed to hold off Tec's resurgent second half performance but thoroughly deserved their win through a very organised defensive display. Nelson started much the stronger creating more chances and forcing a number of saves from keeper James Levey. The goal came about 15 minutes into the first half after a particularly fine initial reflex save from Levey's feet saw Nelson pounce on the rebound and slot home. Tec started the second half with more intensity and started to dominate midfield. A number of chances created, in the main, from crosses from the right saw no real strong shot on goal. James Price was threatening up the centre in the latter stages but Curry (playing as striker) was unable to convert a volley chance on the final whistle.

Mick Curry, UEFA qualified professional coach from the UK has joined Woolston Technical FC as Director of Coaching.

Mick's last post was as Youth Development Coaching Director with Non League club Burton Albion (effectively 5th division in English football). Mick has 20 years experience with youth football development and brings a professional standard to Woolston Technical's football development programmes.

A former player for Ipswich Town when they were in what is now the Barclay's English Premier League, his career path turned towards coaching after a serious knee injury. Since then Mick has held many positions coaching football in the community and for professional football clubs, (Derby County academy, manager of Stapenhill FC and assistant at non-league Gresley Rovers before his last stint at hometown Burton Albion).

His interest in New Zealand football was ignited after meeting All Whites coach Ricki Herbert on an UEFA A-Licence coaching course three years ago.