New Zealand Football set to mark 125 years

A night of nostalgia, tales of past triumphs and the marking of milestones is in store next month as New Zealand Football celebrates its 125th anniversary.

The event will be held on 9th November at Auckland’s Heritage Hotel and is being staged with support from independent supporters group Friends of Football, as well as the New Zealand Football Foundation.

The Football Foundation was created by New Zealand Football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup and aims to provide ongoing support to the growth of the beautiful game in this country.

Representatives from each group will be in attendance on the night and will join a host of famous faces, including many All Whites and Football Ferns legends.

Current players of both senior national teams will also be on hand with Anthony Hudson and his All Whites squad set to be in town for the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against New Caledonia at QBE Stadium on 12th November.

New Zealand Football President Deryck Shaw is looking forward to what is sure to be a special and unique occasion.

Shaw explained “it’s not often that so many legends and important figures of the game in this country come together in one room and it will be an amazing experience for all involved.

“From humble beginnings in a rugby-mad nation, football has grown to become the nation’s biggest participation sport and now holds an important place in the fabric of Kiwi society.

“The journey of how we got to this point is a remarkable one and well worthy of recognition as we celebrate the 125th year of organised football in New Zealand. I’m sure I speak for everyone involved in saying I can’t wait to see so many of the people who have contributed to the game’s successes and hearing the stories behind all those glories.”

A highlight of the night will be a countdown of New Zealand’s most memorable footballing moments – including on-field triumphs and administrative milestones – while vintage video footage and on-stage interviews with key figures will also feature.

As well as looking to the past to mark New Zealand Football’s 125th anniversary, the night will also serve to highlight some achievements of the present with Friends of Football taking the opportunity to present the New Zealand Football Media Association Awards.

The awards will recognise the talents of the country’s journalists, broadcasters, photographers and some club volunteers with categories including Programme of the Year, Publication of the Year, Writer of the Year and Photographer of the Year. Also included in the awards is the NZFMA Player of the Year gong, which returned in 2015 after a brief hiatus and is currently held by All Whites captain Winston Reid.

Images: All Whites great Ryan Nelsen in 2012 (top) and Auckland's QBE Stadium (below).

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