Page 47 - NUAFC EBook

ON AIR James Williams decided it was time to start his soccer
Barney Barnard of Radio Waikato was found on career. Immediately at birth he began exercising his push-
most senior home games parked beside the old clubhouse pass technique using the inside of either foot, flexing his
relaying his on-air reports to the region. His gammy leg did tiny fists in frustration when he found the Waikato Hospital
not prevent him providing a colourful and accurate report Board had failed to provide a practice ball.
every 30 minutes. His high, intelligent forehead indicates the potential
of an accurate and powerful header in later years. Given a
ARM WRESTLING little time Matthew will begin to demonstrate the
Thursday evenings came alive at the end of the enthusiasm of his mother and the skills of his father in the
season with some arm-wrestling action. Neil Gorman won world of soccer. (Dated 30th Sept. 1977)
by bluff and guile while George and Ian stayed locked in BABY BOOM
mortal combat until the table collapsed. Club babies that made appearances on the scene this
REP'S year were via Gormans, MacDonalds, McCaigs, Williams,
The 1977 Waikato Representative side was made Barnes and Morgans.
up of Sean Finn, Ron Little, John Brown, Paul Addison, Representatives
Bill Trembath, Jeff Tozer, Colin Shannon, Mike Liddle, Five Ngaruawahia players were involved in the
John Marshall, Robert Hutchison, Mike Haddleton with Waikato Senior Representative squad this year under the
substitutes Gary Dillistone, Fred Roest and Paul Gemmell. coaching of Les Vuletich: John Brown, Phillip Bullivant,
A match against Hamilton resulted in a 3-2 win to Malcolm Sowerby, Mike Liddle & Ken Murray.
Hamilton with goals scored for Hamilton by John
McDermid, Barry McKenzie and Keith Nelson. Waikato Welding Wizard
scored through Mike Haddleton and John Marshall. Charlie Green was the mainstay welder during the
A second clash was played against Combined construction of the clubhouse, ably assisted by two other
Services for a 5-2 win to Waikato. The team comprised: Charlies plus apprentices.
Sean Finn, Doug Snapes, John Brown, Jim McNeill, Mike
Heappey, Mike Haddleton (2), Mike Liddle, Colin Shannon, Clubroom Construction Tales
John Marshall, G Hancock (2), Robert Hutchison, Gary
Dillistone, Jeff Tozer, M Lepine (one own goal). Two thousand five hundred square feet of roofing
was completed on the new clubrooms covering 4000 square
COUNCIL ELECTIONS feet of clubroom over one weekend.
Four Club members entered the local Council Many were the stories of the exploits of the workers
elections - Ian Todd, Graham Maley, Anne Patterson and that weekend. One was the convinced opinion that AFFCo
Jim Luff. were laying off workers just so they could spend more time
on the Clubhouse construction.
A DRESSING DOWN Another was the appearance on the roof of Glen
Cambridge Clothing (Auckland) travelled to Gray (after it was completed) just before his lady arrived on
Ngaruawahia to meet their Hamilton Branch in a soccer the scene, so he could ‘prove’ that he did not come down to
match. In the Hamilton team were Rod Hill, Dean Haggie, the club just for a drink!
Jason Cargo, Ricky Duffull and Bruce McIntosh. Auckland What about Malcolm Burt toppling from the roof
won 1-0. 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
SCUTTLEBUT
The Club "Centre Spot" magazine featured the been spent on the construction of the new clubrooms.
following in an article of Scuttlebut by Sideline Sam
relating to the birth of Matt Williams. This small, Clubrooms foundations video.
unobtrusive entry in our local newspaper, belies the impact Scroll to end of ‘70s clip.
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

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