AUCKLAND – A new sponsor and a new focus are highlights of the 2010/11 ASB Premiership launching on October 16.

The league opens with a battle of the Bombays as Auckland City travel to Waikato FC’s new Fred Jones home ground in Hamilton, while defending champions Waitakere United entertain perennial semi-finalist Team Wellington at Fred Taylor Park in West Auckland a day later.

Known as the New Zealand Football Championship for the past six seasons, the ASB Premiership concentrates the best amateur domestic football talent across eight teams but with an increased focus on developing emerging young players.

As part of closer integration with the ASB Youth League, all match day ASB Premiership squads of 16 will need to include two academy players while the minimum number of academy players in wider Premiership squads will increase by one to five.

The ASB Youth League, which alternates between an U-19 and U-20 league in line with the two-year FIFA U-20 World Cup cycle, will allow teams to field two overage players from their club’s Premiership squad for any match.

As for the last two seasons, the ASB Premiership will be contested over two full rounds with two-legged semi finals and a one-off grand final on April 16 or 17.

Waitakere and Auckland will again fight on two fronts also representing New Zealand in the 2010/11 OFC Champions League with an eye on qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Five members of the All Whites FIFA World Cup squad played in the 2009/10 national league, while another four including Chris Wood and Ben Sigmund have played in previous seasons.

Fellow squad member David Mulligan has been recruited by Auckland City and is due to make his ASB Premiership debut against Waikato.

 “Many All Whites, Olympians, and age group players have come through the league in its six years,” said New Zealand Football CEO Michael Glading.

 “The ASB Premiership will continue to be a springboard for players to reach professional environments and push for higher honours, but we now plan to raise the bar for the league on and off the field.”

“New Zealand Football have committed $450,000 over the next three years for that purpose and the involvement of ASB for at least the next five years will be crucial in reaching that vision.”

New Zealand Football were also working with the Wellington Phoenix to create the ASB Challenge Series to incorporate a Phoenix reserve team playing fixtures against ASB Premiership sides alongside the league.

“We remain committed to the principle of involving a Phoenix youth or reserve team in our national competition in the best interest of football in New Zealand,” Glading said.

 Download the 2010/11 ASB Premiership draw

 Download the 2010/11 ASB Youth League draw

AUCKLAND - New Zealand Football (NZF) is delighted to announce the launch of a significant new partnership with ASB.  This multi-million dollar five-year partnership will drive the development of this increasingly popular national sport, assisting NZF with their goal to implement a ‘whole of football plan’ for the benefit of New Zealanders. 

ASB’s commitment to NZF will transcend all levels of the game in New Zealand, from children playing their first friendly games at the grassroots level through to sponsorship of referees and premier football.  ASB will also be the naming rights sponsor of the ASB International Series – the All Whites games scheduled to take place in Auckland and Wellington during October 2010.

“ASB is excited to be involved in a sport played by all ages, abilities and genders,” says ASB Chief Executive Charles Pink. 

“The upcoming ASB International Series and the launch of the ASB Premiership the following week flag the commencement of this important partnership,” continues Mr Pink.  “The ASB team is delighted to be assisting New Zealand Football to create football families for life.”

The new partnership will see ASB as the principal sponsor of NZF’s grassroots football programmes, helping to cement the game as the most-played sport in New Zealand for children under 12 years old.  Development of talented young players will be encouraged by ASB’s Football Festivals, Holiday Programmes, Drop in Centres and After School Programmes.

As part of NZF’s youth programme, ASB will work alongside three other partners to support the development and delivery of NZF’s Small Whites programme across the country, encouraging 4 to 11-year-old football players and their parents to get active and involved in football. 

All elite competitions across New Zealand will also be supported by ASB, including the ASB Premiership (formerly the New Zealand Football Championship), ASB Chatham Cup, ASB National Youth League, ASB National Women's Youth League and ASB Women's Knockout Cup.

New Zealand Football has also been working to establish the new ASB Phoenix Challenge, where the eight ASB Premiership clubs will enter into a competition with a Phoenix reserve team.

“New Zealand Football is delighted to partner with ASB, a national brand with strong roots in our local communities,” says NZF Chief Executive Michael Glading.

“Football is moving from strength to strength in this country and this partnership with ASB is a crucial step in our strategy to grow involvement in our sport from the grassroots right through to elite levels.”

The 100,000 players and many more thousands of supporters at football games on winter weekends will also benefit from ASB’s support of football across New Zealand, with the partnership including sponsorship of all grassroots and elite-level referees.

September 1, 2010

AUCKLAND - All Whites striker Shane Smeltz has officially completed his transfer from Gold Coast United to Turkish Super League club Genclerbirligi, signing a two-year contract on Saturday (NZT).

Speaking at press conference to announce the signing, Smeltz told local media he was excited by the new chapter in his prolific career.

“I’m very proud and honoured to be at this club. It’s a fantastic club with a fantastic set-up and I can’t wait to get started with the team,” said the two-time A-League golden boot.

“I really happy to be here and I want to help this team produce the best football they can, and I think this club deserves to be doing well in this league.”

Smeltz, who has scored 18 goals in 33 ‘A’ internationals for New Zealand, including an early opener in a 1-1 draw with then-World champions Italy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, arrived in Turkey on Wednesday (NZT) and completed the deal after passing a medical.

Smeltz’s transfer may yet face a legal challenge from Chinese club Shandong Luneng who argue they signed  a contract with Smeltz, although the International Transfer Certificate was never released by Gold Coast United.

Watch Shane Smeltz's press conference

AUCKLAND – The Young Football Ferns’ 1-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Miami on Wednesday morning (NZT) has been described by their coach as a timely wake-up call ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

After displaying plenty of promise in Sunday morning’s 1-0 defeat to Korea Republic less than 24 hours after arriving from Auckland, the Young Football Ferns were confident of scalping the European runners-up and looked on track when Evie Millynn put New Zealand ahead in the 25th minute.

But a Siobhan Killeen equaliser before halftime and a late winner from Rebecca Kearney earned the Irish the spoils.

With under a week remaining before New Zealand opens their Group C campaign against Venezuela on Tuesday morning (NZT) coach Dave Edmondson said the result is a stark reminder that only the best is good enough against World Cup opposition.

“The big positive is that the girls have had a real kick up the backside now. Confidence was really high after a very good performance against South Korea considering we had just got off the plane the night before but they have really been brought down to Earth with this match.”

“Although we thought we were a good chance against Ireland we’re not that good that we can turn up in cruise mode and get the result we want.”

“Even though it’s the last warm up game players are playing for starting positions against Venezuela but some of them went through the motions today.”

“To some extent it is understandable so close to a World Cup not wanting to get injured in the last warm up game or whatever but they have been let know that today’s performance was unacceptable.”

On Friday (NZT) the Young Football Ferns travel to Couva in Trinidad, where they face Venezuela on Sunday and European champions Spain three days later, before rounding out pool play against Japan in Scarborough, Tobago on September 14. New Zealand’s matches at the tournament will be shown live on Sky Sport.

New Zealand 1 (Evie Millynn 25) Republic of Ireland 2 (Siobhan Killeen 37, Rebecca Kearney 86)

New Zealand: 1-Chloe-May GEURTS (GK / 20-Jess REDDAWAY 68), 2-Rachel HEAD, 3-Tessa MCPHERSON (19-Michelle WINDSOR 59), 4-Olivia CHANCE (13-Megan LEE 78), 6-Evie MILLYNN (16-Jessie MATHEWS 73), 7-Holly PATTERSON (5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH 78), 8-Kate LOYE (11-Grace PARKINSON 89), 10-Hannah WONG (12-Stephanie SKILTON 62), 14-Katie BOWEN (Captain/ 61), 17-Sivitha BOYCE (15-Kate CARLTON 73), 18-Rebecca BURROWS (9-Hannah CARLSEN 53).
Substitutes not used: 21-Lily ALFELD
Head Coach: Dave Edmondson

Young Football Ferns Schedule
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup - Group C

New Zealand v Venezuela
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 6, 7pm (11am, Sept 7 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10:45am

New Zealand v Spain
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 9, 4pm (8am, Sept 10 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 3 from 7:45am

New Zealand v Japan
Scarbrough, Tobago
Sept 13, 4pm (8am, Sept 14 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 7:45am

August 29, 2010 

AUCKLAND – The Young Football Ferns left for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Caribbean today with high hopes of achieving a notable first for New Zealand football.

In Nigeria last year, New Zealand’s U-17 men’s team became the first New Zealand football side to reach the knockout stages of a FIFA tournament and now the Dave Edmondson-coached women’s equivalent are aiming to make a similar breakthrough for kiwi women when the 16 team tournament kicks off in Trinidad and Tobago on September 5.

“It’ll be difficult, admits Edmondson, “there are sixteen good teams and four tough groups.”

“All we’ll doing is targeting that first game to make the best possible start. It’s important for us to put in a performance as well as get a result. We want to play football and we think we have the players to do that.”

First up for the Young Football Ferns is Venezuela on September 7 (NZT) followed by European champions Spain three days later and Asian powerhouses Japan on September 14 (NZT).

To get up to speed, New Zealand tackles Korea Republic and the Republic of Ireland in two Miami-based friendlies en route, the first a training match played over three periods of 30 minutes less than 24 hours after stepping off the plane. But the team plan to hit the ground running.

“It’s not perfect but in a way, with the excitement of going to a World Cup and being away from home, it’s possibly one of the best ways to get straight into it against South Korea who are a very tough team.”

Edmondson says it is likely his entire squad will play some part in the two warm ups, the current side’s first internationals outside Oceania, especially with the need to manage the physical demands of travelling.

“The players have always responded really well throughout the campaign. Some players have driven up from Hamilton or flown from Christchurch had half an hour warm up then gone out and played a boy’s team. And while flying into Miami the night before playing is obviously different , the players have never been fazed by challenges and I expect this to be no different in that respect.”
New Zealand’s matches at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be shown live on Sky Sport.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad & Tobago 2010

New Zealand squad: 1-Chloe-May GEURTS (GK), 2-Rachel HEAD, 3-Tessa MCPHERSON, 4-Olivia CHANCE, 5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH, 6-Evie MILLYNN, 7-Holly PATTERSON, 8-Kate LOYE, 9-Hannah CARLSEN, 10-Hannah WONG, 11-Grace PARKINSON, 12-Stephanie SKILTON, 13-Megan LEE, 14-Katie BOWEN (Captain), 15-Kate CARLTON, 16-Jessie MATHEWS, 17-Sivitha BOYCE, 18-Rebecca BURROWS, 19-Michelle WINDSOR, 20-Jess REDDAWAY (GK), 21-Lily ALFELD (GK).
Head Coach: Dave Edmondson

Young Football Ferns Schedule

Warm-ups

New Zealand v Korea Republic
Miami, USA
August 28
7.30pm local time (11.30am, August 29 NZT)

New Zealand v Republic of Ireland
Miami, USA
August 31
4pm local time (8am, September 1 NZT)

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup - Group C

New Zealand v Venezuela
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 6, 7pm (11am, Sept 7 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 10:45am

New Zealand v Spain
Couva, Trinidad
Sept 9, 4pm (8am, Sept 10 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 3 from 7:45am

New Zealand v Japan
Scarbrough, Tobago
Sept 13, 4pm (8am, Sept 14 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 1 from 7:45am

AUCKLAND - Another New Zealander has joined the ranks of English football with Football Ferns captain Hayley Moorwood signing a one year professional deal with Chelsea FC to play in the 2011 Super League.

The new Football Association-backed Super League launches in March as an eight team professional league, superseding the FA Women’s Premier League as the top women’s competition in England.

Chelsea finished third to Arsenal and Everton in the final two seasons of the Premier League, missing out on a place in the 2011 UEFA Women’s Champions League by a solitary point in the 2009/10 domestic season.

Moorwood opted for Chelsea despite interest from London rivals Arsenal and now hopes to help the Blues break into the top two.

“Joining a club like Chelsea is an exciting move at an exciting time for women’s football in England and back home,” Moorwood said.

“The concentration of top English and international talent will make the new Super League a tough competition but hopefully we can mount a challenge for the title and qualify for the 2012 Champions League.”

The 51 cap midfielder takes the number of Football Ferns playing professionally overseas to four with German-based VfL Wolfsburg defender Rebecca Smith joined by Ali Riley (FC Gold Prise, USA) and Kirsty Yallop (Kristianstads DFF, Sweden) this year.

“Over the last few years the Ferns have been to a World Cup, the Olympics and other international tournaments and our age group teams are also on the world stage so overseas clubs are seeing our players mixing it with the best players in the world and recognising what we are capable of.”

Football Ferns coach John Herdman expected the number of Football Ferns signing professional contacts to increase in line with the rise in number and sustainability of women’s professional leagues around the World.

“There are more and more opportunities for our talented players,” said New Zealand coach John Herdman.

“The chances for university scholarships in the USA and international travel are still there and our New Zealand-based players are Sparc-carded athletes but now aspiring young female footballers can look to the likes of Riley, Smith, Yallop and Moorwood being paid to play the game they love as examples of the possibilities.”

Moorwood has already begun training with her new team at Chelsea’s Cobham-based training grounds – the same facility used by the men’s team – but is expected to return to New Zealand in late September to lead the Football Ferns as they attempt to qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany via the eight nation OFC Women’s Nations Cup at North Harbour Stadium from September 29 to October 8.

August 25, 2010