AUCKLAND - There was more good news for Wellington Phoenix fans today with goalkeeper Mark Paston confirming he will be with the club again next season after signing a one-year deal.

The All Whites’ custodian, who had an outstanding A-League season, joins fellow New Zealand international Glen Moss, signed from Gold Coast United, to give the Phoenix arguably the strongest goalkeeping line-up in the competition.

“I feel I’ve still got plenty to offer and am looking forward to next season already,” Paston said.

“Glen and myself have been vying for the goalkeeping spot at the club before, as well as with the All Whites, and it will be good to have such strong opposition for the position.”

The pair will get a chance to size each other up when they go into the All Whites camp on Saturday to prepare for games against Honduras and El Salvador as a lead in to the OFC World Cup qualifying tournament in the Solomon Islands.

“The timing of these games is good for me because I think if you have too long off between seasons the body can relax a bit too much,” Paston said.

“It will be a good lead in to pre-season training, though I will have to take a couple of weeks break for a minor operation to take screws out of my leg.”

Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert is delighted to get the deal to retain Paston over the line.

“Mark had a fantastic season and it was important to keep him at the club,” Herbert said.

“The competition between Mark and Glen has always been hard-fought and I can see that continuing.

“It is great to see two Kiwi boys who have excelled in the A-League at our club.”

AUCKLAND – The New Zealand U-20 women’s football team have begun their tour of USA on a winning note, defeating senior club team LA strikers 3-2 in Los Angeles today.

The Strikers, who play in the second tier of American women’s football, took a sixth minute lead but Liv Chance struck a left foot shot from 20 metres out to level the scores in the 19th minute and then earned a penalty 10 minutes later, which Kate Loye converted to give the Junior Football Ferns a 2-1 halftime lead.

The lead lasted just four minute into the second half but substitute Stephanie Skilton stabbed home a winner, at the second attempt, with 18 minutes remaining.

The Junior Football Ferns are using two matches against club sides – they meet Pali Blues on Friday (NZT) – to build towards Sunday’s U-20 international against the USA which in turn is a benchmark for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan in August.

“It’s always pleasing to win,” said New Zealand coach Aaron McFarland, “but the focus for these first two games was playing our way under pressure from good opposition.”

“The players responded really well. They showed that they want to play, they want to get on the ball and be positive.

“Pali Blues beat LA 2-0 the other day and have some classy players. They play a different style so they’ll provide us with a different challenge. They’ll be a step up but it’ll be a good next step for this team.”

LA Strikers 2 (6’, 49’)
New Zealand U-20 3 (Olivia CHANCE 19’, Kate LOYE pen-29’, Stephanie SKILTON 72’)
Halftime: 1-2

New Zealand: Erin NAYLER (GK), Holly PATTERSON (Stephanie SKILTON 50’), Caitlin SMALLFIELD, Rebekah STOTT, Ashleigh WARD (Rachel HEAD 81’), Kate LOYE (Nadia PEARL 46’), Emily COOPER, Katie BOWEN (Captain), Olivia CHANCE, Hannah WILKINSON (Mary FRASER 70’), Evie MILLYNN (Katie ROOD 50’).
Substitutes not used: Corina BROWN (RGK), Tessa BERGER, Tayla O'BRIEN.
Coach: Aaron MCFARLAND

Junior Football Ferns Schedule
17 May 
New Zealand U-20 v Pali Blues
Home Depot Centre, Los Angeles
5pm (12pm May 18 NZT)

19 May 
New Zealand U-20 v USA U-20
Home Depot Centre, Los Angeles
3pm (10am May 20 NZT)

AUCKLAND – All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has found room in an otherwise full-strength 22-man squad to call up promising England-based youngsters Cameron Howieson and Tim Payne for the OFC Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands and internationals against Honduras and El Salvador.

Herbert has handed recalls to Michael Boxall, Aaron Clapham and Rory Fallon, all of whom missed out on the reduced squad for the ASB Summer International against Jamaica in February, while fit-again goalkeeper Glen Moss also returns.

He has also included teenagers Payne (18) and Howieson (17) with one eye on their All Whites future and one on the London Olympics.

Payne and Howieson both played at the FIFA U-17 World Cup last year with Payne also getting a call up to the New Zealand squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, before both took up offers in England with Blackburn and Burnley respectively.

“Tim and Cameron have both done well to get themselves to professional clubs and Cameron has made his senior debut recently which just continues the promise both players have shown at age group level,” Herbert said.

“We want to get them in and give them a taste of the environment to see if they can make the step the up to international football for the All Whites and the Olympic team.”

The All Whites play the two internationals against CONCACAF opposition in Texas in late May as another potential glimpse of opposition in a World Cup playoff in November 2013, but the first step of that World Cup path starts in the Solomon Islands with the eight nations OFC Nations Cup.

The All Whites play Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the hosts in pool play with the Nations Cup champion representing Oceania at next year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

The tournament’s semi-finalists also progress to the third stage of FIFA World Cup qualifying held during windows in September, October and March. The winner of that stage meets the fourth placed team from CONCACAF for a place at the 2014 World Cup finals.

Herbert is very clear about the priorities among a busy period which would see them play seven internationals in 18 days if they make the final of the OFC Nations Cup.

“First and foremost, we aim to reach the semi-finals of the Nations Cup to book a place in the next stage of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, said Herbert, “then we look at winning the next two games to defend our Nations Cup title and qualify for the Confederations Cup.”

“If we do that we’ll have five games in nine days in the Honiara heat so we will need to manage the paying stocks well and be at the top of our game to navigate some testing fixtures.”

Of the squad named, Tony Lochhead (honeymoon), Rory Fallon (pursuing coaching badges) and Ryan Nelsen (post season break) have been excused from the USA leg of the tour which falls outside of the FIFA international window.

All Whites squad for OFC Nations Cup 2012 and USA tour (club -cap/goals in brackets)
Includes ‘A’ Internationals only
* OFC Nations Cup only
** USA tour only

Goalkeepers
Jake GLEESON (Portland Timbers, USA – 1/0)**
Glen MOSS (Wellington Phoenix – 19/0)
Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix – 29/0)

Defenders
Michael BOXALL (Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN – 3/0)
Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix – 35/0)*
Ryan NELSEN (captain, Tottenham Hotspur , ENG – 46/6)*
Winston REID (West Ham, ENG – 10/1)
Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix – 19/1)
Tommy SMITH (Ipswich Town, ENG – 9/0)
Ivan VICELICH (Auckland City – 74/6)

Midfielders
Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix – 40/0)
Jeremy BROCKIE (Wellington Phoenix – 25/0)
Aaron CLAPHAM (Canterbury United – 5/0)
Cameron HOWIESON (Burnley, ENG – 0/0)
Dan KEAT (Los Angeles Galaxy, USA – 1/0)
Michael MCGLINCHEY (Central Coast Mariners, AUS – 11/1)
Tim PAYNE (Blackburn Rovers, ENG – 0/0)
Marco ROJAS (Melbourne Victory, AUS – 3/0)

Forwards
Kosta BARBAROUSES (Alania Vladikavkaz, RUS – 5/0)
Rory FALLON (Aberdeen, SCO – 11/3 )*
Chris KILLEN (Chongqing, CHN – 40/12)
Shane SMELTZ (Perth Glory, AUS – 37/17)
Chris WOOD (West Bromwich Albion, ENG – 18/2)

Not considered due to injury: Simon ELLIOTT, Craig HENDERSON

Management
Head Coach: Ricki HERBERT
Project Manager: Brian TURNER
Goalkeeper Coach: Clint GOSLING
Technical Support: Neil EMBLEN
Technical Adviser: Raul BLANCO
Sport Scientist: Kenny MCMILLAN
Team Manager: Phil WARBRICK**
Doctor: Chan DASSANAYAKE** / Mark FULCHER*
Physiotherapist: Roland JEFFERY
Massage Therapist: Wade IRVINE
Media Officer: Jamie SCOTT*

All Whites Schedule

USA Tour
New Zealand v El Salvador
May 23, 2012
BBVA Compass Stadium
Houston, USA
8pm local (1pm May 24 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 3

New Zealand v Honduras
May 26, 2012
Cotton Bowl Stadium
Dallas, USA
7.30pm local (12.30pm May 27 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 3

OFC Nations Cup / FIFA World Cup qualifying
2-10 June 2012
Honiara, Solomon Islands.

New Zealand v Fiji
Lawson Tama Stadium
June 2, 12pm (1pm NZT)

New Zealand v PNG
Lawson Tama Stadium
June 4, 12pm (1pm NZT)

New Zealand v Solomon Islands
Lawson Tama Stadium
June 6, 3pm (4pm NZT)

Semi finals
June 8, 11am & 3pm (12pm and 4pm NZT)

Final
June 10, 3pm (4pm NZT)

Chris Kerr, who made his international refereeing debut at the SOuth Pacific Games, is inlcuded with O'KLeary on the referees list while Jan Hintz and Mark Rule are included on the assistant referees list.
 
Three match officials will represent the host nation with Gerald Oiaka, John Saohu and Jackson Namo all making the cut. The other countries represented include Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
 
Appointments for the Nations Cup were based on a number of factors including neutrality, previous experience as well as the potential to officiate at future FIFA events.
 
Massimo Raveino says the selected officials have worked hard for this reward. 
 
“It is important to recognise the commitment of these individuals who continuously strive to raise standards,” says Raveino.
 
“In terms of experience, many have officiated at FIFA World Cups as well as various OFC events. We acknowledge their efforts to date and will now work closely with them to ensure they are at the top of their game for the tournament in June.”
 
The participation of the 18 match officials will be subject to a stringent fitness test to be conducted prior to the tournament. In addition, a FIFA/OFC Elite Refereeing course is set to take place in Solomon Islands from 29-31 May as part of the preparations.

OFC Nations Cup 2012
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ – Oceanian Zone Stage 2 Qualifier
Honiara, Solomon Islands
1-10 June 2012

Referees
Andrew ACHARI (FIJ)
Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA (NCL)
Bruce GEORGE (VAN)
Norbert HAUATA (TAH)
Chris KERR (NZL)
Gerald OIAKA (SOL)
Peter O'LEARY (NZL)
John SAOHU (SOL)
Abdelkader ZITOUNI (TAH)

Assistant Referees:
Paul AHUPU (TAH)
David CHARLES (PNG)
Jan Hendrik HINTZ (NZL)
Michael JOSEPH (VAN)
Ravinesh KUMAR (FIJ)
Tevita MAKASINI (TGA)
Jackson NAMO (SOL)
Terry PIRI (COK)
Mark RULE (NZL)

AUCKLAND – Former Football Fern Emma Humphries will take over responsibility for the continued growth of women’s football in New Zealand after being appointed to the role of Women’s Development Manager at New Zealand Football.

Humphries, 25, played 12 times for the Football Ferns including all three matches at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and has spent the last 18 months working as a football development officer for Capital Football.

The Wellingtonian is excited about taking a new role in a sport she has played since she was four years old.

“There is still massive potential for women’s football and it’s an exciting time to be involved,” said Humphries.

“Nationwide, we saw 19 per cent growth in participation last year and I’d like to see that continue to cement a place among the top female sports in New Zealand.”

New Zealand Football’s Head of Football Development Bev Priestman said Humphries appointment was the next step in the growth of women’s football which has been made a key priority in the NZF strategic plan.

“Emma has a well rounded experience of women’s football here and abroad and the passion and capability to drive the game forward,” Priestman said.

“There was a lot of interest in the role both domestically and from overseas and Emma was the best from a number of high quality applicants.”

“She has played since was young, earned a US scholarship and represented New Zealand around the world. On top of that she’s also done great work in a wider football development role in the Wellington region.”

“Capital Football have told me they are sad to lose her after the work she has done with the Whole of Football plan at a regional level but pleased to see her get this opportunity. I think it shows that we are attracting a high calibre of people to our football development workforce across the country and that there is a pathway for them to progress.”

A regional funding injection will also see women’s development officers appointed on a part or full time basis across the country.

Humphries will start her new role on June 11. 

AUCKLAND – The return to New Zealand of All White Jeremy Brockie capped an eventful weekend for kiwi footballers around the globe.

Asia/Oceania
Brockie, 24, has signed a three year deal with the Phoenix after time spent with Queensland Fury, Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC and New Zealand Knights in the A-League.

Despite scoring nine goals last season, many of them contenders for goal of the season, Brockie’s contract was not renewed by Newcastle and instead he leapt at the chance to move back home.

“I had offers from elsewhere but once the Phoenix showed interest there was only one place I wanted to be,” Brockie said.

Nelson-raised Brockie who turned out for Canterbury United, Hawke’s Bay United and Team Wellington amongst his professional stints was excited about the return.

“It is going to be exciting playing for a professional club in my own country in front of my friends and family.”

In China, Chris Killen’s Chongqing claimed a 0-0 draw with top of the table Shanghai Tellace to move up to second in China League One while Michael Fitzgerald and V-Varen Nagasaki drew 1-1 with lowly Honda Lock but stay in third place in the Japanese Football League.

In continental football, Ivan Vicelich led Auckland City to a 1-0 win over AS Tefana in Tahiti in the second leg of the O-League final, claiming a 3-1 win on aggregate to book a place in December’s FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Europe
On a dramatic final day in the English Premier League on which last-gasp Manchester City claimed their first league title since 1968, Ryan Nelsen came off the bench to play 40 minutes for Tottenham as Spurs beat Fulham 2-0 to clinch fourth place behind the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal.

They now face a nervous wait to see if they qualify for Champions League football next season with Chelsea able to claim England’s fourth spot if they win this year’s continental final against Bayern Munich next Sunday morning (NZT). 

Two days before that, Ria Percival will be playing in the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with her Frankfurt side meeting defending champions Lyon in Munich.

Frankfurt had a cup final on the domestic front to warm up for their tilt at a fourth continental title but lost 0-2 to Bayern Munich in Koln in the final of the DFB Women’s Cup.

Percival was also in the news midweek with Jena announcing they had secured the Football Ferns signature for next season.

Percival will join fellow Football Fern Amber Hearn at Jena who, with two games left in the Frauen Bundesliga are still three points above the drop zone, a situation not helped by a 0-1 loss to Hamburger SV.

However, it would take a remarkable last season rally for Jena to be caught by Lokomotive Leipzig who lost 0-5 to Bad Neuenahr with Sarah Gregorius on the score sheet against international teammate Anna Green.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Smith and Wolfsburg kept the pressure on leaders Turbine Potsdam with a 3-0 over Freiburg this morning. Wolfsburg are just one point behind Potsdam and with two games remaining the title race look set to go down to the wire.

After a long Russian winter season, Kosta Barbarouses is celebrating promotion to the top flight with Alaniya Vladikavkaz who drew 2-2 draw away to Ural to confirm second place. Barbarouses was not involved on match day.

In Scandinavia, two Football Ferns were involved in a top of the table clash in Sweden, with Ali Riley’s LdB Malmö beating Kirsty Yallop’s Vittsjö to hang onto first place.

In Norway’s first division, Kris Bright’s Bryne lost 4-1 to Bodø/Glimt while in Finland, Chris James and Kuopion Palloseura lost 0-2 to Helsingin Jalkapallokub
Back in England Aroon Clansey returned from injury for Liverpool but cound;t prent the Reds falling to a 3-0 loss to league leaders Arsenal.

North America
Across the Atlantic, Dan Keat made his first appearance for the LA Galaxy this season in a 1-1 draw with Montreal Impact on Sunday.

In front of a record Candian crowd of 60, 860, Keat turned out in the unfamiliar role of centre back for the Galaxy who escaped with a point thanks to a trade mark David Beckham free-kick.

Next on the schedule for Keat and his team mates is a visit to the White House on May 15 to meet President Obama, an annual honour afforded to the MLS Champions.

Lower down the league pyramid, Anthony Hobbs debuted for Portland Timbers U-23 in a 3-0 win over Fraser Valley Mariners in the USA Professional Development League, and Michael Boxall appeared for Vancouver Whitecaps’ U-23 in a 2-1 loss to their Seattle Sounders equivalents. 

AUCKLAND – ASB Chatham Cup champions Wairarapa United will begin their defence away to New Plymouth Rangers on Queen’s Birthday Monday following today’s second round draw for the 89 year old knockout competition.

The Masterton based Central League club, who had only one home game in the six victories that took them to last year’s final in Palmerston North will again begin on the road with a trip to the Taranaki Premiership club.

With all remaining seeded teams entering the draw, there are some mouth-watering clashes between regional powers around the country.

Bay Olympic hosts East Coast Bays in Auckland, Wellington United meets Miramar Rangers in the capital, Grants Braes are at home to Caversham in Dunedin and Cashmere Technical faces Halswell United in Christchurch.

However, a couple of Waikato upstarts have avoided the big names with Waikato Unicol drawing Auckland-Northern conference side Oratia United at home, and fellow Waikato-BOP federation league club Otumoetai away to Waitemata.

Auckland Sunday Leaguers Bohemian Celtic will host Northern Premier League side Onehunga Sports while Invercargill’s Old Boys heroics in beating Green Island on Saturday have earned themselves a trip to the Caledonian Ground to take on Southern Premier League leaders Dunedin Technical.

Westlake Boys High School has home advantage against two times winners Manurewa, while Stop Out have the chance to add the scalp of another cup winner to their collection drawing 2009 winners Olympic after ousting three time winners Western Suburbs on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Central League side Maycenvale face a daunting road trip across the width of the North Island from their Hastings base to Inglewood in Taranaki, while Managere United trek south east to meet Whakatane Town in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The ASB Chatham Cup is played along regional lines in early rounds, becoming national at the quarterfinal stage. The final is scheduled for the weekend of August 25 and 26.

View the full second round draw

AUCKLAND – Underdogs around the country enjoyed their day in the sun, with the First Round proper of the 85th ASB Chatham Cup throwing up a score of upsets including an early exit for a recent winner.

Clubs in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty federation league led the way as four clubs claimed the scalps of Northern League first or second division sides with Waikato Unicol’s 2-1 win over Glenfield Rovers the pick of the bunch.

The better part of two divisions separated the sides before the match but the students made the most of home advantage and clinched victory through a 75th minute goal to Rob Sonntag, just five minutes after a Cory Hitchin penalty had cancelled out Hamish Utteridge’s first half opener.

Otumoetai matched the scale of Unicol’s shock result by edging Albany United 4-2 in a tense penalty shootout at Rosedale Park on Auckland’s North Shore. Lee Robinson had given the home side an early lead but Matt Fisher drew Otumoetai level in the 68th minute. The visitors the held their nerve from the spot to reach to go into next week’s draw for second round on Queen’s Birthday Monday.

Ngongotaha and Whakatane Town joined in on the upsets dispatching Northern League second division sides Western Springs and Matamata Swifts 2-1 and 3-2 respectively, while Auckland Sunday leaguers Bohemian Celtic won a seven goal thriller against first division Forrest Hill Milford at Bill McKinlay Park.

Auckland/Northern conference side Waitemata also accounted for a Northern League side beating second division Onehunga Mangere United 4-1 at home.
The most notable scalp among 46 first round ties came in Wellington however, as Capital Premier League strugglers Stop Out knocked out three time winners Western Suburbs at Hutt Park with Martin Packer grabbing two goals in the 3-1 victory over the 2007 champions.

Upper Hutt City also knockout out a Central League side, putting two unanswered goals past Tawa away from home while for the second year running Lower Hutt beat bitter rivals Petone 2-1 with a late goal with Andrew Coad finding the winner in extra time.

The upsets continued in the deep south as Invercargill’s Old Boys edged Southern Premier League side Green Island 3-2. Barra Toubet was the hero for the home side with two goals including the winner late in the game.

On Sunday, a Jindrich Hahn hat trick fired Northern League division two side Tauranga City United to a 3-2 win over division one Metro, while there were big wins for Waiuku, who thumped Cambridge 7-0, and Nelson Suburbs who thrashed eight-man Richmond 8-0. Birkenhead beat Ellerslie 4-1 in Sunday’s other fixture.

The draw for the second round will see the introduction of the last remaining seeded teams from the Northern and Southern regions as well as defending champions Wairarapa United from the Central region.

View all first round results

AUCKLAND – New Zealand’s U-20 women’s football team depart on Sunday for three testing World Cup warm up matches in the USA missing one key player but including a notable new face.

As part of preparations for August’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, the Junior Football Ferns will meet two time U-20 world champions USA in Los Angeles on May 19, preceded by matches against semi professional club sides LA Strikers and Pali Blues on May 15 and 17 respectively.

Talismanic striker Rosie White, who captained the squad through a successful qualifying campaign last month is out of action for at least six weeks due to a stress fracture in her foot that is disrupting her preparations for the London Olympics.

However, a bright spot for New Zealand is the inclusion of Melbourne Victory defender and former Australian U-20 Rebekah Stott, who last night received clearance from FIFA to represent the country of her birth.

The Papamoa-born player moved to Australia as an 11 year old and is seen as a strong contender to force her way into Olympic contention with the full New Zealand side later this year.

Despite White’s absence, the Junior Football Ferns squad still boasts five players with senior international experience, and coach Aaron McFarland is excited about the opportunity to get a near full-strength side together as they build towards Japan.

“Given the crossover in players between our team and the full Football Ferns side, opportunities like this to have the squad together and build cohesion and combinations are relatively rare but extremely important,” McFarland said.

“The USA are consistently among the leaders in women’s football and their U-20s are no exception. They will be among the favourites to lift the title in Japan and they will be a great test for us, as will the two senior club sides.

Junior Football Ferns squad to USA
Goalkeepers
Corina BROWN (Three Kings United)
Erin NAYLER (Eastern Suburbs)

Defenders
Tessa BERGER (Fencibles United)
Katie BOWEN (Captain / Glenfield Rovers)
Rachel HEAD (Lynn Avon United)
Holly PATTERSON (Claudelands Rovers)
Caitlin SMALLFIELD (Glenfield Rovers)
Rebekah STOTT (Melbourne Victory, AUS)
Ashleigh WARD (Glenfield Rovers)

Midfielders
Emily COOPER (Valdosta State University, USA)
Kate LOYE (Claudelands Rovers)
Tayla O'BRIEN (Lynn Avon United)
Nadia PEARL (Fresno University, USA)

Forwards
Olivia CHANCE (Claudelands Rovers)
Mary FRASER (Three Kings United)
Evie MILLYNN (Eastern Suburbs)
Katie ROOD (Lincoln Ladies, ENG)
Stephane SKILTON (Glenfield Rovers)
Hannah WILKINSON (Glenfield Rovers)

Management team
Head Coach: Aaron MCFARLAND
Goalkeeper Coach: Gene GRANGER
Physiotherapist: Catherine PORTEOUS  
Sports Scientist: Harriet STEELE 
Manager: Rob PICKSTOCK  

Junior Football Ferns Schedule
15 May
New Zealand v U-20 v LA Strikers
Home Depot Centre, Los Angeles
5pm (12pm May 16 NZT)

17 May 
New Zealand U-20 v Pali Blues
Home Depot Centre, Los Angeles
5pm (12pm May 18 NZT)

19 May 
New Zealand U-20 v USA U-20
Home Depot Centre, Los Angeles
3pm (10am May 20 NZT)