1978 CENTRE SPOT MAGAZINES
Weekly club newsletter here
1978 NEWSPAPER REPORTS
Weekly Club reports here
SONG SHEETS
The Narrer Knockers song as published in the club mag 13th April 1978, and written by Glen Gray (Gladdis)
When the moon shines on the clubhouse and the match is o’er and won,
You will find us, altogether, boozing up and having fun.
Chorus:
We are the champion drinkers,
cause we do like our beer
We are the Narrer Knockers
Full of fun and good cheer.
So listen and hear,
There is no need to fear!
Our supporters all come with us
To our matches far and near.
You can hear them on the sideline,
“If you lose you’ll get no beer!”
Chorus…
If we lose a game this season,
You’ll not find us sad and glum,
’cause our Coach gives us the message,
“Wait ’till training night, you bum!”
Chorus…
When you see us on the paddock,
Don’t we make a lovely sight?
For we look like jolly green giants
And play like dy-no-mite.
Chorus…
Now you’ve seen us, and you’ve heard us,
So you know just who we are.
When you come to our new clubrooms,
You’ll be welcome at the bar.
Chorus…
Voluntary Labour
The shop, the kitchen, the toilets they say,
Due to the labourers are well on their way.
The chill-room is there, though naked of beer;
To the boys working there it must surely bring tears.
This poem was written to point out to you,
Grateful thanks are due to those boys that were few.
The voluntary labour of all of this crowd
Should make this club thankful, successful and proud.
Building Fever
Our clubrooms – what a might feat! Slogging away in the summer heat.
George on the ladder, Charles digging drains, Staff mixing concrete getting ready for the cranes.
The top floor is coming on Tuesday (they say) -Rushing to get it ready for the day.
Jimmy is getting the beer for the men, A break which is needed for them (now and then).
Accident-prone Glen has again cut a finger – Up for a dressing, a beer, and a linger!
Any excuse is better than none! That’s no way to get the building done!
Youth
When I was just a little boy My mother said to me,
“A soccer player, my wee lad, You’re surely going to be!”
After many games and fewer scores, Biased ref’s and stupid laws,
I’ve reached the stage, I’ve had my day – The Coach has stood me down, they say.
My Mother, she was wrong again! To me the ‘fame’ just never came.
How could she lie and let me down?
So, in with the young and out with the old. The young of the club are surely the gold.
To them opportunity and fame in their hand, They can make our club the best in the land.
Cup Time
Oh, to be in Argentina to see my country play!
And join Ally’s tartan army would just make my day.
To cheer the lads in the final would give me the greatest joy
With numerous whiskies and ginger ale I’d feel just like a boy!
And if we didn’t make the grade I’d come home with a grin
To Jimmy’s “Narra Knocker” And say “I’d never bin”!
NGARUAWAHIA HIGH SCHOOL
The 1st XI had a quiet year with only three matches, losing all to Morrinsville, Huntly and Hillcrest. Most Improved player was Brian Harding; Most Outstanding was William Harding.
GIRLS’ SOCCER STARTS
This year was the inaugural year of girls soccer in the Waikato and the local girls were only beaten once in their season. The players and goal-scorers were: Jennifer Clow (15), Joanne Keeley (11), Betsy Maxwell (4), Pae Brown (4), Karina Graves (3), Paula Douglas (3), Kathleen Maru (3), Sabina Vittle (1), Lynnette Karina (1), Diane Fairey, Robin Harris, Gail Dalbeth, Adriana Kaui, Sharon Mabbett, Ann-Marie Wanakore, Diane Edmonds, Rangi Monsall Eileen Harrison.
The Secondary Schools Girls began its inaugural year and NHS entered a very raw team and ended up the season with 13 points from a possible 14. Without access to a school strip the girls purchased their own – white shirt with green trim, black shorts and green socks with a white band.
NHS Girls Results:
v Fraser No.1, 2-0
v Fraser No.2, 2-1 and 3-0
.v Fraser No.3, 1-0 and 5-0
v Fraser No.4, 14-1
v Cambridge, 3-2
v Fairfield, 0-0
v Huntly, 3-1
v Melville, 0-1
v Hillcrest, 3-0
v Hamilton Girls High, 9-0
Played 12, won 10, drew 1, lost 1. Goals for 45, against 6.
NEW COACH
At the beginning of the year the club appointed Dave Hall as senior coach, an association that was to eventually take the club into Northern League 1st Division. Dave had had a playing stint for Cameron before coming to Narra for half a season and then moving back into Hamilton.
In 1976 and 1977 Dave held the position of NZFA Coach in the Waikato and it was on the field of play in 1974 that Dave first had a meeting of the bodies when he and George Sunnex met in a crunching tackle that left Dave stretched out in the United v Cameron fixture.
STAF MAGEE
This was the season that Staf Magee really became famous for his pie-eating exploits and was at one stage thinking of challenging the world pie-eating record of 19 in 30 minutes!
NORTHERN SOUTH
This was the year the Northern 4th Division was split into North and South with Narra playing in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty/Taupo region.
PRE SEASON
Early-season training for berths in the senior side saw the following turn up: Sean Finn, Mike Liddle, Jason Cargo, Ken Murray, Malcolm Burt, Steve Williams, Phillip Bullivant, Eddie Carrigan, George Sunnex, Charlie Gorman, Jeff McLaughlan, Ray Guy, Rene Noorland, Tim Coyne, Mark Snowden, Alan Rose, Jim McCaig and Mike Heappey.
A pre-season friendly against Wanderers saw goals scored by Jim McCaig, Mike Liddle, George Sunnex and Phil Bullivant for a 4-3 win.
Another pre-season resulted in Melville 2nd Division winning 3-1 over our 1st Division (goal by Glen Solomon) and the Melville 1st Division winning 2-0 (Pepe Veidema & Tom Finnegan) over our Northern league squad.
CLUBHOUSE
By early March the mezzanine floor of the clubhouse had been poured under the direction of Wal Williamson, with the exception of the terrace area.
CAMBRIDGE PRE SEASON
Narra finished as runners-up to Ellerslie in the Cambridge pre-season Tournament, winning $150.00.
RONNIE JOHNSON MEMORIAL TROPHY
Our Pre-season Ronnie Johnson memorial 3rd Division Tournament was a success for us. On the first weekend of play the results were:
Group 1 W D L Pts
Ngaruawahia 1 2 0 4
Te Aroha 2 0 1 4
Tokoroa 1 1 1 3
Fraser 0 1 2 1
Group 2 W D L Pts
University 2 1 0 5
Hillcrest 2 0 1 4
Cambridge 1 1 1 3
Morrinsville 0 0 3 0
On the second weekend play continued. Semifinals: Te Aroha 1, University 1 (Te Aroha 5-4 pen.) Ngaruawahia 2, Hillcrest 1.
In the finals Ngaruawahia blew Te Aroha away 11-1, even lending them our keeper Sean Finn for the second half! Team and goalscorers were Grant Prendergast, Staf Magee, Ben Henckel, Trevor McLaughlan (1), Jeff McLauglan (3), Steve Buchanan, Jim McCaig, Maurie Frankhouser, Glen Solomon (1), Andy Bell, William Harding, Dean Haggie (4), Bruce McIntosh (1) & Ken Murray (1).
THE GOR’MEN’
Neil and Charlie Gorman featured exclusively in the goal-scoring in the Northern league opening match against Turangi as Narra won 3-0. Chas netted his (a back-pass interception) and then had to leave the field with what was diagnosed as a spiral fracture of the ankle. That same weekend the 3rd Division took to the field with eight of the team experienced goalkeepers! – White, Prendergast, Bell, Henckel, Hill, Duffull, Riches and Wright.
SUBS
The 1978 subs were set at $10 adult, $4 student and $1.50 Junior.
RECIPE
The following is the recipe for THE KNOCKER as devised by Ian Miller and Jim Anderson.
1 part Whiskey, 1 part Bacardi, 1 part Gin, 1 part Delcafe, 1 part Vodka, 1 part Camba, 1 part Jim Beam, 1 dash lemon squash, 1 dash orange squash, 1 drop ginger ale, 1 drop lime juice, 1 dash lemonade, 1 dash lemon, 1 splash orangeade.
PLAYER SHORTAGE
It is well known that teams tend to play better when down on numbers. This was proved so in one of our Waikato 3rd Division matches against Cambridge. Rodney Hill celebrated his birthday by flattening a striker and getting sent off. This was after we had made both of our substitutes! Paul McLennan was soon injured off and we were down to 9 men. With the halftime score at 3-2 to Cambridge the old proverbial finger was pulled out and Staf Magee netted a hat-trick followed by a penalty from Ben Henckel. The first half scorers were Ricky Duffull and Trevor McLaughlan. Final score 6-3 to narra.
CHARLIE’S ANGEL
A very young player was asked if he played for Mr Gorman’s team and was heard to reply “Na! I play for an old man called Charlie!”
ON LEAVE
A club member’s wife was asked how long the clubhouse had been under construction and her replay was “Well, I think it’s about two years now. That was the last time my husband was home on leave!”
NEW BOOTS
George Sunnex and Steve Williams received their new football boots from England but suffered complaints from their wives Janet and Maxine. The wives claim their boots messed up the sheets at night
PIG HUNTING
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest pig-hunting competition, hosted by Narra, got underway again on August 6th with prizes for Biggest Boar $150, Biggest Saw $50, Best Tusks $25 and Longest Tusks $25. The competition is in its 6th year, having been started in 1973 by AFFCo Rangers used to raise funds for their fire-raized clubrooms. The current record was – Boar: D Bradbury 93kg. Sow – W Schubert 56kg.
1978 Northern League Div.4 South Table
NL Div Four South P W D L F A GD Pts
Waikato Unicol 14 11 3 0 51 11 40 25
Rotorua Suburbs 14 8 1 5 40 28 12 17
Taupo 14 9 0 5 32 20 12 16
Tauranga City 14 7 1 6 32 23 9 15
Ngaruawahia Affco U 14 6 3 5 34 30 4 15
Ngongotaha 14 6 0 8 25 27 -2 12
Fraser 14 3 3 8 27 29 -2 9
Turangi Wanderers 14 0 1 13 6 79 -73 3
1978 Ngaruawahia-AFFCo, Northern League Div. 4 South (Matches Played)
Date Venue Opponent Result Goalscorers
1-Apr-78 A Turangi Wanderers Won 3 0 N Gorman 2, C Gorman
8-Apr-78 A Tauranga City Lost 2 4 Carrigan, M Heappey
22-Apr-78 H Fraser Won 3 2 Liddle, J Brown, McLaughlan
6-May-78 A Rotorua Suburbs Lost 1 6 Armstrong
20-May-78 A Waikato Unicol Drew 1 1 McLaughlan
27-May-78 H Ngongotaha Rovers Won 4 1 M Heappey 2, Tozer, McLaughlan
3-Jun-78 H Turangi Wanderers Won 8 3 Tozer 3, M Heappey 2, Murray 2, Own Goal
10-Jun-78 H Tauranga City Won 2 1 J Brown 2
17-Jun-78 A Fraser Drew 1 1 Murray
24-Jun-78 H Rotorua Suburbs Drew 2 2 J Brown, Tozer
1-Jul-78 A Taupo Won 4 3 McLaughlan 2, Tozer, M Heappey
8-Jul-78 H Waikato Unicol Lost 1 2 M Heappey
15-Jul-78 A Ngongotaha Rovers Lost 1 2 M Heappey
22-Jul-78 H Taupo Lost 1 2 J Brown
34 30
COUNTRY FOODS CUP
29-Jul-78 H Fraser Won 2 2 (Unregistered player)
5-Aug-78 A Waikato Unicol Lost 0 3
12-Aug-78 H Tauranga City Won 2 1
19-Aug-78 A Fraser Won 2 0
26-Aug-78 H Waikato Unicol Won 6 1
2-Sep-78 A Tauranga City Won 5 0
23-Sep-78 Taupo Lost 0 3
CHATHAM CUP
29-Apr-78 A Tokoroa Lost 2 4 Bowers, Murray
1978 Ngaruawahia-AFFCo, Northern League Div. 4 South (Appearances)
Starts Sub Goals
Armstrong Tony 1 1 1
Bowers Graham 10 0 0
Brown John 7 2 5
Burt Malcolm 3 1 0
Cargo Jason 2 0 0
Carrigan Eddie 2 0 1
Coyne Tim 5 0 0
Dornan Allen 9 2 0
Finn Shaun 14 0 0
Gorman Charlie 2 2 1
Gorman Neil 3 0 2
Heappey Mike 14 0 8
Liddle Michael 13 1 1
McGhie Barclay 6 1 0
McLaughlan Jeff 12 0 5
Murray Ken 14 0 3
Paul George 7 2 0
Riches Mel 5 0 0
Sturm Doug 6 0 0
Sunnex George 1 0 0
Tozer Jeff 14 0 6
Williams Steve 4 0 0
Own Goal 1
154 12 34
1978 Ngaruawahia-AFFCo, Chatham Cup (Appearances)
Starts Sub Goals
Bowers Graham 1 0 1
Burt Malcolm 1 0 0
Carrigan Eddie 1 0 0
Coyne Tim 1 0 0
Dornan Allen 1 0 0
Finn Shaun 1 0 0
Heappey Mike 1 0 0
Liddle Michael 1 0 0
Murray Ken 1 0 1
Solomon Glen 0 1 0
Tozer Jeff 1 0 0
Williams Steve 1 0 0
11 1 2
1978 Ngaruawahia-AFFCo, Country Foods Cup (Appearances)
Starts Sub Goals
Bowers Graham 1 0 0
Brown John 6 0 7
Burt Malcolm 6 0 0
Cargo Jason 4 0 0
Dornan Allen 6 0 0
Finn Shaun 6 0 0
Gorman Charlie 4 1 3
Hall Dave 0 2 0
Heappey Mike 2 1 2
Liddle Michael 6 0 2
McGhie Barclay 1 0 0
McLaughlan Jeff 3 0 1
Murray Ken 5 0 1
Paul George 2 0 0
Riches Mel 2 0 0
Solomon Glen 0 1 0
Tozer Jeff 6 0 1
Williams Steve 6 0 0
Unknown 11
77 5 17