The Hawke's Bay United Courier
Player ratings18 Oct 2027
A brace, and Joe Sutton takes the afternoon — 8.02
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Joe Sutton provided it, and the 8.02 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
The dugout18 Oct 2027
James Smith: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Hawke's Bay United have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Market18 Oct 2027
James Stamatelopoulos has one foot out of the door
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Hawke's Bay United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Boardroom18 Oct 2027
Hawke's Bay United tie Clayton Barbarouses down
A new deal for the man in the dugout, and the clearest thing a board can say without calling a press conference about it. Stability is cheap to promise and expensive to deliver.
Squad18 Oct 2027
Words exchanged at Hawke's Bay United
Ashton Rinaldo and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Boardroom18 Oct 2027
5 academy graduates step up at Hawke's Bay United
Senior shirt numbers handed to boys the coaches have known since they were twelve. Most will not make it and all of them have already done the hard part.
The terraces18 Oct 2027
Hawke's Bay United supporters have found a favourite in Tommy Bell
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 22-year-old it feels ownership of. Tommy Bell has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Match16 Oct 2027
Hawke's Bay United get the job done against WaiBOP United
A 2‑0 win over WaiBOP United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Market18 Oct 2027
Deklan Barbarouses steps up from the Hawke's Bay United academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Deklan Barbarouses has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
In brief
- Market One of our own: Ben Nelson joins the Hawke's Bay United first team
- Market Hawke's Bay United promote Monty Nelson from within
- Boardroom A promise the Hawke's Bay United board did not keep