The Hawke's Bay United Courier
Squad23 Nov 2026
A one-man rearguard from Jake Bell
There were 10 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Match18 Nov 2026
Hawke's Bay United march on in the cup
Canterbury United are out and Hawke's Bay United go through, 2‑0 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.
Market23 Nov 2026
Chris Waine puts it in writing
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Hawke's Bay United, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad23 Nov 2026
Monty Reid in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Hawke's Bay United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The terraces23 Nov 2026
One of their own: Jake Bell
He is 22 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
Player ratings23 Nov 2026
A masterclass from Monty Reid
Marked 8.26 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings23 Nov 2026
Clayton Boxall runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 18. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad23 Nov 2026
Liberato Kirwan falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
Liberato Kirwan gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
In brief
- Squad Winston Stamatelopoulos signs a new deal
- Match Honours even between Hawke's Bay United and Southern United
- The dugout Monty Reid has become a man the manager trusts