Ben Nelson

Central Defender - Southern United
14 Nov 2026
Saturday
Process
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Marked for Ben Nelson

15 Edition

The Southern United Herald

9 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Crisis

Market9 Nov 2026

Jackson Bailey 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 The request is on a desk at Southern United, and it is not being withdrawn.

The dugout9 Nov 2026

Jordan Vale keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Southern United may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad9 Nov 2026

Jackson Bailey stands alone

7 saves, and a scoreline the ten men in front of him had no right to. Goalkeepers only get noticed on the bad days; this was one of the other ones.

Squad9 Nov 2026

Words exchanged at Southern United

Winston Kirwan 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.

Squad9 Nov 2026

A row about effort at Southern United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Stefan Lockyer was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

Match7 Nov 2026

Southern United come up short against Team Wellington

Team Wellington left with the points after a 0‑2 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.

The dugout9 Nov 2026

Deklan Singh 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.

The dugout9 Nov 2026

Dane Singh: “No excuses”

“I could talk about decisions and I could talk about luck. I will not. We lost.” The manager, 0‑2, and a press conference that lasted four minutes.

The dugout9 Nov 2026

Somebody else is better right now than Clayton Lewis

The team sheet says it in public every week until it changes. The only version of being dropped a footballer cannot argue with, and the one he takes hardest.

In brief

Back issues
14 Edition

The Southern United Herald

2 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad2 Nov 2026

Tempers go at Southern United

Winston Kirwan was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad2 Nov 2026

A row about effort at Southern United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Tommy Lockyer was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout2 Nov 2026

No hiding place for Tommy Lockyer

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Tommy Lockyer, and the manager let it.

Squad2 Nov 2026

Tommy Lockyer is no longer first choice

The manager has re-ordered his thinking and Tommy Lockyer has come out of it lower. He will be told it is temporary, and the players who have heard that before will avoid his eye.

Player ratings2 Nov 2026

Jordan Vale runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 14. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

The dugout2 Nov 2026

Dane Singh: “We have to be better”

“It is not the end of the world and it is not good enough. Both of those are true.” The manager, after a 0‑0 draw, said the honest thing and then went to say it again inside.

The dugout2 Nov 2026

Clayton Lewis dropped after a run of poor form

The one version of being left out a player cannot argue with, and the one he takes worst. Somebody else has been better and the team sheet says so, in public, every week until it changes.

Match31 Oct 2026

Southern United and Canterbury United cancel each other out

Nil-nil, and few chances worth the name. Canterbury United came to defend and left with exactly what they came for.

The dugout2 Nov 2026

Sam Wood does not fit this one

Ninety specific minutes wanted a different sort of player, and the manager picked one. He is not out of form and he is not in the side, and both are true.

In brief

7 Edition

The Southern United Herald

14 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad14 Sep 2026

Words exchanged at Southern United

Winston Kirwan 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.

Transfer targets14 Sep 2026

Door shut on Marco Nelson

Southern United asked and Waitakere United said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.

Squad14 Sep 2026

A row about effort at Southern United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Marco Nelson was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

In brief