The WaiBOP United Gazette
Boardroom21 Oct 2030
WaiBOP United part company with Tommy Van Hattum
The statement thanked him for his efforts and wished him well, in that order and in about that many words. The search begins immediately.
Match19 Oct 2030
Nowhere to hide for WaiBOP United
1‑5 against Hawke's Bay United, and no complaints that would survive the replay. The manager spoke about character afterwards; the terraces used shorter words.
Boardroom21 Oct 2030
An empty coaching office at WaiBOP United
There is nobody left to promote and nobody left to run a session. The board have brought in a name the supporters do not know, and the question of how a club gets here will outlast whoever answers it.
Boardroom21 Oct 2030
Interim Coach takes charge at WaiBOP United
“Somebody has to pick the team on Saturday, and this week that is me.” An interim appointment with no promises attached, which is how most of them start.
The dugout21 Oct 2030
Tommy Just says WaiBOP United went back on their word
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Match19 Oct 2030
6 goals as WaiBOP United and Hawke's Bay United go for it
Defending was optional and nobody took up the option. 6 goals between WaiBOP United and Hawke's Bay United, and not one of the people who paid to be there will ask for the money back.
Boardroom21 Oct 2030
5 academy graduates step up at WaiBOP 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.
Squad21 Oct 2030
Ben Stamatelopoulos 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.
Market21 Oct 2030
Ben Garbett steps up from the WaiBOP United academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Ben Garbett 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 Deklan Sutton steps up from the WaiBOP United academy
- Market Monty Kirwan steps up from the WaiBOP United academy
- Market WaiBOP United promote Bill Kirwan from within