The WaiBOP United Gazette
Squad19 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at WaiBOP United
Bill Wood 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.
Boardroom19 Oct 2026
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.
Market19 Oct 2026
Stefan Garbett steps up from the WaiBOP United academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Stefan 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.
Market19 Oct 2026
WaiBOP United promote Matt Smith from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Matt Smith has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market19 Oct 2026
Tommy Lewis steps up from the WaiBOP United academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Tommy Lewis 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.
Market19 Oct 2026
Callum Smith steps up from the WaiBOP United academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Callum Smith 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.
Match17 Oct 2026
A bad afternoon for WaiBOP United against Hawke's Bay United
0‑1 to Hawke's Bay United, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
Kosta Van Hattum 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.
Loan watch19 Oct 2026
Alex Waine wants to come home
“I did not go to Melbourne Victory to sit and watch. I want to come back to WaiBOP United and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 9 matches say the rest.
In brief
- The dugout Marco Payne faces the questions
- Boardroom WaiBOP United turn down the training-ground plan
- Squad Matt Boxall falls out with a teammate over standards