The Southern United Herald
Match17 Oct 2026
Nowhere to hide for Southern United
1‑4 against Auckland City, and no complaints that would survive the replay. The manager spoke about character afterwards; the terraces used shorter words.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Alex Van Hattum keeps Southern United in it on his own
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Oliver Just is a better footballer than he was
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 20 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Boardroom19 Oct 2026
5 academy graduates step up at Southern 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.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Tempers go at Southern United
Noah Just 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.
Market19 Oct 2026
One of our own: Tommy De Vries joins the Southern United first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Tommy De Vries is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market19 Oct 2026
One of our own: James Garbett joins the Southern United first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. James Garbett is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market19 Oct 2026
One of our own: Bill Boxall joins the Southern United first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Bill Boxall is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market19 Oct 2026
Joe Payne steps up from the Southern United academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Joe Payne 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
- The dugout No hiding place for Jake Lewis
- Squad A row about effort at Southern United
- Boardroom Nobody left the Southern United dressing room in a hurry