1980 National League
Jeff Coulshed's Hamilton team were back in the national league and finished 8th (out of 12).
The programme was pretty basic. 12 pages, newsprint, unstapled.
In this edition v Stop Out, programme editor John Walker fired up: "I hear the Waikato Football Association are threatening to pass a law to stop Rothmans League players from participating in other teams when not engaged in the Rothmans league. I can only say this is a pathetic outlook and could only happen in the Waikato. As one always has the feeling that the powers that be would rather see you lose than win. This is my personal opinion and not necessarily an official comment. I might add also the opinion of the majority in the Hamilton club." Ouch.
Jeff Coulshed's Hamilton team were back in the national league and finished 8th (out of 12).
The programme was pretty basic. 12 pages, newsprint, unstapled.
In this edition v Stop Out, programme editor John Walker fired up: "I hear the Waikato Football Association are threatening to pass a law to stop Rothmans League players from participating in other teams when not engaged in the Rothmans league. I can only say this is a pathetic outlook and could only happen in the Waikato. As one always has the feeling that the powers that be would rather see you lose than win. This is my personal opinion and not necessarily an official comment. I might add also the opinion of the majority in the Hamilton club." Ouch.
1980 National league v Blockhouse Bay
Editorial comment from John Walker
Editorial comment from John Walker
1981 National League
Hamilton, coached Brian Coe and captained by John McDermid, finished ninth in a 12-team league in a season of struggle.
The programme varied between 8-10 pages in various colours, but with very low production values, with editorial often looking like it had come straight off an Imperial 66 typewriter.
In this, the first programme of the season, president John Ross announced plans had been drawn up to erect a new shop, store and referees' changing room, along with a Waikato FA committee room at Muir Park. It never happened, of course. Ross noted Hamilton's financial problems had been minimised by generous support from radio station 1ZH. On matchdays the most noticeable change was the bar was not opened until after the game was over.
Hamilton, coached Brian Coe and captained by John McDermid, finished ninth in a 12-team league in a season of struggle.
The programme varied between 8-10 pages in various colours, but with very low production values, with editorial often looking like it had come straight off an Imperial 66 typewriter.
In this, the first programme of the season, president John Ross announced plans had been drawn up to erect a new shop, store and referees' changing room, along with a Waikato FA committee room at Muir Park. It never happened, of course. Ross noted Hamilton's financial problems had been minimised by generous support from radio station 1ZH. On matchdays the most noticeable change was the bar was not opened until after the game was over.
Hamilton 1981: Jim Barry, Paul Meecham, Mark Cossey, Harry Gilgrist, Roy Little, Laurie Fawcett, Keith Neiderer, Peter Hoebergen, John Whitley, Steve Graham, Dick Plume, Barry McKenzie, Paul Gemmell, John McDermid (C), Graeme Fleming, Peter Moxham, Dennis Wilson. Coach: Brian Coe. Asst: Ron Willcox. Manager: Paul Hendry.
Hamilton AFC Board, 1981, chaired by John Ross. From the home programme v Manurewa, March 15.
1981 Chatham Cup (v East Coast Bays)
Feisty editorial from coach Brian Coe after the previous week's win over Gisborne City:
What a victory, even after the unsporting attitude and bad grace shown after the game by the Gisborne side could not detract from the sheer enjoyment of winning last Sunday. A well deserved victory for all that, and a bonus two points that few people thought we would obtain.
I don't want to dwell on the matter too much but Kevin Fallon was at his worst. His conduct and attitude left me wondering if he has the right to be responsible for young sportsmen in his capacity as coach. The most important requirement for a coach is moral integrity. The young English professional Des Bennett must wonder what he has let himself in for. Fallon's abuse of the young man must do irreparable harm to his confidence. To rule by fear must be to head for disaster. The few friends he had left in Hamilton must be wondering at his behaviour and unsporting attitude. Football is still a game for sportsmen...
Feisty editorial from coach Brian Coe after the previous week's win over Gisborne City:
What a victory, even after the unsporting attitude and bad grace shown after the game by the Gisborne side could not detract from the sheer enjoyment of winning last Sunday. A well deserved victory for all that, and a bonus two points that few people thought we would obtain.
I don't want to dwell on the matter too much but Kevin Fallon was at his worst. His conduct and attitude left me wondering if he has the right to be responsible for young sportsmen in his capacity as coach. The most important requirement for a coach is moral integrity. The young English professional Des Bennett must wonder what he has let himself in for. Fallon's abuse of the young man must do irreparable harm to his confidence. To rule by fear must be to head for disaster. The few friends he had left in Hamilton must be wondering at his behaviour and unsporting attitude. Football is still a game for sportsmen...
1982 National League
Hamilton, coached by Ron Cane, and featuring players such as Mike Groom, Paul Gemmell, Mark Cossey, Graeme Fleming and an aging Roy Little, finished 10th in a 12-team league and were relegated.
The programme had a league-standard cover and 12 inside pages. In this edition guest commentator Steve Waddingham lamented that the league relegated a quarter of its teams every year, and Cane had chosen an "adventurous" youth policy. "Can New Zealand soccer afford to have a league which does not allow coaches to experiment?"
Hamilton, coached by Ron Cane, and featuring players such as Mike Groom, Paul Gemmell, Mark Cossey, Graeme Fleming and an aging Roy Little, finished 10th in a 12-team league and were relegated.
The programme had a league-standard cover and 12 inside pages. In this edition guest commentator Steve Waddingham lamented that the league relegated a quarter of its teams every year, and Cane had chosen an "adventurous" youth policy. "Can New Zealand soccer afford to have a league which does not allow coaches to experiment?"
1984 Northern League
Hamilton again won the northern league under Brian Coe, with a squad that included Roy Little, Gary Dillistone, Keith Niederer, Mark Goodson and Laurie Fawcitt. But in this, the final programme of the season, president Terry O'Donnell said the club had still not secured the major sponsorship required to compete in the national league playoffs.
"From the club point of view it is very disappointing and from Waikato football's point of view it is a major step back... What the club lacks at this present time is the financial impetus to succeed. Because we are the top club in the Waikato the members take the club for granted. We desperately need to change our attitude to one of participating actively in fundraising ventures."
Programme 12 pages, printed in blue. Hamilton had the sponsorship name of Hamilton Zelos, and most folk used to wonder who or what Zelos was. An ad on the programme's inside back page suggests it was a brand of energy converter marketed by Energy Resources International.
Hamilton again won the northern league under Brian Coe, with a squad that included Roy Little, Gary Dillistone, Keith Niederer, Mark Goodson and Laurie Fawcitt. But in this, the final programme of the season, president Terry O'Donnell said the club had still not secured the major sponsorship required to compete in the national league playoffs.
"From the club point of view it is very disappointing and from Waikato football's point of view it is a major step back... What the club lacks at this present time is the financial impetus to succeed. Because we are the top club in the Waikato the members take the club for granted. We desperately need to change our attitude to one of participating actively in fundraising ventures."
Programme 12 pages, printed in blue. Hamilton had the sponsorship name of Hamilton Zelos, and most folk used to wonder who or what Zelos was. An ad on the programme's inside back page suggests it was a brand of energy converter marketed by Energy Resources International.
1985 Northern Premier League
Editorial from Tony Fisher:
Some weeks ago mention was made in this programme about the facilities out club has and how we always seem to take them for granted. At the risk of sounding parochial, a trip around other Swiss Maid clubs soon shows that we are very fortunate and - believe it or not - how organised we are on our match days. For example, I have yet to attend an away match where:
1. There is a sign at the front gate letting you know that you have arrived at the correct ground or at least gives you a clue as to whether or not you are getting warm. Ever had to find the Whitney St ground or East Coast Bays Stadium?
2. You can get a good quality match programme - or any sort of programme for that matter - that doesn't cost you any extra.
3. The home supporters outnumber the visiting supporters by more than 5-1.
We may not be the flashest club around but we are one of the best.
Editorial from Tony Fisher:
Some weeks ago mention was made in this programme about the facilities out club has and how we always seem to take them for granted. At the risk of sounding parochial, a trip around other Swiss Maid clubs soon shows that we are very fortunate and - believe it or not - how organised we are on our match days. For example, I have yet to attend an away match where:
1. There is a sign at the front gate letting you know that you have arrived at the correct ground or at least gives you a clue as to whether or not you are getting warm. Ever had to find the Whitney St ground or East Coast Bays Stadium?
2. You can get a good quality match programme - or any sort of programme for that matter - that doesn't cost you any extra.
3. The home supporters outnumber the visiting supporters by more than 5-1.
We may not be the flashest club around but we are one of the best.
1986 Northern Premier League
In the first programme of the season, chairman Tony Fisher lets rip in a column titled "Fisher's Drivel". Fisher notes that across town Claudelands Rovers have changed their northern league team name to AFC Waikato.
"That must go down as the biggest ever insult to local football clubs or you can call me a DB Shandy drinker! How could the WFA condone a name change like that, one which has many ramifications for the region, including undermining the prestige of other clubs without letting the other clubs have some say on the matter... One of gthe things these people will have to learn is that a name change doesn't make you the top club in the area - consistency and honours not only in the local leagues but the big ones over the years do."
In the first programme of the season, chairman Tony Fisher lets rip in a column titled "Fisher's Drivel". Fisher notes that across town Claudelands Rovers have changed their northern league team name to AFC Waikato.
"That must go down as the biggest ever insult to local football clubs or you can call me a DB Shandy drinker! How could the WFA condone a name change like that, one which has many ramifications for the region, including undermining the prestige of other clubs without letting the other clubs have some say on the matter... One of gthe things these people will have to learn is that a name change doesn't make you the top club in the area - consistency and honours not only in the local leagues but the big ones over the years do."
1986 Northern Premier League
Under new coach Tommy Taylor Hamilton also welcomed a player who was to later become one of Waikato's most influential: Brain Hayes.
The 16-page programme featured a full colour centrespread ad for Farmworld at Mystery Creek all season.
Other major advertisers were major sponsors British Airways, Governors Tavern, Adam & Eve Massage Parlour, and General Tyre Service
Under new coach Tommy Taylor Hamilton also welcomed a player who was to later become one of Waikato's most influential: Brain Hayes.
The 16-page programme featured a full colour centrespread ad for Farmworld at Mystery Creek all season.
Other major advertisers were major sponsors British Airways, Governors Tavern, Adam & Eve Massage Parlour, and General Tyre Service
1986 Northern Premier League v Waitemata City, March 29
Editorial from Tony Fisher.
Editorial from Tony Fisher.
1986 Northern Premier League
Hamilton team line-up
Hamilton team line-up
1986 v Ellerslie, photo of Keith Niederer.
Hamilton programmes maintained their tradition of full-page photos. Caption here reads: "Popular club captain Keith Niederer, who was told by Tommy Taylor to lose a stone when he arrived, has been working hard at it with the aid of a plastic dustbin liner as a sweat shirt. Keep it up, Keith."
Click on photo to enlarge
Hamilton programmes maintained their tradition of full-page photos. Caption here reads: "Popular club captain Keith Niederer, who was told by Tommy Taylor to lose a stone when he arrived, has been working hard at it with the aid of a plastic dustbin liner as a sweat shirt. Keep it up, Keith."
Click on photo to enlarge
1987 Northern Premier League v Waikato FC
16 page programme, with a lengthy coach column and feisty editorial.
For the first time Hamilton AFC found its status as Waikato's premier club overturned with the arrival of the controversial Waikato FC. A private consortium headed by former Hamilton president Terry O'Donnell (and including businessman Paul Fear) leased Claudelands Rovers northern premier league berth, called itself a regional team and invited others to become "feeder clubs" to it - and duly went on to win the league. Roger Wilkinson and Tommy Taylor were Waikato FC co-coaches, while newly arrived Ray MacKintosh - former player-manager of Inverness Caledonian - was at the helm for Hamilton.
Facing Waikato FC was MacKintosh's first home game (March 18) and it finished 0-0 (though Waikato hammered Hamilton 5-0 in the return match at Porritt).
Hamilton chairman John Walker served it to Waikato FC in the programme editorial: "As everyone knows, there has been a lot of publicity about the supposedly Waikato Regional team and feeder clus etc, and as all Hamilton members are well aware, there are not any feeder clubs at all. In essence it is only Claudelands in disguise and while we have no axe to grind with Claudelands it is a pity the oldest club in the Waikato should have let this happen. So far as regional representation on a national basis is concerned, the NZ Football Association are trying to do it back to front, and should be endeavouring to play the National League at the end of the club season when I am sure every member of every Waikato club would be right behind a Waikato Rep team 100 per cent."
Hamilton: B Tourveg, Gavin McCauliffe, Ian Taylor, B Moeller, Grant Hastings, Ken Blucher, Jason Kitchen, Stu Girvan, Eric van Waveren, Keith Mackrell, Graham Whittaker, Keith Neiderer, Scott Dunn, Grant Mawston, Dave Hayes, Paul Neuhausen.
Waikato FC: Gary Dillistone, Graham Nobilo, Chris Roberts, Dave Merritt, Craig Clapson, Lance Edwards, Darren Melville, Neil Morton, Keith Swansbury, David Gross, Greg Larsen, Lance Bauerfiend, Peter Sutcliffe, Laurence Fitzpatrick, Marcus Gerbich.
NB. When a vacancy duly arose in the national league for 1988, Waikato FC's application was turned down by the NZFA, despite having won the northern premier league. Instead, an invitatino was issued to Hamilton and Claudelands Rovers, who jointly formed Waikato United. Seven of Waikato FC's players and coach Roger Wilkinson were then signed for the new entity. Waikato FC went into liquidation, with debts of tens of thousands of dollars.
16 page programme, with a lengthy coach column and feisty editorial.
For the first time Hamilton AFC found its status as Waikato's premier club overturned with the arrival of the controversial Waikato FC. A private consortium headed by former Hamilton president Terry O'Donnell (and including businessman Paul Fear) leased Claudelands Rovers northern premier league berth, called itself a regional team and invited others to become "feeder clubs" to it - and duly went on to win the league. Roger Wilkinson and Tommy Taylor were Waikato FC co-coaches, while newly arrived Ray MacKintosh - former player-manager of Inverness Caledonian - was at the helm for Hamilton.
Facing Waikato FC was MacKintosh's first home game (March 18) and it finished 0-0 (though Waikato hammered Hamilton 5-0 in the return match at Porritt).
Hamilton chairman John Walker served it to Waikato FC in the programme editorial: "As everyone knows, there has been a lot of publicity about the supposedly Waikato Regional team and feeder clus etc, and as all Hamilton members are well aware, there are not any feeder clubs at all. In essence it is only Claudelands in disguise and while we have no axe to grind with Claudelands it is a pity the oldest club in the Waikato should have let this happen. So far as regional representation on a national basis is concerned, the NZ Football Association are trying to do it back to front, and should be endeavouring to play the National League at the end of the club season when I am sure every member of every Waikato club would be right behind a Waikato Rep team 100 per cent."
Hamilton: B Tourveg, Gavin McCauliffe, Ian Taylor, B Moeller, Grant Hastings, Ken Blucher, Jason Kitchen, Stu Girvan, Eric van Waveren, Keith Mackrell, Graham Whittaker, Keith Neiderer, Scott Dunn, Grant Mawston, Dave Hayes, Paul Neuhausen.
Waikato FC: Gary Dillistone, Graham Nobilo, Chris Roberts, Dave Merritt, Craig Clapson, Lance Edwards, Darren Melville, Neil Morton, Keith Swansbury, David Gross, Greg Larsen, Lance Bauerfiend, Peter Sutcliffe, Laurence Fitzpatrick, Marcus Gerbich.
NB. When a vacancy duly arose in the national league for 1988, Waikato FC's application was turned down by the NZFA, despite having won the northern premier league. Instead, an invitatino was issued to Hamilton and Claudelands Rovers, who jointly formed Waikato United. Seven of Waikato FC's players and coach Roger Wilkinson were then signed for the new entity. Waikato FC went into liquidation, with debts of tens of thousands of dollars.