WaiBOP Football Federation

31/05/2026

Congratulations Liam!

May's Ford Fair Play Players of the Month are here!

These players all exemplified great sportsmanship, respect, and teamwork - both on and off the pitch ⚽️

To enter June's competition, head to https://ow.ly/fQW950Z3CBp

30/05/2026

Hamilton Wanderers are through to the next round of the Chatham Cup.

A 4-4 score at the end of regular time Hamilton Wanderers are through to Round 3 of the Chatham Cup! A full time score of 4-4 meant the game went to extra time, with Wanderers slotting another goal one minute into extra time giving them the win.

Our region has another six Chatham Cup games tomorrow, with the David v Goliath match ups of Claudelands Rovers vs Auckland City and Northern United vs Auckland United happening in Hamilton.

Ngaruawahia United host Tauranga City, meaning at least one more WaiBOP team will go through to round 3.

None of the WaiBOP teams made it through in the Kate Sheppard Cup games played yesterday. There's one more game to go for our region being played in Auckland today.

29/05/2026

Junior Football in the King Country happens on a Friday night - so this is the only junior and youth football action for the weekend.

Remember: No Junior Football is scheduled tomorrow due to Kings Birthday weekend. Enjoy the long weekend!

28/05/2026

Tim Payne’s gone viral after an Argentine influencer picked him as the least known player of the World Cup. His insta has gone from less than 5k followers to 675k in two days.

28/05/2026

Round 2 of the Ron White Cup, the Waikato Senior Men’s Knockout Cup, is happening this weekend!

The trophy is named for Ron White, a long-serving administrator in the Waikato Football Association (Waikato FA). Ron joined the WFA in 1949 and became secretary in 1951, a position he held until 1999. He passed away in 2006.

2025 winners of the Cup were Cambridge FC League One and the Plate Ngaruawahia United Presidents

Find the draw and results here: https://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/senior-waikato-cups

Find the draw and results on our website.
Remember to check the draws on Fridays for any last minute changes.

28/05/2026

Cup football is built on one dangerous idea: That the giant can bleed.

This week, The Phantom dives deep into:

🌧️ underdog football culture

🏆 Chatham & Kate Sheppard Cup chaos

⚽ the psychology of giant-killing

🚗 long drives, wet grounds and impossible belief

…and why every small club secretly thinks history might belong to them this weekend.

👉 https://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/166080

Featuring:

Cambridge Football Club - NZ

Papamoa FC

Claudelands Rovers

Hamilton Wanderers FC - Blue Army

Tauranga City AFC

Melville United AFC

Ngaruawahia United AFC - Official

…and the strange madness of knockout football.

People are starting to talk about these articles. Read this week’s Phantom before somebody else sends it to you first.

27/05/2026

Knockout Cup Action!

In the Bay of Plenty, this weekend has Round 1 of the Miller Cup (and round one of the Miller Plate).

The Senior Men’s Knockout Cup and Plate competitions are named for the late Denise Miller, who passed away in 2019.

Denise Miller's incredible commitment to the sport saw her honoured with life memberships of three Tauranga football clubs. She was the first ever AIMS Games football co-ordinator.

Draws and Results are here: https://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/seniors-cups-bay-of-plenty

Remember to check draws on Fridays for any last minute changes!

27/05/2026

Are you coaching a Federation Development League team - or looking to coach one next year? The coaching requirement for these leagues is the Youth Level 2. It could also be really helpful for those who may be looking to coach an AIMS Games team later this year.

The Youth Level Two Coaching Award is for coaches working with 13-19 year old players. The course is aimed at coaches who want to develop a deeper understanding of how to meet the needs of their young players. The course takes the coach through a range of modules targeting specific knowledge and skills and culminates with a practical module that brings much of this knowledge together.

Come and join in the Youth Level two THIS FRIDAY at Links Ave in Tauranga. You don't need to have done the Level 1 course, and you can come along to the practical session before completely the online modules.

Register here:
https://nzflearn.co.nz/?p=80278

26/05/2026

Steven and Seamus are the lads from Hamilton behind the Between Two Beers Podcast. What started out as a football show from a garage is now one of New Zealand's most loved podcasts..... and now, they are going to the FIFA World Cup with a daily show "Between two goals". Watch this space.