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Western AFC Juniors | Edition 7 | 2025 Season Update Kia ora whānau, and welcome to your latest Western weekend round-up! 🔥From the Sidelines – Weekend Highlights Western Weekend Recap – Back Into It! After a week of wet lead-up and soggy pitches, the sun finally broke through just in time for kick-off! Sure, there was no shortage of mud, but that didn’t stop our teams from getting stuck in and putting on a show. We hope everyone had a great school holiday break and managed to enjoy some well-earned downtime with the whānau. Despite the chilly air, the energy on the field was electric—bold tackles, slick passing, fearless efforts, and plenty of muddy boots to prove it. From solid defence to team-first play, our players brought the heart and hustle we love to see. 💛A Huge Thank You to Our Western Crew To the volunteers, coaches, refs, and families—thank you for being the backbone of our club. Your support and spirit drive everything we do. 📸 Let’s Capture the Moments & Lend a Hand! ⚽ If you’re on the sideline at your child’s game, we’d love it if you could grab a few photos — especially a team photo or a snap of the POD/MOD winners. Our tamariki absolutely light up when they see themselves celebrated for their efforts and teamwork! Also, don’t be shy to check in with the coach — they’re often juggling a lot! Whether it’s helping co-ordinate the team, running subs, or being on photo duty, every little bit makes a big difference. Let’s support our awesome coaches so they can focus on what matters most — our kids! 🥇 Weekend Highlights: Our Juniors in Action Western FIRST KICKS Well done today everyone!! Thank you so much for coming along, the weather held up, which was awesome! We hope you had a great time, and we look forward to seeing you all again next week! Kelsey, Maggie & Jorja Player of the Day (POD): Brooke Begley - Awesome mahi today, and some great skills during our games and drills - keep up the infectious enthusiasm Moment of the Day (MOD): Ollie Gurr - Well done during our brand new drill with Jorja and Kelsey, you got stuck in!! Keep it up!!
FUN FOOTBALL ⚡ Western LIGHTNING Western Fun Football Derby: Lightning vs. Tornadoes What. A. Match! Goals galore in Saturdays thrilling derby between two fierce Western Rivals. Both teams gave it their all, lighting up the field with energy, supersonic speeds, and love for the gave. Moment of the Day goes to Nixon for his dazzling footwork and unstoppable flanking runs that kept the game super fast paced and parents and caregivers on the edge of their seats. Player of the Day is Oliver! His dedication throughout the season has been incredible, and this Saturday he truly stepped up—breaking up plays, making passes, and showing real heart. Massive shoutout to Arron Stewart, our Junior Coordinator, for working behind the scenes to shuffle teams and make sure every squad had the players they needed to compete. Player of the Day (POD): Oliver White Moment of the Day (MOD): Nixon Jarden
🌀 Western STORM What a cracker of a morning for football! The Western Storm hit the pitch with big smiles and even bigger energy. The sun was shining (finally!), and while there was still plenty of mud to slide around in, that only added to the fun! The team played with heart, laughter, and loads of spirit — classic Storm style. Daniel was absolutely unstoppable out there, earning Player of the Day with some awesome play and non-stop hustle. And Henry? Incredible as always — his effort and attitude earned him Moment of the Day and a big cheer from the sidelines! Great vibes, great footy, and great kids. Go Storm! Player of the Day (POD): Daniel Nistor Moment of the Day (MOD): Henry Fuller
🌪️ Western TORNADOES Western Fun Football Derby: Lightning vs. Tornadoes What. A. Match! Goals galore in Saturdays thrilling derby between two fierce Western Rivals. Both teams gave it their all, lighting up the field with energy, supersonic speeds, and love for the gave. Massive shoutout to Arron Stewart, our Junior Coordinator, for working behind the scenes to shuffle teams and make sure every squad had the players they needed to compete. Player of the Day (POD): Corey Mataroria – An absolute dynamite on the field! Moment of the Day (MOD): William Stewart – for an incredible shot at goal!
⚡Western THUNDER It was all go for the Western Thunder on a bright and muddy morning! With the sun finally peeking through and the field still nice and squishy, the kids were all smiles and ready for action. The team gave it everything — chasing the ball, supporting each other, and making sure the sideline stayed entertained! Alfie was a standout with his awesome effort all game, earning a well-deserved Player of the Day. And a special shoutout to Faye, who grabbed Moment of the Day with a brilliant bit of play that had everyone cheering! A top morning out for the Thunder crew — keep bringing the noise! Player of the Day: Alfie Saville Moment of the Day: Faye McGarry
9TH GRADE 🐯 Western TIGERS Very intense game against SASFC this Saturday! They had some borrowed talent from our team, scoring for them! Cheers to Kydin and Ashton volunteering to fill in for the boys in light blue, that's the sportsmanship we praise! Congrats again to the whole team for showing the best attitude in and out the pitch, Go Tigers! Player of the Day (POD): Nico Robin - who displayed some amazing goalkeeping skills! Moment of the Day (MOD): Kenji Blondell - for each and every save and, long past are the days when he was a rookie!!!
10TH GRADE 🦅 Western PHOENIX What a game this was! Every Phoenix player stepped up today and looked up for the challenge. I don't know if it was due to the sun shining or two weeks of holiday during which bugs and colds were dispatched, but there was a sense of urgency that was missing from the last game. The early stages of the game were evenly contested. However, Phoenix's heads didn't drop, and they upped their game to pull two goals back (Leo and Alfie) to go in for oranges. Phoenix started the second half strongly and always looked threatening on attack. It was good to see the players not afraid to shoot when the goal was in sight. This was rewarded by two more goals. The opposition reduced the deficit to set up a fiercely contested last 5 minutes before William won the ball and broke free to score, and settle the game!
😡 Western FURY Great to see everyone on Saturday. Thank you to Rob for refereeing the whole game. Player of the Day (POD): Hunter Hobson - with some hard fought wins on the ball when in defence and some fantastic runs when in the midfield. Nice work today. Moment of the Day (MOD): Hector Cameron - with what was a well deserved goal. Had a couple of strong shots in the first half and nailed his shot to score later. So impressive and very happy to see this today.
GIRLS 🔥 Western FLAMES The Flames played with incredible determination and teamwork, securing a hard-fought win. From the first whistle to the last, their fighting spirit was on full display, refusing to back down in a tightly contested match. Both teams created chances, but it was the Flames’ outstanding goalkeeping in both halves that kept them in the game during crucial moments. Two well taken goals sealing a gritty, passionate performance. Player of the Day (POD): Mikayla Munemo - was everywhere on the pitch fighting for the team. Motivated and determined, her slick heel tap left the crowd buzzing!! Moment of the Day (MOD): Ava Jerneskog - with her one on one goal save in the final seconds.
💥 Western STRIKERS An epic game for the whole team. They all kept their energy up the whole game, even with no subs. Player of the Day (POD): Maddie Shields - for her first hat-trick Moment of the Day (MOD): The Whole Team - for their great teamwork
11TH GRADE ⚔️Western WARRIORS While most of Canterbury was drowning in mud this weekend, the Western Warriors were lucky enough to dodge the worst of it and play on dry ground — and they made the most of it! The boys put in a solid shift, showing great energy and teamwork throughout. It was a hard first half but after the break, the Warriors really hit their stride. With sharper passes, stronger tackles, and plenty of hustle, the second half was all Western. A great game from the lads — plenty to be proud of and even more to build on. Keep it up, Warriors! Player of the Day (POD): Lennox Pryce Moment of the Day (MOD): Zeb Pryce
🗓 Training Logistics 📍 Where: Westminster Park (weather permitting) Thursday Training Times: 4:00–5:00pm – Flames, Strikers, Tigers, Wolves Please arrive 5–10 minutes early so we’re ready to start on time. Training is crucial for building skills, confidence, and chemistry — let’s make every session count! 📣 Team Communication Please keep your coach and team in the loop:
This helps us stay organised and ensures every player gets the most out of each week. 🏅 Weekly Awards
🚨 Upcoming
There’s plenty more to get excited about this season—let’s just hope the weather behaves! Every time you turn up, give it your best, and back your mates, you’re helping create something truly special. Western is more than just football. It’s about friendships, belonging, and being part of something bigger than the game. This club is our community, our whānau—and we’re so glad to have you alongside us for the ride. Let’s go, Western! Coach Arron  |
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Team Photos Event Date: Friday, 15th August Location: Christchurch Football Squash Club, 250 Westminster St Cost: $23 per photo – must be paid on the night (cash or eftpos) Collection: Photos will be ready for collection at prizegiving Schedule: 4:15 PM: Photographer arrives 4:45 PM: First Kicks 5:00 PM: Lightning 5:10 PM: Tornadoes 5:20 PM: Storm 5:30 PM: Thunder 5:40 PM: Tigers 5:50 PM: Wolves 6:00 PM: Strikers 6:10 PM: Flames 6:20 PM: Fury 6:30 PM: Phoenix 6:40 PM: Warriors 6:50 PM: First Team 6:50 PM: Reserves Make ensure to arrive at least 10 minutes prior for your team's photo session! Don't forget to wear your Football gear and clean boots...
Each week, we’re shining a spotlight on our awesome coaches — the legends who volunteer their time to train, guide, and inspire your tamariki. Let’s give them a big shout-out and show our appreciation! |
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Who loves our coaches? WE DO! At Western, we’re proud to have some of the hardest-working volunteer football coaches around – they give their time, passion, and energy to our teams every week. Now it’s our turn to give back! Nominate your favourite Western coach today for McDonalds Community Football Coach of the Year to say THANK YOU and put them in the draw to win some awesome prizes! Let’s show our coaches how much they mean to our players, families, and the entire Western football community. When entering the federation is Mainland Football. If you don’t have your coaches contact details, feel free to use the Western AFC club number: 0274 713 701. Let’s recognise these local legends—the ones inspiring our kids every week. Please vote here: NZ Football - McDonalds Community Football Coach of the Year |
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🏆 Player of the Month Celebration 🗓 Sunday, 27th July 🕙 10:00 AM 📍 Walter Park Get ready, Western whānau – our first Junior Player of the Month Awards for 2025 are set to kick off in style, and this is one event you won’t want to miss! We’ll be shining a light on the incredible effort, improvement, and team spirit shown by our youngest stars across the following grades: 🏅 Award Presentations (in order): • First Kicks • Fun Football • Grade 9 • Grade 10 • Girls Grade 10 • Grade 11 But that’s just the beginning... ⚽ From 10:30 AM, the energy shifts to the sideline as we cheer on all 3 of our Western AFC Women’s Teams in a fantastic morning of football. This is a golden opportunity for our juniors to support and be inspired by our amazing wāhine on the field – including club legends and role models like Kelsey, Maggie, Amber and Krystina. These incredible women are suiting up to show us how it's done! 🌟 PLUS – something extra special for the kids! We’ve got the McDonald’s inflatable football field coming along for the morning – it’s big, bouncy, and guaranteed fun for all ages! 🌭 And of course, our First Team will be firing up the BBQ, serving up sausages and good vibes to keep the whole crew happy and fed. $2 for sausage and bread or can of fizz. Kids free sausage and bread! 💛 Come celebrate, play, support, and connect – it’s set to be an epic day for the whole Western AFC community. See you at Walter Park! |
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⛳️Western Golf Tournament – 10th August 2025 Bottle Lake Golf Club | $30 per person | Ambrose Format Come on Junior Parents – let’s show them how it’s done! Register your team today… Join us for a fantastic day of golf, good food, and great company at the annual Western Golf Tournament! Enter as a team or sign up individually – we’ll match you up with a team if needed. Enjoy a delicious BBQ before and during your round, proudly hosted by our juniors – with all proceeds going toward supporting their programs. After your game, head into the clubrooms for more food and refreshments. 🔥 We’re looking for a few volunteers – both kids and a couple of adults – to help out with the BBQ on the day. If you or your child can lend a hand, please let us know! 🎁 Raffles & Prizes Up for Grabs! We welcome contributions of raffle prizes and would greatly appreciate any suggestions for potential sponsors or donors. Come swing for a cause and make it a day to remember! Please register before 1st August (so we can confirm food & drink) Register Here! Western AFC-Western AFC |
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🔴⚫ Warriors on the Sidelines – and on the Sizzle! ⚽🔥 Our 11th Grade Western Warriors absolutely love backing our First Team – and you’ll find them at every home game, proudly running the sidelines as ball boys. The energy they bring is unreal, and when their very own coach Connor slotted a goal on Saturday... well, the roar from the Warriors was deafening! This week, they added even more to the matchday vibe by firing up Coach Arron’s BBQ – raising funds for their big trip to Nelson for the South Island Junior Tournament. The boys are buzzing for the opportunity and working hard to make it happen. Want to support them? Let us know! And if you haven’t caught a First Team match yet, you’re seriously missing out!! They’re a top side to watch – just ask the Fun Footballers spotted in the crowd on Saturday, absolutely loving every moment as they cheered on their superstar coaches in action! Their next home game is Saturday 26th July @ Walter Park S1, kick off at 2.45pm. The boys would love for you to come and cheer them on! Let’s Go Western!!! |
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