Waikato club Claudelands Rovers have named Matt Milner as their first team coach for next season’s Lotto NRFL Southern Conference campaign Milner (26) was an assistant coach for Ngaruawahia United in last season’s Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship A former player with Claudelands Rovers and Ngaruawahia United Milner began coaching as a teenager and now holds an OFC/NZF C Licence He joined Ngaruawahia’s coaching staff for the 2022 season in which the club won promotion to the NRFL Championship The club came third in the competition in 2023 and 2024 Claudelands Rovers finished third in last season’s Southern Conference Paul Richardson was head coach for the 2024 season and he’s since become Rovers’ director of football director of football Paul Richardson and new first team coach Matt Milner This story was first published on November 29 A widely-admired former club and regional football administrator Here’s NZ Football’s 12-minute highlights reel from last.. The New Zealand men’s U-20 team will play a two-match series against Chile in June.. Football Ferns midfielder Katie Kitching has been named Player of the Year for her English.. Which teams will go into the men’s A-League finals play-offs with the strongest form Auckland FC have confirmed their home leg of the men’s A-League semi-finals will be played.. A 22-player squad has been named to represent New Zealand at the six-nation FIFA Youth.. Defending champions Auckland United are ready for strong competition at the OFC Women’s Champions League.. May 3-9: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship – qualifying, Tonga (click here for details) May 5-18 (NZT): Auckland United at OFC Women’s Champions League, Tahiti (click here for details) May 16-18: Grand final, women’s A-League (click here for details) Monday May 19 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Switzerland, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details) Tuesday May 20 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Guatemala, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details) May 26-June 3: FIFA international window (women) May 30-June 1: Grand final, men’s A-League (click here for details) May 31-June 1: Second rounds of Chatham Cup June 2-10: FIFA international window (men) Thursday June 5 (7.30am NZT): Chile U-20 v New Zealand U-20, men’s international, Complejo Deportivo Quilín, Santiago (click here for details) Sunday June 8 (7.30am NZT): Chile U-20 v New Zealand U-20, men’s international, Complejo Deportivo Quilín, Santiago (click here for details) Sunday June 8 (11am NZT): All Whites v Côte d’Ivoire, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details) Wednesday June 11 (9am NZT): All Whites v Ukraine, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details) June 15-July 13: FIFA Club World Cup, United States (click here for details) Monday June 16 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Bayern Munich, FIFA Club World Cup, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (click here for details) Saturday June 20 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Benfica, FIFA Club World Cup, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida (click here for details) Wednesday June 24 (7am NZT): Auckland City v Boca Juniors, FIFA Club World Cup, Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee (click here for details) June 23-July 1: FIFA international window (women) July 5-6: Quarter-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup August 1-14: OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, Samoa (click here for details) August 15-30: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, Solomon Islands (click here for details) August 16-17: Semi-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup September 2-9: FIFA international window (men) September 17-24: University of Auckland at FISU Men’s Football World Cup September 20-24: OFC Futsal Men’s Cup September 21-October 4: OFC U-19 Women’s Championship September 27-October 19: FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup September 27-28: Season starts for men’s and women’s National Leagues October 7-15: FIFA international window (men) Wednesday October 15 (k/o TBC): Norway v All Whites, international friendly, Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway (click here for details) October 17-November 8: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Morocco (click here for details) October 20-28: FIFA international window (women) November 4-28 (NZT): FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, Qatar (click here for details) November 10-18: FIFA international window (men) November 17-22: OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League November 21-December 7: FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, Philippines (click here for details) 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers December 13-14: Grand finals of men’s and women’s National Leagues June 12-July 20 (NZT): FIFA Men’s World Cup © 2025 Friends of Football Site designed by Hurricane Press Ltd using - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP My Vaccine Pass requirements have not been set for this event Multi-platinum selling rock band Crowded House have announced their 2024 Australia and New Zealand – Gravity Stairs Tour – in support of the new album which will be released Friday The highly anticipated Gravity Stairs Tour kicks off Saturday November 9 in Wellington and wraps December 14 The next Zuru Nightglow will take place on Saturday It’s all go for the Balloons over Waikato festival next month with the organisers making changes to the Zuru Nightglow Lightning Events said the festival’s grand finale will still be a ticketed event but a new ballot system would be introduced to ensure fairer access to the free tickets people are asked to pre-register via the event’s website between February 4 and 24 with ticket recipients being drawn and notified on three separate dates Balloons over Waikato Trust chairman Steve Gow said the trust had seen a rise in “ticket scalping” over the years “[This] often leaves families and genuine fans missing out or paying inflated prices to attend this free event we’re ensuring everyone has an equal chance to enjoy Hamilton’s most spectacular night out.” at 2pm and closes at midday on February 24 Successful applicants will be notified via email on one of the ballot draw days on February 26 Tickets will be issued per person rather than categorised as child or adult Each transaction will be capped at six tickets and babies under 12 months will not require a ticket Each ticket will be linked to a unique barcode ensuring tickets cannot be resold or exploited by scalpers All unsuccessful applicants will be added to a waitlist which typically draws over 30,000 attendees on the night the balloon-centric light and sound display and fireworks visit the Balloons over Waikato website or follow us on Facebook for live updates 'The team have nailed it – it’s a strategy that everyone can understand.' Transforming a green space into an outdoor concert venue has earned Hamilton’s H3 Group a national award Claudelands Oval was named Best Venue 2021 by the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) at their annual awards function on 26 July This comes after Claudelands Oval had an impressive debut as a concert venue in February last year when it hosted a 25,000-strong crowd for Six60 Saturdays The Hamilton venue triumphed over finalists Whanganui War Memorial Centre for the 2021 Downer New Zealand Masters Games and Christchurch’s Haere-roa for NZ Antarctic Science Conference Claudelands was praised by the award judges for its “first foray into largescale outdoor concerts which was a complex undertaking with multiple stakeholders in the mix” “The Claudelands team rose to the challenge and proved themselves to be agile and thorough – delivering a hugely successful event in a previously underutilised outdoor space Six60 Saturdays was a great example of a venue working for all of its stakeholders.” Managed by Hamilton City Council’s H3 team Claudelands Oval has been the venue for Hamilton’s annual A&P Show and Waikato Show for many years as well as other recent events including Relay For Life and 4 And Rotary Nationals the space is most commonly used for on-site car parking during large events at Claudelands Events Centre and GLOBOX Arena Hamilton City Council General Manager of Venues said transforming this large greenspace into an outdoor concert venue required the H3 team to reimagine and redefine its vision for the area “It was very much a blank canvas when the idea first came about – the beauty of a large outdoor space like this is you aren’t constrained by the four walls of a traditional indoor concert venue so this gave us unlimited scope to play with,” said Murray “Ensuring Claudelands Oval lived up to the vision we had for it as a concert venue required our team to think creatively to determine the best configuration and overlay all of the infrastructure required as well as proactively engage with the client partners and stakeholders such as neighbours to ensure all of their needs were fully understood and met.” After its successful debut for Six60 Saturdays Mr Murray said the H3 team look forward to hosting more live music at the award-winning Claudelands Oval “There are definitely plans in the pipeline for more outdoor concerts at Claudelands Oval so watch this space,” Murray said Other Hamilton events recognised at the NZEA Awards include Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival 2021 which was a finalist for Best Arts or Cultural Event 2021 and Balloons Over Waikato which was shortlisted for Best Community or Not-For-Profit Event 2021 Work to change the road layout along Claudelands Bridge and improve the connection between the central city and the suburbs ends this week with only a small amount of road marking remaining Traffic management structures such as cones and electronic message boards will be removed gradually as road users become familiar with the new layout but no further road closures will be required Hamilton City Council’s City Transportation Manager Jason Harrison says: “A big thank you to Hamiltonians for their patience over the last seven weeks of construction which required the bridge to be closed each night “This is a milestone project for transport in Hamilton and was delivered as part of the Council’s Access Hamilton Strategy after it was identified as a key route in the Hamilton Biking Plan.” The new-look bridge features green road markings called “sharrows” (sharing arrows) sharrows are an internationally recognised symbol and are used by many other cities across New Zealand They appear as a bike symbol with a double chevron above it and indicate the safest part of the road for people to ride their bikes The changes have also seen concrete cycle lane separators used in the city for the first time and a reduction of the speed limit to 30km/hr Textured bands of teal paint have also been applied to the road surface creating a distinctive environment to help keep traffic speeds low and heighten motorists’ awareness of other road users Mr Harrison says: “The completion of this project along Claudelands Bridge is an exciting step in the direction we’re already heading and we’ll be closely monitoring how road users adjust to the new layout over the coming months.” especially at the points where they need to merge from the protected cycle lanes into the flow of traffic If you find yourself driving behind a person on a bike please keep a safe following distance so they don’t feel pressured to move onto the shoulder of the road.” What you need to know about the new road layout: Find out more at www.hamilton.govt.nz/claudelandsbridge It’s become one of New Zealand football’s best trivia questions — who played 63 full internationals for England but played only once for Claudelands Rovers Newcastle United and Southampton star Kevin Keegan a 34-year-old Keegan visited Hamilton to captain a Claudelands Rovers Invitational XI in an exhibition match against a New Zealand selection An estimated 4,500 spectators packed into Porritt Stadium on Easter Monday to see an entertaining game won 5-3 by the New Zealand side Main photo: Kevin Keegan playing for Liverpool in 1977. Photo credit: Creative Commons from Wikipedia The match was refereed by Auckland’s Bill Munro Keegan’s appearance was made possible by Rovers chairman Terry Finlay who had hired Roger Wilkinson as the club’s head coach the first full-time club coach in New Zealand Wilkinson said Finlay was ambitious and wanted to “make an impact” Finlay had been tipped off that Keegan might be willing to visit New Zealand Wilkinson said as well as agreeing to play for Claudelands Rovers’ invitation team making himself available for coaching sessions at different clubs “When you consider that he was such a star at the time Wilkinson said the exhibition match was competitive Keegan started his career at Scunthorpe United in 1968 when he was just 17 where he scored 68 goals in 230 games between 1971 and 1977 He returned back to England and joined Southampton from 1980 to 1982 Keegan moved to Newcastle United from 1982 to 1984 and played 78 games and scored 48 goals and in 1985 he had a brief stint at Blacktown City Keegan had a successful international career from 1972 until 1982 for England Goalkeeper Barry was a popular player in Waikato football Barry died in his 30s but he is remembered at Cambridge where the club’s Player of the Year trophy is named after him a recent arrival in New Zealand when he played beside Keegan playing four games for his adopted country Nixon moved into coaching and coached club and school teams including Melville United (who he led to the 2003 Chatham Cup final) and Hamilton Boys’ High returned to his native England in the late 1980s helping a number of New Zealand players get into pro football and became the manager at York City in 2007 Goalkeeper Van Huttum had a great New Zealand career playing 28 internationals and winning the Chatham Cup with Manurewa in 1978 plays for League of Ireland club Sligo Rovers after a spell at Wellington Phoenix Sumner remains one of New Zealand’s greatest players making 58 appearances for the All Whites and scoring 22 goals between 1976 and 1988 He is remembered at every National League grand final where the Player of the Match is awarded the Steve Sumner Trophy Kevin Fallon became the All Whites head coach in 1985 after previously working with John Adshead with the national side He’s the father of former All White Rory Fallon now director of football at Upper Hutt City Former Oxford United player Ceri Evans was an outstanding centre-half The club celebrated its centenary in June 2023 READ MORE: Claudelands Rovers to celebrate 100th birthday in June >>>> The following is a match programme published by Claudelands Rovers for its Country Foods Soccer League Division Two match against Auckland club Kelston The cover takes full advantage of the club’s association with Keegan Click on the image to read the digital version of the programme: Manchester City and the England national team Waikato-based Max Fletcher is a writer for Friends of Football and is a match analyst for Northern United The Grandstand at Claudelands has closed temporarily for remedial works after borer damage was discovered The borer damage was found when Hamilton City Council staff were carrying out repairs following vandalism earlier this year The repairs required a section of exterior cladding to be removed which uncovered the damage Structural engineering specialists carried out a further assessment on one section of the building and concluded that the venue should shut immediately to allow a full investigation into the extent of the damage and remedial works to be carried out It is not known how long the closure will be required but it is likely to be at least 12 months Hamilton City Council’s General Manager of Venues Tourism and Major Events said The Grandstand is a much-valued building so its temporary closure is disappointing for all involved The Grandstand is a special and unique function space within H3’s suite of venues We are incredibly proud of this building so the discovery of the borer damage was disappointing although we understand it is not unusual in buildings from its era.” The Grandstand was originally built in Cambridge in 1878 using untreated native timbers before being relocated to the Claudelands site in 1887 Mr Murray said the current priority for the H3 team is to work with clients who have existing bookings in The Grandstand to help secure alternative arrangements for their events “We understand the closure is hugely inconvenient for existing clients so we are committed to working with them to find alternative arrangements that they are happy with – this includes accommodating them within our other H3 venues wherever we can.” A business case will be prepared for Council to consider repair options with the report expected to be presented towards the end of the year With The Grandstand being a listed heritage building this is likely to impact the way the issues are addressed and the cost of repairs The current closure is not related to the building’s seismic assessments which were carried out several years ago However the upcoming repairs may enable some of the work identified during its seismic strengthening assessments to be completed at the same time It’s a magic moment for the children of Hamilton as the city’s first fully accessible playground officially opens in Claudelands Park at 5pm tomorrow (Friday 1 December) The new playground was built in collaboration with Hamilton City Council and Magical Bridge Trust; a charitable trust started by passionate members of the disability community The Trust’s mission is to create a fully inclusive playground that removes barriers for individuals and families with physical or neurological disabilities Mayor Paula Southgate said that the project “is part of Council’s commitment to making a more accessible city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and is testament to what can be achieved when we partner with the communities we serve I wish to thank the team at Magical Bridge Trust and all those involved in bringing this magic vision to life.” Every element of the Magical Bridge Playground considers universal accessibility said it’s about giving everyone the chance to play “One in four New Zealanders have a disability of some kind but only 10% of those have visible disabilities We wanted to create a playground that includes everyone – wheelchair users The 8000m2 fenced playground includes 3500m2 of themed zones Fundraising is underway for phase two of the playground a sensory climbing dome and New Zealand’s first Musical Laser Harp Mayor Southgate said “I am immensely proud that Hamilton Kirikiriroa is now home to the first of its kind fully inclusive playground in New Zealand; one that the whole community of all ages and abilities I hope this sets the benchmark for all new playgrounds throughout New Zealand.” “Hamilton is living up to its reputation as city of the future establishing the nation’s initial Changing Places bathroom which provides adequate public changing rooms for people with disabilities and now the first fully inclusive playground in New Zealand.” The formal opening will take place at the playground at 5pm on Friday 1 December Magical Bridge Trust was formed by passionate members of Hamilton’s disability community and is a licensed partner of Magical Bridge Foundation USA designs and builds playgrounds and parks for children and adults of all ages the Magical Bridge Trust New Zealand was formed they partnered with Council to design and build the first international Magical Bridge Playground Stage one was funded through a combination of community grants sponsorship and in-kind donations as well as $1.4 million from Council’s existing renewals budget.  Claudelands Rovers have confirmed Russell Finlay will coach the club’s men’s U-23 side in the Lotto NRFL Southern Conference competition Finlay (47) joined the U-23 coaching staff last season and has previously coached the women’s first team at Rovers and been the club’s youth co-ordinator Rovers men’s head coach Paul Richardson said he and Finlay were looking forward “to building upon everything we put in place in 2023.” Main photo: Paul Richardson (left) and Russell Finlay Please let us know what’s happening at your club Either send us your media releases or send us a link to your announcement/story on your website If we think it’ll interest football fans and our members we’ll do our best to share your news Email us at editor@friendsoffootballnz.com Please add our logo to your club’s website and invite your members and supporters to check us out Works have finished ahead of schedule at the Claudelands East intersections and traffic light upgrades were completed over the last four weeks The Claudelands Road/Grey Street intersection through to the Heaphy Terrace/O’Neill Street/Brooklyn Road intersection was closed for construction to allow critical upgrades for safety Originally expected to be complete by Friday 11 November the intersection was fully reopened to traffic several days earlier Council’s Public Transport and Urban Mobility Manager and the new-and-improved area open earlier than planned.  “We are delighted that we were able to exceed expectations and get a wide range of construction works finished ahead of schedule,” said Parkes.  and our community has told us of their frustrations due to the closure – so being able to successfully deliver this project and reopen as usual has been the focus through managing this project.  “While we do regret the inconvenience over the last few weeks these works were critical to ensure we can continue to meet the demands of our city’s current and future growth – and provide a safe and accessible transport system so we can all continue to get where we need to go.”  Parkes said he understood people’s frustration over the last few weeks but the closure was only for a short period.  “Work could be done in four or five weeks with the intersection closed but would have stretched out to four months if it was open under restricted traffic conditions,” he said.  especially in a growing city with pressure on transport networks.”  The upgrade works include improving pedestrian and biking facilities a no right turn travelling north from Grey Street into Claudelands Road was implemented to streamline traffic turning right into Brooklyn Road.   The improvements also included a complete replacement of the traffic light system through the area – including its underground wiring and connections to power and fibre – which was last upgraded in 1990.  “Replacing the old traffic light system means we can now tweak signals and sequences as well as monitor the traffic data through that area – all of which has huge benefits for both us and our community,” said Parkes.  “Being able to complete this work and fully replace 32-year-old infrastructure means those traffic lights have now been brought onto the same system as the rest of the city.”  Now that the Claudelands East intersection upgrades are complete there are more connected cycle and walkway network links through the area – including those which extend across the Claudelands Bridge and into the city centre For more information on the project and its outcomes, visit hamilton.govt.nz/claudelandsupgrades Change is coming to one of Hamilton’s more complicated intersections as Claudelands East sees much-anticipated safety will be closed for construction from next Monday 10 October for about four weeks while these works are underway is pleased to see the planned upgrades set to begin so it’s critical that we keep improving safety and connections across key areas of our city for road users of all types,” said Parkes “We are focussed on creating and maintaining sustainable and the Claudelands East intersection is a busy The area has been identified as high safety risk it provides an important link to the wider road The improvements to the Claudelands East intersection will address the concerns of road users providing facilities so they can more safely travel through the area a no right turn from Grey Street into Claudelands Road will also be implemented which will streamline the main flow of traffic turning right into Brooklyn Road “We are putting the right transport facilities and services in place so we can continue to meet the demands of our city’s current and future growth – and this includes facilities for people who choose to travel by car “Improving safety across key areas of our city will give the people of Hamilton greater choices to be able to all get where we need to go – no matter how you choose to travel.” While safety upgrades are a critical part of the project there are other elements to the works which require the intersection to close These include traffic signal system upgrades (bringing the Claudelands lights onto the same system as the rest of the city) as well as changes to phasing and signal sequences Construction is planned from Monday 10 October until the first week of November the intersection will be fully closed to vehicle traffic 24 hours a day but all footpaths through the area will remain open for pedestrians and people on bikes to use The Claudelands bridge will also be closed to through traffic but will be open for pedestrians and people on bikes to use Residents and businesses in the construction and surrounding areas will continue to have property access during these works When the Claudelands East intersection upgrades are complete it will link the cycle and walkway network from the events centre This project is joint funded by several areas: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is partly funding the safety improvements Other funding will come from Council’s Biking and Micromobility Programme approved by the Infrastructure Operations Committee in December 2021 and the balance of funding is expected to come from central government’s Climate Emergency Response Fund Transport Choices Package For more information on the intersection safety upgrades click here There are magical times ahead for Hamilton Kirikiriroa – the Magical Bridge trust in partnership with Hamilton City Council will kick off construction of a new all-inclusive playground at Claudelands Park on Monday 8 May A sod-turning ceremony held at Claudelands Playground on Friday 28 April marked the countdown to the construction of the first Magical Bridge playground for New Zealand Aotearoa and Hamilton Kirikiriroa The fully inclusive destination playground will provide a safe place to play for people of all physical capabilities and ages as well as considering the needs of people with intellectual disabilities including autism and sensory Construction will take place in two stages with the first stage expected to take around eight months to complete Magical Bridge Trust CEO Peter van Vroonhoven says the blessing and the start of construction of Hamilton's Magical Bridge Playground is the culmination of almost four years of hard work “It has been a truly humbling experience to have such universal support for the Magical Bridge vision and I can't wait till members of our community “The trust's fundraising efforts so far mean we can deliver an amazing and truly magical play experience Fundraising is ongoing however to be able to deliver the final few pieces of equipment We’d like to thank all those who have helped us get to where we are today - the Council Stage one of construction will see a playground with improved inclusivity built on the existing Claudelands Park playground footprint Stage two will add several more play zones Stage one is fully funded through a combination of community grants sponsorship and in-kind donations as well as funding from Council’s existing renewals budget Chair of the Community and Natural Environment Committee says the Magical Bridge Playground is an exciting addition to Claudelands Park and the wider community "One in four Hamiltonians identify as living with a disability – it's so important that we provide a safe and inclusive play space for people of all ages and abilities,” she said “We are thrilled to be working with Peter and the Magical Bridge team to bring the country’s first playground of its kind to our city creating a more open and welcoming Hamilton Kirikiriroa." You can keep up to date with the project at the Magical Bridge website.  The Trust would like to thank funding partners including the Lotteries Fund Fluhler Contracting and the many more suppliers and professionals who are helping to bring the Magical Bridge playground to life.  The 4000m2 proposed playground will have themed zones and gathering spots to play and relax will be fun play spaces The design will use specific colours and textures for pathways and zones include a sensory garden full of interesting textured plants and surfaces accessible waterplay and user amenities such as shade and drinking fountains Work to change Claudelands Bridge’s road layout and further connect the central business district with suburbs concludes once final road making is finished which is identified as a key route in Hamilton’s Biking Plan and delivered as part of the Council’s Access Hamilton Strategy signals the beginning of a new era for transport in Hamilton with new types of cycling infrastructure introduced These include cycle lanes protected by concrete separators and green road markings called sharrows (sharing arrows) encouraging people on bikes to claim the lane and ride in the flow of traffic textured bands of coloured paint applied to the road creating a distinctive street environment to keep traffic speeds low and heighten motorists’ awareness of other road users These are all tools aiding the design of cycling infrastructure meeting best practice standards and used in many other cities across New Zealand The speed limit has been formally reduced to 30kmh along the length of Claudelands Rd and seven speed platforms have been installed to help keep speeds low and create a safer environment for sharing of the road Jason Harrison says: “This is a milestone project for the city and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to enabling more people to get around using active forms of transport “This is a key deliverable of our Access Hamilton Strategy and was identified as important project in our Biking Plan We want people who bike or walk in to the central city to be able to cross the river safely “It’s also about giving people choices when it comes to transport We need to be smarter and this means embracing new ideas “Once the paintwork is complete along Claudelands Rd and all the signs are up it will be clear how people are expected to use the space “We haven’t been able to create a dedicated cycle lane over the entire length of Claudelands Rd but we’ve come up with a solution providing greater protection to people on bikes and encourages a sharing of the road.” Mr Harrison says drivers need to be aware there will be points where people on bikes will need to merge with vehicles and then ‘claim the lane’ and ride in the flow of traffic Please slow down and give way to people on bikes at these merging points and drive at a safe following distance so they don’t feel pressured to move onto the shoulder of the road Use of the changed road layout will be monitored will be rolled out over the coming weeks to help road users to learn more about the new road layout In the meantime, find out more about the project here and find out more about sharrows here Victoria Street is about to get safer for people on bikes using Claudelands Bridge to head out of the central city Northbound on Victoria Street the right-hand lane between Alma Street and Claudelands Road will be closed to vehicles to allow people on bikes to turn right from Victoria Street onto Claudelands Bridge with their own designated lane and traffic signals Night works are scheduled for Tuesday 8 June to implement the following cycle safety improvements: “This intersection was chosen due to the already established sharrows (share arrows) on Victoria Street and Claudelands bridge and the route being a main thoroughfare for people on bikes” says Council’s Public Transport and Urban Mobility Programme Delivery Lead Martin Parkes “Hamilton City Council has an ongoing focus to provide a transport network that is accessible and allows people to connect with the central city and their neighbourhood in safe and smart ways these safety improvements will increase accessibility between Victoria Street and Claudelands bridge for people on bikes and provide them with a safe way to get around the city” says Parkes Council has previously installed a temporary lane closure to assess and monitor traffic over a two-month period The impact of the lane closure on Victoria Street between Ward Street and Victoria Street and Claudelands Road traffic lights was closely monitored by Council staff during this time Early indications showed the impacts on journey times and queue lengths for general traffic have been minimal Those were all features of the myriad of stands at Hamilton City Council’s fourth Your Neighbourhood event The Your Neighbourhood events are a new community engagement initiative from the Council aimed at taking the organisation’s business and projects to the community The Claudelands event included two features focussed on elections – a Candidates Café and a Mayoral Debate Landscapes Team Leader Zeke Fiske said attendees visiting the Parks and Recreation stand were interested in the city’s playground renewals programme and how developers would contribute to parks in new suburbs Mr Fiske said visitors had also been asking about climate change and had queries about how the Council approached pest plant control was part of a team of staff running the Smart Water stand – where visitors could take away a pocket-sized hour-glass shower timer “The shower timers are to encourage people to use less water and take those shorter showers,” Mrs Sutton said “We’re also talking to people about looking for leaks – a leaking toilet Mrs Sutton said the timing of the event was great for the Smart Water programme with the weather improving and the hottest months of the year not far away “We’re just trying to educate people about what a valuable resource water is Development Programmes Manager Karen Saunders and Strategic Development Manager Andrew Parsons said there was a lot interest in the new bridge over the Waikato River – which would connect the soon to be developed suburb with the rest of the city “The main thing people are interested in is the timings and how we’ll be delivering water and dealing with wastewater,” Ms Saunders said Great River City Communication and Engagement Leader said visitors were particularly in interested in how to stay safe while riding an e-scooter – a new initiative for the city following the recent permitting of global firm Lime to operate in the city “A number of people have enquired about speed limits and how pedestrians and people with mobility scooters can be kept safe,” she said with candidates mixing and mingling with a steady stream of residents quizzing them on a range of topics and policies New Zealand’s first inclusive playground is another step closer to coming to Hamilton Kirikiriroa Hamilton City Council approved the location of Claudelands park alongside the concept designs and staging plan for the ‘magical’ playground to be developed in partnership with Magical Bridge Trust The locally based trust was formed specifically to build the world’s most accessible playground for the residents of Hamilton The fully inclusive playground will be a safe place to play for people of all physical capabilities and ages and meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities including autism and sensory The location of Claudelands was chosen due to its central location set away from busy roads as well as having a safe area for bikes and a car park One in four New Zealanders live with a disability Community Committee Chair Councillor Mark Bunting said that this playground is a great step forward for making our community play areas more friendly and inclusive for everyone to enjoy “Having this world-class playground near the centre of Hamilton Kirikiriroa will not only encourage play in those who feel they can’t use our traditional playgrounds it revolutionises the bounds of play and how we could be more inclusive with our future designs “I am extremely excited about this project and a real sign of the way we want to approach play in this city it’s possible and it’s a fantastic partnership.” Council will contribute a maximum of $1.4 million towards the project from its renewal budget for the existing playground This funding will cover stage one – stages two and three rely on Magical Bridge Trust securing external funding with no obligation on Council to complete these The playground proposal includes three standalone stages with the first stage starting in January 2023 This stage will see a playground with improved inclusivity built on the existing playground’s footprint Stages two and three will add several play zones alongside facilities such as toilets and carparking Magical Bridge Trust will engage with stakeholders and user groups such as Waikato Show Trust local mana whenua and groups including the Disabled Persons Assembly Head Injury Waikato and Sport NZ during the design phase to ensure the final design has play value for all Magical Bridge Trust Co-Founder and Board Chair Peter van Vroonhoven says that a huge amount of mahi with the community has gone into this decision “This is an exciting and momentous decision by the Hamilton City Council and will set the benchmark for other regions of New Zealand Aotearoa to follow This is something our disabled community and their whaanau deserve and have been waiting for.” The 5000m2 proposed playground will have themed zones It will also have fully accessible amenities such as changing rooms The design would also consider specific colours for pathways and zones and user facilities such as shade and drinking fountains Hamilton City Council begins work on an innovative transport project along Claudelands Rd from next Monday The project will include a reduction of the speed limit to 30km/h along the length of Claudelands Rd and new road markings called sharrows (“sharing arrows”) to encourage motorists and people on bikes to share the road safely together freeing up the narrow footpaths for pedestrians The project will also deliver new segments of protected cycleway and speed-calming infrastructure including raised platforms and a new coloured textured pattern on the road designed to keep traffic speeds low Work will be carried between 7pm and 6am starting at the Victoria St end of the bridge While the road will be closed to motorists between these times footpaths will remain open.  Work was originally scheduled to start on this project on 29 July 2019 but was postponed due to the late arrival of some key construction materials City Transportation Unit Manager Jason Harrison says: “This is a new bold initiative for our city and will provide a safer connection to the heart of our city “The Council is committed to encouraging and enabling Hamiltonians to get around our city using active forms of transport and this project signals a bold step in the direction we are heading as a forward-thinking The project will see sharrow road markings used in Hamilton for the first time Sharrows – meaning “sharing arrows” – are an internationally recognised road symbol and have been successfully adopted by many other cities across New Zealand following an extensive trial in 2014 led by the NZTA They will appear on the road as a bike symbol with a double chevron above it Mr Harrison says: “Sharrows are designed to encourage people on bikes to ride in the centre of the lane They are ideal for slower speed environments – like what we are creating on Claudelands Bridge – where it is too narrow for people on bikes to travel safely side-by-side motorists should expect to see bikes travelling further out in the lane along the length of Claudelands Rd and only overtake them when it is safe to do so.” More information about the project and the new sharrow road markings can be found at: www.hamilton.govt.nz/claudelandsbridge Claudelands Rovers have appointed Paul Richardson as the head coach for their Lotto NRFL Southern Conference squad for next season Richardson was assistant coach to Mark Cossey at Rovers last season when the club played in the NRFL second division Richardson was head coach at Cambridge who he joined after a spell with WaiBOP Premiership side Matamata Swifts Rovers said: “We are thoroughly delighted to have Paul continue his journey with Rovers and wish him all the best in his new position.” Richardson said: “I am honoured to take on the Rovers head coach role and continue working to grow the sustainable player pathway from youth to first team via a clear set of standards and values “The role presents an opportunity to work with good people and a talented group of players with the set-up and facilities to attract new players into the group as we work to deliver the performance levels the club deserves as it moves into its 100th year.” Main photo: Paul Richardson … ‘honoured to take on role’ If you belong to a club in the northern or WaiBOP regions please let us know what’s happening at your club Email us at info@friendsoffootballnz.com – thanks Two sections of Claudelands Park will be in use for the annual Waikato A&P Show this weekend The show is a long-running event held at Claudelands and the adjacent Claudelands Park – both of which are managed by Hamilton City Council The A&P Show includes use of two areas within the park specifically for show activities The footprint of the event means temporary fencing will be erected within part of the park and it will be unavailable to the public for the duration of the event The areas are at the southern boundary of the park parts of the Council’s H3/Claudelands operation will be available to the public to the public throughout the A&P Show event Claudelands’ character venue The Grandstand has been given a refresh as it approaches its 140th year The Category II Heritage building was built in 1879 for the Cambridge Jockey Club and was moved to Claudelands by rail in 1886 the building was moved 500m to its current site near Jubilee Bush and restored to serve as a function venue “The Grandstand is such a treasure for Claudelands and our city and region so we are proud to now see it looking its very best,” Currently managed by Hamilton City Council’s event venues division H3 The Grandstand recently had its interior repainted and improved lighting installed and now features new furnishings that better reflect the unique character of the space H3 Director of Business Development and Marketing says the refurbishment has given the space a new lease on life so we are proud to now see it looking its very best,” says McRae it’s very special to now see it in action as a function space where people can gather The Grandstand is currently offering Christmas lunch and dinner packages with plans to launch new celebration packages for weddings and other special occasions in the near future More details about the venue and its packages are available here Claudelands Bridge is closed to vehicle traffic 24 hours a day for four weeks but access remains open for pedestrians and people on bikes Hamilton's Claudelands Bridge is closed to through traffic for four weeks from today while one of the city's more complicated intersections - at the Claudelands end of the bridge - undergoes a significant upgrade but all footpaths through the area will remain open for pedestrians and people on bikes The bridge will also be open for pedestrians and bikes The city council says the Claudelands Rd-Grey St intersection through to the Heaphy Tce-O'Neill St-Brooklyn Rd intersection will be closed for construction until early November for safety upgrades The changes will also have a no right turn from Grey St into Claudelands Rd implemented that the council says will streamline the main flow of traffic turning right into Brooklyn Rd residents and businesses in the construction and surrounding areas will continue to have property access and businesses and shops will remain open The council advises drivers to follow marked detours and for more information, to go to hamilton.govt.nz/claudelandsupgrades Council's public transport and urban mobility manager is pleased to see the much-anticipated upgrades begin so it's critical that we keep improving safety and connections across key areas of our city for road users of all types," says Parkes."We are focused on creating and maintaining sustainable important link in our roading network."While safety upgrades are a critical part of the project and changes to phasing and signal sequences The area has been identified as a high safety risk "We are putting the right transport facilities and services in place so we can continue to meet the demands of our city's current and future growth – and this includes facilities for people who choose to travel by car Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is partly funding the safety improvements Other funding will come from the council's Biking and Micromobility Programme approved by the infrastructure operations committee in December and the balance of funding is expected to come from the central government's Climate Emergency Response Fund Transport Choices Package Traffic is flowing again along one of the main routes in and out of the city as the Claudelands intersection reopens Hamilton City Council reopened Claudelands Bridge to all traffic today after upgrade work was completed earlier than expected at the Claudelands East intersection through to the Heaphy Tce/O'Neill St/Brooklyn Rd intersection was closed for almost four weeks to allow upgrades for safety Originally expected to be complete by Friday the intersection was fully reopened to traffic several days earlier than initially announced The council's public transport and urban mobility manager and the new-and-improved area open earlier than planned "We are delighted that we were able to exceed expectations and get a wide range of construction works finished ahead of schedule," said Parkes and our community has told us of their frustrations due to the closure – so being able to successfully deliver this project and reopen as usual has been the focus through managing this project "While we do regret the inconvenience over the last few weeks these works were critical to ensuring we can continue to meet the demands of our city's current and future growth – and provide a safe and accessible transport system so we can all continue to get where we need to go." Parkes said he understood people's frustration over the last few weeks but the closure was only for a short period "Work could be done in four or five weeks with the intersection closed but would have stretched out to four months if it was open under restricted traffic conditions," he said especially in a growing city with pressure on transport networks." a no-right-turn travelling north from Grey St into Claudelands Rd was implemented to streamline traffic turning right into Brooklyn Rd The improvements also included a complete replacement of the traffic light system through the area – including its underground wiring and connections to power and fibre – which was last upgraded in 1990 "Replacing the old traffic light system means we can now tweak signals and sequences as well as monitor the traffic data through that area – all of which has huge benefits for both us and our community," said Parkes "Being able to complete this work and fully replace 32-year-old infrastructure means those traffic lights have now been brought onto the same system as the rest of the city." Editor May 4, 2022News Make a Comment Today: Claudelands Arena is to be renamed Globox Arena since a new partnership has developed between Hamilton City Council and local media business Globox The venue is a multi-purpose indoor sports & entertainment complex Globox Arena is part of Claudelands Events Centre which contains a 6000-capacity arena and four-star conference & exhibition centre The 6000-seat venue will officially become Globox Arena in September The agreement means media company hold the naming rights to Claudelands Arena for at least five years with the option to extend for another five years in 2026 Councillor Ryan Hamilton said: “The commercial partnership aligns with Council’s vision of shaping a fun city with lots to do “It’s fantastic news for Hamilton Kirikiriroa While the arena remains completely Council-owned and managed this sponsorship will help us offset expenses and enhance the event experience at H3 venues.” The financial details of the agreement remain confidential but the partnership is a win for both parties “Globox is a well-respected local business It will be a fast and exciting transition – in a few short months we’ll all be calling the venue Globox Arena.” Globox Founder Allan Nicholson said the partnership between Globox and Claudelands is an opportunity for Globox to show its continued support for Hamilton “With discussions in place prior to the lockdown I am excited to see the partnership come to life “Globox is a cutting-edge digital out-of-home media company Globox digital billboards will become familiar in cities and towns across New Zealand creating a powerful Hamilton connection when Kiwis visit Globox Arena Hamiton City Venues GM Sean Murray said the arena’s marketing and promotional material will change to feature the Globox brand over the next few months “This is a new and exciting opportunity for our team at H3 Big-ticket events are key to attracting visitors to Hamilton and this partnership will keep us moving from strength to strength Brought to you by TheM+AD TEAM Parts of Claudelands Park will be in use for the Waikato A&P Show this weekend The Waikato A&P Show is on at Claudelands from 26 October to 28 October Because the footprint of the event spreads into the adjacent public park some areas will be fenced off and temporarily unavailable to the public Permission for this has been granted by Hamilton City Council Members of the public planning to use the rest of the park are entitled to do so – they will still have access to a large part of the park and the fluoride-free tap near The Grandstand will remain open at all times for the public to access the playground and the fluoride-free tap – however we expect roads around the venue and park to be busy so we’re urging courtesy and understanding Casual park users should consider walking or riding bicycles to the park to avoid being caught up in possible traffic congestion Six60 performed to a crowd of 25,000 on Saturday night at Claudelands Oval On Saturday I and 24,999 others converged at Claudelands Oval to see Kiwi band Six60 – this was my second time seeing them live and it would be an understatement to say their performance blew me away I maintain the fact that I will continue to go to their summer concerts each year for as long as they keep doing Six60 Saturdays Six60 came on at 9pm and they performed for two hours which is the longest show they have done – it's a testament to their physical and mental fitness It was also the last stop on their 2021 Six60 Saturday's tour and at the end of their set a roar of applause and cheers praised the boys as they gave each other a hug and as Matiu Walters proceeded to sing the chorus of their defining single Don't Forget Your Roots a cappella – I wasn't crying My favourite songs of theirs that they performed on the night were The Greatest Sundown – accompanied by Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri kapahaka group I spoke with the band's bass guitarist before the show and he said they had been so surprised at each of their concerts by how well the crowd knew their new song – and the Hamilton crowd didn't let them down A big smile was plastered across Matiu's face when in unison and loudly everyone sang back to him ''that's all she wrote'' upon testing the crowd on the lyrics they're singing along like they've heard it a million times," said Chris It was the closing of their show that really blew their performance out of the water saying what seemed to be their final goodbyes and thanks - but that wasn't the last we saw of them Lighting turned the stage red and members of Te Pou Mangatāwhiri kapahaka group started to flood the stage They performed two songs with Te Pou Mangatāwhiri Sundown and Don't Forget Your Roots – performed in English and Te Reo Māori The collaboration with the kapahaka group is truly a spectacle showcasing traditional Māori performance in a way like no other "It's been a real pleasure playing across our beautiful country Aotearoa to our beautiful people," said Matiu in his final goodbye to the crowd Legendary guitarist Slash tore things up in Hamilton last night with help from his musical comrades Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators The former Guns 'n' Roses member has been touring with the outfit for several years teaming up to provide an energetic performances that fans at the Claudelands Arena were treated to after which Slash wrote on his Facebook page: "As I anticipated; Hamilton you guys were insane I'll be hearing u guys ringing in my ears tonight This evening will see the group playing at TSB Arena in Wellington before departing the country Photographer Ngamihi Pawa was at the Hamilton show which was supported by local act Devilskin Waikato club Claudelands Rovers is inviting expressions of interest for several coaching positions for its senior men’s teams The club will play in the Lotto NRFL Southern Conference next season following the restructure of the first/second division tiers of competition Rovers seek expressions of interest for roles including: Main photo: The Rovers men’s first team will play in the Lotto NRF Southern Conference in 2023 On its website, the club says: “Expressions of Interest from an ambitious and knowledgeable Head Coach seeking to also bring candidates able to fill all or some of the above positions are also invited “The positions commence from November 1 “The Head Coach role will be based in Hamilton and will see the successful candidate working with a group of players of varying ages and skill levels in turn developing and leading the club’s coaching strategies “As part of this initial expression of interest we are seeking an outline of your coaching history qualifications and an overview of your game ethos and strategies with remuneration based on the qualities of the successful candidate A more detailed job description will be made available to short‐listed candidates in due course “The window for submitting your expression of interest shall close on Sunday October 9 please submit your expression of interest via email with a cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role and attach your football CV “Overseas candidates must be able to successfully apply for a New Zealand work visa “Please email applications to the club president: president@rovers.org.nz Qualities we are looking for in the successful candidates: Claudelands Rovers was founded in 1923 are plan centenary celebrations for next year The club has a total membership of about 450 including senior men and women players a growing youth programme and a well‐established junior programme including First Kicks Claudelands Rovers secured the W-League championship in their last season Claudelands Rovers has signed former Hamilton Wanderers coach Jeff Sole as head coach of their premier women's team The move comes with the prospect of a second chance of Claudelands rejoining the Lotto NRFL Premier League, with Onehunga Sports and Three Kings looking likely to merge as one club under the banner of Auckland United The amalgamation of the two clubs should see Papakura AFC which was last in the LottoNRFL last season with the Northern League saying it's waiting on the completion of the amalgamation "Once that status of that submission is finalised any subsequent impact on available slots in the LOTTO NRFL will be assessed at that point in concert with NFF and WaiBOP Federations," federation communications manager Mark Casson said There is no exact ruling in the Northern Football League regulations for how to proceed with the only reference to promotion and relegation saying "at the conclusion of the Women's Premier League season in an 8-team competition the lowest-placed team will be replaced in the following season by the winner of a two-leg playoff series between the winner of the AFF/NFF Women's Conference and the winner of WaiBOP Football's top Women's League." "Should one team not wish to enter either the AFF/NFF v WaiBOP winner playoff oran NRFL promotion/relegation playoff(s) then the other team shall be deemed tohave won said playoff(s)." "At the conclusion of the Women's Premier League season the lowest-placed team in an 8-team competition is relegated to the relevant Federation competition for the following season While the wait continues to see if Claudelands get their second chance to return to the Northern League their director of football Mark Cossey is excited at the prospect of Jeff Sole leading the team "Jeff brings experience with him that will be vital to making sure we remain one of the top womens team in the Waikato," Cossey said "He has worked in the premier women's set-up at Hamilton Wanderers and he's got the required skills to help the team build on their campaign last season." Sole said he wants to continue to build on the foundation laid by Ballantyne last season "As a club the end goal is still getting back into the Northern League but to be successful in that league we have to continue to grow a player base," Sole said "There's no good winning this possible play-off and then not being able to compete." He said he has kept an eye on the squad during the winter and said the players with the committed attitudes are the ones who will stand out to him "The players that come in and want to play and are 100 per cent committed at training are the ones who will get picked I am into people who want to play for the team and the collective goal Tai and I have." It's a privilege to play in the first team at Claudelands whether you play for New Zealand or whether you're in the A division." "People who work hard and want to listen are those who are going to stand out I'm not interested in players who are about themselves." who coached Claudelands to a W-League championship win and fell one game short of promotion last season "Having that expertise that he brings is only positive for the club." "We are singing from the same song sheet in terms of attitude over ability It's great to hear he has that same ethos around that." Mairehau house fire: Firefighters battle two-storey house blaze 10 patients were assessed and treated by our crews in total Auckland commuters face a chaotic morning after two highways leading into the central city have been majorly disrupted by crashes NZ film industry faces uncertainty over US tariff ongoing decline in livestock numbers and questions over longer sentences reducing reoffending Reporter Sierra is at Magnificent Moa Day where experts are revealing their incredible 3.6 million year-old find Emergency services are attending the fire at a McDonald's on Pakuranga Rd Christopher Luxon holds a post-Cabinet press conference Air New Zealand's chief executive talks about the $490m Dreamliner retrofit and his job Victim of abuse is wanting a judicial review Goodman Group is upgrading Highbrook Crossing to add retail dining and public space to New Zealand’s largest business park in East Tāmaki where hip hop crews from all over the world are battling to see who’s the best and Parliament tackles alcohol and mental health The Coleman family has been melting down precious metals for more than 40 years This is the first time they've shared inside their multi-million dollar gold and silver operation The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking in the Newstalk ZB studio to talk all the big politicial issues Moana Pasifika beat the Highlanders 34-29 in Dunedin Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was joined by Deputy PM Winston Peters and Minister of defence Judith Collins to make a pre-budget defence announcement The NBA star's split-second jab at an Australian reporter’s accent was picked up by microphones and 3D-printed limbs help child amputees in Gaza Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to be joined by Defence Minister Judith Collins and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters make a pre-Budget defence announcement Neighbours heard explosions as a fire ripped through a Mt Roskill house Mum pays tribute after Auckland bus stop killing Australians vote early and insurance companies brace for claims Megyn Cordner and Lucas Prince started their business from the back of a van in 2022 Andrew Che lost his life savings after sending it to the wrong account Barclays Bank has refunded his money after a prolonged battle for compensation Aerial footage reveals the scale of flooding across areas of Canterbury after a destructive weather system hit the region and prompted a state of emergency North Shore real estate agency chief responds to a Real Estate Disciplinary Tribunal decision Mark Mitchell provides an update on the state of emergency in Christchurch and Selwyn A possible mini tornado was spotted about Auckland Harbour as the latest band of wild weather hits the city Fire and Emergency NZ said it responded to more than 30 callouts overnight more Kiwis turning to methamphetamine and Drs are back at the negotiating table NZSA chief executive Oliver Mander speaks about CEO pay in 2024 Waiwhetu woman Julie Paterson heard 'a loud cracking' and saw a tree branch falling towards her during Wednesday's storm Heather Keats updates the powerful system battering New Zealand breaks down why Wellington is under a rare red warning with extreme winds and Local MP Hon Nicola Grigg speak to the media on the local state of emergency in Selwyn Gisborne locals and health workers marched to Heipipi Park where speakers highlighted what they say is a regional health crisis NZ Herald Live: Simeon Brown talks to media Balloons over Waikato is waiting in the wings to celebrate its 25th anniversary next month The festival will bring the magic of hot air balloons to the region again from March 19-23 with all the fan favourites like morning lift-offs will also be a part of this year’s programme and will again take place at Claudelands Oval While the Nightglow has been held at the University of Waikato’s sports fields for a long time the festival organisers made the move to Claudelands Oval last year It is a special place for the festival as the first Nightglow was also held at Claudelands - back in 1999 when there were 10 balloons involved and a crowd of around 4000 attended the Nightglow will again be a free but ticketed event Free tickets will be available from Monday Event organiser Michele Connell previously said they made the move to limit the number of visitors to ensure the event stays family-friendly “Our priority is not so much to be the biggest event and with that many people [attending] in the past the Nightglow attracted around 80,000 people to the University of Waikato sports fields This year the organisers increased the event’s capacity by a further 5000 people a selection of food vendors and entertainment kicking off at 5pm with duo Steve & Kenny followed by band Decibel playing classic rock and pop tunes who will continue performing after the event the orchestrated hot air balloon glow show will get under way Apart from the two special-shaped hot air balloons there are 18 balloons from around New Zealand To find out more visit balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz and follow the event’s Facebook and Instagram for all the most up-to-date flying information There is also information on road closures parking and getting to Claudelands on the Waikato Regional Council’s Park & Ride buses on March 23 for the Nightglow Get the latest Waikato headlines straight to your inbox Monday to Saturday. Register for free today - click here and choose Local News. Hannah Buesnel played a key part in Claudelands' draw against Glenfield Rovers After losing their two opening games of the season with heavy defeats and a goal difference of -21 Claudelands Rovers premier women's third-round match against fellow strugglers Glenfield Rovers was a game that the Hamilton side needed to get something out of as for 20 minutes Claudelands held a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Stella Neems and Bella Stark It was Glenfield's Liz Savage who scored in the 75th minute to allow Glenfield Rovers to secure an equally important point for themselves Claudelands head coach Jeff Sole made changes to his line-up that enabled his team to play a much faster style of football Rhiannon Jones and Hannah Buesnel were standout players at the back while 15-year-old Bella Stark picked up player of the game for her team in a tireless performance While the result still leaves Claudelands at the bottom of the table it could be the turning point in their season Hamilton Wanderers fought back from 2-1 down in their game against Auckland United to claim a hard-earned point against another team that has been struggling to get going this season Michaela Foster continued her goal-scoring exploits after a well-taken effort against Claudelands last week; she opened the scoring for Wanderers in the 43th minute before Auckland United hit back through Martine Puketapu and Ella Russ Former Football Fern Kate Loye pulled Wanderers level late in the second half to secure a point for the Hamilton side and leave them sitting on five points in the middle of the table Hamilton Wanderers picked up their first three points of the season against Western Springs After falling behind early due to a Josh Margetts goal Wanderers bit back and scored two quick goals of their own thanks to Henry Fa'arodo and Tommy Semmy Derek Tieku would add another for Wanderers 10 minutes later before Connor Probert made it a nervy end to the game for Wanderers with a late strike in the last three minutes Melville United continue to languish at the bottom of the table despite a sensational goal from Keiran Richards Andrew Milne opened the scoring for Auckland United before Richards fired home from just inside the Auckland half to level the game Auckland United would break Melville's heart however thanks to two late goals from Monty Patterson and Clayton Lewis both players who have made appearances for the All Whites Claudelands Rovers drew with Franklin United after going 2-0 up Thomas Mouncher and Harry Rose put Claudelands up before Franklin drew the game back level with Claudelands conceding a penalty • Tom Rowland is the team manager of Claudelands Rovers women The expo will occupy all exhibition halls at Claudelands Events Centre is bringing New Zealand's biggest business-to-business trade show back to Hamilton next year Foodstuffs NZ has confirmed it will bring its massive Foodstuff Fresh & Grocery Expo to the Claudelands Events Centre in mid-May 2021 The two-day show will be the biggest in its 15-year history with at least 300 exhibitors and close to 6000 visitors expected Foodstuffs group general manager marketing and customer experience Dominic Quin said he was very pleased to see the expo returning to Hamilton for the first time since 2014 "It's an important opportunity for the whole Foodstuffs network to get together We need a venue that can accommodate 300 stands has good transport links and an experienced Claudelands fits the bill perfectly for us," he said "The team at Claudelands have a great reputation and the way they operate and the service they provide is world-class." Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said securing the expo was a "big deal" for the city given the potential economic impact H3 staff estimate the trade show will be worth upwards of $1.5 million to Hamilton with exhibitors and visitors expected to splash out on local accommodation Those attending would be coming from right across New Zealand with many expected to stay longer that the official two-day show period "At least eight Hamilton-based companies will be providing services to the expo and that alone will create employment for about 80 people "And of course it will bring people to Hamilton who may not have been here before So it's an opportunity for us to showcase our city Given Hamilton is officially New Zealand's most beautiful large city The expo will occupy all exhibition halls at Claudelands and will involve an awards evening and gala dinner for 700 Southgate said Claudelands and other Hamilton venues operated by H3 are currently "on a roll" New Zealand band Six60 will play an outdoor concert at Claudelands in February with other smaller shows confirmed before Christmas Earlier this month the Home and Garden Show at Claudelands had record numbers and last weekend the Women's Lifestyle Expo was in town the Water New Zealand Conference will be held at Claudelands hosting around 900 delegates and exhibitors over three days Cliff Harris has signed up with the Claudelands Rovers as their premier women's coach Claudelands Rovers have looked to strengthen their women's coaching team with the appointment of coach Cliff Harris in preparation for the 2021 Northern League season after Covid-19 provided a saving grace for a team that was destined for relegation The 2020 season was a shock wake up call for Rovers who made their return to Northern League after the Three Kings and Onehunga merger The team managed to pick up only one point and score two goals across the season however due to the second lockdown in Auckland both relegation and declaring a winner was called off It provided Claudelands with the chance to rebuild which has started with the appointment of Englishman Cliff Harris who is known in the Waikato region for his work within the women's football scene said that Harris ticked all the boxes for the club he has worked in football for many years and I think he has the capability to help both develop players and make us a team that will be competitive in the league next year," Cossey said but we are glad to welcome back Jeff Sole as assistant coach We have the Women's World Cup coming up in 2023 and we want to make sure that Claudelands Rovers are one of the top football clubs in the region when these international teams visit." Harris said he was excited to be playing a more active role within women's football with Claudelands and was looking forward to encouraging more females to be a part of the game I've been working in the women's game for a few years now but this year I've decided I want to play a more active role in the scene and provide more good places for females to play train and succeed on the highest stage," Harris said "I firmly believe we can do better at attracting females to the game and we have to provide an enjoyable environment that they can come into "I hope at the end of the year that we could tick the individual goals off that each players have for themselves." The club have also welcomed back coaches Tai Ballantyne and Alastair Mclae as the co-coaches for the Northern League reserve team Stella Neems scored a hat-trick to guide Claudelands to a win over Hamilton Wanderers Claudelands Rovers W-League side claimed another win in their push for promotion after a spirited performance from a depleted Hamilton Wanderers team Wanderers held off Claudelands well in the opening 30 minutes of the first half Georgia Candy had returned to her old position in between the Hamilton Wanderers post while Iona Love took early control of the game with creative distribution to pressure the Claudelands defence with Stacey Palmer breaking the deadlock after creative play from Rhiannon Jones and Rachel Porteous The goals then started to flow for Claudelands with their second a quick three pass counter attack Wanderers forced the ball back to Claudelands keeper Amberley Hollis who played the ball into Porteous She found Paige McCloskey who put through a pin-point pass to Stella Neems who scored her first of the match The third goal was much a replica of the second with Porteous playing the through ball this time to Neems who lifted the ball over Candy to score her second and for the rest of the first half put in a strong defensive performance to stem the goal flow Wanderers' Nina MacKay was making useful runs off the ball but couldn't find a breakthrough herself In the second half Claudelands took control of the game thanks to more strong play from Claudelands midfields Porteous and McCloskey were using the pace of the attacking trio to spring balls over and through the Wanderers' defence to allow Stacey Palmer to score two more to complete her hat-trick Stella Neems chested in her third of the match after a terrific Emily Woollaston delivery to give Claudelands the 6-0 win The WaiBOP W-League will extend to a third round after the withdrawal of Tauranga Blue Rovers with Hamilton Wanderers also set to exit from the league after the completion of the second round The blues also compete in the LottoNRFL Womens premier league which also requires a reserve team.