Football fans boistered by musical interlude
Rhythm off the pitch is being used to help WaiBOP United footballers hit the right notes on the field as well.
For last week’s big game against Auckland City, the Cambridge Brass Band entertained the crowd at John Kerkhof Park with four march tunes at halftime.
And to keep the crowd chanting their support for WaiBOP United, a group of fans brought a bass drum into the Carters Stand, belting out a constant beat throughout the game.
‘‘It’s tremendous that the fans have started to look for ways to bring their own forms of music to help boost the atmosphere at the games,’’ said Josh Easby, secretary of the Cambridge Football Club which is hosting five of the ASB Premiership matches this summer.
‘‘We really enjoyed having the brass band play because their practice rooms are beside our training pitches so we get to hear them but rarely see them.’’ Despite the cacophony of music and chanting, the Aucklanders beat WaiBOP United 2-0 with a performance that reminded a crowd of about 750 why they recently finished third at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.
But WaiBOP are looking to bounce back quickly when they host Wellington Phoenix in the fourth of the five-match Big Summer of Football series.
Phoenix are playing in the ASB Premiership for the first time this season, using the competition to groom their future stars.
Their standout player this summer has been former Waikato player Tyler Boyd who has also played for the Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League and is expected to play for New Zealand in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, WaiBOP supporters and the Cambridge club are expecting to find more novel ways to support the team for the match on Saturday, which kicks off at 3pm.
The club has booked a Brazilian percussion group, Sambatron, to liven up proceedings. A category 4 New Zealand Golf Women’s Order of Merit event is at the Riverside Golf Club on March 14-15. Register now for the Anglesea 36-hole open women’s strokeplay tournament. Details from 0800 626 661 or visit angleseawomens.co.nz.
Golf for beginners
If you want to learn to play golf, Riverside Golf Club is running a ‘‘Golf for Beginners’’ clinic. The clinic runs for six weeks every Thursday at 9.30am, starting tomorrow (February 26) at the Lochiel course (opposite Hamilton Airport). Cost is $100 (incl GST). Clubs provided if required. Details: phone Jan Wilson on 07 855 9810, or Craig Carrington 07 843 6898.