D'Arcy Waldegrave: Can Auckland FC's fairy tale continue?

Can the fairy tale continue? The page turning epic that has become Auckland FC’s debut season is closing in on the final chapter. What started out as a wonderful picture-book story of a plucky youngster, the second born of two Kiwi teams in the A-League, striving to do their best as the new kid on the block, has developed into a Roy of the Rovers style graphic novel. 

Heroes have been made, stands have been full, chants have evolved, the media has added extra carriages to the band wagon, the Port supporters' mob have become the envy of other sporting teams. The black and blue jerseys have taken centre stage as a symbol of Auckland footballing pride in a city that has regularly chewed through and spat out any thought of a footballing foothold.   

What started as a pipe dream has materialised. They have a fanbase. They have results. They have silverware. It looks like they’ll have their very own shiny new stadium soon too. They should have a women’s team – the sooner the better. They play a brand of football that beckons eyes to the game.   

They are the poster child of the league.   

Auckland FC are tantalisingly close to closing their book as the sporting story of New Zealand and some say regardless of the semifinal and or final results, they have done enough to call their first foray into the world of pro football a success.  

But y’know, they haven’t.  

What the team has achieved will all fade into fogged oblivion if they can’t bring it home.  

Tough call? Hell no. They’ll be thinking exactly the same thing, if they aren’t they can’t call themselves true professionals.  

This fairy tale shouldn’t be a Grimm Brothers reminder of the frailty of a championship run. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Can the fairy tale continue? This page's turning epic that's
become Auckland FC's debut season is closing in on the
final chapter. What started out as a wonderful picture storybook.
It was, wasn't it, of a plucky youngster, second born
of two kimi teams in the A League, striving to
do their best as a new kid on the block.
It's developed into a roy of the Rovers style graphic novel.

(00:34):
Heroes have been made, and stands have been full and
chants of a vold. The media has added extra carriages
to the bandwagon that the ports supporter's mob have become
the envy of other sporting teams. The black and blue
jerseys have taken CeNSE the stage as the symbol of
Auckland footballing pride in a city that is regularly jued
through and spat out any thought of a footballing foothold.

(00:58):
What started as a pipe dream has materialized. They've got
a fan base, they've got results, they've got silverware. It
looks like they'll have the very own shiny new stadium
soon too. Like they should have a women's team sooner
the better, and they play a brand of football that
becons eyes to the game. They are the poster child
of this league, which is good for the league. As

(01:18):
league's crumbling itself, it's another story. Aug Then they FC
are tantalizingly close to closing their book as the sporting
story of New Zealand. And some say, regardless of the
semi final or final results, they've done enough to call
their first foray into the world or pro football a success.
But you know they haven't. What the team has achieved

(01:41):
will all fade into a fog oblivion if they can't
bring it home. Tough call. Hell no, they'll be thinking
exactly the same thing. If they aren't, they can't call
themselves true professionals. This fairy tale shouldn't be a grim
Brothers reminder of the frailty of a championship

Speaker 1 (02:02):
Run for more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy
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