September 5, 2025 • 10 mins
Adam Cooper previews the 2025 finals in football's Kate Sheppard Cup and Chatham Cup with correspondents Hannah Wignall and Dale Warburton.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And it's chats. The women's Kate Shepherd Cup Final, Yes,
the national final being played tomorrow four o'clock at North
Harbor Stadium as part of the doubleheader with the Chatham
Cup Final. And chasing their first title is the Wellington
Phoenix women's academy team, the Phoenix Reserves as they are
formally known, and they're looking to take on and win
(00:20):
the title off last year's champions Auckland United. Let's have
a bit of a preview of this one and our
regular football correspondence is Hannah Wignall, who's with us now.
Morning to you, Hannah, good morning, and I guess this
is the match that everyone playing football right through the
year would want to.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Be in, right, Yeah, this is the match that's epitome
of club club football for women and it's really exciting obviously,
like top teams get through, but every team has a
chance to enter this tournament and has a chance to
make it through, so it is really exciting and it's
(00:58):
an exciting weekend for football in New Zealand or and
specifically Auckland in general.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, with the two finals, but also.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
They're making a bit of a weekend of it with
the all Whites games as well.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, lucky for them. We'll be nice to have some
of these games in Wellington every once in a while. Anyway,
that's beside the point. Let's look at this final. Hannah
Auckland United's defending champions and in the final this year
from our region, the Wellington Phoenix Women's Academy now of
course part of the Phoenix setup, they play in a
men's competition in club football. What the sentiment do you
(01:34):
feel on the Phoenix being able to enter you know,
this competition, the kch Shebd Cup, but now being in
the final two.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, Look, it is complicated and there's a long history
with introducing professional clubs into local competitions. You know, there
is the sentiment that it is necessary to create these
pathways for girls and women to play that to reach
(02:04):
their potential and to potentially get into professional spots. The
nature of the New Zealand club and competition structure is
that we don't have a depth of competitive professional spaces
and so we have to have a hybrid approach where
professional teams are involved and smattered throughout. And I know
(02:26):
that the federations and New Zealand Football try and do
a good job to make sure that that's fair and
that the appropriate rules are applied and followed. But it
is complicated and there is a long history, so I
can't pretend to be an expert on it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
No, it's fair enough. Well, I appreciate your perspective. Nonetheless, Hannah,
And let's look at the game itself, though, how do
you well from what's from what you see from both
teams having a look at their seasons so far, how
do you see it playing out?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So, I mean, I think this is going to be
a really exciting game. Auckland United and Phoenix Phoenix Reserves have.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Played each other before.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Last year, they met in the semi final of the
Kate Shepper Cup. Auckland won that battle to one. In
that game, the Phoenix were up one nil at halftime,
but they ended up losing the game through some sloppy defending.
Watching back the highlights, there were some really obvious mistakes
that were made and the defensive errors will have been
(03:29):
devastating for the Phoenix Because the win was clinched by
Auckland in the last minute of extra time. The Phoenix
will be hungry for revenge in this game, and I
have no doubt that they will have rewatched the previous
semifinal match one hundred times over.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
After beating the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Last year, Auckland went on to win the Kate Shepper
Cup against Western Spring they won one nil. This year,
Auckland have booked their spot in the final after a
one nil win over Eastern Suburbs that was thanks to
a first half goal from Renee Renee Wassi. Renee is
a renowned goal scorer for them. She's been playing for
(04:07):
Auckland United for a number of years and I would
say she would be one to watch.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
In this match. The Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The Phoenix reserves made their way to the final, playing
a tough match against Kashmere Technical.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We've talked about it a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
A player Lily Bradendale, gave the Phoenix a lead in
that match before Kashmere Tech equalized and somewhat ironically, the
Phoenix scored in the final minutes of that game to
seal a two to one win and secure themselves their
first ever Kchepper Cup final. So there is now an
(04:43):
established rivalry between these two teams and whilst Auckland are
the favorites, Phoenix have that the motivation of payback. I
think it will be a really good game. I think
there'll be one goal in it, and I think it'll
be a goalkeepers game. I think we'll see some phenomenal saves.
(05:04):
And so that's four pm on Sunday and you can
watch it for free on FIFA Plus.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So I would say get there. If the weather's bad,
definitely put it.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
On absolutely, or if it's sunny, get the screen out
wherever you are watch it. I think I think you're
right though. The weather's not looking great, which is perfect
for football watching at home. Hannah, great to catch up,
Thanks so much for that, and may the best team win.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I guess, yeah exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Let's go to the men's Chatham Cup final Wellington Olympic.
We'll look to go back to back tomorrow afternoon at
North Harbor Stadium and the national club knockouts competition and
chasing their third title. They've got Auckland United's looking to
try and prevent them from doing so. So let's have
a preview of this one too. Our local football analysts
Dale Warburton, morning to you, Dale, Yeah good, I'm good,
(05:48):
thanks and probably no surprises Dale. From a local perspective
that Wellington Olympic are in another final seeking the defense
of their title and it's Auckland Uniteds this time around.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Out Yeah, I think it's another would expect to be
there or thereabouts coming the end of season. I think
most local what Tonians will probably expect they'll be the
front runner from the Wellingston region. Obviously defending champions were
so we've got a more recent form I think probably
not have probably a little bit of surprise package. They
haven't really had any very deep runs into the inn.
(06:23):
She had a clup of of not in recent years.
I think the best I've done is a round of sixteen.
But this year they finished third and a tight Northern
League to finish last weekend was organized a bit of
a recent club. They sort of formed in twenty twentieth
amalgamation between only on A Sports and three Kings A
(06:45):
coach by Jose Figuerra who has hast down in Willington
as Tom Well and coach.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Probably close to a decade going. They're pretty good run
of form. They've only lost one in their last ten games,
so a bit of experience back the other what Ross.
I have a Landers who's national experienced. I Melodo t Day.
They scored fourteen goals from this season and he's been
around while Inshton as well. There's a little bit of
a one from flavor in there for Olympic I guess
as to say, back to back champions. They've got Ben
Matta back from a holiday overseas, and they've got a
(07:12):
lot lottle experience and their and their ranks, you know,
Scott Pasally and goal and Tour Devnport. Peterson's been excellent midfield.
He's friends in the field as well, and Ash Watsons
can be a goalscoring machine on his day. I think
Olympic I've had a pretty tough run to the final.
They've had all away games and all played against either
Central League or Northern League teams. See last time they
(07:33):
beat Eastern Suburbs on penalties, whereas Orkney Knight I had
a slightly easier run. They're really only faced a top
team in the last couple of rounds, so I think
probably Limpic will go into the game as favorites despite
being away from home. But these games they tend to
be pretty tight fixtures.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Yeah, and Dale, I'm sure from everyone's perspective, fans, coaching staff,
support staff and players that they're probably hoping I won't
go as deep into penalties as it did this time
last year.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
No, I don't.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
I don't think they'll ever read one. I mean maybe
they'll take taste of pride. And they nationed to sneak
past some Suburbs on penalties as well. They went four
to three on beer with scotting the fifth kick in
the Suburbs, so you'd think, yeah, they probably just across
(08:21):
the sea, there would probably just a slight more more quality.
But you know they're still going to turn up on
the day I suppose, but yeah, you could see this
one being quite quite a tighter year.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yep, we'll see how things play out. One o'clock kickoff
at North Harbor Stadium at tomorrow afternoon and Dale let's
go Central leagu Obviously Olympic as we mentioned, winners of
the Central League for another season, but there's also been
the promotion, relegation, all signed and seals.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Yeah, North Wilmington, I guess I finally got relegated. They've
have been battling down the bottom for a long periods
of time, but like they had an almost last late
season form that may have may knock up on them,
but they drew last week and they needed a win
and that can end them down get relegated down to
Central League Two. They've been kind of flirting with allegation
(09:08):
for a few years. The last two seasons they've been
sick and to last, but they've been up since then
the nineteenth so they had a good run of it
and a pretty young squad to be fair this year,
so perhaps not surprising that they finally did to go down.
They'll end up being replaced by if C Weston who
play out of New Plumbers. They won Central League to
the second division, had a pretty strong second half the season.
(09:28):
We've only lost one of the last eleven games to
take the title down there and take the more to
beat out the more fancy teams like Stop Out and
I guess Lower Heart and the like. So they're a
new team and essentially for the first time for a while.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yeah, looking forward to that next year. Dale. Appreciate your
time as always, enjoy the big weekend of football and
we'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Yeah, we'll go chet you later for more from News Talks.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
There'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio.
And it's chats. The women's Kate Shepherd Cup Final, Yes,
the national final being played tomorrow four o'clock at North
Harbor Stadium as part of the doubleheader with the Chatham
Cup Final. And chasing their first title is the Wellington
Phoenix women's academy team, the Phoenix Reserves as they are
formally known, and they're looking to take on and win
(00:20):
the title off last year's champions Auckland United. Let's have
a bit of a preview of this one and our
regular football correspondence is Hannah Wignall, who's with us now.
Morning to you, Hannah, good morning, and I guess this
is the match that everyone playing football right through the
year would want to.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Be in, right, Yeah, this is the match that's epitome
of club club football for women and it's really exciting obviously,
like top teams get through, but every team has a
chance to enter this tournament and has a chance to
make it through, so it is really exciting and it's
(00:58):
an exciting weekend for football in New Zealand or and
specifically Auckland in general.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, with the two finals, but also.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
They're making a bit of a weekend of it with
the all Whites games as well.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, lucky for them. We'll be nice to have some
of these games in Wellington every once in a while. Anyway,
that's beside the point. Let's look at this final. Hannah
Auckland United's defending champions and in the final this year
from our region, the Wellington Phoenix Women's Academy now of
course part of the Phoenix setup, they play in a
men's competition in club football. What the sentiment do you
(01:34):
feel on the Phoenix being able to enter you know,
this competition, the kch Shebd Cup, but now being in
the final two.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, Look, it is complicated and there's a long history
with introducing professional clubs into local competitions. You know, there
is the sentiment that it is necessary to create these
pathways for girls and women to play that to reach
(02:04):
their potential and to potentially get into professional spots. The
nature of the New Zealand club and competition structure is
that we don't have a depth of competitive professional spaces
and so we have to have a hybrid approach where
professional teams are involved and smattered throughout. And I know
(02:26):
that the federations and New Zealand Football try and do
a good job to make sure that that's fair and
that the appropriate rules are applied and followed. But it
is complicated and there is a long history, so I
can't pretend to be an expert on it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
No, it's fair enough. Well, I appreciate your perspective. Nonetheless, Hannah,
And let's look at the game itself, though, how do
you well from what's from what you see from both
teams having a look at their seasons so far, how
do you see it playing out?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So, I mean, I think this is going to be
a really exciting game. Auckland United and Phoenix Phoenix Reserves have.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Played each other before.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Last year, they met in the semi final of the
Kate Shepper Cup. Auckland won that battle to one. In
that game, the Phoenix were up one nil at halftime,
but they ended up losing the game through some sloppy defending.
Watching back the highlights, there were some really obvious mistakes
that were made and the defensive errors will have been
(03:29):
devastating for the Phoenix Because the win was clinched by
Auckland in the last minute of extra time. The Phoenix
will be hungry for revenge in this game, and I
have no doubt that they will have rewatched the previous
semifinal match one hundred times over.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
After beating the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Last year, Auckland went on to win the Kate Shepper
Cup against Western Spring they won one nil. This year,
Auckland have booked their spot in the final after a
one nil win over Eastern Suburbs that was thanks to
a first half goal from Renee Renee Wassi. Renee is
a renowned goal scorer for them. She's been playing for
(04:07):
Auckland United for a number of years and I would
say she would be one to watch.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
In this match. The Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The Phoenix reserves made their way to the final, playing
a tough match against Kashmere Technical.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
We've talked about it a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
A player Lily Bradendale, gave the Phoenix a lead in
that match before Kashmere Tech equalized and somewhat ironically, the
Phoenix scored in the final minutes of that game to
seal a two to one win and secure themselves their
first ever Kchepper Cup final. So there is now an
(04:43):
established rivalry between these two teams and whilst Auckland are
the favorites, Phoenix have that the motivation of payback. I
think it will be a really good game. I think
there'll be one goal in it, and I think it'll
be a goalkeepers game. I think we'll see some phenomenal saves.
(05:04):
And so that's four pm on Sunday and you can
watch it for free on FIFA Plus.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So I would say get there. If the weather's bad,
definitely put it.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
On absolutely, or if it's sunny, get the screen out
wherever you are watch it. I think I think you're
right though. The weather's not looking great, which is perfect
for football watching at home. Hannah, great to catch up,
Thanks so much for that, and may the best team win.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
I guess, yeah exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Let's go to the men's Chatham Cup final Wellington Olympic.
We'll look to go back to back tomorrow afternoon at
North Harbor Stadium and the national club knockouts competition and
chasing their third title. They've got Auckland United's looking to
try and prevent them from doing so. So let's have
a preview of this one too. Our local football analysts
Dale Warburton, morning to you, Dale, Yeah good, I'm good,
(05:48):
thanks and probably no surprises Dale. From a local perspective
that Wellington Olympic are in another final seeking the defense
of their title and it's Auckland Uniteds this time around.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Out Yeah, I think it's another would expect to be
there or thereabouts coming the end of season. I think
most local what Tonians will probably expect they'll be the
front runner from the Wellingston region. Obviously defending champions were
so we've got a more recent form I think probably
not have probably a little bit of surprise package. They
haven't really had any very deep runs into the inn.
(06:23):
She had a clup of of not in recent years.
I think the best I've done is a round of sixteen.
But this year they finished third and a tight Northern
League to finish last weekend was organized a bit of
a recent club. They sort of formed in twenty twentieth
amalgamation between only on A Sports and three Kings A
(06:45):
coach by Jose Figuerra who has hast down in Willington
as Tom Well and coach.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Probably close to a decade going. They're pretty good run
of form. They've only lost one in their last ten games,
so a bit of experience back the other what Ross.
I have a Landers who's national experienced. I Melodo t Day.
They scored fourteen goals from this season and he's been
around while Inshton as well. There's a little bit of
a one from flavor in there for Olympic I guess
as to say, back to back champions. They've got Ben
Matta back from a holiday overseas, and they've got a
(07:12):
lot lottle experience and their and their ranks, you know,
Scott Pasally and goal and Tour Devnport. Peterson's been excellent midfield.
He's friends in the field as well, and Ash Watsons
can be a goalscoring machine on his day. I think
Olympic I've had a pretty tough run to the final.
They've had all away games and all played against either
Central League or Northern League teams. See last time they
(07:33):
beat Eastern Suburbs on penalties, whereas Orkney Knight I had
a slightly easier run. They're really only faced a top
team in the last couple of rounds, so I think
probably Limpic will go into the game as favorites despite
being away from home. But these games they tend to
be pretty tight fixtures.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Yeah, and Dale, I'm sure from everyone's perspective, fans, coaching staff,
support staff and players that they're probably hoping I won't
go as deep into penalties as it did this time
last year.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
No, I don't.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
I don't think they'll ever read one. I mean maybe
they'll take taste of pride. And they nationed to sneak
past some Suburbs on penalties as well. They went four
to three on beer with scotting the fifth kick in
the Suburbs, so you'd think, yeah, they probably just across
(08:21):
the sea, there would probably just a slight more more quality.
But you know they're still going to turn up on
the day I suppose, but yeah, you could see this
one being quite quite a tighter year.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yep, we'll see how things play out. One o'clock kickoff
at North Harbor Stadium at tomorrow afternoon and Dale let's
go Central leagu Obviously Olympic as we mentioned, winners of
the Central League for another season, but there's also been
the promotion, relegation, all signed and seals.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Yeah, North Wilmington, I guess I finally got relegated. They've
have been battling down the bottom for a long periods
of time, but like they had an almost last late
season form that may have may knock up on them,
but they drew last week and they needed a win
and that can end them down get relegated down to
Central League Two. They've been kind of flirting with allegation
(09:08):
for a few years. The last two seasons they've been
sick and to last, but they've been up since then
the nineteenth so they had a good run of it
and a pretty young squad to be fair this year,
so perhaps not surprising that they finally did to go down.
They'll end up being replaced by if C Weston who
play out of New Plumbers. They won Central League to
the second division, had a pretty strong second half the season.
(09:28):
We've only lost one of the last eleven games to
take the title down there and take the more to
beat out the more fancy teams like Stop Out and
I guess Lower Heart and the like. So they're a
new team and essentially for the first time for a while.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yeah, looking forward to that next year. Dale. Appreciate your
time as always, enjoy the big weekend of football and
we'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Yeah, we'll go chet you later for more from News Talks.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
There'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio.
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