Jack Tame: I never thought I'd support Auckland in anything

I never thought I would support Auckland in anything.   

I mean —duh— I’m from Christchurch. When I was a kid, it was a given that Aucklanders were nothing more than latte-swilling, overpriced-haircut-donning, ostentatious-sports-car-driving primadonnas.  

My parochialism isn’t the only force working against Auckland City FC. When the brand-new club kicks off in its very first A-League match this evening, it faces the unique challenge that comes from trying to launch a new team and a new club in a competition which is already well-established.    

Think about it. Most of the teams we support in sporting competitions have either been around since the competition’s inception or have built up a fan base over many decades.  

I support the Crusaders because I was born and raised in Christchurch and when Super Rugby was established, they were everyone-in-my-life’s team.  

I support Liverpool because when I was 6 or 7 and watched football highlights on the news, I asked Dad what English club we supported and stuck with that.   

The Warriors inspire my loyalty because for all the highs and the lows —so many lows— they have endured for thirty years and never really shaken that underdog status. And they’re the New Zealand Warriors. Not the Auckland Warriors. So we’re good.   

Theoretically at least, it’s a bit harder to inspire loyalty in a team that arrives late to the party. Especially when that team is the third Auckland-based professional football club to compete in the Australian top league. RIP the Auckland Kingz and the New Zealand Knights.   

Also, I really love the Wellington Phoenix fan culture. And the club has been playing so well! Maybe I’m wrong, but there’s a risk that any rivalry in a Kiwi derby could feel a little forced, at least early on.   

But, for all of that, Auckland FC has one massive dynamic working in its favour. People in the 09 are so ready for a proper football team. You see it every time the Phoenix play at Eden Park. You see it at All Whites games. You see it on the sidelines of how many thousand junior football games on Saturday mornings. Sure, it may take a few seasons to deepen the well of loyalty, but you would be hard-pressed to find a city or a market on Earth that isn’t hungrier for a team to support.   

And so tonight, I’ll be there. One of more than 20,000 at a sold-out Go Media stadium. I must have a dozen friends attending. Some have already bought season passes.   

You can hold the fancy haircut. Hold the latte. But I’ll be proudly crossing the Rubicon and dressed in blue. And if in years to come anyone should question my loyalty to AFC, well, at least I can say I was there from day one.   

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks ATB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I gotta say I never thought I would support Auckland
in anything. In anything, I mean, duh. I'm from christ Church,
so when I was a kid, you know I was,
it was a given that Aucklands were nothing more than
latte swilling, overpriced haircut donning, ostentatious sports card driving prima donnas.

(00:34):
You know it was a given. And look, my parochialism
isn't the only force working against Auckland City FC. When
the brand new club kicks off in its very first
A League match this evening, it faces the unique challenge
that comes from trying to launch a new team and

(00:54):
a new club and a competition that is already well established.
Just think about it, right, Most of the teams we
support in different sports have either been around since the
competition's inception or have built up a fan base over
years or even decades. You know, I support the Crusaders

(01:15):
because I was born and raised in christ Church and
when Super Rugby was established, they were the team of
everyone in my life. Makes sense. I support Liverpool in
the English Premier League because when I was six or
seven years old and watching football highlights on the news.
I asked my dad, who's English and who likes football,
what English club we support? He said, ERH, Liverpool, I guess,

(01:38):
and so I stuck with that. The Warriors they inspire
my loyalty because for all the highs and lows, and
yes there are so many lows, they have endured for
thirty years and never really shaken off the underdog status.
And hey, they are the New Zealand Warriors, don't forget,
not the Auckland Warriors. So we're good theoretically at least.

(02:01):
It is a bit harder to inspire loyalty in a
team that arrives late to the party, especially when that
team is the third Auckland based professional football club to
compete in the Australian Top League. Rip to the Auckland
Kings with a zugh and the New Zealand Knights. Also,
I really love the Phoenix. I love the Wellington Phoenix,

(02:23):
I love the fan culture and the club has been
playing so well over the last few years. I don't know,
maybe I'm wrong, but I think there's a risk that
any rivalry in a Kiwi Darby in the A League,
the Phoenix versus the Knights could just feel a little
bit forced baby at least early on right. But for

(02:44):
all of that, I've got to say Auckland FC has
one massive dynamic working in its favor. People in the
nine are so ready for a proper football team. They
are so ready for this moment. You see it every
time the Phoenix play at Eden Park, you see it
at all Whites games, you see it on the sidelines

(03:06):
of however many thousand junior football games on Saturday mornings. Sure,
it might take a few seasons to deepen the well
of loyalty for the club, but you would be hard
pressed to find a city or a market on Earth
that isn't hungrier for a team to support. And so
tonight I will be there. I will be one of

(03:29):
the more than twenty thousand at a sold out go
Media Stadium. I must have a dozen friends attending. We're
all taking kids. Some have already bought season passes. You
can hold the fancy haircut, you can hold the lattes.
But I will be proudly crossing the rubicon dressed in blue.
And if in years to come anyone should question my

(03:51):
loyalty to AFC, well, at least I can say I
was there from day one.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks' b from nine am Saturday, or follow
the podcast on iheartrate yo