Latest news with #WatersideKarori
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Football team pays tribute to 'club legend' who died in the middle of a match
The New Zealand football community is mourning the passing of 'club legend' and 'community man' Grant McKeen. Mr Mckeen tragically died during a match on Saturday at Wakefield park, in Island Bay. The footballer, who played for Waterside Karori AFC, leaves behind his parents, Sheryl and Rob, partner Marissa and son Vincent. Members of the Waterside Karori Football Club and Wellington City Council officials have since attended a blessing at the park. A police iwi liaison officer was also in attendance. The park will not be taking any match bookings until May 12. Tributes have been paid to the footballer by many from the Kiwi footballing community following his sudden passing. In his obituary, Mr McKeen was described as a 'devoted family man', a 'hero dad' and a 'deeply loved partner'. It adds that he died 'playing the sport he loved'. 'Devoted to his family, a passionate, generous and supportive community man. Loved by his family and friends. A true giver in life,' his obituary read. His club, Waterside Karori, published a tribute to Mr McKeen on Facebook, speaking of the incredible impact he had on the club in multiple capacities. 'As many of you will have heard, Grant McKeen – one of our true club legends – passed away on Saturday,' the statement read. 'Grant was a huge presence within the club for many years, as a player, executive committee member, sponsor, and supporter of all grades of football. We are all devastated by Grant's passing and our thoughts are with his wife Marissa and son Vincent, as well as his teammates and all of his wide group of friends and colleagues.' Mr McKeen was also a long-standing supporter and season-ticket holder of A-League side, Wellington Phoenix. 'The footy club also issued their deep condolences to his family, adding that there would be a moment's applause in the 47th minute of their match on Sunday against Perth Glory,' Wellington Phoenix wrote. 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Grant McKeen, a long-time Wellington Phoenix season ticket holder, Waterside Karori club legend, and a true servant of the game. 'Grant was a passionate supporter, junior football leader, and beloved member of the Wharfies Masters 2 side. 'Our thoughts are with his family and the wider football community.' Other local footy clubs have been sending their condolences to Mr McKeen's family. 'The Wainuiomata Football Community send their love and thoughts to Grant's whanau, friends and the whole of the football community at Waterside Karori during this time. R.I.P Grant,' Wainuiomata FC wrote on Facebook. The Island Bay United Association Football Club wrote: 'Please know that our thoughts are with Grant's family, friends, and everyone at Waterside Karori during this difficult time.' Mr McKeen's employers, Fusion 5, also paid tribute. 'One of the key contributors to our transformation has been Grant McKeen, who passed away suddenly over the weekend,' Fusion 5 wrote.'Grant and his IntegrationWorks team joined Fusion5 last year and have been influential in evolving our business to the one it is today.'
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Community mourns 'club legend' Grant McKeen who died while playing football
Grant McKeen died while playing a game of football on Saturday. Photo: Supplied/Wellington Phoenix FC The Wellington Football community are mourning the loss of a "true club legend" who died doing what he loved over the weekend. Part of Wakefield Park remains closed after Grant McKeen died while playing a game of football on Saturday. On Tuesday, members of Waterside Karori Football Club and Council officials attended a blessing at the site by a Police Iwi Liaison Officer. Wellington City Council said no bookings will be taken on the grass fields until the 12 May, with games and trainings being accommodated elsewhere around the city. In his obituary he was described as a real family man. "Devoted to his family, a passionate, generous and supportive community man. Loved by his family & friends. A true giver in life." His club Waterside Karori Football Club took to social media to inform its members of his death. "Grant was a huge presence within the club for many years, as a player, executive committee member, sponsor, and supporter of all grades of football. "We are all devastated by Grant's passing and our thoughts are with his wife Marissa and son Vincent, as well as his team-mates and all of his wide group of friends and colleagues." The Wellington Phoenix football club also posted about McKeen saying he was a long time Wellington Phoenix season ticket holder and a true servant of the game. "Grant was a passionate supporter, junior football leader, and beloved member of the Wharfies Masters 2 side." His workplace Fusion 5 acknowledged his passing in a business update. "One of the key contributors to our transformation has been Grant McKeen, who passed away suddenly over the weekend. Grant and his IntegrationWorks team joined Fusion5 last year, and have been influential in evolving our business to the one it is today."
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
‘More to come': Testing start to 2025 as Napier City Rovers chase National League dream
Fifth and sixth are respectively held by Waterside Karori – who are locked on 10 competition points with Napier City Rovers but are a place behind on goals for and against – and fellow Wellington club Western Suburbs who have nine points. Napier City Rovers – the only non-Wellington team in the Central League – proved to be the story of last year's National League, defying the odds and the budgets of several cashed-up Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch clubs to finish fourth. Given how tight the Central League is after the first six rounds, a run of victories is needed to keep themselves safe from the chasing pack hunting the top four. 'It is natural for everyone after a really good season for the expectations to go up,' Robertson said. 'It is just the nature of it; it comes with the territory. 'But we've got to stay grounded, and remember that it's a difficult challenge we face, playing and qualifying for the National League. 'We go on about being the only regional team to qualify for the last three years and there's a reason for that. It's not easy; we bat well above our average, and we need to get back to our processes, concentrate on each game and then I'm sure we'll start to pick up some wins.' On Sunday, they host Miramar Rangers; the storied Wellington club who were active in the player market during the off-season after they failed to make last year's National League. Napier City Rovers lost an evenly fought game to Waterside Karori in the capital last Saturday 2-1. Christian Leopard was Napier City Rovers' goal scorer, slotting home one of his side's 32 shots at goal. Ihaia Delaney scored a double for Waterside Karori; with both goals coming after he managed to break free of the defence near the far post. 'We had a significant amount of opportunities,' Robertson said. 'But you have to put them in the net. 'We're certainty not panicking. But given the high standards we demand of each other, and what we expect, then there have certainly been [some competition] points dropped. 'We had periods where we dominated the game, and we've got to capitalise on those moments and just be a little bit more clinical. 'Equally, defensively, we didn't really deal with their threats and two goals they've scored were soft from our point of view.' Standings 📊 @BUAFC_NZ, @WgtnOlympic and @ChristchurchUtd are leading the way 👊 #DettolNationalLeague — NZ National League 🏆🇳🇿 (@nzleagues) May 4, 2025 Napier City Rovers will have to be tight on defence this weekend, with Miramar Rangers featuring the Central League's golden boot leader; Uruguayan import Martin Bueno who has slotted home 11 goals in just six games. In contrast, Robertson's side has scored just one more goal than Bueno across the opening third of the season. And five of those 12 goals came in the 5-1 win over Island Bay seven days before the loss to Waterside Karori. The players are well aware that unleashing their potential in front of goal is what will be required if Napier City Rovers are to remain true National League contenders in 2025. With the halfway mark of the Central League less than a month away, Robertson said he just wanted his squad to 'live in the moment'. 'We almost need to just go week to week and concentrate on performances; forget what's gone before us, forget about league tables,' he said. 'Just concentrate on our processes and our performances and having high standards in the moment, rather than be focused on results. If we do that, I think we'll win more games than we lose.' Robertson said the opening third of the season had provided numerous positives. They include how several players who spent a lot of time on the reserves bench last year had 'stood up' when given their chance so far in 2025. He said it was also impressive how well locally developed young talent had contributed, including the league debut by talented teen Alex Biju at just age 17 last month, and fellow 17-year-old Ethan Spencer's first senior league goal. Robertson added that considering his side had yet to reach the consistent form shown in 2024, it was a positive that they are still very much in contention for the National League. 'We're in the top four at the moment,' he said. 'We're challenging and we feel that we're certainly not our best yet. There's a lot more to come from us as a squad. 'So that's a positive that we're still competing and we know we can improve moving forward.' >> Inside the Rovers video series: Episode 1: Match Fit Episode 2: Teen's Dream Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Episode 3: New Beginnings Episode 4: For Keeps Episode 5: Kiwi Steve
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Goals galore: No lack of firepower as Napier City Rovers win on the road
That includes a brilliant performance from Sam Lack, with the young attacker scoring two goals and being a constant threat to the opposition defence. As the side prepare for another trip to Wellington this weekend, Robertson said he was proud – but not surprised – of the way his team had responded after the Upper Hutt City Football result. 'We set pretty high standards for ourselves,' he said. 'We expect to win our games at home, so a draw, it felt like a bit of a loss. It was certainly points dropped. 'The reaction against Island Bay, I did anticipate that. 'The boys were disappointed last week. The training had been good in the week leading up to Saturday's match. I was pleased with the reaction; it was a really good performance and a good win. 'The game was tight for a while, certainly in the first half. But we were quite dominant and then as the game opened up, we really stamped our authority.' Such was the performance from his players on Saturday, one of Robertson's most challenging tasks would have been singling out a man of the match. Every member of the starting XI stood up when their team needed it. Lack and Stephen Hoyle – who switched from defence to playing up front – regularly ran their way around or through the opposition defence. That duo, and fellow goal-scorer Harry Mason, were aided by some great delivery from the likes of Liam Schofield – who was one of his team's best – and Mason Johnson. Captain Jim Hoyle, who headed in a second-half corner from Schofield, George Andrew and Matt Jones showed their class and reliability on defence. Jones also highlighted the spark he can provide when going forward, running at speed to the edge of the Island Bay United box before passing to Mason who slammed home his second-half goal. The four players – including 17-year-old debutant Alex Biju – who came off the bench during the final quarter also provided some spark as the Island Bay United defence tired. Ethan Spencer, 17, who made his debut last year, scored his first league goal when he was brought into the match. 'Steve did a good job for us up front, linked well and obviously helped Sam grab a couple of goals,' Robertson said. 'And Sam had a good performance. 'It was really pleasing to see a number of other players stand up. 'We've got a debut for Alex Biju and Ethan Spencer at 17 has also got his first National League goal. It was great to see the young lads performing.' There's no let-up from southern road trips for Robertson's team this weekend. On Friday, they will again head to Wellington on the eve of their round-six Central League clash against Waterside Karori. Their upcoming opposition are fifth on the points table. It's a match Napier City Rovers are again eyeing three points from. Later on Saturday afternoon in Wellington, league leaders Wellington Olympic will host the second-placed Wellington Phoenix Reserves. 'We'll tick this win off now, get back to training and start to focus on Waterside Karori,' he said. 'Hopefully we can put in a similar performance [to what we did against Island Bay] and get a similar result.' >> Inside the Rovers video series: Episode 1: Match Fit Advertise with NZME. Episode 2: Teen's Dream Episode 3: New Beginnings Episode 4: For Keeps Episode 5: Kiwi Steve
