Redemption Revisited!

With one of the only few original survivors left at Redemption FC leaving, I thought it would be great to see a few more photos from the past. There are photos ranging from 2007, back until 2003 (our first year in an officially sanctioned league!). The flash trophy is the Donnies, in my honour (very humbling). Well odne Johnny Screech!

It seems that Redemption FC is heading towards mid table obscurity this year, but with plenty of encouraging signs for next year! With Luke Arkapaw leaving, it could just be Matthew Dalman left as an original. I don't think Phil Yates played in the debut season.

Chatham Cup Round One - Redemption 2 Old Boys 4

The plucky Redemption FC combination went down against Old Boys in Round One of the 2008 Chatham Cup, but by George, they will be back! From all accounts it seems like a match that was fairly even and it was probably the superior fitness of a team in a higher grade and the benefit of a few Southern Premier League players which made the difference. It still was a top effort by the Redemption Lions. Here are some quotes from the Soccer Otago and Soccer Southland websites!

Soccer Otago - Old Boys beat Dunedin fourth division side Redemption 4-2 in Invercargill, but the scarfie team competed well and after equalizing to 1-1 shortly after the break looked capable of creating an upset.

But Old Boys kicked on to clinch the match and earn the Churchill Rosebowl Trophy for being the only Invercargill team to progress into round two of the Cup.

http://www.soccerotago.co.nz/spl2008/rnd1chatcup.htm

Got it slightly wrong Rab, it was in Dunedin!



It is interesting to get the viewpoint from the opposition, the mighty Soccer Southland.

http://www.southlandsoccer.org.nz/allreviews.htm

Old Boys will have its name engraved on Southland Football’s Churchill Rose Bowl trophy for the second consecutive year as it is the only Southland team to progress to round two of the Chatham Cup following Saturday’s fixtures in the Soccersouth region.

All four Southland teams performed with credit but all four paid the price for a lack of fitness and endurance with three losing their way in the second half, and, in McLellan Motors Queens Park’s case, extra time.

Old Boys was never in trouble against Otago fourth division team Redemption from the time that regular Spirit FC player Hamish Low put it 1-nil ahead.

Although having only the one goal margin at the break Old Boys had enough possession to suggest a better outcome in the second spell. So it proved to be, but not before Redemption had grabbed an equaliser three minutes into the half.

Low put Old Boys two up minutes later and then a brace of goals from Scott Kiddey took it out to a 4-1 lead.

Redemption had the last say with a late consolation goal.

For Old Boys youngster George Hercus had another strong game in a good team effort and thoroughly deserved his player-of-the-day tag.

Chatham Cup Preview

Matt Dalman's men will look to go into unchartered waters when they host Old Boys in Round One of the Chatham Cup. Despite being embedded in the middle of the table in Div 4, the Chatham Cup provides an opportunity to make something of their season. Redemption FC will be hosting such a big game for the first time and it will be interesting to see how they fare. With largely a new squad since the Redemption Lions scored an upset 2-1 away win in Invers, it will be intriguing to see how they cope with the pressure. Last time, the Old Boys team dominated early, but couldn't crack the Redemption defence and the relative northerners snatched a win.

Old Boys will be fired up after losing last meeting and it will be interesting to see which players are committed enough to make the trip two and a half hours up State Highway One. It would be good if Lindsay Newsome and Davie McDowall are still plying their trade with the Waverley Park outfit. Unfortunately I won't be there to cheer on either team, but since I have played for both clubs, I hope that Redemption wins, but I can't think of a better team to lose to if they don't! Second round Chatham Cup will probably be as far as the winner makes it, but that would be a great achievement for both teams. Hopefully Jeff Clamp, has an open mind to this game and keeps it free flowing. It should be a clean game as both teams were good blokes last time.

The Passion of Football

Where's the Passion in Rugby?

Stoke City got promoted to the Barclay's English Premiership and check out the passion of the fans! It is inspirational! There is more passion and emotion with relegation and promotion than there is at the top of the table.

The Homeless Play The Beautiful Game Too!

The next Homeless World Cup football tournament is on in our own backyard, Melbourne, Australia. IT will be interesting to see if New Zealand's homeless are any good at football. Their European and South American counterparts will probably be more naturally gifted at the round ball code, so it will be interesting to see what the standard is like!

A Kick in the Pants!

The mighty Redemption FC got a wake up call when silenced 7-2 against the table topping Green Island combination. Battling to go into the half time break at 2-2, the Redemption combination fell apart letting in five unanswered goals. It was tough going for the make shift backline missing several of their front liners. Redemption must now use this as inspiration of how not to play and learn from this to take on the Northern B team.

Redemption FC 2008

The mighty Reds have a certain air of optimism about their business these days, and why not? Threatened with potential relegation until the bottom fell out of Mornington, Redemption FC received a reprieve, repaying the administrators faith in them by winning their first game 6-3 against University.

Redemption FC also hosts a Chatham Cup game for the first time against Old Boys from Invers (my old club). The last time these teams met was a 2-1 away win for the Dunedin side. It is tough getting a side together for an away tie, so it will be interesting to see who Old Boys fields in their team.

Redemption has plenty of new faces this season, especially upfront, ensuring that their attack is the best it has been in recent seasons. There are also two players from the starting season left in the team. Current President and Manager Matty Dalman plying his trade on the left wing and header specialist Luke Arkapaw.

The team faces Roslyn Wakari White in Round Two. It will be interesting to put results into perspective.

All the best for the season lads!

Scotty Donaldson
Former President and Founder of Redemption FC.

Other results are listed below. Note that former Redemption stalwart Stevo Downey couldn't keep a clean sheet in goals despite his team scoring 17 against Caversham.

Dunedin Results

Soccersouth Premier League
University 1 v Queenstown 0
Roslyn Wakari 9 v Mosgiel 1
Caversham 7 v Northern 0
Grant Braes 0 v Green Island 3
Otago Youth 0 v Spirit 1

A J Grant Playgear Div 2
Caversham 0 v Northern 0
Dn Technical 10 v Mosgiel 1
Green Island 3 v Mornington 1
Roslyn Wakari 4 v Balclutha 0
Grants Braes 0 v University 3

Amalgamated Builders Div 3
Caversham 1 v Dn Technical 17
Grants Braes 1 v Roslyn Wakari White 9
Green Island 1 v Northern 2
Roslyn Wakari Black 3 v Mosgiel 1
University 4 v Melchester Rovers 2

John Mathias Mortgages Div 4
Dunedin Technical 1 v Green Island 2
Grants Braes 2 v Caversham 4
Northern A 4 v Northern B 2
Roslyn Wakari Black 1 v Roslyn Wakari White 4

Brandwell Moller Div 5
Caversham Phoenix 5 v Roslyn Wakari White 1
Melchester Rovers 10 v Balclutha 5
Roslyn Wakari Black 2 v Caversham 4
University Kobras 2 v Northern 3

A J Grant Clothesline Div 6
Dn Tech Frotters 7 v Green Island 0
Grants Braes A 2 v Northern Relics 1
Melchester Rovers 0 v Grants Braes B 3
Northern A 13 v Roslyn Wakari Moas 1
Roslyn Originals 6 v Dn Tech Gerries 2