Palmerston North likely for final

Palmerston North will be the venue of the Chatham Cup football final between Wairarapa United and Napier City Rovers and it will be played on Sunday, August 28.

That seemed to be the logical conclusion from comments made yesterday by the man responsible for making those decisions, Football New Zealand competitions manager Glyn Taylor.

In a telephone conservation with the Wairarapa Times-Age, Taylor revealed he was in the process of organising a flight to Palmerston North to check whether the amenities available there were suitable for a Chatham Cup final. "I think you can say it is 95 per cent certain that the final will be in Palmerston North," Taylor said. "If the facilities and grounds come up to scratch that's where it will be."

The major priority for Taylor was to ensure that the venue chosen for the Cup final could provide a playing surface of a quality deemed "absolutely necessary" for a match of that importance, and he could see no reason why Palmerston North would not pass that test.

Other important points in Palmerston North's favour was that it would mean neither side having home advantage and there was little difference in travelling time between Masterton and Napier.

On the subject of home advantage Taylor  said Napier City Rovers had offered up their ground at Park Island as a possible venue but while he was aware of the excellent playing surface there the neutrality factor had to be given prime consideration.

"I can't imagine Wairarapa United and their supporters being too thrilled if Napier was allowed to play on their home ground, and I can understand exactly why they would feel that way. I reckon we'd be opening up a can of worms if we did that."

Taylor anticipates wide interest in the grand final, especially with two central league teams involved. He  had sent an email to Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley wishing him and his team well for their semifinal against Bay Olympic last Sunday and he labelled Wairarapa United's 1-0 win as  absolutely fantastic, not only for them and their army of supporters but for football as a whole.

"It's great for the game to have a team from one of the smaller provinces like Wairarapa involved in a Chatham Cup final, it gives hope to clubs all over the country that one day it could happen to them," Taylor said.

As to the date of the final Taylor said it would be  either August 27 or 28 and he was "leaning heavily" towards the Sunday with kickoff at 2pm.

"From what I am hearing both teams would be happy with a Sunday and right now that looks the way to go," he said.

For coach Keinzley  news the final was virtually certain to be in Palmerston North - Memorial Park being his prediction - was welcome in that it would provide neutrality while ensuring Wairarapa United's supporters would not have any great distance to travel to view the action.

 It would be even less for about half his team who  live in Palmerston North, anyway, as  do a number of players in the Napier City Rovers line-up.

Keinzley said the big number of congratulatory messages sent to him and his players after their semifinal win - several of them from people completely unknown to them - was very humbling and ensured a change of focus for the final.

"We all realise now this game is more than just about us, that the whole of the Wairarapa is living the dream, too," Keinzley said. "It's a great feeling for the boys to know how keen everybody is for us to pull it off."

 Wairarapa United would revert to their usual predominantly green uniform for the Cup final after playing in white and red against Bay Olympic to avoid a clash of colours.

"Green is recognised as the Wairarapa colours, that's a no-brainer," Keinzley said.

Making the Chatham Cup final is, of course, a first for Wairarapa United's premier men's team but twice, with the same Phil Keinzley in a coaching role, their women's team, which no longer exists, made the final of their national knockout competition, the Swan Cup.

That happened in 1999 and 2000 and both times Wairarapa United were beaten by Auckland-based sides.

"This time we've got rid of the Auckland bogey earlier so, hopefully, that's a good omen," he

said.