Sydney FC v West Ham United: match preview

  • by Ricardo
  • Filed: Saturday, 26th July 2014

Join us as we look ahead to this morning's Football United tournament clash with Sydney FC....

Saturday 26 July 2014, 2pm (local time, 3am BST)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand


The stadium is a multi-purpose facility, though used mainly for sporting events. It is the home of the Wellington Lions ITM Cup rugby team, and the primary home of the Super Rugby Hurricanes.

The stadium also hosts the Wellington Sevens, one of the events in the annual IRB Sevens World Series for national rugby sevens teams. Westpac Stadium regularly serves as a home venue for All Blacks rugby matches.



Westpac Stadium is also the home venue for A-League football (soccer) team Wellington Phoenix FC, the stadium often referred to as "The Ring of Fire" by Phoenix supporters. It also serves as a major home venue for the New Zealand national football team (the All Whites), notably hosting the home leg of their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bahrain.

During the summer the stadium generally hosts international and occasionally domestic limited overs cricket, with the home team being the New Zealand Black Caps for the international contests and Wellington Firebirds for the domestic competition.




Transport

On Foot

The Stadium is a short walk from the central business district of Wellington. Get yourself to Wellington Railway Station. Join the elevated walkway that takes you directly to the Stadium entrance.

Three access points to the walkway are:

- from Thorndon Quay just north of the railway station
- from near Shed 21 on the port.
- directly from the railway platforms (8/7, 6/5, 4/3)

The walkway is 650m long. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to walk the length of the walkway.

By Train

There are special access ramps from Wellington Station to the elevated walkway.
Visit Metlink http://www.metlink.org.nz/ or call 0800 801 700 for timetable information.
Special fares may apply.

By Bus

The bus terminal is adjacent to the main walkway entry point near the railway station at the south end of Thorndon Quay.

Stadium Shuttle

Shuttle bus service that links the central city to the Stadium, at selected events. Runs every 10 to 15 minutes. Stadium set-down and pickup right beside the turnstiles.

Return service runs after event ends. Some buses with wheelchair access. Special cash fares apply - $5.00 per adult, $3.00 per child.

This service does not operate for all events, contact Metlink for details.

Stadium Shuttle Bus Stops

- Te Papa Main Entrance, Cable St
- Bus Terminus, Courtenay Place
- St James Theatre, Courtenay Place
- Manners St, (at Cuba St) outside Arty Bees bookshop
- Manners St (at Willis St intersection)
- Grand Arcade , 20 Willis St

By Car

Vehicle access is off Waterloo Quay, at the traffic lights opposite the entrance to CentrePort (and adjacent to the overbridge between CentrePort and the Stadium walkway).
Parking Information http://westpacstadium.co.nz/parking/

By Taxi

The drop off point is at ground level adjacent to the pedestrian ramp. After the event the on-demand rank for taxis and shuttles is at ground level. Take the pedestrian down ramp near the turnstiles. You may experience some delays when exiting the ground floor car park directly after the end of an event.

There is no rank for chartered or "ordered" taxi or shuttles. No taxi's or shuttles are permitted on the upper plaza for at least 30 minutes after the end of the event. Priority will be given to mobility impaired passengers who have pre-booked taxis or shuttles. The 30 minute limit is subject to all Stadium shuttles having departed.

By Ferry

From the Interislander ferry to the north of the Stadium, catch the Interislander shuttle to the railway station, then join the walkway. From the Bluebridge ferry to the south of the Stadium, you can walk north along Waterloo Quay and join the walkway.




History

Sydney Football Club was established in 2004 as the inaugural Hyundai Australian-League (A-League) club representing Australia’s biggest city. Its home ground is Allianz Stadium, a 45,500 seat multi-use venue in the suburb of Moore Park.

Sydney FC are the most successful club in the history of the Hyundai A-League, having won ten trophies across the Hyundai A-League, the Westfield W-League and Foxtel National Youth League, participating in six of the nine A-League finals series, being crowned Champions twice and Premiers on one occasion.


Sydney FC's home ground


The club’s first taste of success came before the start of the Hyundai A-League when it won the 2005 Australian Championship and went on to be crowned Champions of Oceania, gaining a place in the 2005 Club World Championships in Japan where it finished 5th.

The success continued in 2005/06 with a Grand Final victory over the Central Coast Mariners making them the inaugural Hyundai A-League Champions.

Sydney FC has started to take its brand throughout Asia and the Pacific. Having succeeded in Oceania and at the Club World Championships in 2005, Sydney FC has now competed in two AFC Champions League competitions after Australia moved from the Oceania confederation to Asia.

The Sydney FC badge features a football set centrally in a stylised crest shape. Above the ball is the shape of three shells of the Sydney Opera House and the Commonwealth Star below. The club’s colours are sky blue (representing the state of NSW) and navy blue. Their kit is a sky blue shirt with navy and sky blue striped shorts, and sky blue socks.

Many of the world’s greatest players have donned the Sky Blue shirt, including former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, Brazilian midfielder Juninho, Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura, Italian striker Benito Carbone, Socceroo legend Brett Emerton as well as many of Australia’s best ever products such as Steve Corica, Tony Popovic, Alex Brosque, John Aloisi, Jason Culina and Simon Colosimo.

Hero of Italian football Alessandro Del Piero signed a two-year contract with the club in September 2012, finishing as the clubs top scorer in both seasons and captaining the Sky Blues during the 2013/14 season.

Sydney FC draws support from right across Sydney, and is one of the most heavily supported clubs in Australia, as they were the only A-League team from Australia's largest city until 2012. The largest supporter group of Sydney FC is known as "The Cove".


Sydney FC's home ground



Squad




Final A-League Table




Alert, Alert, Danger WIll Robinson



English Premier League teams and fans will be treated to a true taste of Kiwi when New Zealand entertainers, The Topp Twins host the Football United Tour’s double-header at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on July 26th.

There are only a few thousand seats left for the historic event in the capital and Wellington Phoenix General Manager, David Dome is predicting a sell-out at the stadium on the day.

“This is a historic event that will be perfect family entertainment but we know these events sell strongly in the last week so we are urging fans to purchase quickly or they will miss out.” Dome said.

Both West Ham United and Newcastle United supporters bays sold out weeks ago.

The two teams will play the A-League’s Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC. This is the only time two EPL games have been played on the same day in the same venue in the southern hemisphere.

“Having the Topp Twins as part of the day will make the whole thing extra special. They are sure to bring a real New Zealand flavour to the event.”

Their appearance at Westpac comes hard on the heels of their successful TVNZ series, ‘Topp Country.

The twins, Linda and Jools will be in their “Ken & Ken” characters as well as “Camp Mother and Camp Leader” as they conduct spot interviews, sing to the crowd and provide an alternative ‘commentary’ to the ‘beautiful game”.

The double header at Westpac Stadium will be a full day of events for all ages. There will be plenty of activities for kids and families, demonstrations from local embassies and representation from the FIFA Under 20 World Cup that will be held in New Zealand in 2015.

The teams will be officially welcomed with a powhiri and haka provided by year -one to year13 school students from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Nga Mokupuna, based in Seatoun.

Other acts include local hip hop group, The Company which will be leaving for the world championships in Las Vegas straight after the Westpac event, Scots College Pipe Band and the 24-strong Cook Island Youth Group.

Source: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wellingtonphoenix/news-display/topp-twins-hosting-football%E2%80%99s-big-day-out-in-wellington/91234




Where To Drink

As organised by KUMB Forum member Lil Joe 17, Kiwi Hammers will be using The Green Man pub in Wellington: http://www.thegreenmanpub.co.nz/home

There will be a charity auction with all proceeds going to Dylan Tombides foundation.


Tickets

Wellington - 26 July, Double Header. http://www.ticketek.co.nz

Gold - Adult $139, Child $69, Family $347.

Silver (includes Family area, West Ham Supporters Area, Newcastle Supporters Area, Sydney FC Supporters Area and Yellow Fever Area) - Adult $115, Child $55, Family $285.

Bronze - Adult $79, Child $30.

The game is live on BT Sport in the UK at 3.00am BST.

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