New Club Badge Launched

Zephyr Rovers Chairman George Nash officially launched the new team badge today. "We're expecting to get the new shirt by the next game, and this will be going on the new silver and black shirts" said Nash "personally I think it looks superb and it gives the sponsor a bit of a plug as well". Nash said the club was increasingly taking a professional approach to the management of the club with the ultimate aim of becoming the first professional indoor team in Wellington."I think Terry Serepiso will be wanting to take a look at the Rovers and could buy a half share of the club for a million bucks" said Nash "that sort of money would allow Rovers to pay my normal hourly rate for a season and have a couple of thousand left over to buy a new player". Nash said Rovers were going places but he couldn't comment at this stage where those places were.

Hall Says Hold Fire

Zephyr FC Manager Steve Hall today advised Chairman George Nash to hold fire on plans to enter Zephyr Rovers in a professional indoor league that he intended to establish. "I think George is going way too fast here due to his youthful exuberance" says Hall "we need to win Division 3 and then set about becoming the best indoor football team in Wellington by 30 June 2030". Hall admitted Rovers were ahead of schedule in being the top of Division 3 (not counting bonus points for paying subs) but said that a steady building process would be the way to future glory. "Obviously we're on a tight budget compared to a professional club" said Hall "I mean my goalkeeping alone is worth a few bucks, I wouldn't like to put a figure on it". Hall said Zephyr Rovers was going along nicely without talk of paying players to pay. "I think George is getting carried away with that last goal he scored" suggested Hall.

Game of Two Halves

Zephyr FC struggled today in the first half of the match against the G Shots at Shed 6. "I thought we didn't really fire in the first half although we had the territorial advantage" said Zephyr fullback Ben White "we seemed to lack a bit of structure and gave a way a couple of easy goals whilst firing a fair few shots wide ourselves". At half time a team talk sorted out the positional issues and it was a changed team that came out in the second half. "The second half was a really solid performance "said White "we never gave them look in and got seven unanswered goals to coast away with it".

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said it was pleasing the way it all came together in the second half. "I didn't think we were convincing in that first half and realistically we could have gone in a couple down, albeit against the run of play" said Hall "but the marking was superb in that second half and we gave the G Shots no chance to hit the G Spot". Hall said he thought on second half form they'd be a handful for anyone in the league. "I remember Col (pictured) scored a ripper goal at one point, and there was some good passing and team work going on" said Hall "but we've got harder games to come yet so we've got to continue to work at it".

Final: Rovers 9 G Shots 2

Raf For Rovers

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall confirmed this morning he'd signed Raf De Gregorio from Team Wellington, ahead of what was expected to be a Team Wellington clean out. "I've was talking to Raf's agent this morning and he told me Raf was looking forward to signing for Rovers, he'd heard the club was going places" said Hall "I expect he'll work well with Craig Candy who is on debut for us tomorrow against the G Shots". Hall said he didn't know much about the G Shots but said he hadn't confused them with the G Spots. "I know where the G Spot is" said Hall "it's that circle I have to stay in when I play in goal". Hall later confessed that signing Raf De Gregario was in fact an April Fool stunt, although Raf was welcome to contact him for a game if he was no longer injured. "We'd be happy to have Raf on board" said Hall "but for now we're pleased to have Craig Candy make his debut for us tomorrow against the G Spots as I'm told he oozes class, which is better than what some of the other squad members ooze".

Serepisos Offered Help

Zephyr Chairman George Nash offered new A-League franchise Phoenix the full support of the Zephyr FC management team, saying that if their was anything Phoenix could learn from the successful Wellington indoor team then Zephyr would be only to happy to help. "We've obviously done quite well with two consecutive championships"said Nash "and we're currently on a seven game unbeaten run, so we know about the culture of winning". Nash conceded that his favourite other club Glasgow Rangers hadn't had quite the recent good fortune but he pointed out that he didn't have a major input into that club. "I know Terry Serepisos (pictured) has a bit of business acumen"said Nash "but we'll be more than happy to help him learn the ropes of football management".

Zephyr FC Manager Steve Hall said he'd be offering Phoenix advice one way or the other, but it would assist greatly if he got to sit in the same corporate box as Serepisos. "I know our club owner knows Terry so I'm sure things can be sorted out"said Hall "otherwise I'll have to be shouting my advice to the club from my seat in the stand". Serepisos was not immediately available for comment. Hall said Rovers would also contribute to the Yellow Fever site. "We'll try to help them get established as we've been going a bit longer than them".

Leighton Responds

Jim Leighton responded today to comments by Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall that Jock goalkeepers were suspect. "aye cannae see that he noows wot tees tawking aboot" said Leighton. Hall responded by saying he wasn't thinking of Leighton in particular who was probably the exception rather than the rule. "I think Brian Clough said it best about Jock goalkeepers, when he described Jim Leighton is a rare bird - a Scottish goalkeeper that can be relied on". Hall said he'd let George Nash play in goal for short bursts as he so far hadn't demonstrated the chronic handling problems of most Scotsman. "I'm keeping an eye out for that and if I see George showing the tell tale signs then he might have to stay out of the goal" said Hall "I'm also waiting for him to play like Gordan Strachan but so far no signs of that either".

Hall Sticks With England

After England struggled to a three - nil win over Andorra, Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall has abandoned plans to become a Scotsman. "I was looking around for a Tartan dress and I was just getting used to not wearing underwear" said Hall "but then England got back on the winning trail and I had second thoughts". Hall said there was a more important reason why he didn't change to the dark side. "I've been playing in goal for Rovers a fair bit lately and I woke up in a cold sweat last night after a bad dream" said Hall "I realised I would be becoming a Jock goalkeeper and we all know how bad they are". Hall said for the good of the team he needed to remain an Englishmen. "I'm from Stoke-on-Trent and where they've had player like Gordan Banks" said Hall "I didn't want to turn into a jock keeper because I'd let about five times as many goals in".