TOP FORM: Ōtorohanga premier footballer Dallas Maguire in action earlier this season. He has helped the team to three straight wins. Photos Kybosh Photography
Things are tracking in the right direction for the Ōtorohanga Football Club.
The club’s three teams, the Bulk Lines OFC men’s first team, the Bailey Ingham Ltd reserve team and the Kiwitown Electrical OFC Uncoachables, are all unbeaten to start the season.
The premier side have made a fantastic start to their WAIBOP League one campaign with three straight wins.
First up at home, they defeated Tokoroa AFC 4-0 thanks to a double from Mason Apperley, a goal to Grayson Fortis and one to player-coach Jamie Walker.
Their next clash saw them travel to Hamilton where they faced Wanderers and came away with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Bailey Croad, Walker and Apperley.
Apperley netted his fourth goal of the campaign and captain Trent Maguire scored a double as they defeated West Hamilton 3-1, to keep their perfect start to the season alive.
Vice president Dan Hopping said the premier side had been playing some fantastic football.
“They’ve been playing some very good football. The guys have been in great form early on and are playing a great passing style of play.”
The reserve team won their opening two encounters, the first a 3-0 default win against Waihi, and last weekend they defeated Northern United at the Ōtorohanga Domain, 2-0.
Ōtorohanga Football Club’s most sociable team, the Uncoachables, defeated Waikato Unicol’s fourth team, 3-0, in their opening match and backed that up with a win by the same margin against the Claudelands Rovers Cuckoos.
A key part of the club’s on-field success is the family atmosphere.
“We really try and make it a family environment. With anything, that’s a big part of the club and if the family are well looked after and enjoying it, then it leads to a better vibe around the club overall.”
He said back in 2009, the club was really struggling and had only about nine players.
Now, to have three teams and other spare numbers, was credit to everyone who worked so hard to turn things around.
“It starts with the wives, and we try and make them feel as welcomed and valued as possible because if everyone is happy and in good space, then we have players and we play good football.”
Hopping said it was great having three teams back on the field.
“They are all a mix of levels and it’s great for us to have three teams. Going forward, we’d love to have a kids’ team but, unfortunately, they travel to play in Hamilton.
“But we make sure kids feel at home at our club, so they will come back when they’re older.
“Being a small club we really need that family feel and vibe.”
Grayson Telfer is a talented young footballer from the town, who has strong roots to the club.
Although he is playing with Melville, the club supports him when possible.
Hopping said the club was in a great spot now through lots of hard work and they wanted to continue the positive nature of it going forward.
This weekend, the premier team are at home to Tauranga City in what should be an entertaining contest. They will back that up with a first round Chatham Cup contest against Auckland-based Bohemian Celtic AFC in Ellerslie on Anzac Day.
The reserve team are in Te Awamutu playing for the Bailey Miezenbeek Shield, which they lost for the first time last year after it was introduced in 2020.
“We really want to win that back. We’ve got a good strong reserves side and hope that we can go there and play good football and reclaim the shield. It is put up for grabs every time we play them.”
OFC’s uncoachables are at home to a Waikato Unicol division 1 team in the opening round of the Waikato Cup.
