Covid postponements, photographs, and our latest Socceroo

Photo:  Nathaniel Atkinson (left) in action for Melbourne Heart against Tasmania at KGV Park. [PlessPix] 

At least three games have already been cancelled for the coming weekend because of Covid.

The NPL game between Kingborough Lions United and Clarence Zebras at Clennett’s Lightwood Park is off, and so is the Women’s Super League curtain-raiser between the same clubs.

The Women’s Super League match between South Hobart and Taroona is also postponed.

At this rate, the season will finish next year, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I hope Football Tasmania advertises these postponements so that fans don’t make unnecessary journeys that end in disappointment and inconvenient expense.

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I want to explain something about my photography as there are incorrect interpretations of my situation doing the rounds.

Football Tasmania has not banned me from taking match photographs.  I am free to do so, but I haven’t been to many games this year.

The only restrictions they applied were in relation to team photos and team celebrations after the recent Summer Cup Finals.

Football Tasmania’s official photographer was given priority in terms of taking these photos on the pitch after the finals.  After that, it was open slather and all photographers could take pictures.

All photographers other than the official Football Tasmania photographer were also barred from entry to the dressing rooms to take photographs.

I wasn’t upset in the slightest.  I rarely go into dressing rooms.

And, I have often taken team photos or photos of celebrations from the steps of the grandstand, which offers an excellent vantage point.

It doesn’t bother me in the least as there are other ways of getting photographs without being on the pitch.

I have been free to take match photos as I wish.

I hope this sets the record straight.

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Congratulations to Nathaniel Atkinson, 22, on his Socceroos debut in the 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier.

Atkinson hails from Launceston, where he played for Riverside Olympic before joining Melbourne City and currently Scottish club Heart of Midlothian.

Incidentally, Hearts actually played at North Hobart in 1959, when they beat Tasmania 10-0.

The last Tasmanian to play for the Socceroos was Dominic Longo in 1998.

Atkinson also played for the Olyroos at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

 

Knights reveal their credentials

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights celebrate the NPL Tasmania title last season. [PlessPix] 

Glenorchy Knights took a huge step towards retaining their NPL Tasmania title by beating Devonport Strikers 1-0 away at Valley Road last Saturday.

I know it was only Round 2, but Devonport is a major contender for the 2022 title and a dangerous rival for the Knights.

To beat Devonport at their home shows the Knights mean business and puts them on top of the standings after Round 2.

Devonport have the chance to atone to some degree when they meet Olympia Warriors at Empire Couriers Park on Saturday, but I think they will have to beat the Knights at some point this season to be in the running for the title.

Olympia are in big trouble.  They lost 3-0 at home to Clarence Zebras and are yet to score a goal.  They have conceded 8 goals.

Clarence Zebras have a win and a loss to their name and are heading for a mid-table position by the look of things.

Kingborough Lions United made up for their opening round defeat to Devonport by overcoming Riverside Olympic 4-0 away in Launceston.

Riverside will do well to avoid a second successive wooden spoon and so the Lions’ win was not unexpected but does not appear significant in the greater scheme of things.

South Hobart were idle as their scheduled game at home against Launceston City was postponed because of Covid issues in the northerners’ camp.

Next Saturday’s clash between Glenorchy Knights and South Hobart at KGV Park will be Knights’ second big challenge in as many weeks and, if they win, they will be in a strong position to retain their title.

NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 26 March 2022)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Glenorchy Knights	2	2	0	0	6	0	6
South Hobart	1	1	0	0	5	0	3
Devonport Strikers	2	1	0	1	4	1	3
Clarence Zebras	2	1	0	1	6	4	3
Launceston City	1	1	0	0	4	3	3
Kingborough Lions	2	1	0	1	4	4	3
Olympia Warriors	2	0	0	2	0	8	0
Riverside Olympic	2	0	0	2	0	9	0

***** 

Tasmania was portrayed in a very poor light on Saturday in terms of the live-streaming of matches.

Some teenagers at the Olympia Warriors versus Clarence Zebras game decided they’d vent their anger and frustrations audibly on the live-stream.

The language and expletives used were unacceptable and it was broadcast live across Australia.

There was no live commentary for this game, by the way.

I believe the national organisation in charge of the live-stream coverage has removed the game from their schedule and no-one can now watch it because of the few minutes of stupidity from some kids who should have known better.

Some people have said the microphones should be switched off, but that’s not really practical.

Many live-streamed games without commentators are already difficult to watch if you don’t know the players.

To have no crowd noise would be akin to watching a silent movie.

Photo:  Goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford, who won three league title with Devonport, proved himself a very capable commentator last weekend. [PlessPix]  

I must commend former Devonport goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford for his commentary on the Devonport v Knights game.

It must be very demanding and nerve-racking when there is no co-commentator, but Nathan did an excellent job on his own.

Andrew Cooling was in fine form last weekend as a commentator, but Football Tasmania must pull out all stops in an endeavour to have commentators for all games.

Kamil Douglas and Paul Hunt have been excellent in the past and I hope they return to being commentators again soon.

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Photo:  David Elliott holding the copy of "Soccer Forum" and the England Football Association plaque. [PlessPix] 

Former New Town Eagles and New Norfolk player David Elliott caught up with me at a game recently and showed me an interesting piece of memorabilia.

Photo:  The plaque presented to the Tasmanian Soccer Association in 1971 by the English touring party. [PlessPix]  

It was a small plaque of the England Football Association which was presented to the Tasmanian officials before the game between Tasmania and the English FA XI at North Hobart in 1971.

David also showed me the front page of “Soccer Forum”, a monthly magazine produced by the Tasmanian Soccer Association in the 1970s.

The front page featured a photograph of the English FA XI line-up before the game and the captain, Mike Keen, is shown holding the plaque prior to the presentation.

Photo:  England captain MIke Keen (second from left) holding the plaque before the game against Tasmania. [PlessPix]  

David, who is a collector of football memorabilia bought the plaque for $5 at the Gormanston Road market about two years ago.

We both wondered how it got there and who it was presented to by the captain of the touring English party.

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Photo:  Nick O'Connell in his Clarence Zebras days. [PlessPix] 

Former South Hobart, Clarence Zebras and Kingborough goalkeeper Nick O’Connell was named on the Brisbane Roar bench for tonight’s A-League game against Wellington Phoenix.

O’Connell moved to Brisbane at the beginning of this year.

The Roar lost 3-0 to the Phoenix.

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The Socceroos lost 1-0 to Saudi Arabia this morning and finished third in their World Cup qualifying group, behind Japan and Saudi Arabia.

They qualify for the play-offs and will need to beat the United Arab Emirates on 7 June and then a South American country if they are to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

At least Aussie fans have some exciting and nail-biting action in store.

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It’s happened again!

Tonight’s Under-18 match between Hobart City Beachside and South Hobart White has to be abandoned at half-time with the score at 2-2 after the floodlights failed.

Can someone please tell me what’s going on?