SOCCER: Let's all back United: Manager

ANENDRA SINGH
Soccer players and fans in the province should see Hawke's Bay United in the same light as rugby followers see the Hawke's Bay Magpies, according to new franchise general manager Les Cunningham.
Cunningham says it's a great opportunity for the Hawke's Bay clubs to put their rivalries aside to support the region's flagbearer, amid fear in some quarters that the team is merely a Napier City Rovers outfit in disguise to boost its fan base.
"I'd like to dissipate any such feelings, if there are any out there," he says as the franchise prepares to kick off in the New Zealand Football Championships on October 30.
Cunningham, who stepped into the role early last month after Gerard Gillett-Jackson, of Hamilton, stepped down only days after his appointment, says he has a neutral background as a referee and is therefore coming into the position with a clean slate.
Hawke's Bay United will sport the traditional colours of the province this season - black shorts and white strips.
"Ninety-nine percent of our games will be in black and white and the remaining one percent will be played in our away blue strips," Cunningham says.
The franchise also this week will launch a Hawke's Bay United Academy with former Scottish international goalkeeper Jonathan Gould facing the task of identifying both male and female players from as young as five to six-year-olds for further development.
"That's really exciting for me because it will be involving all clubs in Hawke's Bay. They will train with their clubs and then spend one day in the week with the academy. The skills they pick up will hopefully filter back into the their respective clubs every time they go back," says Cunningham, who sees the academy as a stepping stone to players achieving National League status and a path to a lucrative career.
"We want to get some fizz back into our home matches and children's entertainment is also on the priority list." He emphasised that the franchise was merely leasing the Napier City facilities over summer in a "commercial arrangement".
Hawke's Bay United is relying on sponsorship from the gaming trusts but was financially comfortable after signing contracts with gold sponsor Bluewater, silver sponsor United Travel and bronze sponsor Subway. Bayswater Vehicles had secured full match sponsor rights on the balls of every home game.
Securing Taradale goalkeeper Scott Dunn and assistant coach/defender Warren Gilbertson as well as the Havelock North Wanderers trio of utility forward Nick Lucas and defenders Ben Murphy and Dion Adams was a testimony of the franchise's move to embrace players from other Bay clubs to be truly representative. Napier Marist's Gary Conway had been in the frame but opted for Auckland.