NZ Herald's Bonnie Jansen gets in amongst the fans of the newest A-League team. Video / Ben Dickens
A flag belonging to The Port, the Auckland FC fan group, was stolen minutes after the club’s inaugural A-League match at Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
The blue, white and black flag, which reads ‘The Pride of New Zealand’, was untied from the railing at Bay 22 inthe South Stand immediately after the full-time whistle.
The Herald understands three boys, estimated to be between 10 and 14 years old hurriedly pulled down the flag and fled the area. Port witnesses attempted to chase after the culprits, but they had already disappeared in the post-match chaos.
Port founding member, Jonno Ross told the Herald it was “annoying” as all they are trying to do is build something cool.
Auckland FC supporters before the A-League football match between Auckland FC v Brisbane Roar. Photo / Photosport
“That was just a little negative thing that happened on such a great day and it didn’t really take away anything it was just something that happened,” Ross said. It’s not a cool thing that happened, but I suppose there’s always going to be something like that that will happen in the stadium.
“The person who took it — they can just bring it to the next game, give it back and no hard feelings there if they just own up to it.”
In a post on the Auckland FC Supporters’ Facebook group flag owner Nick Pearson said “If your kids come home with my big ‘Pride of New Zealand’ flag, could you please reach out to me?
“No hard feelings, but I’d like it back as it was pretty expensive to get made.
“I was too busy playing the drum at the bottom of the stand to grab them before I saw them run off with it. Would appreciate folks sharing this. Alternatively, if it turns up magically in the same spot at next week’s game, then that’d be great.
“Let’s have each other’s backs in the port and not spoil things with this kind of silliness. UTP (up the Port).”
Players thank the fans. A-League - Auckland FC v Brisbane Roar FC at Go Media Stadium, Mt Smart, Auckland, Saturday 19 October 2024. Copyright Photo: Shane Wenzlick / photosport.nz
Prior to the gates opening, the group gathered at the stadium’s neighbouring bar, Lilyworld, before conducting chants in the concourse an hour before kick-off.
They also executed a pre-arranged march to Bay 22 down the staircase between the south and west stands. The march was led by two Port members holding the flag that would later be stolen.
Ross said aside from the theft, the occasion was unmatched and he was confident the crowds would grow and get louder going forward.
“The fans that weren’t part of Bay 22... I noticed hundreds of different people, they were on their phones recording, and they had a look of awe on their faces, just going ‘Wow, this is amazing’,” Ross said.
“[The Port] It’s something that they’ve never seen before in New Zealand sport — rugby fans certainly don’t behave like we did and it’s a positive thing.”
Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a full-time journalist.
