Giving Back to the Game: Bobby Almond Joins Ferrymead Bays in the Commentary Box

There are many ways to give back to football. Sometimes it’s coaching, sometimes volunteering, fundraising, mentoring young players — and sometimes it’s simply lending your voice and experience to help make a special occasion even more memorable.

For Ferrymead Bays, their first-ever appearance in the New Zealand National League was a landmark moment for the club and the wider Canterbury football community.

Helping make that occasion even more special was Centre Circle Canterbury Chair Bobby Almond, who stepped into the commentary box alongside Ferrymead Bays’ regular commentator, Craig Crawford.

Bobby joined Craig on the microphone to co-commentate on the historic National League fixture, bringing his own experience and perspective to the broadcast while helping showcase the occasion to supporters watching from home.

For Centre Circle, this is exactly what giving back to the football community is all about.

Bobby has been involved in football for decades, both on and off the field, and his passion for the game extends well beyond match day. Centre Circle Canterbury was established to celebrate football, its people and its history, while also supporting the football community whenever it can.

Being there for Ferrymead Bays as they took their first steps into the National League was a great example of that philosophy in action.

For Ferrymead Bays, reaching the National League represents a significant achievement for the club, its players, volunteers and supporters. Behind every team that reaches this level is a huge amount of work from people who often operate well away from the spotlight.

The commentary box provided another opportunity to recognise that achievement and tell the story of the occasion.

Working alongside Craig Crawford, Bobby helped bring the match to life for those unable to attend, while also adding some of the broader context and history that makes football about more than the 90 minutes on the pitch.

It was also a great opportunity for Centre Circle to support one of Canterbury’s clubs as it embarked on a new chapter.

Football is a community, and communities work best when people are prepared to pitch in and help each other.

Whether it is providing financial support, sharing knowledge, volunteering time, helping preserve our football history or, in this case, picking up a microphone, Centre Circle Canterbury is proud to play its part.

Congratulations to Ferrymead Bays on reaching the National League — and well done to everyone behind the scenes who made their first National League campaign possible.

And, of course, thanks to Craig Crawford for sharing the commentary box with Bobby.

Just another way of giving back to the game we all love.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF COASTAL SPIRIT – CENTRE CIRCLE BOARD MEMBERS JOIN THE SPIRIT ON CLUB DAY AT LINFIELD PARK 22/8/2026

Centre Circle board members received an invite from Coastal Spirit to join them for their formal club day at Linfield park on Saturday 22nd August. The Coastal Spirit Club received financial assistance recently with a successful application to our Helping Hand programme.

The application, the “Eastern Hub Schools” programme, provides assistance in Eastern Christchurch area, to young footballers, while still at school, boys and girls, by way of training and coaching sessions to improve their skill set that readies them for integration into their local football clubs.

The application itself was well written, well considered, and fitted perfectly under the “Grass Roots” category of Centre Circle’s Donation Policy.

Graeme Archer, treasurer, Shane Goldfinch, Secretary, and Bobby Almond, Chaiman, attended what was a special afternoon for a number of reasons.

Firstly, Coastal first team won their match, which has earned them a spot in next seasons winter National League.

Secondly, they got to mix and mingle with real football people, who are the heart of the Canterbury football community in the east of Christchurch.

For Bobby Almond, it was especially pleasing, given when he first arrived in Christchurch in 1973, he was contracted to play for New Brighton AFC, one of the two clubs now under the Coastal Spirit banner. In the club house tha afternoon he got to meet and chat with many of New Brighton's long standing supporters, who stood on the sidelines in the 70s’ to support their team.

From a Centre Circle perspective, these outings to local clubs are critical to our commitment to get “down and dirty” with our football community, the community that all board members have been involved in and got pleasure from. That’s what it is all about………….. the football !!

 

Link to the Centre Circle Youtube channel 

 

This link has the video of our World Cup Celebration dinner which was attended by John Adshead, Ricki Herbert and Darren Bazely, the coaches of the three World Cup qualifying All Whites teams.

 

A historical evening as this was the first (and only) time the coaches of these teams had all been in the same room together.

 

A fantastic night was had by all that attended.