Christchurch football club headed for history

Cashmere Technical Football Club is gearing up for two major finals at One New Zealand Stadium.

The club will have the chance to add to their trophy cabinet after semi-final victories for the womens' and mens' teams in the Kate Shepard Cup and Chatham Cup respectively.

It's the first time that the women's team have made the final, but club captain Kate Loye said the signs have been there for a while.

“It’s been a long time in the making.

“It's not just this team that got us there, we've been so close before but never quite got there. It's just nice for the whole club knowing that we’ve been involved in the past as well. But yeah, so proud of us for getting there.”

Loye said both Cashmere sides having the chance to play in front of a Christchurch crowd at Te Kaha, was a massive step for football in the region.

“It’s the best thing that could have happened here, I think. It’s really special, especially for the women's game, it shows we can compete against the rest of the country. South Island teams do lose out a little bit just because of location and population so it's really nice.

“We just need to focus on how we lay and do what we know we can do best. We know they’re a very strong team, a very good team historically but I really do believe in this team so much”

Coach Shane Verma shared that belief in his team, and said a Kate Shepard Cup has been a long-term goal for quite some time.

“It means heaps to us, it is a goal we set ourselves at the start of the season."

“It’s a dream come true. For the game to be the first ever football game in the new stadium, to create history. Hopefully we’ll be a pub quiz question in the future.

“We’ve got the best stadium in New Zealand and to be able to play football there, for this group of players who for a lot of them it's their first time playing in a stadium. The biggest thing is just getting our local community there and cheering us on, making lots of noise, and getting behind the girls.”

The Cashmere women's team clinched a finals spot after a dramatic comeback against Wellington Phoenix reserves at Garrick Memorial park, scoring in the 88th and 92nd minute to turn around a one-goal deficit.

“To get the equaliser and then get the winner in added time was ecstatic and the noise you could hear from the sideline and the players was the loudest I'd ever heard it. We’re just immensely proud of what this group has done.”

Verma said the finals appearance was a massive step for Christchurch football, and urged everyone around the city to get to the stadium regardless of club allegiances.

“We’re all here for football, we're here to wave the Cantabrian flag so we’d love to see everyone down there in the club colours and cheering us on for hopefully what can be a bit of history for our club.”

For the men's team, they’ll be hoping for a repeat of their last Chatham Cup Finals appearance in 2021, when they overcame Miramar Rovers to lift the cup

Semi-finals goalscorer Lyle Matthysen said his team knew they would have to step up in their narrow win against Napier City Rovers, after conceding early in the semi-final.

“It was pretty surreal,” he said

“We knew Napier were a top side, they were top of the Central League so we knew it was gonna be tough but after hearing that final whistle it was so surreal and just a massive relief to secure that final spot.”

He said having both teams in the final was a reflection of the unity of both Cashmere Tech sides.

“It’s an amazing achievement for the club. At that semifinal against the Phoenix girls I don’t think we’ve cheered so much for a game this year, I don't think we celebrate our own games like that. So to have both the women's team in the final, the mens in the final is an amazing achievement, it's pretty special.

“We’ve got such a family feel within the club and the culture. We’ve got such a unique bond with the community so hopefully we can make them all proud and hopefully we get a good turnout from our tech family and then also the football community within the South Island. So yeah, looking forward to it but the main thing is just hoping to lift that cup again.”

Matthysen was a part of that 2021 team to lift the cup, and describes the run as an unforgettable experience.

“It was pretty special, that was my first Chatham Cup with the team. I know many of my teammates won it back in 2013 and 2014 so to finally lift one with the club was pretty special and at a unique time as well with everything going on with covid. It was a crazy run and one I'll never forget.”

Cashmere Tech’s Kate Sheppard Cup Final vs Eastern Suburbs will kick off at 1pm on Saturday September 5, and the mens' AFC Chatham Cup Final vs Fencibles United will follow at 4pm.