Canterbury’s Waimak United have revealed how they recruited the support of legendary England striker Wayne Rooney ahead of their title-deciding match against Burwood.
Going into the match, the Rangiora club knew they could clinch the Mainland Premier League with a win, and earn the chance to win promotion to the Southern League through a play-off series.
So, who better to urge on the Waimak United players than former Manchester United and England star Rooney?
On the eve of the match, Rooney recorded a message of encouragement, urging Waimak to take their opportunity.
“I would like to wish everyone at Waimak the best,” the Plymouth Argyle manager says in the video clip.
“Hopefully, you can bring the title home and then push on and win the play-offs.
“Up the ‘Mak!”
When Waimak United shared the video on their social media channel, it raised awareness of the club, their match and their promotion ambitions.
But what was the connection with Rooney?
Was it a lookalike? Had AI conjured up the video?
Waimak United’s director of football Harry Trethowan says the Rooney clip was genuine, and had its origins from more than six years ago, when he was coaching in the United States and became friendly with Simon Hallett, the owner of Plymouth Argyle.
“I’m an Argyle fan and we lived near each other. I was in New Jersey, and Simon was just over the state border in Pennsylvania,” Trethowan says.
When Trethowan moved to New Zealand in 2020, and spent two years coaching at Hamilton’s Melville United, he remained in touch with Hallett, swapping text messages.
Trethowan figured Waimak’s title tilt was the perfect time to pull a favour from his friend, asking if he could organise some words of encouragement from Rooney.
“It (the video) got people talking,” Trethowan says.
What’s more, the United team took the Mainland Premier League title with a 4-2 win against Burwood.
Main photo: Waimak United lift the trophy after sealing the Mainland Premier League title. Photo credit: Jim Watts Photography / @jimwattsphoto
Promotion play-offs ahead
The club now face a two-match home-and-away series with FC Nelson.
The winner will then meet Southern Premier League winners Wanaka in a two-legged play-off to decide who competes in the 2025 Southern League.
The promoted club will replace relegated FC Twenty 11.
Waimak (or Waimakariki United, to give the club its full name) is a relatively young club, having formed in 2008 through the merger of North Canterbury clubs Kaiapoi Town and Rangiora.
Trethowan says the club now has more than 450 children coming through its junior ranks on Saturday mornings alone and more than 600 young players, when including youth players.
The club has an accredited Talent Development Programme.
And thanks to an 11-second video clip from across the world, the club’s efforts and success are gaining attention …
This story was first published on September 3, 2024.
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