The final awards at the 2025 WaiBOP Football awards were special acknowledgements to those who have made a significant contribution to our sport over the last 25 years.

The legends of football have all contributed so much of their time to the game, in most cases behind the scenes. They have all been instrumental in the 25 year history of WaiBOP Football.

Legend of Football - Josh Easby

Josh Easby is a leading figure in New Zealand football media, combining editorial leadership, club-level programme production, and publishing. He is the editor of Friends of Football, the site that curates match reports, opinion pieces, and coverage across all levels of New Zealand football, and has overseen its growth in readership and contributor base. 

He manages a team of volunteer writers, providing mentorship and guidance.

His work bridges football fandom, journalism, and publishing.

He has held senior roles in media and communications, with experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. For many years he served as secretary at Cambridge Football Club. 

Legend of Football - Patsi Davies

Patsi joined the WaiBOP board in 2004 and served in the volunteer role until 2016. She was elected Chair of the Board in 2007 and served as Chair until 2015. She is the longest serving board chair. 
She was instrumental in pulling together Hamilton City’s late bid to be a host city for the  bid for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.  

She was made a life member of WaiBOP Football in 2015. The same year she received a Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Award for Service to Sport (football).

She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences, a Law Degree, and a PhD in Public Health Policy. She's held managerial/policy development roles in the health and disability sector, and taught health law and policy, mediation, and legal method in the School of Law at Waikato University.

Legend of Football – Jim Grainger

Jim Grainger is deeply embedded in Te Awamutu football. He's been involved since the early 2000s when he relocated to New Zealand from England.

He currently serves as President of Te Awamutu AFC and is coaching the Over-35s team. He is a life member of the club.

Beyond football, Jim is operations manager and part-owner of a printing business, Print House. He began his printing career in Manchester, England, before relocating to New Zealand in the early 2000s.

Legend of Football - Bruce Holloway 

A prominent voice on football, Bruce was a contributor to the Waikato Times from 1989-1991, and then a full time journalist with the paper from 1992-2011, working the majority of this time in the sports department.
From 1997-2005 he edited Sitter!, the New Zealand football fanzine and also edited BULL-SHEET, a limited-edition Waikato United fanzine from 1993-1996. He has three times won NZ Football Media Writer of the Year, and three times won Publication of the Year.

Bruce was chairman of Melville United AFC from 2005-2017.

Legend of Football - Donna McCutcheon (née Moxon)

Donna is a long-serving regional volunteer and administrator. She is currently an elected WaiBOP board member and chair of the Wāhine & Kōhine Advisory Group, and a graduate of the Women in Leadership programme. 

Donna has been involved with the game for more than 40 years, including playing at many different levels, coaching and managing kids teams, and various roles on club committees.

She worked for as Volunteer Co-Ordinator during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. 

The Claudelands Rovers stalwart was still active in 2024-25 fixtures.

Legend of Football  - Wendy Sharpe
Wendy is a New Zealand football legend who transitioned into coaching, administration, and mentoring after a stellar playing career. She earned 53 caps and scored 38 goals for the Football Ferns between 1980 and 1995, one of the top goal scorers in history.

After retiring as a player, Wendy committed to giving back through coaching at regional and school levels. In the Bay of Plenty she has coached youth teams, school sides, and community programmes, including her grandchildren's teams.

She has also taken roles in raising coaching standards and female representation in the game.
 

Article added: Tuesday 04 November 2025