The Football Legacy selections honour players who have made a lasting impact on football in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Each has gone the extra mile for their club and the region, inspiring others through excellence, leadership, and dedication.

Selection reflected not only performance but also contribution, influence, and the example they’ve set for future generations.

The WaiBOP Awards Night 2025 was held on 18th October, 2025, in Hamilton. The evening celebrated winners from across the WaiBOP leagues from 2025, as well as a number of legacy awards, celebrating 25 years of WaiBOP Football.  

The legacy selections include players, referees and coaches who have made an impact between 2000-2025.

With the original selection criteria left broad, the judging panel elected to focus on players whose outstanding football deeds were mostly performed within the Waikato-Bay of Plenty catchment area as opposed to those who have emerged from the region to make major impacts elsewhere.

That means many of WaiBOP's most famous football exports, such as All Whites Chris Wood, Marco Rojas, Tyler Boyd, Ryan Thomas, Logan Rogerson, Jamie Searle and Nando Pijnaker were not considered for the purposes of this exercise.

Perhaps that is tough on Wood, who had a wonderful season for Wanderers in 2007 and won the premier league golden boot aged 15-16. And for a teenage Ryan Thomas, who was named 2012 northern premier league player of the year.

But across a 25-year span the judges agreed on a baseline expectation of a minimum of five seasons of play or 100 major appearances between 2000 and 2025 to be considered to have had a significant WaiBOP playing legacy for the purposes of this exercise.

It also meant overlooking former All Whites such as Paul Nixon, Declan Edge, Mark Cossey, and Paul Probert who were still playing during the early part of this 25-year period.

And it meant no recognition in this exercise for players such as Archie Thompson and Andre de Jong, who were born here but departed as children to make their impact elsewhere. 

Or for memorable goalscorers such as Tommy Semmy, Marc Evans or Darren Fellowes, who were thrilling to see in action, but were relatively light on overall appearances during this time frame.

As well as length of service, selected players were judged on performance levels, the breadth of their impact, values, and ability to inspire.

Legacy Select XI Men

Max Tommy - Goalkeeper

Nearly 200 games for Melville, having previously played for Wanderers. He had the distinction in 2023 of being the first Waikato player to win the Jack Batty Cup (player of the Chatham Cup final) since Steve Tate in 1988, and the first goalkeeper to score a goal in a cup final.

Grant Cooper - LB

Grant is estimated to have registered over 100 appearances for both Melville and Tauranga City and a handful of appearances for Waikato FC, having started his career in the late 90s. An athletic and aggressive left back, he was a Chatham Cup finalist in 2003.

Che Bunce – CB

Che played all over the globe in a 15-club career after emerging from Huntly as a kid. He made the last of his 29 All White appearances in 2007. Along the way he turned out for Waikato United, Melville and had three spells with Waikato FC between 2004 and 2010, while also briefly player-coach for that club in the summer league in 2009-10.

Runner up in the Northern Premier League golden boot in 2009.

Aaron Scott -СВ

Often a poster boy for the region, he made 379 appearances for Melville between 2003 and 2024, earning player of the year in 2007, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019; 52 appearances for Waikato FC; 26 for WaiBOP United, and 16 for Hamilton Wanderers.

Captained New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and between 2009 and 2013 he earned 11 All Whites caps.

Aaron is one of the few players to achieve international and national honours while remaining based in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty region, making him one of the most enduring and accomplished WaiBOP-based footballers of his era.

David Samson - RB
Over 100 appearances for Melville but has also turned out for a number of Waikato clubs including Waikato FC, Ngāruawāhia United, Hamilton Wanderers, and Claudelands Rovers. Dave was also selected for NZ Beach Soccer team in 2007.

Harlem Simiona - LM

Harlem has spent almost 20 years as a fixture for Ngongotahā as a skilful left wing, left midfield or left back, during which time he was also selected as a member of the inaugural New Zealand Māori men's team in 2018. He was first approached to represent the Cook Islands in 2011, as an 18-year-old and turned out for them in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Michael Mayne - СМ

Talented player who combined being both skilful and physical, Michael played for various clubs in both Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Was with Waikato FC in their inaugural season, and again in 2008-09 and 2011-12. A New Zealand youth international and now Football Ferns head coach.

Jason Chewins - CM

After over 500 appearances for Aldershot before he arrived in New Zealand, Jason made a huge impression for Cambridge, and then Melville, whether playing at left back, centre back or midfield. He also had a season with Ngāruawāhia United and one summer with Waikato FC.

Matt Williams - RM
A legend for Ngāruawāhia across a 20-year time frame, he also turned out for Melville for many seasons. Matt also had a season as co-captain of Waikato FC in 2006-07. His ability took him away from the region with Auckland City FC to stages such as the World Club Champs and 12 OFC Champions League matches, but importantly he returned to action in the Waikato.

Steven Holloway - ST
Some 82 goals in 147 games for Melville in three spells between 2002-2017, with a record-high 13 Chatham Cup goals in 2003, assisting his club to the final. Steven also scored 14 national league goals for Waikato FC, that club's highest ever return.

Derek Tieku - ST
A brilliant striker who made over 150 appearances for Wanderers, and scored 88 goals, becoming all-time leading scorer before shifting to Auckland. Derek was the ISPS Handa Premiership MVP in 2019-20 and Wanderers skipper for several seasons.

And our panel also chose a Team Manager, to look after our Select XI team, Seamus Marten.
Seamus was Team Manager at Melville 2017-2022, Seamus also was an All Whites team manager 2013-14 and 2018-19, and managed the Oly Whites in 2012.

Six players that sit just outside the XI but deserve acknowledgement.
Legacy Select XI Men...Subs

Craig Flowerday – Defender SUB

While largely unheralded, Craig was superb at the heart of defence for both Tauranga and Waikato FC in the early 2000s.

Mark Jones – Midfielder SUB

The current Wanderers captain, he has had one of the most enduring careers with over 200 appearances for Wanderers (their third most capped player), after starting out with Taupo in 2007. He has also had three national league seasons with WaiBOP United and also turned out for Melville.

Matt Oliver - Goalkeeper

Tauranga-born goalkeeper most aligned with Wanderers where he made over 200 appearances from 2013 onwards.

Jordan Shaw – Defender SUB

An enduring Waikato football identity, currently player-coach of Cambridge, who chalked up over 200 appearances for Wanderers as a terrier-like defender.

Paul Caton - Defender

A defender whose career had started in the mid-90s. Co-captain of Waikato FC in 2006 and Chatham Cup finalist with Tauranga in 2002.

Gavin Douglas – Defender SUB

Over 200 appearances for Melville, skipper in the 2003 Chatham Cup final and still there when Melville won the premier league in 2009.
 

Article added: Tuesday 04 November 2025