Our Ethnic Roots
ZEALANDIA
In the late 1950's, Dutch Settlers who came to NZ to join in the building and plastering "boom" and formed a club called "Zealandia" and eventually changed their name to Wellington United. The "Dutchies" as they are more commonly known were just as fanatical about their football then as they are today and realised if the club was to survive they would have to join forces with another club and Diamonds was the obvious neighbourly one to join with. It happened, and the all powerful Wellington Diamond United combine was formed and for almost 2 decades W.D.U. were a major force in NZ soccer winning Central League and National League titles.
HUNGARIA
The Ethnic boom period of the late fifties and early sixties also involved another fanatical group of footballers from Hungary. Some of these players were brilliant and could well have been very good professional footballers in England or anywhere else in the world had they been re-settled in a footballing country. However they were sent to NZ as refugees which was hardly a strong soccer loving country. To cut a long story short, the Hungarians and some of Miramar Rangers Management wanted a club strong enough to play in the new national soccer league. The Club name chosen was Wellington City AFC and they took Hungarias place in the National League.
FINAL MERGER
Wellington City and Wellington Diamond United were fierce opponents until 1986 when both teams joined as one club and renamed Wellington United. They were to be based at the Newtown Park Stadium. In 2006, the club celebrated its 20th year of amalgamation.
KEY MEMBERS
It would be very appropriate to mention some of the key people who have served the club throughout the 40 or so years of mergers and amalgamations and are still serving our club. Particularly the surviving members who have given an incredible amount of service:
ZEALANDIA
Max Brorens and Leo Zonneveld
DIAMONDS
Danny McCrorey and Sheila McCrorey
HUNGARIA
Keith Griffen, Frank Papp and Julius Beck
WELLINGTON CITY
Bob Minshull and John Shanks
WELLINGTON UNITED
John Dow, Ian Rogers, Ulf Ackeus, John Barry and Ken Allen
In the late 1950's, Dutch Settlers who came to NZ to join in the building and plastering "boom" and formed a club called "Zealandia" and eventually changed their name to Wellington United. The "Dutchies" as they are more commonly known were just as fanatical about their football then as they are today and realised if the club was to survive they would have to join forces with another club and Diamonds was the obvious neighbourly one to join with. It happened, and the all powerful Wellington Diamond United combine was formed and for almost 2 decades W.D.U. were a major force in NZ soccer winning Central League and National League titles.
HUNGARIA
The Ethnic boom period of the late fifties and early sixties also involved another fanatical group of footballers from Hungary. Some of these players were brilliant and could well have been very good professional footballers in England or anywhere else in the world had they been re-settled in a footballing country. However they were sent to NZ as refugees which was hardly a strong soccer loving country. To cut a long story short, the Hungarians and some of Miramar Rangers Management wanted a club strong enough to play in the new national soccer league. The Club name chosen was Wellington City AFC and they took Hungarias place in the National League.
FINAL MERGER
Wellington City and Wellington Diamond United were fierce opponents until 1986 when both teams joined as one club and renamed Wellington United. They were to be based at the Newtown Park Stadium. In 2006, the club celebrated its 20th year of amalgamation.
KEY MEMBERS
It would be very appropriate to mention some of the key people who have served the club throughout the 40 or so years of mergers and amalgamations and are still serving our club. Particularly the surviving members who have given an incredible amount of service:
ZEALANDIA
Max Brorens and Leo Zonneveld
DIAMONDS
Danny McCrorey and Sheila McCrorey
HUNGARIA
Keith Griffen, Frank Papp and Julius Beck
WELLINGTON CITY
Bob Minshull and John Shanks
WELLINGTON UNITED
John Dow, Ian Rogers, Ulf Ackeus, John Barry and Ken Allen
