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 two decades W.D.U. were a major force in NZ soccer winning Central League and National League titles.
HUNGARIA
The Hungarian uprising of 1956 saw 200 000+ Hungarians flee their country and several found their way to New Zealand. Many of the young men had grown up playing football in the shadow of the Golden Team - The Hungarian national team who famously beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953. Players such as brothers Andras & Laci Polyanszky, Julius Beck, Stefan Nemet, Imre Kiss were some of the finest footballers to ever play in New Zealand. Formed in 1962, within 5 years they had won the Venus Shield and in 1970 were an inaugural member of the National League. After one season in the National League they joined with Miramar Rangers and formed Wellington City. Wellington City was a team for the National League, while Hungaria and Miramar Rangers retained their own identity. Wellington City stayed in the National League until 1976. After being relegated, Miramar withdrew from the arrangement and in 1979 Hungaria formally merged with Wellington City
WELLINGTON UNITED
Wellington Diamond United had just won the National League but needed a home ground, Wellington City were a prominent Central League side who resided at Newtown Park. With the NZFA making clear future plans for the National League meant it unlikely that clubs such as City would get promoted, they approached WDU and proposed a merger and Wellington City Diamond United was born, thankfully shortened to Wellington United a year later.
LIFE MEMBERS
The following are some of the people who have given an incredible amount of service and been awarded with life membership as a result
DIAMONDS
1900 - Harry Power - the first life member, awarded when he left Wellington, returned in 1907 and formed a junior club called Miramar Rangers (little did he know they would become our biggest rivals!)
1911 - Fred Anderson
1913 - JW Black
1945 - Alf Williams (played in original Diamonds team in 1893)
1960 - Mrs AH Barnett, J Ewing, M Bryson, G Metclaf, A Aspen, LT Heath, B Hooker, R Hooker, L Anderson, F O'Connell
1960 - Morrie "the voice" Fox - the clubs original historian
1966 - Doug Alexander, M Goldstein, R Hinde Snr, Peter Osten, A Wilson
Dates unknown, but well deserved
Ian Johnston
Jack Keen
Danny McCrorey
Sheila McCrorey
Danny & Shelia will be attending their 50th AGM this year (2021)
ZEALANDIA
Max Brorens (RIP)
Peter Klyne (RIP)
G Rutten (RIP)
Leo Zonneveld (RIP)
Rene Henke
HUNGARIA
Atliia Varga (RIP)
Keith Griffin
Frank Papp
WELLINGTON CITY
Mrs L Hilton (RIP)
T Estler
Bryan Park
John Shanks (RIP)
Bobby Minshull (RIP)
WELLINGTON UNITED
Graham Skachill
Mrs M Skachill
J Kruikemeijer (RIP)
Ian Rogers
Ulf Ackeus
John Dow
John Barry
Ken Allen
Anthony Mumby
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 two decades W.D.U. were a major force in NZ soccer winning Central League and National League titles.
HUNGARIA
The Hungarian uprising of 1956 saw 200 000+ Hungarians flee their country and several found their way to New Zealand. Many of the young men had grown up playing football in the shadow of the Golden Team - The Hungarian national team who famously beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953. Players such as brothers Andras & Laci Polyanszky, Julius Beck, Stefan Nemet, Imre Kiss were some of the finest footballers to ever play in New Zealand. Formed in 1962, within 5 years they had won the Venus Shield and in 1970 were an inaugural member of the National League. After one season in the National League they joined with Miramar Rangers and formed Wellington City. Wellington City was a team for the National League, while Hungaria and Miramar Rangers retained their own identity. Wellington City stayed in the National League until 1976. After being relegated, Miramar withdrew from the arrangement and in 1979 Hungaria formally merged with Wellington City
WELLINGTON UNITED
Wellington Diamond United had just won the National League but needed a home ground, Wellington City were a prominent Central League side who resided at Newtown Park. With the NZFA making clear future plans for the National League meant it unlikely that clubs such as City would get promoted, they approached WDU and proposed a merger and Wellington City Diamond United was born, thankfully shortened to Wellington United a year later.
LIFE MEMBERS
The following are some of the people who have given an incredible amount of service and been awarded with life membership as a result
DIAMONDS
1900 - Harry Power - the first life member, awarded when he left Wellington, returned in 1907 and formed a junior club called Miramar Rangers (little did he know they would become our biggest rivals!)
1911 - Fred Anderson
1913 - JW Black
1945 - Alf Williams (played in original Diamonds team in 1893)
1960 - Mrs AH Barnett, J Ewing, M Bryson, G Metclaf, A Aspen, LT Heath, B Hooker, R Hooker, L Anderson, F O'Connell
1960 - Morrie "the voice" Fox - the clubs original historian
1966 - Doug Alexander, M Goldstein, R Hinde Snr, Peter Osten, A Wilson
Dates unknown, but well deserved
Ian Johnston
Jack Keen
Danny McCrorey
Sheila McCrorey
Danny & Shelia will be attending their 50th AGM this year (2021)
ZEALANDIA
Max Brorens (RIP)
Peter Klyne (RIP)
G Rutten (RIP)
Leo Zonneveld (RIP)
Rene Henke
HUNGARIA
Atliia Varga (RIP)
Keith Griffin
Frank Papp
WELLINGTON CITY
Mrs L Hilton (RIP)
T Estler
Bryan Park
John Shanks (RIP)
Bobby Minshull (RIP)
WELLINGTON UNITED
Graham Skachill
Mrs M Skachill
J Kruikemeijer (RIP)
Ian Rogers
Ulf Ackeus
John Dow
John Barry
Ken Allen
Anthony Mumby