This week, we sit down with Craig Bulloch, founder of MATES Matter NZ, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about mental health, resilience, and the power of connection.
Craig opens up about his early life, the illusion of success, and the difficult moments that led him to the edge — and how his brother’s actions saved his life. Together, we talk about how sport and physical exercise can be powerful tools for managing mental wellbeing, and why opening up matters more than ever.
This episode is part one of our Mental Health Series, running throughout Movember, where we explore the challenges, conversations, and courage that shape the lives of men in sport and beyond.
🎧 Presented by From the Plains to the Pitch.
Episode 8 – Adam Matete: Family, Footy & Food
Presented by Laser Electrical and Paton Kitchens
This week on From the Plains to the Pitch we welcome Adam Matete — a true local legend. Adam has lived and breathed team sport his whole life. A passionate rugby league coach, proud family man, and advocate for junior sport, Adam brings a wealth of experience both on and off the field.
In this episode, Adam shares his story of growing up in the Hauraki Plains, how sport shaped his youth, and the lessons that have carried him through his career and into fatherhood. We dive deep into:
🏉 His rugby league journey and coaching philosophy
👨👩👦 Family life, and supporting two sons who both play rugby
💬 Why team sport matters more than ever for kids today
It’s heartfelt, honest, and full of laughs — a reminder of how sport connects families, builds communities, and creates memories that last a lifetime.
🎧 Tune in now to From the Plains to the Pitch — the grassroots sports podcast proudly bringing local stories to life.
Episode 8 – Adam Matete: Family, Footy & Food
Presented by Laser Electrical and Paton Kitchens
This week we’re joined by local legend Adam Matete — rugby league coach, family man, and passionate advocate for junior sport. Born and raised in Ngatea, Adam shares his story of growing up in the community, the role sport has played throughout his life, and why team culture is so important both on and off the field.
We also dive into family, coaching, and his love for rugby league.
It’s heartfelt, fun, and full of community spirit — the perfect listen for fans of sport, family, and everything in between.
🎧 Full Episode drops Saturday 8AM
Episode 7 – Junior Special
Presented by Paton Kitchens Ngatea
This week we sit down with Liam Gordon, Wolves goalkeeper and club captain, to hear about his junior football journey and the experiences that shaped him into a leader today.
We also head pitchside for the final junior football weekend of the season, with the Lions, Tigers, and Hawks all playing at home. Expect the sounds of the sideline as we chat with players, parents, coaches, and supporters about their season highlights, challenges, and favourite moments.
It’s an episode that celebrates both the roots of our captain’s story and the future of football here at Hauraki Plains FC.
🎧 Listen now to From the Plains to the Pitch — proudly presented by Paton Kitchens Ngatea.
This week we’re joined by Wolves midfielder Lachlan McHaffie — a lifelong football fan, team leader at the local council, and proud Arsenal supporter. Lachy sits down with us to reflect on the Wolves’ season, what football means to him, and how leadership on and off the pitch goes hand in hand.
We also cover:
🐺 A full review of the Wolves’ 2024 season, including the recent 0–0 draw with Melville Dreadnaughts
🧒 Junior Corner – highlights from across the club’s youth teams
🧠 The Switched On Challenge powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea – with Lachy taking on the trivia test
It’s an episode packed with insight, banter, and big-picture reflections on the beautiful game.
🎧 Listen now and join us on From the Plains to the Pitch — proudly powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea.
🎧 Episode 5: Where Football Meets the Future
Presented by Paton Kitchens Ngatea
This week, we’re recording on the road at Hauraki Plains College — our local school for students aged 13–18 — to explore how sport, education, and career pathways all connect.
We’re joined by:
🏫 Jono — Deputy Head at HPC and Wolves first-team player
🎓 Pippa Lawlor — Careers Advisor at HPC
Together, we discuss:
⚽ How school sport helps shape strong mindsets
🧠 The role of education in building resilience
📈 Career opportunities in and around football
Then, we bring you an exclusive interview with Carl Edwards, Football Analyst at Auckland FC, who shares:
🔍 The inner workings of match analysis
📊 How he built a career in professional football
🌏 Insights into the modern game at the highest level
Plus — our Wolves Review, Junior Corner, and the ever-popular Switched On Challenge powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea.
At 1hr 30mins, it’s our biggest and most inspiring episode yet.
This week, we’re taking From the Plains to the Pitch back to school — literally. 🏫⚽
We sit down at Hauraki Plains College with Deputy Head (and Wolves player) Jono and Careers Advisor Pippa Lawlor to talk:
🎯 How sport shapes young people
🧠 Building strong mindsets through education
📈 Career pathways in and around football
Then we switch gears with a deep dive into the professional game — chatting to Carl Edwards, Football Analyst at Auckland FC, about:
🔍 The world of match analysis
📊 How his career began and evolved
⚽ What it takes to work in pro football
At 1hr 30mins, this is a mega episode packed with insight, inspiration, and a few laughs along the way.
📅 Full episode drops Wednesday — teaser live now!
#FromThePlainsToThePitch #UpTheWolves #HaurakiPlainsFC #GrassrootsFootball #AucklandFC #MatchAnalysis #SchoolAndSport
🎧 Episode 4: Football and Family
Presented by Laser Electrical Ngatea
This week, we’re joined by one of the most football-mad families around — the Rawnsleys. Mum Sarah manages our U12 Pythons, Liam plays in the junior squad, and older brother James now suits up for Kaimai Rangers.
In this episode:
👨👩👦 The ups and downs of managing a junior football team
⚽️ What it's like growing up in a football family
🧠 Coaching advice and youth football culture
🎯 Our Switched On Challenge — trivia, laughs, and sibling teamwork
🐺 A look back at the Wolves’ latest fixture vs Huntly Thistle
🦁 Junior Corner: goals galore for the kids
Whether you're a coach, parent, or lifelong player — this episode is for you. It’s honest, fun, and full of grassroots heart.
🔗 Don’t forget to follow and share. Up the Wolves!
This week, we’re joined by one of the most football-mad families around — the Rawnsleys. Mum Sarah manages our U12 Pythons, Liam plays in the junior squad, and older brother James now suits up for Kaimai Rangers.
In this episode:
👨👩👦 The ups and downs of managing a junior football team
⚽️ What it's like growing up in a football family
🧠 Coaching advice and youth football culture
🎯 Our Switched On Challenge — trivia, laughs, and teamwork
🐺 A look back at the Wolves’ latest fixture vs Huntly Thistle
🦁 Junior Corner: Big scorelines everywhere
Whether you're a coach, parent, or lifelong player — this episode is for you. It’s honest, fun, and full of grassroots heart.
FULL EPISODE IS OUT WEDNESDAY
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Scott and Natalie from WaiBOP Football to explore what it takes to develop the game from the ground up — in clubs, communities, and classrooms across the region.
We dive into:
Coaching juniors vs seniors
Progression for coaches and referees in NZ football
Growing the women’s game and keeping girls in football
Building strong, inclusive club culture
Careers around football — from admin to analysis
Also in this episode:
🐺 A 2–0 away win in the Weekly Wolves Review
🦁 Wild 5–5 draws in Junior Corner
⚡ The Switched On Challenge, powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea
🎙️ Hosted in Ngatea. Powered by community.
🛠️ Proudly presented by PATON Kitchens — building spaces where champions are made (and fed).
🎧 Episode 3: Developing the Game
Scott and Natalie from WaiBOP Football join us to talk coaching pathways, women’s football, grassroots growth, and building better clubs. Plus: our Wolves match review, junior highlights, and the Switched On Challenge powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea.
Presented by PATON Kitchens
In this episode, we sit down with Auckland City FC defender Alfie Rogers to hear how a grassroots footballer found himself playing on the global stage at six FIFA Club World Cups. Alfie shares his development journey, the demands of international club football, and the lessons that started on local soil.
We also bring you:– Juniors Corner: match recaps and standout young players– The Switched On Challenge, presented by Laser Electrical Ngatea– The On The Whistle Quiz: fast-paced football trivia– Plus updates from the Wolves camp and around the Hauraki Plains
Subscribe for new episodes every week — and thanks for supporting community football, on and off the pitch.
From muddy boots to the biggest stage in club football. ⚽️🌍
This week we’re joined by Auckland City FC’s Alfie Rogers, who shares how he went from grassroots beginnings to competing at six FIFA Club World Cups — representing his club on a global stage.
Honest, inspiring, and packed with insight for any player chasing big goals from small towns. - Listen to this teaser. Full episode launches this Wednesday!
In our very first episode of From the Plains to the Pitch, we dig into the 41-year story of Hauraki Plains FC — from its grassroots beginnings in 1984 as a junior-only club to launching its first senior men’s team in 2023.
Joining us is Wolves centre-back, junior coach, and all-round club legend Phil J. We talk about his journey from the backline to the sidelines, coaching our U12 all-girls team, and what it means to be part of something bigger than football.
We also relive the first part of our senior season (5W–5D–1L), hear voices from the club’s past, get a message from our captain, and launch two new segments: the Switched On Quiz (powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea) and the On The Whistle rapid-fire challenge.
It’s football, community, history — and a heap of banter. This is where the story starts.
Our story starts here. 🐺⚽️
41 years of history, a brand new senior men’s team, and one man who’s been at the heart of both — centre back, junior coach, and proud Wolves dad Phil J joins us for the very first episode of From the Plains to the Pitch.
📻 Real voices from the past
🟰 Honest chats about building something from the ground up
💬 Coaching, community, and club culture
🔌 Plus: our first Switched On Quiz — powered by Laser Electrical Ngatea
🎧 Full episode drops this Wednesday.
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