Unbeaten in the A4 League throughout the season, it’s the final game against the notably tough opponent Kingsway (who went on to win the League); our team is two goals down at half-time, and they are under pressure. But somehow, Dilworth found the determination to fight their way back into the game, showing Kingsway that it was far from over. They equalised and ended with a thrilling finish and a creditable draw.
For Captain Alex Gage, it was a defining moment for the team.
“It felt so good. We didn’t drop our heads; we fought our way back to get the draw.”
This story isn’t about a glorious win but about the change in attitude and solid teamwork that has really taken hold of our 1st XI football side this season and flowed into the football culture at Dilworth.
We talked to Head Coach Mr Keith Taylor, Captain Alex Gage, and Vice-Captain Felix Miller to learn more about football at Dilworth this year.
Dilworth’s 1st XI had a great season, finishing second in the A4 League and earning themselves a spot in the promotion/relegation game to be played early next year. During Tournament Week, they also finished 8th at the Linwood Cup in Invercargill.
Football is steadily growing in popularity. Now, three football teams at Dilworth and around 60 students are involved in the programme, headed by Head of Learning Physical Education and Health, Keith Taylor. Keith says it is great working with Dilworth’s football players:
“The students I work with love the game and are willing to listen, learn and fully commit to the programme”.
So, seeing this relatively inexperienced team step up has been incredibly rewarding for him this year. He explained that Dilworth has a strong heritage in good football in recent years, but when some of the more experienced players finished Year 13 a couple of years ago, it took time to rebuild, and our young teams have had to put in the hard yards.
Keith mentions 1st XI Captain Alex Gage and Vice-Captain Felix Miller and praises the talented duo for their crucial roles in leading and developing the football programme at Dilworth, both on and off the pitch. Both were appointed prefects at the start of term 2, recognising their efforts across all aspects of school life.
“Both Alex, Felix and their team have really bought into a professional culture for football and they are the drivers behind the programme's success in recent years”.
So what makes for this kind of winning attitude?
Alex and Felix believe building an inclusive culture has been a key to the team’s success this season. Felix: “The culture has shifted. We work well together and have kept our motivation to fight because of it”. Alex adds, “We have gone from a more individual kind of culture two years ago. We know we can rely on each other more now, and when someone makes a mistake, we lift them up, keep it positive, and don’t focus on what’s wrong”.
Keith says that Dilworth footballers also work incredibly hard, which can’t be underestimated. They commit to training, which during the season includes two to three field training sessions, two strength and conditioning sessions, specific speed work, and competitive games. He says, “It’s a big commitment, and our students do amazingly well to juggle it all.”
He also gives a shout out to the dedicated staff who have supported our footballers this season: Ms Gabrielle Hyndman, Mr Gareth Hore, and Mr David Fellows and to all the whānau that have supported along the way.
Summing it up, Keith says he is so proud of the team:
“They showed so much character, grit and determination to get where they have got to. Naturally, with any success they have suffered setbacks, and they have just dealt with it head-on, displaying real character. I believe these experiences develop traits you will use for the rest of your life. It goes beyond sport”.
