07/06/2026
Appreciation post!
After yesterday's Old Timers Day, I wanted to take a moment to recognise my absolutely incredible team.
To our bar and kitchen staff – thank you so very much.
From the moment the doors opened until the last glasses were washed, you barely stopped. The bar was packed, orders kept coming, the kitchen was flat out, and yet you showed up with smiles, patience, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to looking after everyone who walked through the door.
What people saw was great service.
What I saw was teamwork.
I saw staff jumping in wherever they were needed, supporting each other during the busiest periods, staying calm under pressure, and working tirelessly to ensure the day ran smoothly. When the queues were long and the pace was relentless, nobody complained. You simply got on with the job and delivered.
Old Timers Day is one of the most important days on the calendar for Pōneke Football Club. It's a day filled with memories, friendships, and reconnections that span generations. The atmosphere everyone enjoyed yesterday didn't just happen by chance. It was helped along by a team working incredibly hard behind the scenes to make sure people felt welcomed, fed, watered, and looked after.
As a manager, there are days when you are reminded just how lucky you are to work alongside good people. Yesterday was one of those days.
Watching the team handle a relentless day with such professionalism, humour, and care made me incredibly proud.
Thank you for giving up your weekend, for working through the rush, and for helping create a day that so many people will remember fondly.
You did yourselves and Toitū Pōneke proud. 💙