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White Ferns LIVE from 7pmBrad Lewis: How the fun police ruined Auckland FC's big day in the capital
Brad Lewis • February 25th, 2026 2:02 pm
Auckland FC fans at Sky Stadium | Photo: Photosport
The travelling roadshow that was Auckland FC's 'Port' descended on New Zealand’s capital on Saturday almost 1000-strong, creating a joyful and at times hilarious atmosphere both at the ground and through the streets of the CBD.
The result was obviously as close to perfection as you’re going get as a supporter of a football club. You pummel your derby rivals 5-0 on their own turf. Pure cinema.
To see the sheer joy on the faces of both my children and my wife – who is not the world’s biggest sporting fan – made the dent in the wallet a lot easier to stomach.
As for The Port, what can I say? The best sporting fans in New Zealand. There is no hesitation in saying that. Warriors fans come close, but I’ve never experienced anything like that in nearly 40 years watching sport. Port’s Away – ah ha ah ha – I like it!
So, why was this also one of the worst experiences I hear you asking? Simply put – we were treated like criminals.
To see the confused look on my children’s faces – at ages 9 and 11 – when they were told they were going to be padded down was enraging.
"Why are my kids being treated like convicts?" I asked the Red Badge security attendant.
"Because we need to check for contraband and weapons,” he smugly replied.
When I told him that the chances of him putting his hands on my children was slim to none, he said we wouldn’t be allowed into the venue.
Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
Were the Phoenix fans being treated like this? Nope. Were the Phoenix fans ushered into one line to enter the stadium. Nope. Was their 15-security personnel assigned to the section the 'Yellow Fever' were sitting in? Nope.
Eventually my rage subsided and allowed old mate's much more pleasant colleague to conduct the pad down of my entire family and, sure enough, we were clean and let through.
Or so I thought. More on that later.
This was the entry process for every single one of the travelling Auckland fans – all of us clearly recently released from Mt Eden Prison. But at the end of the day, we were in the ground and I was over my dad rage – for all of about 15 seconds.
Once all of us were in, my old mate from Red Badge was hustling behind us, yelling at anyone who hesitated that we were only allowed in Section 35 and to keep moving. The policeman walking next to me had the most beautifully timed eyeroll I’ve ever seen.
Yep - even he thought this was all ridiculous.
We found our seats and settled in for the carnage that was to follow. But wait, there’s more.
We were gifted blue and white balloons by Port members earlier in the day that we were blowing up ready to unleash when the wonderful lads from Auckland FC graced the turf of Sky Stadium with their presence.
My daughter couldn’t wait to throw her hastily blown-up balloon when the fun police struck again. Old mate’s even grumpier female colleague accosted my children and several around us demanding the balloons – contraband we were told – you know the same contraband they were supposed to have looked for at the gate.
The balloons were gleefully gathered up and violently popped.
Daughter shed a tear – fun police’s job accomplished.
Port banners were also removed. Why? I don’t know. Maybe Wellingtonians don’t like art, or creativity, or anything that doesn’t involve five claps and a 'Phoenix' chant – because that’s all the Yellow Fever has.
Jesse Randall celebrates one of his two goals with Daniel Hall for Auckland against Wellington | Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
I messaged the Phoenix media manager, who is a good bloke and an old work mate, congratulating the club on ruining the entire pre-match for me and the fam.
He graciously apologised and then pointed out that, in the past, The Port fans had vandalised the stadium.
My research in the last 48 hours has led me to discover that vandalism consisted of excessive rubbish and Auckland FC stickers left on those hideous yellow seats.
I get it - Red Badge is employed by the stadium, and the stadium is rented by the Phoenix, and the club probably isn’t to blame entirely for this. But treat us with respect.
A few stickers and balloons shouldn’t lead to my children being padded down. Hell, even adults getting padded down is something not even seen during the 1981 Springbok tour.
The facts are, the Auckland FC Port saved that game from being a total flop. The atmosphere was incredible and that was solely down to the Black Knights.
Oh, and there were zero arrests from the Auckland FC section. Zero. Two people were removed – one for being too intoxicated and one for – checks notes – blowing up balloons after being warned not to.
This is a football game! Football is life and football is about fandom and supporting your colours.
My advice to Phoenix CEO David Dome (another very good human); talk to your Auckland FC counterpart Nick Becker and come up with a solution that doesn’t involve children being padded down at the gate and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, allow a balloon quota for travelling fans to show our colours and let us hang banner over the railing .
Honestly, who is that harming?
Let’s have fun again and celebrate the beautiful game together. Then maybe, the football gods might reward you with a positive result.
I guess we can all dream, right?
Brad Lewis is the executive producer of Millsy & Guy and Sport Nation's cricket commentary
