The Battle of the Boots 2025 was a vibrant charity football event held on September 14, 2025 to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis Auckland (MS Auckland), kicking off MS Awareness Week.
This was a 60-minute celebrity football match at Birkenhead United featuring two mixed teams of local celebrities, including local legends, comedians, radio hosts, and more. The event was coached by renowned figures Sir Graham Henry (former All Blacks rugby coach) and Lady Raewyn Henry. The celebrities were divided into two teams, Team Teal (winners) vs. Team Orange.
Team Orange – Coach: Lady Raewyn Henry
Players: Pax Assadi, Jack Ansett, Jono Pryor, Matt Gibb, Jon Bridges, Bree Tomasel, Shane Cortese, Paul Williams, Brendon Green, Liv McKenzie, Walter Neilands, Matt Watts, Andrew Burt, Danielle Grant, Rochelle Cave, Andrew Pragnall, Dino Botica, Jamie Govind
Team Teal – Coach: Sir Graham Henry
Players: Cori Gonzalez Macuer, Sanjay Patel, Anita Hedges, Jesse Mulligan, Clint Roberts, Mateus Martin, Michelle Wiley, Brynley Stent, Josh Thomson, Selina Goddard, Dan Bidois, Tony Lyall, Nathan Canton, Sam Burfoot, Abby Chad, Nick Becker (Terry McFlynn played for him due to a last minute news conference with the PM)
Sam Smith was the host of the day and the referee for the match.
As a part of the fundraising, there was a live auction, raffles, a sausage sizzle and a bake sale. The live auction included a signed Wrexham football shirt, an Auckland FC Family Membership, Two nights at Cooks Beach and a weekend escape to Mangawhai.
Ange and I won two of the raffle prizes, a big hamper (basket) of goodies from wine to chocolates and we also won some boxes of LEGO and a jigsaw puzzle, both things that we enjoy doing.
