Shot at glory: Table-topping Napier City Rovers fizzing for National League run home

Then six days later, they will take on 2023 champions Wellington Olympic – in the fifth spot - in the capital in the final round before whoever the league’s top two teams are meet in the grand final.

Richards – who, along with his younger brother, Ethan, has impressed in his first season in the Napier City Rovers strip – said it was a duo of mouth-watering clashes he and his teammates were determined to rise for.

“As the saying goes, to be the best you have got to play the best,” he said.

“Auckland City and Wellington Olympic ... they’re the biggest names in New Zealand football apart from the Wellington Phoenix, and now Auckland FC [A-League clubs].

“I back us any day of the week.

“We’ve got a really good team. We’ve got a good back line, Tonners in goal, the midfield is solid and even the forwards ... I don’t wanna boost them up too much ... but they’re all good lads,” he laughed.

“It should be a good test; it should be good fun.”

Napier City Rovers’ rise to the top of the National League points table with two matches to go is an outstanding story of guts, resilience, belief, skill and great coaching.

It’s one that had its beginning on the pitches at Park Island, the reward for all the hard yards the team, expertly coached by Bill Robertson and inspirationally captained by Jim Hoyle, has done for three nights a week in training.

And given the trust and belief that runs through the team, the side has every right to dream big.

Ahead of the final two rounds of the National League, Richards said he was “very proud” of what his team had achieved so far in 2024.

The side made the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup for the first time since 2019, then finished third in the Central League; the latter placing secured them a spot in the 10-team National League.

On a personal note, one of the greatest things Napier City Rovers had done for Richards this year was fully rekindling his love for playing football.

“I’ve been in teams that have taken the fun out of the game a lot,” he said.

“But here, I love it. I actually enjoy coming to training.”

Richards said while he always wanted to “have fun and enjoy” his football, he was incredibly serious about it too.

The former New Zealand age-group representative said as soon as he crossed the white line on game day “all I’m thinking about is, ‘I want to win’”.

Richards has firmly become a fan favourite at Bluewater Stadium for what he has contributed to his side in the Central League, Chatham Cup and now the National League.

That includes using his power and pace to repeatedly set off up the pitch sparking attacks from his own half, in the process leaving flailing defenders in his wake.

The 24-year-old said it was a magical feeling when one of those runs resulted in a teammate getting on the scoreboard.

“I had this debate with Maxi [close mate and teammate Max Chretien]. I was like, ‘Well, what do you prefer? An assist or a goal?’” he said.

“You can’t beat [scoring] a screamer from outside the box, or a volley. But I love creating goals.

“And I’d rather beat a couple of players, put through that pass, and then someone crosses it and taps it in. I just love that feeling.”

Richards is as comfortable off the pitch as he is on it in Napier.

He is one of eight Napier City Rovers players sharing four two-bedroom apartments at Kennedy Park Resort.

He had his “first real job”, working in pastoral care for students at Tamatea Intermediate School.

Richards and Chretien have recently purchased kayaks so can they enjoy more of Hawke’s Bay’s great outdoors.

“We’ve got an awesome culture,” he added of the team environment.

Two weeks ago, Kieran’s brother Ethan said he would be back at Napier City Rovers for 2025.

Having both brothers on deck would be welcomed by teammates and club fans alike.

Kieran Richards said he enjoyed playing under head coach Bill Robertson and assistant Stephen Hoyle.

While yet to commit to where he will play this year, he made no secret of how much the shift to Napier provided him.

“I’m loving it here, I’m pretty settled,” he said.

“I’ve got a pretty sweet job that I’m really enjoying. I think it’s a good environment ... for me to take my football to the next level.”

Watch the Inside the Rovers video series:

Episode One: Back to Work

Episode Two: The Darkest Days

Episode Three: Skin Deep

Episode Four: Good As Gould

Episode Five: The Hard Yards

Episode Six: Leaving a Legacy

Episode Seven: Fun and Games

Episode Eight: Game Day

Episode Nine: The Great Dane

Episode 10: Back to Back

Episode 11: Long Road Back

Episode 12: Total Commitment

Episode 13: The Bravest Boy

Episode 14: Love of the Game

Episode 15: A Rapid Rise

Episode 16: Mixed Emotions

Episode 17: Cup Fever

Episode 18: 50-Year Love Affair

Episode 19: The Music Man

Episode 20: Sammy’s On Fire

Episode 21: A Burning Desire

Episode 22: Cup Heroics

Episode 23: The Captain

Episode 24: On The Road

Episode 25: A Heartbreaker

Episode 26: Oscar’s Big Chance

Episode 27: Fabulous Ferg

Episode 28: Bill and Ben’s Big Day

Episode 29: Better Than Before

Episode 30: The Ice Man

Episode 31: Sharpshooter’s Return

Episode 32: Statement of Intent

Episode 33: Fronting Up

Episode 34: Video Nasty

Episode 35: To the Max

Episode 36: Blues Brothers

Episode 37: Don’t Stop Believing

Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 30 years of newsroom experience.

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