A Historic Football Return to McLean Park

Traditionally known as the home of rugby’s Hawke’s Bay Magpies and international cricket fixtures, McLean Park’s fields have hosted passionate sporting crowds for decades. But local football - both youth and adult, was largely absent from this stage for more than 30 years, with rugby and cricket dominating its pitch time.

Enter Together United at McLean Park - an all-day football festival presented by Port Hill United FC, bringing together players, clubs, whānau, and fans from across the region. Free to attend and open to all ages, it was a celebration not only of football but of community connections during the Matariki public holiday. 

From the morning kickoff to late-afternoon fixtures, McLean Park buzzed with a variety of matches including:

• Youth and junior fixtures, giving young players a rare opportunity to compete on a large stadium pitch.

• Men’s and women’s matches, reflecting the inclusive nature of the modern game and the broad base of participation in local football. 

• Masters games, where seasoned players returned to the field, cheering and competing with spirited vigor!

A fully-loaded day of the beautiful game; embraced by the local community wholeheartedly, with hundreds turning up to watch, cheer, and take part and setting a precendent for an even bigger event to come in 2026...

For local football clubs and players, having the opportunity to play at a venue of McLean Park’s stature was more than symbolic - it sent a message about the growth of the sport in New Zealand communities outside the major league spotlight. As more regions build momentum and celebrate grassroots football, events like Together United contribute to a broader recognition of football as a unifying force for which Port Hill United are proud to be leading the charge! 

We hope that this is just the beginning of more large-scale community football events at McLean Park - events that build bridges between sports, generations, cultures, and the heart of Hawke’s Bay itself.

Once our motto, forever our motto: #togetherunited