Both WaiBOP's Men's Knockout Cup competitions kick off this weekend, with round 1 on 27th April. 

Miller Cup 2024

The Miller Cup is the men's Bay of Plenty Knockout competition for Men’s Bay 1, Bay 2 and Bay 3/Over 35s teams.

Teams who win the first round go on to Round 2, set to be played King's Birthday Weekend (1 June). Teams who lose go on to the Plate competition, with round 1 also on 1 June.

2023 Winners

The Miller Cup – Tauranga City Relics, Runners Up Te Puke United Men’s Bay 1

The Miller Bowl – Otumoetai Bay 2 Special Reserve, Runner Up – Kawerau Sports Mens Bay 1

Waikato Men’s Knockout Cup

The Waikato Men’s Knockout Cup competition involves Waikato Men’s Division 1, 2, 3, 4 and Over 35s teams. Teams who win the first round go on to Round 2, set to be played King's Birthday Weekend (1 June). Teams who lose go on to the Plate competition, with round 1 also on 1 June.

2023 Winners

Cup Winner – Northern United Premiers, Runners Up – Cambridge FC – Seriously Over 35s

Plate Winner – Storyteller Eatery and Bay Te Awamutu AFC , Runners Up - Waikato Unicol Veterans

Miller Cup

The Miller Cup is named for the late Denise Miller, who passed away in February 2017. Her incredible commitment to the sport saw her honoured with three life memberships of Tauranga football clubs and also have significant involvement with the AIMS Games phenomenon as the event's football co-ordinator.

Steve Miller, Denise's husband, has sponsored this long-standing local knock-out competition from 2019 as the Denise Miller Memorial Cup (the Miller Cup).

In a BOP Times article from February 2017 Otumoetai past-President, Richard Kluit, praised Denise's involvement with the sport, saying it was a result of following her two sons through the ranks, from junior to senior players.

Photo: Supplied

"Her philosophy was simple, she just wanted to do the work so that everything ran smoothly," he said. "She was a perfectionist. Her meticulous attitude applied to both her husband Steve's agricultural services company and to the way she operated within the Blue Rovers Junior Soccer Club, Greerton Rovers Soccer Club and the Otumoetai Club."

AIMS Games tournament director Vicki Semple said Mrs Miller had been with the tournament since it began in 2004 and was an absolute perfectionist. "Denise was so incredibly committed. It was her work ethic and skills at doing the draws. She was the one picking up the rubbish at the end of the day, she was always the last person to leave," Ms Semple said. "She had a lovely manner in dealing with coaches and players."

Article added: Thursday 25 April 2024