Can the fairy tale continue? The page turning epic that has become Auckland FC’s debut season is closing in on the final chapter. What started out as a wonderful picture-book story of a plucky youngster, the second born of two Kiwi teams in the A-League, striving to do their best as the new kid on the block, has developed into a Roy of the Rovers style graphic novel. 

Heroes have been made, stands have been full, chants have evolved, the media has added extra carriages to the band wagon, the Port supporters' mob have become the envy of other sporting teams. The black and blue jerseys have taken centre stage as a symbol of Auckland footballing pride in a city that has regularly chewed through and spat out any thought of a footballing foothold.   

What started as a pipe dream has materialised. They have a fanbase. They have results. They have silverware. It looks like they’ll have their very own shiny new stadium soon too. They should have a women’s team – the sooner the better. They play a brand of football that beckons eyes to the game.   

They are the poster child of the league.   

Auckland FC are tantalisingly close to closing their book as the sporting story of New Zealand and some say regardless of the semifinal and or final results, they have done enough to call their first foray into the world of pro football a success.  

But y’know, they haven’t.  

What the team has achieved will all fade into fogged oblivion if they can’t bring it home.  

Tough call? Hell no. They’ll be thinking exactly the same thing, if they aren’t they can’t call themselves true professionals.  

This fairy tale shouldn’t be a Grimm Brothers reminder of the frailty of a championship run.