Mighty Shane: September 2026 Newsletter

The boots are out of the cupboard, the pitches are booked, and Taipei's summer is finally loosening its grip. Kickabout numbers are climbing again, and the season is back in full swing.

Before we look forward, it's worth pausing on where we've just been. Last season was one of the best in Mighty Shane's history: a first-ever TIFL Cup, a second-place league finish, and a summer that saw Shane players out competing in the Taiwan Second Division playoffs.

But it hasn't all been smooth. The squad that lifted that cup has been thinned out by the usual Taiwan story of visas, jobs, and one-way flights. But that's also the opportunity.

This is a rebuild, and there's room for some new players to write their names into Shane folklore.

Here's where the club stands.

Last season: silverware at last

We won the TIFL Cup for the first time in the club's history.

After years of coming up short, Shane finally got it over the line in 2026 with a huge 4-0 win over B52 Carnegies. Especially noteworthy was Omer Pechter's cup final hat-trick.

The cup is the first league cup in the club's history, and it belongs to everyone who pulled on the shirt across the campaign.

In the league, we finished second.

Congratulations to B53 Carnegies, who fully deserved this year's league title.

Flying the flag: the Division 2 playoffs

Over the summer, a number of Shane players were involved in the Taiwan Second Division playoffs, chasing a place in Taiwan's professional football pyramid.

Diego Loza captained MFA through the playoffs, and what a way to do it. MFA faced Taichung Futuro B away in Taichung and found themselves 3-0 down inside half an hour. What followed was an unreal comeback: they dragged the game back, forced extra time, and won 5-4.

MFA go into the Second Division with several TIFL players in the squad, and we wish them the very best as they try to establish themselves in the pyramid.

Juan Hector, Oli Mabane, and Ethan Pond weren't so fortunate. Their side lost their opening playoff match in Kaohsiung against Attackers B, with Oli and Juan both going the full 90. They then met a Taichung team in Taipei, in conditions that were frankly not fit for football. They went a goal down early and never quite found a way back into it.

The team will keep training and are already talking about another go next year. Ex-Shane men Tom Durkin and Igor Mauricio were also a part of that squad.

Summer break

Summer is always a tricky stretch for football in Taipei. It's too hot to play consistently, players head home, numbers drop, and kickabout can be a lonely business.

A few new faces came along over the break and impressed, only to leave Taipei shortly afterwards, which is about as Taipei as it gets.

The good news is that attendance is back up and we're actively recruiting again. If you know someone looking for a game, send them our way.

Pre-season: a squad in transition

Shane has been decimated by the transient nature of this city. Several key players from the cup-winning campaign have left the country.

Dan Swift, who by the end of his Shane career had transformed into a Trent Alexander-Arnold-style full back, will be sorely missed — as much for his on-field work rate as his off-field antics. We wish him the best in his love life going forward.

Alex Hennessey, the definition of squad fodder, has returned to Canada. We will never forget the time he shit his pants.

Spanish Ivan has gone back to Spain to embark on a career of being considerably more Spanish. He was an able backup keeper, which leaves us with only a Peter Balconio.

Tom Durkin was the first name on the team sheet last year. His goals, assists, and all-round top-quality midfield play will be impossible to replace with one player. So we'll have to replace him in the aggregate.

Igor has done the boys dirty and joined eternal rivals, B52.

That's a lot to lose in one window. But rebuilds are how clubs are made, and there is now genuine space in this squad for someone to take.

The season ahead

The new season is in full swing, and we're looking to the future. While the first game didn't go the way we wanted, there's a lot of potential in this squad, and a lot to be excited about.

And we're still recruiting. Come to kickabout, bring a mate, and let's find out who the next Shane hero is.