Wikipedia

Waitakere United

Waitakere United was a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They were one of the franchises in the ISPS Handa Premiership. They played their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeū and The Trusts Arena.

Waitakere United
Full nameWaitakere United Football Club
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Dissolved2021; 3 years ago (2021)
GroundDouglas Field at The Trusts Arena
Capacity3,000[1]
ChairmanPeter Bult
ManagerPaul Hobson
LeagueISPS Handa Premiership
2019-203rd
Current season

History edit

Waitakere United was formed as a special franchise club in 2004 to play in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC), New Zealand's top domestic football competition. The team represented 12 member clubs from Mt Albert to the Kaipara.

In the inaugural season (2004–05) of the NZFC, Waitakere United finished runners-up to the champions Auckland City but they followed up with a very disappointing 6th place in the next season. In the following season, however, Waitakere finished as NZFC premiers but lost in the grand final once again to Auckland City FC 3–2.

Due to the withdrawal of Vanuatu's Port Vila Sharks, Waitakere was given a berth in the inaugural OFC Champions League, for 2007, as NZFC premiers. They finished atop their group, edging out Auckland City and New Caledonia's AS Mont-Dore. They went on to defeat Ba FC of Fiji in the final, becoming the first OFC-League champions. Commins Menapi scored a crucial away goal that proved the difference as the tie finished 2–2 in aggregate. Taking this championship qualified United to compete in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where they lost in the 'play-in' match to Sepahan 1–3.

Waitakere United defended their championship in capturing the 2007–08 OFC Champions League, defeating Kossa in the final 6–3 in goal aggregate. During this season, Douglas Field was under extensive renovation forcing Waitakere United to play most of their home fixtures at Fred Taylor Park in Whenuapai.

Waitakere had a notable rivalry with neighbours Auckland City. With the change of structure of football in New Zealand at the start of 2021, and the creation of the new New Zealand National League,[2] this saw the end of Waitakere United, and consequently the end of the Auckland Derby.[3]

Honours edit

National edit

International edit

Youth team edit

Performance in OFC competitions edit

Best: Champions in 2007 and 2007–08
2007: Champions
2007–08: Champions
2008–09: 2° in Group A
2009–10: Finalist
2010–11: 2° in Group B
2011–12: 2° in Group A
2012–13: Finalist
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Position
2007[4] OFC Champions League Group A   Auckland City 2–2 2–2 1st
  Mont-Dore 6–1 3–0
Final   4R Electrical Ba 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
2007–08[5] OFC Champions League Group A   Auckland City 1–1 1–0 1st
  Mana-Ura 2–1 1–1
Final   Kossa 5–0 1–3 6–3
2008–09[6] OFC Champions League Group A   Auckland City 1–3 2–2 2nd
  Port Vila Sharks 3–0 3–2
2009–10[7] OFC Champions League Group A   Auckland City 1–1 2–2 1st
  Magenta 4–1 1–1
  Manu-Ura 2–0 5–1
Final   Hekari United 2–1 0–3 2–4
2010–11[8] OFC Champions League Group B   Auckland City 1–1 0–1 2nd
  Magenta 2–1 1–1
  Tefana 3–1 1–3
2011–12[9] OFC Champions League Group A   Tefana 10–0 0–3 2nd
  Ba 4–0 2–3
  Mont-Dore 4–0 1–0
2012–13[10] OFC Champions League Group B   Auckland City 1–3 1–0 1st
  Dragon 0–0 1–0
  Mont-Dore 3–1 3–2
Semi Final   Amicale 2–1 2–0 4–1
Final   Auckland City 1–2
2013–14[11] OFC Champions League Group A   Pirae 1–3 3rd
  Solomon Warriors 1–1
  Kiwi 2–0

FIFA Club World Cup History edit

FIFA Club World Cup History
Year Round Score Result Scorers
2007 Play-off   Waitakere United 1 – 3 Sepahan   Loss Aghily   74' (o.g.)
2008 Play-off   Waitakere United 1 – 2 Adelaide United   Loss Seaman   34'

Current squad edit

As of 23 January 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ENG Nick Draper
2 DF   KOS Regont Murati
3 MF   NZL Jack Duncan
4 DF   NZL Robert Dymond
6 MF   NZL Dane Schnell
7 FW   NZL Alex Connor-McLean
8 MF   ESP Gerard Garriga
9 FW   NZL Angus Kilkolly
10 MF   NZL Sam Burfoot (captain)
11 MF   NZL Alex Grieve
12 MF   NZL Hayden Aish
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW   NZL Zac Zoricich
15 DF   NZL Leon van den Hoven
17 FW   NZL Joshua Redfearn
18 FW   CHI Nicolas Zambrano
19 DF   FIJ Mohammed Khan
20 DF   NZL Nicolas Milicich
21 DF   NZL Andrew Cromb
21 DF   NZL Dylan Hobson
22 GK   NZL Elliot Munford
23 MF   ENG Dawson Straffon
24 MF   NZL Nathan Lobo
— MF   NZL Oscar Browne

Staff edit

  • Youth Team Coach:   Mark Holt
  • Goalkeeper coach:   Kevin O'Leary

Managers edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Trusts Stadium Grandstand, Waitakere". Engenium. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. ^ "New National League system". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Final whistle for famous names". New Zealand Football. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  4. ^ "2007 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ "2007-08 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. ^ "2008-09 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ^ "2009-10 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ "2010-11 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "2011–12 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "2012–13 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ "2013–14 OFC Champions League - Oceania". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.

External links edit

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