Waitakere United

Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ISPS Handa Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu and The Trusts Arena.

Waitakere United Football Club
Full nameWaitakere United
Founded2004 (2004)
GroundDouglas Field at The Trusts Arena
Capacity3,000[1]
ChairmanPeter Bult
ManagerPaul Hobson
LeagueISPS Handa Premiership
2019-203rd

History

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 represents 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 have a notable rivalry with neighbours Auckland City.

Honours

Performance in OFC competitions
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

FIFA Club World Cup History
FIFA Club World Cup History
YearRoundScoreResultScorers
2007 Play-off Waitakere United 1 – 3 Sepahan LossAghily  74' (o.g.)
2008 Play-off Waitakere United 1 – 2 Adelaide United LossSeaman  34'

Current squad

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  KVX Regont Murati
3 MF  NZL Jack Duncan
4 DF  NZL Luke Searle
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
14 FW  NZL Zac Zoricich
15 DF  NZL Leon van den Hoven
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF  NZL Dino Botica
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
22 GK  NZL Elliot Munford
23 MF  ENG Dawson Straffon
24 MF  NZL Nathan Lobo
— DF  NZL Niko Steinmetz
— DF  NZL Robert Dymond
— DF  FIJ Samuela Kautoga

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

Managers
  • Chris Milicich (2004–05)
  • Steve Cain (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007)
  • Chris Milicich (1 July 2007 – 30 June 2009)
  • Neil Emblen (1 July 2009 – 30 June 2012)
  • Paul Marshall (1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013)
  • Paul Temple & Brian Shelley(1 July 2013–15)
  • Chris Milicich (2015 – 2019)
  • Paul Hobson (30 November 2019 – Present)

References
  1. "Trusts Stadium Grandstand, Waitakere". Engenium. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
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