Waitakere United

Full name Waitakere United
Founded 2004
Ground Douglas Field at The Trusts Arena
Capacity 3,000[1]
Chairman Peter Bult
Manager Chris Milicich
League ISPS Handa Premiership
2016-17 3rd

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.

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 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-offNew Zealand Waitakere United 1 – 3 Sepahan IranLossAghily  74' (o.g.)
2008 Play-offNew Zealand Waitakere United 1 – 2 Adelaide United AustraliaLossSeaman  34'

Current squad

As of 5 May 2017 [2]

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

No. Position Player
1 Austria GK Pirmin Strasser
2 New Zealand DF Scott Hilliar
3 New Zealand DF Stewart Mackay
5 New Zealand DF Julyan Collett
6 New Zealand DF Harrison Nash
7 Germany DF Stefan Thelen
8 New Zealand MF Ryan Tinsley
9 New Zealand FW Dylan Stansfield
10 Chile MF Eder Franchini
11 New Zealand DF Ian Hogg
12 New Zealand DF Dan Morgan
No. Position Player
13 New Zealand FW Ryan Cain
14 New Zealand DF David Parksinson
15 Spain FW David Icardo
16 New Zealand FW Dylan Manickum
17 New Zealand MF Jake Butler (Captain)
19 Scotland MF Tom Shaw
20 South Africa MF Keegan Linderboom
21 New Zealand MF Abdulla Al-Khalisy
22 England GK Louis Caunter
23 New Zealand FW Jake Porter
28 New Zealand GK Liam Anderson

Staff

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

Managers

  • New Zealand Chris Milicich (2004–05)
  • England Steve Cain (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007)
  • New Zealand Chris Milicich (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2009)
  • England Neil Emblen (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2012)
  • New Zealand Paul Marshall (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013)
  • New Zealand Paul Temple & Republic of Ireland Brian Shelley(July 1, 2013–15)
  • New Zealand Chris Milicich (2015–Present)

References

  1. ↑ "Engenium - Trusts Stadium Grandstand, with covered seating for 3000, located in Waitakere City is situated next door to the Trusts Stadium". www.engenium.co.nz. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "WaitakereUnited » 2017/18 ISP Handa Premiership Waitakere United Players". waitakereunited.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
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