Western Springs AFC
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| Full name | Western Springs Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Springs | ||
| Founded | 1989 | ||
| Ground | Seddon Fields, Westmere, Auckland, New Zealand | ||
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| Manager |
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| League | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 | ||
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Western Springs AFC is an amateur association football club in Westmere, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the NRFL Premier division.
Western Springs' ground, Seddon Field is located on Meola Road in Point Chevalier.
History
The current club was formed in 1989, but its history stretches back to 1923 and the foundation of Comrades FC. This team amalgamated with Grey Lynn FC in 1952, briefly becoming Grey Lynn Comrades United, before renaming to Grey Lynn United in 1954. In 1986 this team combined with the New Zealand branch of the Celtic Supporters Club to form Grey Lynn Celtic. It was this team which combined with Point Chevalier AFC (founded 1943) to become Western Springs in 1989.
Present day
WSAFC is one of the biggest football clubs in New Zealand. Currently has many teams competing in various divisions and competitions. The Senior Men's team plays in the NRFL Premier League under former All White Captain coach Chris Zoricich. The women's team plays in the Northern Women's Premier League. Past and present players include New Zealand Internationals Rosie White, Maia Jackman, Priscilla Duncan and Abby Erceg. As well as mens players Myer Bevan and Sam Brotherton
The senior men's side won the 2013 NRFL Division 2 under new Head Coach Neil Emblen. The reserves also won their league, and the Under 19s won the Napier Satellite Tournament making 2013 the most successful season in the clubs history. The senior men's team then went on to win the division 1 title in 2014 gaining promotion to the premier league for the first time. However, in 2016 the men's team was relegated from the premier league following a poor season. Despite this poor result, the men's reserves finished in the top 3 of the premier reserve league and the under 19's won the Napier tournament again. 2017 saw another great year for the men's team with another league title in division 1 putting the team back up into the premier division for 2018. As well as this the under 17 side placed second in the Auckland city football club under 17 tournament, going down 2-1 to Birkenhead united. This was the best result in the clubs history at this tournament. Springs continues to develop upcoming talents with players progressing onto American Universities, The Wellington Phoenix Youth team and other international club teams. Young players such as Oscar Browne have been regular first team inclusions and continue to develop towards scholarships or further. The most recent national team starter out of Western Springs Myer Bevan played for the club as a youngster and grew up donning the green and white. He made his debut against the Solomon Islands in 2017 and scored his first goal against the same team a week later.
The club laid two artificial turf pitches in 2013 which have been integral in the development of the club since.
Western Springs is the biggest football club by number of players in New Zealand.