Birkenhead United AFC

The club in its current state was established in 1963 as an amalgamation of the Birkdale and Birkenhead teams.

During the 2010 season they played in the second division the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1B.

In 2011, Birkenhead United competed in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 league and were favourites for promotion into the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League. Enjoying much of the season placed first in the division, the team narrowly missed out on promotion with a final day loss to Eastern Suburbs AFC and eventually finished 3rd.

In 2012, Birkenhead United, considered among the favourites for promotion and indeed the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 title. With a large part of the 2011 squad still available for selection, the coaching team expanded the squad by signing established, experienced NRFL players to the player pool. This helped Birkenhead United live up to expectations and eventually ran out winners in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 League, with an undefeated season consisting of 16 wins and 6 draws from their 22 games. This great run by Birkenhead United also saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup, where they were defeated 3-2 by Lower Hutt City AFC.

In 2013, Birkenhead United, considered a team that had a good chance at retaining their place in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League for the 2014 season, quickly became a team that surprised many teams and continued the play that saw them win the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 title in 2012. They went on to finish second in the league to North Shore rivals East Coast Bays on goal difference after needing a win but only managing a draw on the final match of the season against Bay Olympic to secure first place. Another great season also saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup but once again fell out of the competition once again with another 3–2 loss to Melville United of Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 in Hamilton. Outside the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League finish and repeat exit from the Chatham Cup, there were positives that came out of the season showing just how much the club is progressing. They had about 5-10 players selected into ASB Premiership senior and youth teams for the 2013–2014 season. They also saw Elijah Neblett get selected for the New Zealand U-17 national team and Bill Tuiloma signed with Olympique de Marseille. Bill Tuiloma also made his first appearance for the All Whites in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs Mexico at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Damian Hirst 2 DF Ryan Howlett 3 DF Mitch Watts 4 DF Reece Cox 5 MF Harrison Bolton-Roberts 6 MF Chad Combes 7 MF James Lawson 8 MF Mikail Beldervielt 9 FW Adam Dickinson 11 MF Jack Hobson-McVeigh (c) 12 MF Dan Morgan 14 DF David Parkinson 15 MF Dylan Windust 16 DF Christian Grey 17 DF Eman Darkwa 18 FW Godwin Darkwa 19 GK Daniel Robinson

• Club website