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

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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

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Domestic

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Continental

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Youth team

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Performance in OFC competitions

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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
SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayPosition
2007[4]OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City2–22–21st
Mont-Dore6–13–0
Final 4R Electrical Ba1–01–22–2 (a)
2007–08[5]OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City1–11–01st
Mana-Ura2–11–1
Final Kossa5–01–36–3
2008–09[6]OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City1–32–22nd
Port Vila Sharks3–03–2
2009–10[7]OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City1–12–21st
Magenta4–11–1
Manu-Ura2–05–1
Final Hekari United2–10–32–4
2010–11[8]OFC Champions LeagueGroup B Auckland City1–10–12nd
Magenta2–11–1
Tefana3–11–3
2011–12[9]OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Tefana10–00–32nd
Ba4–02–3
Mont-Dore4–01–0
2012–13[10]OFC Champions LeagueGroup B Auckland City1–31–01st
Dragon0–01–0
Mont-Dore3–13–2
Semi Final Amicale2–12–04–1
Final Auckland City1–2
2013–14[11]OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Pirae1–33rd
Solomon Warriors1–1
Kiwi2–0

FIFA Club World Cup History

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

Current squad

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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. NationPlayer
1GK  ENGNick Draper
2DF  KOSRegont Murati
3MF  NZLJack Duncan
4DF  NZLRobert Dymond
6MF  NZLDane Schnell
7FW  NZLAlex Connor-McLean
8MF  ESPGerard Garriga
9FW  NZLAngus Kilkolly
10MF  NZLSam Burfoot (captain)
11MF  NZLAlex Grieve
12MF  NZLHayden Aish
No.Pos. NationPlayer
14FW  NZLZac Zoricich
15DF  NZLLeon van den Hoven
17FW  NZLJoshua Redfearn
18FW  CHINicolas Zambrano
19DF  FIJMohammed Khan
20DF  NZLNicolas Milicich
21DF  NZLAndrew Cromb
21DF  NZLDylan Hobson
22GK  NZLElliot Munford
23MF  ENGDawson Straffon
24MF  NZLNathan Lobo
MF  NZLOscar Browne

Staff

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

Managers

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References

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  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.
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