Auckland United FC

Wellington United and Olympic did discuss a proposal of merging in the late 90s. I think the use of Newtown Park was a key thing, but while the committees thought it could be a good idea the members didn't and it never happened - Club could have been called Inter Europa or Europa United or something!

Any further info now re proposed plans on the above website? Like possible A League bid longer term.

I’m travelling overseas.

Full website

I'm sure the kit on the aucklandunited dot org website originally had a Vista software logo.  Now it just says SPONSOR LOGO

I can 100% confirm that. I remember commenting that on to a mate.

It definitely did have Vista Software,  interesting change.  

I also can't help but wonder if there has been any discussion with FFA about entry criteria to the proposed Australian second division. Competition will be high for the initial spots but you never know.  

Yeah, I was wondering about this at my nephews football game when they announced it. 

I'm not sure if you're played at Waikaraka before, but it's a shark hole of a pitch - well, at least it was when I last played there. 

Very interesting either way. I've played for both 3 Kings and Central United - so I'm not sure who to pledge my allegiance between United & City if this goes forward and they end up in the Prem. 

I took a screen shot of the strip at the time, here is what was originally shown

Onehunga Sports meeting votes unanimously for the merger

At the SGM last night, TKU members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion to move ahead with the Joint Venture with Onehunga Sports to form Auckland United Football Club

I await this turning into a trainwreck

Why?  I'm not saying it won't,  just intrested t why you think it will be a trainwreck.   The big positive I can see is neither club really had to merg,  they both chose to.  

Tell me what does this achieve?

Tell me who will support it?

Tell me that this solves a problem that was exisiting.

If this is about ISPS, well we have 3 teams and the amount of players that opt OUT for ISPS is great enough that one team is playing kids. Adding another team trying to get in wont work. Why can't they do it on their own? What synergies do they get for this by combining?

If this is about HAL, Aucklanders have already shown they wont support it. They will support one off games but look at rugby and league and pretty much any other sport outside of T20. Aucklanders do not support teams that do not win or have a specific draw card because they hate traveling, parking and paying high prices for shark food when its on TV.

How many Americas Cup fans and experts were there when Barker lost. We are a nation of band wagoners and I don't see this venture working/winning anything.

In the NZ football environment, amalgamations make complete sense to increase financial viability, volunteers, improved pathways, implementing NZF models. It is only egos and history which stop it happening more than it should. Good on them. 

Further to what Feverish is saying, club licensing is put in place to improve the state of football in NZ. For example, here we are bitching about the state of the pitches in the ISPS. Club licensing is a means to address things like (but not exclusively) that, and this is how clubs can build a financial model to support it.

In my eyes only it brings together one of the regions stronger academies and successful first teams with one of the region's largest membership and future best facilities.  

The support will come from Onehunga Sports and three Kings,  I also expect they will take a little from Auckland City.  Average ISPS crowds are 400-500,  doesn't take much.  

I don't believe they are trying to solve any problem you recognize,  more trying to better their own clubs, environments, and pathways.  

If this is about ISPS maybe they see an opportunity to thrive where the other clubs are not,  for example, Onehunga sports won two Premier Leagues in a row,  however only a small number of the team play ISPS,  why is that?  North Shore won the latest Premier league ,  not many of their players are playing ISPS why is that?  One of the nations largest Jnr clubs plus one of the nations leading academys......... I'm sure you can see the synergies?

If it is HAL,  They need to solve the stadium issue before anything.  HAL is too hard for Auckland.  

Apparently not yet decided whether AUFC will be recognized in the NRFL

Super dissapointing from NRFL,  I assume this is the same in the mens league?  There is also a filter down effect in the mens league if so.  Comming up to the end of Jan and clubs not knowing what league they are in is massively not good enough.  

Personally, I've gone off the AUFC merger due to the TKU coach taking over the Prem Women's team, pushing Katie Duncan aside

(Katie was honestly the best coach I ever had)

Oh, and in case anyone was keeping track, Unimount have formally merged with Bohemian Celtic, and they're trying to think up a better name than "Unimount Bohemian AFC" lol

Bohemount FC

Educated Gypsy FC

Just FYI the Saturday BOHS teams and the Sunday BOHS teams have split - so while the Saturday teams have merged with Uni-Mt the Sunday teams are keeping the BOHS identity going.

fudge yeah, she was incredible. second only to Jenny Bindon who held my hand through my GK career as a young one, glad to see she's doing big things over in the US now

Katie not only made me feel a welcome part of a squad in which I was about 20 years older and 10 yards slower in pace than everyone else, but actually helped me improve my keeping game out of sight (with the help of other OneSport coaches, of course).

So with @Onehunga_Sports not being able to survive financially and @3KingsUnited losing $180g over 3 years ?the Auckland United Merger goes ahead!! It’s all about the money!!

— SOS FEMALE FOOTBALL NZ (@FemaleNz) January 31, 2020

I'm a bit surprised if Onehunga was in financial trouble. Aren't they a Nix feeder club?

In both separate information Evenings about the merger. Onehunga Chairman was quoted “ if we don’t merge we won’t be viable as the Phoenix Academy License is over” Three Kings Chairman quoted “ we have lost 60gs per season over 3 seasons but have had a benefactor to cover it” ?‍♂️

— SOS FEMALE FOOTBALL NZ (@FemaleNz) January 31, 2020

Interesting from this account that the person hides behind to drop information. They are clearly involved in football up in Auckland

I had heard that the Fed told the both clubs that they would rubber stamp it provided they got all their details organised, which they had not. I sounds like the issue is with AUFC not AFF

that's the opposite to one of (and the most popular) theory I have heard.

There was serious talk of TKU taking Waitak over a couple of seasons back but they couldn't come to an agreement due to a certain chairman demanding to still be involved.

Celtic Auckland FC

In serious news, AUFC is a goer, affiliated for the winter alongside ACFC

Massive kudos to Auckland United FC for putting the time in to create a first-team squad list on their website:

https://aucklandunitedfc.org.nz/menspremier

Sounds painfully easy to do, but as a footy researcher/data analyst it's almost impossible to find a set first-team squad for any regional teams anywhere without resorting to Comet or piecing together matchday squads. It's not that hard to make

interesting, no Cam Howieson. Who's coaching?

Des Buckingham + Miya, ultimate potential A-league coaching partnership. One can only dream..