How about we get bought out by Dortmund and have them loan over a high level striker to level the playing field? (Dortmund because they're yellow like us)
Big ups everyone that came down and everyone who has supported AFC so far, we can’t wait to start this upcoming season with you 💪 pic.twitter.com/nLWUv44YRO
Reid and Brown I know will have serious cash behind them... but Hickey? What has he done to amass significant dollars?
Genuinely interested - and good on him (unless inherited wealth).
A little surprised Brown has invested given he was behind the other bid that suddenly got dropped.
Perhaps Hickey gets royalties from his appearances in many blooper videos and blooper reels :-) (63 seconds into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQBm6rQYSJY)
Edit - maybe owning part of Auckland FC will entice Winny to move back to NZ. Hope so. Most of our small pool of really top class (EPL) footballers have stayed overseas post retirement. Nelsen & Elliot in the States. Wood has made it clear he will live in the UK long term once he retires. Of course Wynton is around, but be cool if Reid came back to NZ. Not the most eloquent guy, but hugely respected and a real role model for young Maori footballers especially.
Particularly Brown. Did this happen after someone mocked up the Nix Mt. Rushmore without him? He was part of our early victories of Sydney. And a club legend. Why no assistance into the Nix?
Big ups everyone that came down and everyone who has supported AFC so far, we can’t wait to start this upcoming season with you 💪 pic.twitter.com/nLWUv44YRO
“Getting involved as an investor with Auckland FC feels like the perfect opportunity for me. I love what the club has to offer, what it represents to Auckland as well as coaching and development pathways available to help players achieve their very best.
“Becoming a professional football player is one of the hardest things to achieve, it takes more than just talent. I’m humbled by the opportunity to give back some of my own experiences as a professional footballer, to the next generation.”
Tim Brown: A former professional who played more than 100 times in the A-League and 30 for New Zealand, Tim is now better known as co-founder and co-CEO of sustainable footwear brand, All Birds.
“Considering the number of people locally who are playing it and its global appeal, Football is massively under-represented in New Zealand. Auckland FC represents an opportunity to change that for the benefit of players as well as the wider NZ football community.”
“I’m pleased to be joining an ownership group with such experience and expertise. We have some serious ambitions for this club and with a world-class network of global investors, I’m confident they can be achieved.”
Noah Hickey: Noah Hickey is another ex-All White now better known for making waves in the corporate world in his role as CEO of fleet maintenance software company, Whip Around and co-founder of fashion brand Asuwere. He brings further corporate experience to Auckland FC in his role as investor.
“I’ve played football in Auckland, Europe and internationally. Being overseas you really notice the cultural behemoth football is and its ability to bring people from all backgrounds together.
“There’s a great opportunity here to do that in Auckland, to unite the city and create better pathways for future players to make it professionally.
“Having people like Tim and Winston involved is vital to that success and I’m delighted to join them, Ali, Anna and Bill and become a part of it.”
“Getting involved as an investor with Auckland FC feels like the perfect opportunity for me. I love what the club has to offer, what it represents to Auckland as well as coaching and development pathways available to help players achieve their very best.
“Becoming a professional football player is one of the hardest things to achieve, it takes more than just talent. I’m humbled by the opportunity to give back some of my own experiences as a professional footballer, to the next generation.”
Tim Brown: A former professional who played more than 100 times in the A-League and 30 for New Zealand, Tim is now better known as co-founder and co-CEO of sustainable footwear brand, All Birds.
“Considering the number of people locally who are playing it and its global appeal, Football is massively under-represented in New Zealand. Auckland FC represents an opportunity to change that for the benefit of players as well as the wider NZ football community.”
“I’m pleased to be joining an ownership group with such experience and expertise. We have some serious ambitions for this club and with a world-class network of global investors, I’m confident they can be achieved.”
Noah Hickey: Noah Hickey is another ex-All White now better known for making waves in the corporate world in his role as CEO of fleet maintenance software company, Whip Around and co-founder of fashion brand Asuwere. He brings further corporate experience to Auckland FC in his role as investor.
“I’ve played football in Auckland, Europe and internationally. Being overseas you really notice the cultural behemoth football is and its ability to bring people from all backgrounds together.
“There’s a great opportunity here to do that in Auckland, to unite the city and create better pathways for future players to make it professionally.
“Having people like Tim and Winston involved is vital to that success and I’m delighted to join them, Ali, Anna and Bill and become a part of it.”
How good!! as someone who is defiantly still a nix fan, I hope Auckland have success in this, look at the young players nix are producing for the Whites and selling them off around the world. I'm excited to see what two teams can produce!!
Yipe as a NZ football fan foremost, I'm really happy to have former overseas based AWs getting involved with the code back in NZ. That's only a good thing for the game in Aotearoa.
Just a pity the Nix ain't getting a share of that love, especially re head bandage man. Be interesting to hear Domey's take on it, him being at the club long enough to have a connection to Tim Brown surely.
🔵🇨🇱 Auckland FC are currently in talks with Chilean midfielder Felipe Gallegos, who is contracted to Greek club OFI Crete F.C, but they have yet to make an official offer. pic.twitter.com/D9fRVPhuSR
Big ups everyone that came down and everyone who has supported AFC so far, we can’t wait to start this upcoming season with you 💪 pic.twitter.com/nLWUv44YRO
Yeah, I noticed this. The mainstream support yelled at T-AFC for not trying to get approval for their existence from the club. What kind of supporters base do that? Answer: an astroturf one.
A little disappointed thus far in the signing of the kiwis.
Yes, there have been many and many opportunities for young players plus also players who have lost their toe print in the professional game and are kind of lost (Champness, Mata, Smith, Would etc etc)
However apart from the sneaky move for Paulson, he’s the only kiwi who I have confidence in starting in the A league.
The likes of Rojas chose the Nix and those with a toe poke in Europe like Singh, Just but were more likely certain starters etc decided to remain there.
At this stage it looks like there will only be 3 kiwis max in the starting team and two of those will be questionable if they are up to task.
Elliot has proven in the past, he can be a good ALM fullback. De Vries was playing well in the Swedish top flight before doing his ACL. Yipe have question marks over Smith but with AFC he gets a full pre season, which he didn't get with MAC.
Howieson could have been playing ALM for years now, but for personal reasons couldn't leave the 09. Toomey was one of the best, if not the best player in the National League last year. He gets a deserved shot at pro football.
Champness is a proven ALM performer, though hasn't featured in pre season yet?? Rogerson and Mata who knows, but I think Max will actually go ok at this level. He'll frustrate AFC (and AWs) fans because he will likely miss some sitters, but I reckon he will also score a few and generally be a large bodied nuisance for other teams.
I'm most excited to see how Randall & Liam Gillion go. Definitely Randall can be a future star, and maybe off to Europe quite quickly. Another who gets a deserved chance. It was only a brief exciting cameo against France at the Olympics, but likewise Gillion is highly promising. These two alongside Toomey, hopefully become starters from season start. It's what even most Nix fans will want to see, the NZ football talent pool deepening with a 2nd ALM club.
And it's Woud. It has been since his birth. 4 letter word pretty easy to spell. Paulsen a bit trickier but hey if I can get it right I would expect any half decent lawyer to, an occupation where language accuracy is everything.
Elliot has proven in the past, he can be a good ALM fullback. De Vries was playing well in the Swedish top flight before doing his ACL. Yipe have question marks over Smith but with AFC he gets a full pre season, which he didn't get with MAC.
Howieson could have been playing ALM for years now, but for personal reasons couldn't leave the 09. Toomey was one of the best, if not the best player in the National League last year. He gets a deserved shot at pro football.
Champness is a proven ALM performer, though hasn't featured in pre season yet?? Rogerson and Mata who knows, but I think Max will actually go ok at this level. He'll frustrate AFC (and AWs) fans because he will likely miss some sitters, but I reckon he will also score a few and generally be a large bodied nuisance for other teams.
I'm most excited to see how Randall & Liam Gillion go. Definitely Randall can be a future star, and maybe off to Europe quite quickly. Another who gets a deserved chance. It was only a brief exciting cameo against France at the Olympics, but likewise Gillion is highly promising. These two alongside Toomey, hopefully become starters from season start. It's what even most Nix fans will want to see, the NZ football talent pool deepening with a 2nd ALM club.
And it's Woud. It has been since his birth. 4 letter word pretty easy to spell. Paulsen a bit trickier but hey if I can get it right I would expect any half decent lawyer to, an occupation where language accuracy is everything.
Champness went off early against East Coast Bays in their preseason match - so presume been injured.
I'm real excited to see Liam Gillion - he was the best/most dangerous forward from my watching of Northern League this year. He already has a couple preseason goals which hopefully bodes well - likewise Rogerson, who I personally rate at least as good as Champness based on their All Whites' gigs.
But I agree, I don't think there's any egregious misses in signings. If they tried Singh but he was asking for crazy money, then fair enough for not going. There's a finite number of New Zealand pros and that becomes smaller when you count out contracted players.
Elliot doesn’t make the starting team. Behind Sakai.
Woud obviously doesnt make the team. Behind Paulsen. The spelling of his name is irrelevant but what is not are the calamities he has shown for the All Whites. Third choice in his most recent club
De Vries I believe played one or two games in the top flight before injury and has not shaken it up at local level in NZ. Behind an ausi who normally is a right back but because of Sakai and the limitations of De Vries will likely move to the left.
Howieson will be behind two imports they are looking to sign, plus an ausi. Someone who looks overweight playing for the All Whites
So we have Paulsen and then possibly two wide players who will be kiwis in the starting team come the first game.
So disagree. Journeymen kiwi players signed at best with some youngsters who may be good.
coochiee
Disagree.
Elliot has proven in the past, he can be a good ALM fullback. De Vries was playing well in the Swedish top flight before doing his ACL. Yipe have question marks over Smith but with AFC he gets a full pre season, which he didn't get with MAC.
Howieson could have been playing ALM for years now, but for personal reasons couldn't leave the 09. Toomey was one of the best, if not the best player in the National League last year. He gets a deserved shot at pro football.
Champness is a proven ALM performer, though hasn't featured in pre season yet?? Rogerson and Mata who knows, but I think Max will actually go ok at this level. He'll frustrate AFC (and AWs) fans because he will likely miss some sitters, but I reckon he will also score a few and generally be a large bodied nuisance for other teams.
I'm most excited to see how Randall & Liam Gillion go. Definitely Randall can be a future star, and maybe off to Europe quite quickly. Another who gets a deserved chance. It was only a brief exciting cameo against France at the Olympics, but likewise Gillion is highly promising. These two alongside Toomey, hopefully become starters from season start. It's what even most Nix fans will want to see, the NZ football talent pool deepening with a 2nd ALM club.
And it's Woud. It has been since his birth. 4 letter word pretty easy to spell. Paulsen a bit trickier but hey if I can get it right I would expect any half decent lawyer to, an occupation where language accuracy is everything.
An even more finite talent pool, when the ex Ole alumni seem firmly set on not playing in the ALM.
AFC have done well to hoover up most Kiwis at Unattached FC, plus bring in many of the most talented domestic players who deserve a crack at pro football.
Pity though it seems 17 yr old Stipe Ukich is not going to sign, but go to Europe (Croatia?). Looks to be as talented if not more than the Nix's GSR, and it's always a risk going to Europe this young. Why not have a few seasons in the ALM first.
Age group international Ukich helped Auckland City claim the OFC Champions League title in May and has represented New Zealand in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Ukich hopes to use his scholarship funds to support his pursuit of professional football overseas, and he says he feels supported by the Croatian community.
Not bothering to spell a name correctly as simple as Woud (or Paulsen) just shows a laziness, to properly analyse the Kiwis, AFC have signed. As does not checking the number of games De Vries played in the Allsvenskan. It was 11 before doing his ACL.
I'll be genuinely surprised if Howieson isn't a starter in the ALM. He's now in a full time, daily pro football training environment. He'll be shedding any extra pounds you think he's been carrying as the players get hammered in pre season. I remember Ben Sigmund years ago, saying his first Nix pre season was a rude brutal shock making the step up from NZ domestic footy.
Rogerson or Mata may well end up as 'journey men' career footballers, but agruably there has been plenty of that type, that have had solid ALM careers.
Corica knows the A League inside out. If he thinks Randall, Gillion & Toomey have the ability to step up - is a good chance it's so. Do you watch much NZ domestic football AP? Do you know this trio at all? Those who do seem to rate them highly.
And lastly as Carlind points out there is a small pool of uncontracted quality NZ players. That shrinks even further when it's clear guys like Singh & Just want to stay in Europe. Other possible targets like Pijnaker, probaly the same.
🔵🇨🇱 Auckland FC are currently in talks with Chilean midfielder Felipe Gallegos, who is contracted to Greek club OFI Crete F.C, but they have yet to make an official offer. pic.twitter.com/D9fRVPhuSR
It sounds like he's managed to pull this one out of the depths of his arse though, because I've just been told a 32 y/o Chilean who plays in Greece is on his way to Auckland. Colour me shocked. 😂
I don't have the name, but do some cross referencing and this guy comes up.
🔵🇨🇱 Auckland FC are currently in talks with Chilean midfielder Felipe Gallegos, who is contracted to Greek club OFI Crete F.C, but they have yet to make an official offer. pic.twitter.com/D9fRVPhuSR
It sounds like he's managed to pull this one out of the depths of his arse though, because I've just been told a 32 y/o Chilean who plays in Greece is on his way to Auckland. Colour me shocked. 😂
I don't have the name, but do some cross referencing and this guy comes up.
That name came from Nick Lennon. His hit rate is on the improve, if he gets this right I might need to take him more seriously (unless I found someone who reported it earlier).
A Chileano should see a few Latino supporters at AFC games, including maybe a some of Waiheke Island FC's colourful fan crew. Though yeah they are mainly originating from across the Andean divide.
Playing at Allen Hill Stadium yesterday (begods, how was that a National League ground back in the day? It's a freakin' bog? Anyway we won 1-0 with only 10 players lol). Anyway: I turn around in the clubrooms and there's Alex Paulsen staring at me from a poster headed WELCOME HOME
Playing at Allen Hill Stadium yesterday (begods, how was that a National League ground back in the day? It's a freakin' bog? Anyway we won 1-0 with only 10 players lol). Anyway: I turn around in the clubrooms and there's Alex Paulsen staring at me from a poster headed WELCOME HOME
The Old Trafford of New Zealand football. Has been falling apart for some time now.
Actually very lucky to avoid what looked to be an incredibly serious injury at first in a men’s first team game there a few weeks ago when a player slid in to one of the rusty metal poles situated only a few yards from the edge of the pitch. Very dangerous.
