Auckland Pride - Make Auckland Great Again

coochiee wrote:
Some of the Nix's Ferns may get asked to play. It would be great to see say Pia Vlok play Chelsea.

She will have likely have left NZ before the 2027/28 ALW season (when Auckland will enter a side), so even though she's an Aucklander, I doubt the Wahinix side will lose her to the new Auckland entrant.

The reasonably tight time frame between Chelsea arriving into Auckland, playing 8th August & then the All Stars on the 12th in Sydney, likely part of the reason is no Nix vs Blues match.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/05/12/glamour-club-chelsea-to-play-auckland-fc-womens-selection-at-eden-park/
 
The home side for the festival match is likely to include New Zealand internationals and players from Auckland FC’s women’s talent development centre.

Auckland FC plan to launch a side in the 2027-28 women’s A-League, and the invitational team could provide clues about who the club are lining up for their inaugural squad.


Bindon will coach the invitational side, with former Fern Kirsty Yallop as an assistant coach.

theprof wrote:
age like milk how so? Even if the Wahinix lose they remain the only professional womens football team in the country. Chelsea should be coming to Wellington not going to Auckland to play some fake ass team.

And the AFC is never going to tell FFA to get rid of the Nix, we are firmly ensconced on the board of the APL and have a very strong voice there.

observerfromuh wrote:

 theprof wrote:
age like milk how so? Even if the Wahinix lose they remain the only professional womens football team in the country. Chelsea should be coming to Wellington not going to Auckland to play some fake ass team.

And the AFC is never going to tell FFA to get rid of the Nix, we are firmly ensconced on the board of the APL and have a very strong voice there.

I probably didn't mean age like milk, I meant all the club does is play the victim. It's embarrassing and will put more people off the club.

Even on socials they are trying to seem like the women have won something for just making the final. If Arsenal lose against PSG, they won't parade it around that they came 2nd.

As someone said it reeks of desperation from the club and I wonder if the Nix even suggested to get involved. e.g. ask should our women's team come up and face a global team given we are the only pro team in NZ. 

The club keeps being embarrassed (Auckland in the comp, OFC league, this game, me and you having the same amount of A-League silverware as the club) and their responses are not good enough. 

Let it play out - who knows it may end up being an unofficial 2nd A-League All Stars game.

You never know. a team with dwindling crowds, never won a trophy, no long term commitment to the manager may speak otherwise. The club is lucky there is not relegation/promotion into the A-League IMO.

theprof wrote:
would we want any of the current Nix women to front up for an AFC XI, surely that's giving AFC the chance to poach them?

coochiee wrote:

 theprof wrote:
would we want any of the current Nix women to front up for an AFC XI, surely that's giving AFC the chance to poach them?

That would be churlish. Why would you stop some of Esson, van der Meer, Pijnenburg, Jale, Main, Barry, Fraser, Vlok or whoever playing against a big European club.

Who knows they may have a standout game, and get signed by Chelsea! Then a fee for the Nix (if they are under contract).

AFC women won't exist until season 2027/2028.
Vlok will be overseas by then. Likely also Barry (who reportedly had an overseas offer on the table prior this season).

Half a Pint wrote:

 Mainland FC wrote:
There might be a very good argument made that the "invitation Womens Team" will be composed of A-League womens best players and will play under the ALW banner rather than the Black Knightesses banner.   Commercially speaking that may put plenty of bums on seats, and it may help gauge local interest in an Auckland womens team in future.  Bringing best women from the current ALW season will be a bonus - the combined skills on display will be good, and the chance to beat the Chelseanians even better.

That game is already happening in Sydney on the 12th of August - Women's A-League Allstars vs Chelsea Women

coochiee wrote:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360977537/chelsea-women-coming-nz-first-time-part-football-festival

In a since-deleted social media post, the Phoenix appeared to vent their frustration, tweeting: “If only there was a women’s football team in New Zealand Chelsea could have played? Maybe one that just reached the Grand Final? One or that just had six thousand fans turn up for a playoff game? Maybe even… one that existed?”

 
Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker said the club had simply accepted an opportunity presented by promoter TEG.
The fixture is part of an international football festival that will also see Auckland FC’s men host English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on July 26.


He backed Bindon to pull together a strong roster.


“I don’t know what conversations were had in that space [with Wellington]. We were approached by TEG to do it and we saw the opportunity,” Becker said.


“On the Wellington Phoenix women’s team, I think they’ve had a fantastic season and I wish them all the best for the final. I’m sure we can do it and as a fellow New Zealand team we are fully behind them.

“This is a huge opportunity for the club and we couldn't be more excited, both for all the young talented players that we have in our development squad who are going to get the opportunity to be part of this team but also as a football opportunity for all of Auckland.”


Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said the trip would be “an important part of our pre-season preparations”.


“We’re incredibly proud of the international nature of our squad and how it reflects the diversity and spirit of the Chelsea women family,” she said.
“To meet new fans, inspire the next generation of players, and showcase our talented group in a new region is a real privilege.”


The event was made possible through the Government package, designed to boost Auckland’s winter tourism and hospitality sector and create jobs.
The funding comes from the Events Attraction Package, which has also supported Linkin Park, Robbie Williams and the World Surf League Championship Tour.


Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston noted the “strong following for women’s football in New Zealand” and, when asked why Wellington were not involved, said there would be future opportunities for the Phoenix.

This is a promoter taking clubs to this part of the world, they probably lined up afc, govt funding (local and central) and any potential clearance with nzf without even talking to the Nix. 

coochiee wrote:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360977537/chelsea-women-coming-nz-first-time-part-football-festival

In a since-deleted social media post, the Phoenix appeared to vent their frustration, tweeting: “If only there was a women’s football team in New Zealand Chelsea could have played? Maybe one that just reached the Grand Final? One or that just had six thousand fans turn up for a playoff game? Maybe even… one that existed?”

 
Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker said the club had simply accepted an opportunity presented by promoter TEG.
The fixture is part of an international football festival that will also see Auckland FC’s men host English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on July 26.


He backed Bindon to pull together a strong roster.


“I don’t know what conversations were had in that space [with Wellington]. We were approached by TEG to do it and we saw the opportunity,” Becker said.


“On the Wellington Phoenix women’s team, I think they’ve had a fantastic season and I wish them all the best for the final. I’m sure we can do it and as a fellow New Zealand team we are fully behind them.

“This is a huge opportunity for the club and we couldn't be more excited, both for all the young talented players that we have in our development squad who are going to get the opportunity to be part of this team but also as a football opportunity for all of Auckland.”


Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said the trip would be “an important part of our pre-season preparations”.


“We’re incredibly proud of the international nature of our squad and how it reflects the diversity and spirit of the Chelsea women family,” she said.
“To meet new fans, inspire the next generation of players, and showcase our talented group in a new region is a real privilege.”


The event was made possible through the Government package, designed to boost Auckland’s winter tourism and hospitality sector and create jobs.
The funding comes from the Events Attraction Package, which has also supported Linkin Park, Robbie Williams and the World Surf League Championship Tour.


Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston noted the “strong following for women’s football in New Zealand” and, when asked why Wellington were not involved, said there would be future opportunities for the Phoenix.

Bullion wrote:

 observerfromuh wrote:

 theprof wrote:
age like milk how so? Even if the Wahinix lose they remain the only professional womens football team in the country. Chelsea should be coming to Wellington not going to Auckland to play some fake ass team.

And the AFC is never going to tell FFA to get rid of the Nix, we are firmly ensconced on the board of the APL and have a very strong voice there.

I probably didn't mean age like milk, I meant all the club does is play the victim. It's embarrassing and will put more people off the club.

Even on socials they are trying to seem like the women have won something for just making the final. If Arsenal lose against PSG, they won't parade it around that they came 2nd.

As someone said it reeks of desperation from the club and I wonder if the Nix even suggested to get involved. e.g. ask should our women's team come up and face a global team given we are the only pro team in NZ. 

The club keeps being embarrassed (Auckland in the comp, OFC league, this game, me and you having the same amount of A-League silverware as the club) and their responses are not good enough. 

Let it play out - who knows it may end up being an unofficial 2nd A-League All Stars game.

You never know. a team with dwindling crowds, never won a trophy, no long term commitment to the manager may speak otherwise. The club is lucky there is not relegation/promotion into the A-League IMO.

How would the Nix suggest getting involved? This is a promoter taking clubs to this part of the world, they probably lined up afc, govt funding (local and central) and any potential clearance with nzf without even talking to the Nix. 

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Since Dome still has not yet answered the forums questions after a couple of months, 

can we add why the social media post was deleted to the list? And does he sign off on these social media posts?

And why we are at it, if they were in conversations with these promotors?

Wibblebutt wrote:
I don't think the Nix are 'lucky' the women's team are good this year. They've put plenty of backing behind them with a quality coach and money for a good squad, and we've been duly rewarded with a well performing team.

20 Legend wrote:
The government fund also includes Robbie Williams in Christchurch, Ultra Music Festival in Wellington, and a Pro Surfing event in Raglan. The article is wrong.

observerfromuh wrote:

 Wibblebutt wrote:
I don't think the Nix are 'lucky' the women's team are good this year. They've put plenty of backing behind them with a quality coach and money for a good squad, and we've been duly rewarded with a well performing team.

I'm more saying 'lucky' as compared to the team up the road, things would be looking quite bleak if the women came 8th or 9th considering the season the men had.

observerfromuh wrote:

 Bullion wrote:

 observerfromuh wrote:

 theprof wrote:
age like milk how so? Even if the Wahinix lose they remain the only professional womens football team in the country. Chelsea should be coming to Wellington not going to Auckland to play some fake ass team.

And the AFC is never going to tell FFA to get rid of the Nix, we are firmly ensconced on the board of the APL and have a very strong voice there.

I probably didn't mean age like milk, I meant all the club does is play the victim. It's embarrassing and will put more people off the club.

Even on socials they are trying to seem like the women have won something for just making the final. If Arsenal lose against PSG, they won't parade it around that they came 2nd.

As someone said it reeks of desperation from the club and I wonder if the Nix even suggested to get involved. e.g. ask should our women's team come up and face a global team given we are the only pro team in NZ. 

The club keeps being embarrassed (Auckland in the comp, OFC league, this game, me and you having the same amount of A-League silverware as the club) and their responses are not good enough. 

Let it play out - who knows it may end up being an unofficial 2nd A-League All Stars game.

You never know. a team with dwindling crowds, never won a trophy, no long term commitment to the manager may speak otherwise. The club is lucky there is not relegation/promotion into the A-League IMO.

How would the Nix suggest getting involved? This is a promoter taking clubs to this part of the world, they probably lined up afc, govt funding (local and central) and any potential clearance with nzf without even talking to the Nix. 

Someone at the club can ask the Government about the fund, say if we were to approach a Liverpool, Manchester United or Real Madrid (insert any club) with a quote for a friendly, how much would you give to help get it across the line. Not that hard. 

Chelsea is coming to Australia even.

But good old nix and the incompetence is on show again, no initiative to do anything and complains when the other team does it.

The only initiative the club shows is to blame their problems on AFC. The club is lucky that the women's team are good this season.

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
At least they remained classy when the Nix/Wrexham game was announced.

And didn’t post a slur on their social media.

That shit is so bad on so many levels.





 

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
At least they remained classy when the Nix/Wrexham game was announced.

And didn’t post a slur on their social media.

That shit is so bad on so many levels.





 

Doloras wrote:
Chelsea Women to play an "Auckland FC Invitational" team in August

(Will Sam Kerr be coming for that?)

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Whatever he said had a purpose (even to get a few more people through the gate in Wellington)

This served absolutely no purpose - apart from being amateur hour and embarrassing the club. 

It should be a great week for the club solely celebrating the women’s team but instead one news is talking about this social media post.

You are not embarrassed by this?

Dome would be better off answering questions from his own fans rather then posting embarrassing social media posts.

God knows what Chelsea football club think of the Nix.




 

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Whatever he said had a purpose (even to get a few more people through the gate in Wellington)

This served absolutely no purpose - apart from being amateur hour and embarrassing the club. 

It should be a great week for the club solely celebrating the women’s team but instead one news is talking about this social media post.

You are not embarrassed by this?

Dome would be better off answering questions from his own fans rather then posting embarrassing social media posts.

God knows what Chelsea football club think of the Nix.




 

martinb wrote:

 AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Whatever he said had a purpose (even to get a few more people through the gate in Wellington)

This served absolutely no purpose - apart from being amateur hour and embarrassing the club. 

It should be a great week for the club solely celebrating the women’s team but instead one news is talking about this social media post.

You are not embarrassed by this?

Dome would be better off answering questions from his own fans rather then posting embarrassing social media posts.

God knows what Chelsea football club think of the Nix.




 

It is a great week for the club. First Grand Final for a NZ team! 

One News, well f- them, frankly, if they’re making a big deal about this and ignoring Vlok, Woods and the Bevolution. Great tifo, great turn out.

And you are famously negative and overegg every semblance of a complaint. 

The other lad is getting caught in a similar trap. 
 
I mean, it is also a fair question too: why spend government millions on a team that doesn’t exist when there is a high performing women’s team in existence? Or from before why should FIFA money fund one already cashed up NZ A league club’s reserves and not another’s?

Butter wouldn’t melt in Becker’s mouth. Perhaps he’s sincere that someone just turned up and asked them to put together a team to play Chelsea and that also just happened to be announced between our semi win and our Grand Final tilt. But they have a record of daft publicity stunts and jabbing at the Nix, from the pitch invasion in an AFC shirt and on.  It’s been the way they have played the game. 

But yeh rather than get caught in that  clever game for clever AFC clever clogs it’s better to let it go outside off and get on with our things. We got sucked in, but negative pile on, in the wrong thread? Nah. Get a grip fellas. First NZ club in a Grand Final in the A league. What a terrible week…

observerfromuh wrote:

 martinb wrote:

 AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Whatever he said had a purpose (even to get a few more people through the gate in Wellington)

This served absolutely no purpose - apart from being amateur hour and embarrassing the club. 

It should be a great week for the club solely celebrating the women’s team but instead one news is talking about this social media post.

You are not embarrassed by this?

Dome would be better off answering questions from his own fans rather then posting embarrassing social media posts.

God knows what Chelsea football club think of the Nix.




 

It is a great week for the club. First Grand Final for a NZ team! 

One News, well f- them, frankly, if they’re making a big deal about this and ignoring Vlok, Woods and the Bevolution. Great tifo, great turn out.

And you are famously negative and overegg every semblance of a complaint. 

The other lad is getting caught in a similar trap. 
 
I mean, it is also a fair question too: why spend government millions on a team that doesn’t exist when there is a high performing women’s team in existence? Or from before why should FIFA money fund one already cashed up NZ A league club’s reserves and not another’s?

Butter wouldn’t melt in Becker’s mouth. Perhaps he’s sincere that someone just turned up and asked them to put together a team to play Chelsea and that also just happened to be announced between our semi win and our Grand Final tilt. But they have a record of daft publicity stunts and jabbing at the Nix, from the pitch invasion in an AFC shirt and on.  It’s been the way they have played the game. 

But yeh rather than get caught in that  clever game for clever AFC clever clogs it’s better to let it go outside off and get on with our things. We got sucked in, but negative pile on, in the wrong thread? Nah. Get a grip fellas. First NZ club in a Grand Final in the A league. What a terrible week…

Not a great turnout, if the club had any ambition and with the ticket prices they would have moved to Hnry and got 15K plus for a game that big. 

I'm just frankly annoyed that the club has shown no ambition on the men's side of things since Auckland came in and they now have to resort to playing the victim and embarrassing posts because they didn't have the initiative to do a decent bid for the O-League (they probably thought they'd get a hand out with a spot), didn't think to ask about how the tourism fund works, didn't win a trophy in their first 20 years when most clubs have won something, reappointed Chiefy when his second season was rubbish... can go on.

We need to compete with AFC, because love it or hate it, they are not disappearing and it may get worse for us when they establish a women's team too because IMO Bev is not going to stay in Wellington much longer regardless of this weekends result.

Imagine if a third NZ men's team came in too. I don't think we should want that at this stage.

theprof wrote:
yeah APL take all the money for the finals, which reduces any benefits to the clubs.

100% re Bev, married to the business, she'll no doubt have offers but her desire to leave would be low I'd think

theprof wrote:
yeah APL take all the money for the finals, which reduces any benefits to the clubs.

100% re Bev, married to the business, she'll no doubt have offers but her desire to leave would be low I'd think

 
Auckland CEO Nick Becker joins us to discuss building an a-league club from scratch and his incredible time working at Manchester city for 8 years! So many gems in this one. Out now pic.twitter.com/MarWqR3Q8D
— Suited and Booted TV (@suitedbootedtv) May 12, 2026