Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch

Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...

, New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. The club plays most of its matches at English Park

English Park

English Park is a multi-use stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Canterbury United. The stadium has a capacity of 9,000 people....

 in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson

Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....

. The club competes in the ASB Premiership, the top level of football in New Zealand.

History

The club was founded in 2002 as a conglomerate of various Christchurch area clubs, in order to form a strong team to take part in the 2002 New Zealand National Soccer League

2002 New Zealand National Soccer League

The 2002 New Zealand National Club Championship, also known, due to naming-rights sponsorship, as the Southern Trust National League was the third season of a nationwide club competition in New Zealand football. The competition was won by Miramar Rangers....

. In 2004, the league was replaced by the New Zealand Football Championship

New Zealand Football Championship

The New Zealand Football Championship is the national association football league in New Zealand. It is a professional/semi-professional status Association football sports Franchise league that is operated by New Zealand Football...

, run on a regional franchise basis, and Canterbury United became one of the eight competing teams.

In Canterbury United's first season in the New Zealand Football Championship they missed out on the playoffs by four competition points, ultimately finishing fourth. In 2007, the club rebranded themselves as the "Canterbury United Dragons" with a new logo and mascot.

Final League placings at the end of the regular season:

• 2010-11: 4th (Played 14 Won 6 Drew 2 Lost 6) Lost playoffs semi finals
• 2009-10: 4th (Played 14 Won 5 Drew 3 Lost 6) Lost playoffs grand final
• 2008-09: 8th (Played 14 Won 2 Drew 2 Lost 10) Missed playoffs
• 2007-08: 8th (Played 21 Won 3 Drew 3 Lost 15) Missed playoffs
• 2006-07: 4th (Played 21 Won 9 Drew 4 Lost 8) Missed playoffs
• 2005-06: 3rd (Played 21 Won 13 Drew 2 Lost 6) Lost playoffs grand final
• 2004-05: 4th (Played 21 Won 7 Drew 6 Lost 8) Missed playoffs

Current squad

2011-12 Squad

Notable former players

James Bannatyne

James Bannatyne

James Bannatyne is an association football goalkeeper who plays for Team Wellington in the New Zealand Football Championship...

-----Team Wellington

Team Wellington

Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :...

 Jeremy Brockie

Jeremy Brockie

Jeremy Russell Brockie is a New Zealand football player who was recently signed by the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League...

-----New Zealand Knights, Sydney FC

Sydney FC

Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...

, North Queensland Fury Greg Draper

Greg Draper

Greg Draper is a New Zealand football player who is currently under contract with The New Saints.-Club career:...

-----Wellington Phoenix FC

Wellington Phoenix FC

Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...

 Brent Fisher Jeff Fleming

Jeff Fleming

Jeff Fleming is an association football player who plays as a midfielder for the Victorian Premier League side Green Gully Cavaliers...

-----Green Gully, New Zealand Knights Sam Jasper

Sam Jasper

Sam Jasper is a football player from New Zealand who is currently with Canterbury United, having previously played for New Zealand Knights in the A-League....

-----New Zealand Knights Jack Pelter

Jack Pelter

Jack Anthony Pelter is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as Centre back for Metro F.C. in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier...

-----Sunderland

Sunderland A.F.C.

Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...

 Ben Sigmund

Ben Sigmund

Benjamin Robert Sigmund is a New Zealand soccer player who currently plays for A-League club Wellington Phoenix...

-----Auckland City FC

Auckland City FC

Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...

, Wellington Phoenix FC

Wellington Phoenix FC

Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...

 Michael White-----New Zealand Knights Jacobo Egüés-----Athletic Club Bilbao Juvenil, Club Deportivo Laudio (Spain)

Non-playing staff

Head Coach

• Keith Braithwaite
  Keith Braithwaite
  Keith Braithwaite is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Braithwaite made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand in a 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia on 23 June 1988....
  
  

Assistant Coach

• Andy Pitman (Also on playing roster)

Team Manager

• Martin Stewart

External links

• Official website
• NZ Clubs Database
• New Zealand Football Championship