Waitakere United
Encyclopedia
Waitakere United is a football (soccer)
club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand
. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park
in Kumeu.
(NZFC), New Zealand's top domestic football competition. The team represents 12 member clubs from Mt Albert
to the Kaipara
.
In the inaugural season (2004/2005) of the NZFC, Waitakere United finished runners-up to champions Auckland City FC
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 F.C.
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 F.C. 1-3.
Waitakere United defended their championship in capturing the 2007–08 OFC Champions League, defeating Kossa FC
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 have a notable rivalry with neighbours Auckland City
.
(2005) Daniel Koprivcic
(2007–09) Simon Barker
(2007) Marcus Phillips
(2005–06) Danny Hay
(2007–09) Commins Menapi
(2007–08) Benjamin Totori
(2007–10)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Waitakere City, 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...
. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park
Fred Taylor Park
Fred Taylor Park is the home stadium to the Waitakere United, a New Zealand soccer team based in Whenuapai.-External links:* at the Waitakere United website...
in Kumeu.
History
Waitakere United was formed as a special franchise club in 2004 to play in the New Zealand Football ChampionshipNew 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...
(NZFC), New Zealand's top domestic football competition. The team represents 12 member clubs from Mt Albert
Mount Albert, New Zealand
Mount Albert is a volcanic peak and suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The suburb was Auckland's second, after Remuera, and was mostly settled by well-off families in the late 1800s and early 1900s...
to the Kaipara
Kaipara District
-Geography:Kaipara District is located in the low hills around the northern shores of the Kaipara Harbour, a large natural harbour open to the Tasman Sea...
.
In the inaugural season (2004/2005) of the NZFC, Waitakere United finished runners-up to champions 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...
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
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
's Port Vila Sharks, Waitakere was given a berth in the inaugural OFC Champions League
OFC Champions League
The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
, for 2007, as NZFC premiers. They finished atop their group, edging out Auckland City
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
and New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
's AS Mont-Dore
AS Mont-Dore
AS Mont-Dore is a New Caledonia football team playing in the local top division, the New Caledonia Division Honneur.The team is based in Le Mont-Dore, a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa, the capital city of the French territory.-Achievements:...
. They went on to defeat Ba F.C.
Ba F.C.
Ba F.C. is a Fijian association football team playing in the premier division of the Fiji Football Association competitions. It is based in Ba. They are nicknamed Men in Black. Their home stadium is Govind Park...
of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in the final, becoming the first OFC-League
OFC Champions League
The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
champions. Commins Menapi
Commins Menapi
Commins Menapi is a Solomon Islands striker, who is currently a Marist FC player.-Club career:He has also played for YoungHeart Manawatu in New Zealand, Sydney United of the old National Soccer League in Australia and for Marist FC, a club from the Solomon Islands.In the 2006-2007 season, he...
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
2007 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2007 FIFA Club World Cup was a football tournament played in Japan from 7 December to 16 December 2007. It was the fourth FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament organised by FIFA for the winners of each confederation's top continental club tournament....
in Japan, where they lost in the 'play-in' match to Sepahan F.C. 1-3.
Waitakere United defended their championship in capturing the 2007–08 OFC Champions League, defeating Kossa FC
Kossa FC
Kossa FC is a Solomon Islands football clubs, playing in the Honiara FA League and in the Solomon Islands National Club Championship.From 2004 to 2006, the team was known as Fairwest....
in the final 6-3 in goal aggregate. During this season, Douglas Field
Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium is an indoor arena located in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a multi-purpose stadium that primarily holds sports events and music concerts...
was under extensive renovation forcing Waitakere United to play most of their home fixtures at Fred Taylor Park in Whenuapai
Whenuapai
Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...
.
Waitakere have a notable rivalry with neighbours Auckland City
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...
.
Current squad
As of October 17, 2011.Staff
- Assistant Coach:
Carl JorgensenCarl JorgensenCarl Jorgensen is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Jorgensen made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand as a substitute in a 1-2 loss to Australia on 15 May 1991.-External links:... - Goalkeeper coach: Gene Granger
Notable former players
Shannon ColeShannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
(2005) Daniel Koprivcic
Daniel Koprivcic
Daniel Koprivcic is a Croatian born footballer, currently playing for Auckland City FC in the New Zealand Football Championship...
(2007–09) Simon Barker
Simon Barker
Simon Barker is a retired English professional footballer in the 1980s and 1990s. Barker was a blond haired, tough tackling midfielder who played mainly for Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers....
(2007) Marcus Phillips
Marcus Phillips (footballer)
Marcus Phillips is a retired English professional footballer who played as a midfielder in England, the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand.-Career:...
(2005–06) Danny Hay
Danny Hay
Daniel "Danny" Hay is an association football player who has represented New Zealand at international level as a central defender and captains Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship.-Club career:...
(2007–09) Commins Menapi
Commins Menapi
Commins Menapi is a Solomon Islands striker, who is currently a Marist FC player.-Club career:He has also played for YoungHeart Manawatu in New Zealand, Sydney United of the old National Soccer League in Australia and for Marist FC, a club from the Solomon Islands.In the 2006-2007 season, he...
(2007–08) Benjamin Totori
Benjamin Totori
Benjamin Totori is a Solomon Islands footballer who currently plays as a striker for Koloale FC.-Club career:A small but speedy striker, Totori made his name at fellow NZFC side YoungHeart Manawatu before moving to Richmond Athletic and then onto Waitakere United in 2007...
(2007–10)
FIFA Club World Cup History
| FIFA Club World Cup History | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Score | Result | Scorers |
| 2007 2007 FIFA Club World Cup The 2007 FIFA Club World Cup was a football tournament played in Japan from 7 December to 16 December 2007. It was the fourth FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament organised by FIFA for the winners of each confederation's top continental club tournament.... |
Play-off | Waitakere United 1 – 3 Sepahan F.C. |
Loss | Aghili Hadi Aghili Hadi Aghily is an Iranian footballer who currently plays for Al-Arabi in Qatar Stars League.-Career:Aghili was born in Tehran. Aghily was part of the Persepolis F.C. youth academy, but he left the club for Saipa in 2001. After 3 years he moved to Sepahan where he won the Hazfi Cup and also played... |
| 2008 2008 FIFA Club World Cup -Play-off for Quarter-finals:-Quarter-finals:-----Semi-finals:-----Match for fifth place:-Match for third place:-Final:-Scorers:3 goals Wayne Rooney... |
Play-off | Waitakere United 1 – 2 Adelaide United Adelaide United FC Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...  |
Loss | Seaman Paul Seaman Paul Seaman is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a centre midfielder for New Zealand club Metro F.C. in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier.... |
Honours
- New Zealand Football ChampionshipNew Zealand Football ChampionshipThe 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...
- Championship (3): 2008, 2010, 2011.
- Premiership (4): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 .
- OFC Champions LeagueOFC Champions LeagueThe Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
(2): 2007 and 2008OFC Champions League 2007-08The Oceania Champions League 2007-08 started in 12 June 2007 with the Preliminary Tournament and was played till 4 May 2008. The league was contested by clubs from seven member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Fiji...
.
Performance in OFC competitions
- OFC Champions LeagueOFC Champions LeagueThe Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
: 5 appearances
-
- Best: Champions in 2007 and 2008OFC Champions League 2007-08The Oceania Champions League 2007-08 started in 12 June 2007 with the Preliminary Tournament and was played till 4 May 2008. The league was contested by clubs from seven member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Fiji...
- 2007: Champions
- 2008OFC Champions League 2007-08The Oceania Champions League 2007-08 started in 12 June 2007 with the Preliminary Tournament and was played till 4 May 2008. The league was contested by clubs from seven member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Fiji...
: Champions - 2009: 2° in Group A
- 2010: Finalist
- 2011: 2° in Group B
- Best: Champions in 2007 and 2008