Waitakere United Explained

Clubname:Waitakere United
Current:2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship
Fullname:Waitakere United Football Club
Ground:Douglas Field at The Trusts Arena
Capacity:3,000[1]
Chairman:Peter Bult
Manager:Paul Hobson
League:ISPS Handa Premiership
Season:2019-20
Position:3rd
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Waitakere United was a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They were one of the franchises in the ISPS Handa Premiership. They played their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeū and The Trusts Arena.

History

Waitakere United was formed as a special franchise club in 2004 to play in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC), New Zealand's top domestic football competition. The team represented 12 member clubs from Mt Albert to the Kaipara.

In the inaugural season (2004–05) of the NZFC, Waitakere United finished runners-up to the champions Auckland City 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 FC 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 1–3.

Waitakere United defended their championship in capturing the 2007–08 OFC Champions League, defeating Kossa 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 had a notable rivalry with neighbours Auckland City. With the change of structure of football in New Zealand at the start of 2021, and the creation of the new New Zealand National League,[2] this saw the end of Waitakere United, and consequently the end of the Auckland Derby.[3]

Honours

Domestic

Continental

Youth team

Performance in OFC competitions

7 appearances

Best: Champions in 2007 and 2007–08

2007

Champions

2007–08

Champions

2008–09

2° in Group A

2009–10

Finalist

2010–11

2° in Group B

2011–12

2° in Group A

2012–13

Finalist

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayPosition
2007[4] OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City2–22–21st
Mont-Dore6–13–0
Final 4R Electrical Ba1–01–22–2 (a)
2007–08[5] OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City1–11–01st
Mana-Ura2–11–1
Final Kossa5–01–36–3
2008–09[6] OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City1–32–22nd
Port Vila Sharks3–03–2
2009–10[7] OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Auckland City1–12–21st
Magenta4–11–1
Manu-Ura2–05–1
Final Hekari United2–10–32–4
2010–11[8] OFC Champions LeagueGroup B Auckland City1–10–12nd
Magenta2–11–1
Tefana3–11–3
2011–12[9] OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Tefana10–00–32nd
Ba4–02–3
Mont-Dore4–01–0
2012–13[10] OFC Champions LeagueGroup B Auckland City1–31–01st
Dragon0–01–0
Mont-Dore3–13–2
Semi Final Amicale2–12–04–1
Final Auckland City1–2
2013–14[11] OFC Champions LeagueGroup A Pirae1–33rd
Solomon Warriors1–1
Kiwi2–0

FIFA Club World Cup History

FIFA Club World Cup History
YearRoundScoreResultScorers
2007Play-off Waitakere United 1 – 3 Sepahan Loss
2008Play-off Waitakere United 1 – 2 Adelaide United LossSeaman

Current squad

As of 23 January 2021

Staff

Managers

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Trusts Stadium Grandstand, Waitakere . Engenium. 11 April 2019.
  2. Web site: New National League system . . 3 April 2021.
  3. News: Final whistle for famous names. New Zealand Football. 15 March 2021. 9 June 2021.
  4. Web site: 2007 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  5. Web site: 2007-08 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  6. Web site: 2008-09 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  7. Web site: 2009-10 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  8. Web site: 2010-11 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  9. Web site: 2011–12 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  10. Web site: 2012–13 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.
  11. Web site: 2013–14 OFC Champions League - Oceania . Soccerway . 12 April 2021.