Auckland City FC
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| Auckland City FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Auckland City Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Kiwitea Street Auckland, New Zealand (Capacity 3,000) |
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| Chairman |  Ivan Vuksich |
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| Manager | Colin Tuaa |
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| League | NZFC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | NZFC, 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Auckland City FC are a football team from Auckland, New Zealand competing in the New Zealand Football Championship. Auckland City play their home matches at Kiwitea Street, however played many of their home fixtures at the Croatian Club ground during the most recent season due to renovations at Kiwitea. They are currently three times champions, having won in 2004-5, 2005-6, and 2006-7.
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[edit] 2004/2005 season
In the inaugural 2004/05 season Auckland City FC beat cross town rivals Waitakere United 3-2 in the final of the New Zealand Football Championship . Keryn Jordan (now with Auckland City) and Daniel Ellensohn scored for Waitakere United, whilst Liam Mulrooney and Grant Young, the latter scoring twice, secured the championship. Auckland City have a strong support base, including a group called "248 Service Crew", with some fans electing to travel to away matches despite the distance between Auckland and many other NZFC franchises.
[edit] 2005/2006 season
Auckland City FC began the second NZFC season where they left off in 2004/2005, winning six out of their first eight matches to open the NZFC season strongly. After Auckland's second loss of the season, a 2-1 loss to Waikato FC, Auckland went on a five game winning streak defeating title contenders Canterbury United 4-3 and YoungHeart Manawatu 4-1. In the 14th Round of the League, Waikato FC again proved to be Auckland's bogey team, defeating Auckland by a single goal to nil. The week after this match, Auckland vented their frustrations on city rivals Waitakere by trashing them 5-1. Auckland's hot and cold form followed this however, as the defending champions lost 2-1 to Canterbury United in Christchurch and the next week were stunned 1-0 at home by Otago United.
The loss to Otago allowed Manawatu to overtake Auckland at the top of the NZFC standings. Manawatu held a one point lead with four matches to play, with Auckland City second on the ladder. But after regaining composure, Auckland beat Manawatu 2-1 in an absolutely stunning match to take top spot, and beat Canterbury United in the final 5-4 on penalties after 3-3 at full time.
[edit] Auckland's World Club Championship campaign
The New Zealand Football Championship allowed Auckland City FC to represent New Zealand in the Oceania Champions League without having to qualify. Auckland won the Oceania Club Championship 2006 held at North Harbour Stadium by beating AS Pirae 3-1 in the final. The Oceania title ensured Auckland City FC to play in the FIFA Club World Championship 2006.
In November 2006, Auckland City parted company with coach Roger Wilkinson less than a month before their debut at the FIFA Club World Championship 2006. Chairman Ivan Vuksich confirmed the “mutually agreed” split in a media release. Board member Paul Marshall took over as caretaker coach until a permanent replacement is signed. Auckland City gave no reason for the parting but the team, after winning the championship last season, are in fourth place on the New Zealand Football Championship table - eight points behind arch rivals and league leaders Waitakere United after just six rounds.
Auckland City rehired manager Allan Jones to coach the team in FIFA Club World Championship 2006. Auckland City lost their first game 2-0 to Al Ahly on December 10, 2006. Five days later, Auckland played South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the fifth-place play-off in Tokyo, but lost 3-0 and finished last among the six teams participating in the tournament.
Just five days after Auckland's match with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Auckland had to play rivals Waitakere United in a crucial NZFC match at Kiwitea Street. After trailing 3-0 at half time, City produced a stunning comeback to win 4-3 with a 99th minute goal from Paul Urlovic. Referee Neil Fox produced 19 yellow and red cards in this incredible match, widely considered as the greatest NZFC match since the competition began in October 2004.
[edit] History: (3 seasons played)
- 2 NZFC league titles
- 3 NZFC championships
- 1 Oceania Club Championship
[edit] Current squad
As of January 5, 2008
Nationality given from place of birth
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| Preceded by Inaugural |
NZFC Premier 2004-05 2005-06 |
Succeeded by Waitakere United |
| Preceded by Inaugural |
NZFC Champion 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 |
Succeeded by Waitakere United |
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