Three Kings United FC
Full name | Three Kings United Football Club | ||
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Founded | 1997 | ||
Ground | Keith Hay Park, Mount Roskill, Auckland | ||
Chairman | Murray Holdaway | ||
Coach | Paul Bateson | ||
League | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier | ||
2015 | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier, 12th (Relegated) (Pending a legal challenge) | ||
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Three Kings United is a semi-professional association football club based in Three Kings, Auckland, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier.
Three Kings United has over 2000 registered players, with over 100 junior teams, 70 youth teams and 20 senior teams, making it the largest football club within New Zealand. The club's home ground is Keith Hay Park, and the club also use a number of other parks around central Auckland.
Club history
The club was founded in 1997 through the amalgamation of Eden AFC (founded 1947) and Mount Roskill AFC (founded 1954). In 1994, Eden had merged with YMCA Grafton, a club with an illustrious history. YMCA Grafton was founded in 1985 as a merger between Grafton Rovers and Auckland YMCA, the latter of these teams having been a major team in the early days of organised football in Auckland. Auckland YMCA reached the semi-finals of the national knockout Chatham Cup in 1928, and are also known to have reached the later stages of the competition in 1932.
Whilst both clubs had teams at all levels, it was felt that combining the strength of Eden’s large Junior and Youth base of players and Mt Roskill’s successful senior programme and better club and ground facilities, we would create a club second to none in New Zealand. The results have exceeded expectations, the club has become very popular with membership increasing every year.
Today Three Kings United is the largest football club within New Zealand and possibly the largest sporting club in the country. It is the club's continuing goal to provide football to any person wishing to be involved.
Club structure
- President: Murray Holdaway
- Senior Chairman: Peter Hunt
- Senior Women: Jim Puketapu
- Youth Chairwoman: Michelle Holmes
- Junior Chairman: Matt Chamberlain
- Director of Football: Chris Milicich
- General Manager: Steven Reid
- Marketing Chairwoman: Rachel Sturges
Three Kings United are one of 31 member clubs of the Auckland Football Federation
Senior Men's team
TKU's men's team were finalists in the 2009 Chatham Cup, New Zealand's principal knockout cup competition, and currently play in the Northern Region Premier League. Both Eden and Mount Roskill were former willers of both competitions. Eden won the Chatham Cup in 1950 and the Northern League in 1974; Mount Roskill won the 1964 Chatham Cup, and the 1989 Northern League.
Three Kings United finished in 6th position in the 8 team 2010 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier, which was won by East Coast Bays.
Three Kings United finished in 2nd position in the 10 team 2011 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier, which was won by Bay Olympic AFC.
Senior Men's Coaching Staff
- Paul Bateson (Head coach)2017 – Present
- Brett Ellis (assistant coach) 2017 – Present
- Neil Sykes 2013-17
- Paul Marshall 2009–12
- Steven Dillon 2009 – 2010
- David White 2009 – 2011
- Paul Temple 2009 – 2010
Women's Senior Team
TKU's women's team is particularly strong, providing many players for the New Zealand national team at age-grade and full international level. Eight of the 21 New Zealand women's national under-20 football team squad members for the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup are Three Kings United players.
Coaching Staff
- Alan Hindson 2015 – present
- Andrew Clay 2011 – 2014