Auckland City FC
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| Auckland City FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Auckland City Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ground | Kiwitea Street, Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Capacity | 3,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Ivan Vuksich |
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| Manager | Paul Marshall |
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| League | NZFC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | NZFC, 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Auckland City FC are a football team from Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland City play their home matches at Kiwitea Street and compete in the New Zealand football championship. They are currently back to back champions, having won both the 2004-5 and 2005-6 seasons. Auckland City FC are an amateur club with most players sacrificing time from family and work to serve their club.
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[edit] 2004/2005 season
In the inauguaral 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 ACFC) and Daniel Ellensohn scored for Waitakere United, whilst Liam Mulrooney and Grant Young, who scored twice, secured the Championship for the highly favoured home team. Auckland City has arguably the best supporters in the league, with a hardcore, dedicated support base called the "248 Service Crew" who travel to all the local games, and some, to games over hundreds of kilometres away.
[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: (2 seasons played)
- 2 NZFC league titles
- 2 NZFC championships
- 1 Oceania Club Championship
[edit] Current squad
As of August 17, 2006
Nationality given from place of birth
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[edit] 2006/2007 Squad Changes
In
- Ben Sigmund (Canterbury United)
- Bryan Little (Team Wellington)
- Jason Hayne (Hawke's Bay United)
- Miro Major Youngheart Manawhatu
- Glenn Eie (UNKNOWN)
- Craig Dale Central United
Out
| New Zealand Football Championship | ||
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Auckland City FC | Canterbury United | Hawke's Bay United | Otago United | Team Wellington | Waikato FC | Waitakere United | YoungHeart Manawatu | edit |
