Birkenhead United AFC
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| Full name | Birkenhead United Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Birko | ||
| Founded | 1963 | ||
| Ground | Shepherds Park, Birkenhead | ||
| Capacity | 1,000 | ||
| Owner | Birkenhead Association Football and Sports Club | ||
| Manager | Paul "Hobbo" Hobson | ||
| League | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier | ||
| 2016 | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier, 2nd | ||
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Birkenhead United AFC is a semi-professional football club based in Birkenhead, on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League.
Club history
The club in its current state was established in 1963 as an amalgamation of the Birkdale and Birkenhead teams. The club have a strong history of bringing youth through the system to eventually play in the senior men's team.
Present day
During the 2010 season they played in the second division the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1B.
In 2011, Birkenhead United competed in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 league and were favourites for promotion into the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League. Enjoying much of the season placed first in the division, the team narrowly missed out on promotion with a final day loss to Eastern Suburbs AFC and eventually finished 3rd.
In 2012, Birkenhead United, considered among the favourites for promotion and indeed the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 title. With a large part of the 2011 squad still available for selection, the coaching team expanded the squad by signing established, experienced NRFL players to the player pool. This helped Birkenhead United live up to expectations and eventually ran out winners in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 League, with an undefeated season consisting of 16 wins and 6 draws from their 22 games. This great run by Birkenhead United also saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup, where they were defeated 3-2 by Lower Hutt City AFC.
In 2013, Birkenhead United, considered a team that had a good chance at retaining their place in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League for the 2014 season, quickly became a team that surprised a lot of teams and continued the high quality play that saw them win the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 title in 2012. They went on to finish second in the league to North Shore rivals East Coast Bays on goal difference after needing a win but only managing a draw on the final match of the season against Bay Olympic to secure first place. Another great season also saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup but once again fell out of the competition once again with another 3-2 loss to Melville United of Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 in Hamilton. Outside of the unfortunate Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League finish and repeat exit from the Chatham Cup, there were positives that came out of the season showing just how much the club is progressing. They had about 5-10 players selected into ASB Premiership senior and youth teams for the 2013–2014 season. They also saw Elijah Neblett get selected for the New Zealand U-17 national team and Bill Tuiloma signed with Olympique de Marseille. Bill Tuiloma also made his first appearance for the All Whites in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs Mexico at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
In 2014, Birkenhead United will be aiming to have a victorious season in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier League and a lengthy run in the Chatham Cup that stretches past the quarter-finals.
Style of play
Birkenhead United are well known for their 'pass and move' style of play, much like that of FC Barcelona, while also adopting their formation of 4-3-3. Birkenhead do not play a direct type of football that most clubs play in New Zealand, as they like to trust their footballing ability which coach Paul Hobson believes to be very important.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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References
External links
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*From 2021 season onwards (following league restructure) | |||||