Birkenhead United
Full nameBirkenhead United Association Football Club
Nickname(s)Birko
Founded1960
GroundShepherds Park, Beach Haven, North Shore
PresidentDavid Williams
ManagerPaul Hobson
LeagueNorthern League
2023Northern League, 8th of 12
WebsiteClub website

Birkenhead United AFC is an amateur football club based in Beach Haven, on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Northern League.

Club history

The club was established as Birkenhead in 1960 before it amalgamated with Birkdale in 1963 taking its current name as Birkenhead United.[1]

Present day

Since 1965, Birkenhead have mainly played either in Division 1 or Division 2 of the Northern League though they twice early on, made it into Premier Division in 1968 and 1970, only to be relegated again that same year.[1] They also had one of their best early runs in the 1970 Chatham Cup, making it to the 5th round before losing to Eden 1–4.[2][3] They wouldn't repeat that success in the cup again until 2010. Again going down in the 5th round, this time to Glenfield Rovers.[4][5]

Birkenhead started to see more success in the 2010s, with them again making the Premier Division in 2013 and they have stayed there since. They have just missed out on winning the division four times in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.[1] The success in the local league was also replicated in the Chatham Cup, where in 2012[6][7] and 2013 they made the quarter-finals.[8][9] 2015 they made the semi-finals, only losing 3–4 on penalties to Napier City Rovers,[10] before they finally won the cup in 2016, beating local rivals Waitakere City 3–2 in extra time.[11][12] They wouldn't have to wait very long before they won the cup again, when in the 2018 Chatham Cup, they made the finals. This time they were facing Wellington side Western Suburbs and after 120 minutes the score was tied 1–1 before Birkenhead prevailed on penalties 5–4 to claim the cup for a second time in three years.[13][14]

In 2021, the club formed a strategic partnership with Scottish Premiership outfit, St Mirren FC alongside Nelson Suburbs.[15]

Current squad

As of 1 October 2022[16][17][18][19]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK New Zealand NZL Damian Hirst
2 DF New Zealand NZL Everton O'Leary
3 DF New Zealand NZL Jackson Woods
4 DF New Zealand NZL Dino Botica
5 DF New Zealand NZL Andrew Cromb
6 MF England ENG Miles Palmer
7 FW New Zealand NZL Alex Connor-McClean
8 MF New Zealand NZL Luke Jorgensen
9 FW New Zealand NZL Dane Schnell
10 MF New Zealand NZL Sam Burfoot (captain)
11 FW New Zealand NZL Levi Wilson
12 MF New Zealand NZL Vincent Phirun
13 DF New Zealand NZL Codey Phoenix
14 MF New Zealand NZL Finn McKenlay
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF New Zealand NZL Dylan Hobson
17 MF New Zealand NZL Corbin Piper
18 MF New Zealand NZL Chase Taylor
19 GK New Zealand NZL Zak Edwards
20 FW New Zealand NZL Cam Mackenzie
21 MF New Zealand NZL James Mitchell
22 MF New Zealand NZL Sam McIntosh
23 FW New Zealand NZL Curtis Hughes
24 DF New Zealand NZL Jason Kay
25 DF New Zealand NZL Nicholas Forrester
26 New Zealand NZL Ardri McArthur
27 New Zealand NZL Shiv Nair
31 GK Croatia CRO Silvio Rodic

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ruane, Jeremy. "Birkenhead United". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1970 Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "New Zealand 1970". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "2010 Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand 2009/10". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2012 Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "New Zealand 2011/12". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2013 Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "New Zealand 2012/13". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "2015 Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Voerman, Andrew (11 September 2016). "Birkenhead United survive scare to beat Waitakere City and claim Chatham Cup". Stuff. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Football: Birkenhead claim Chatham Cup". NZ Herald. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  13. ↑ Voerman, Andrew (9 September 2018). "Birkenhead United win penalty shootout to claim second Chatham Cup in three years". Stuff. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Chatham Cup: Birkenhead United beat Western Suburbs in final". Newshub. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Birkenhead United form Strategic Partnership with St Mirren". 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "NATIONAL LEAGUE - 5 DAYS TO GO".
  17. ↑ "NATIONAL LEAGUE - 3 DAYS TO GO".
  18. ↑ "NATIONAL LEAGUE SQUAD".
  19. ↑ "NATIONAL LEAGUE SQUAD".
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