Auckland FC and NRF launch free junior clinics

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Image credit: Auckland FC

Auckland FC, in collaboration with Northern Region Football (NRF), has launched a series of free community football clinics aimed at junior players across South Auckland.

The initiative will see NRF deliver coaching sessions alongside Auckland FC at local football clubs, with the program tailored for boys and girls aged 8 to 13. Open to all ability levels, from complete beginners to emerging talent, the clinics aim to remove participation barriers, particularly the cost of registration.

Football remains the largest team sport in Aotearoa, with more than 170,000 registered players in 2024. As the sport continues to grow, Auckland FC is committed to ensuring football is accessible to young people from all backgrounds and communities.

While the initial rollout focuses on South Auckland, Auckland FC has plans to expand the program into other regions across Auckland, Northland, and WAIBOP, particularly in areas with limited access to structured football development.

The initiative is backed by community funders and major partners including ANZ, Barfoot & Thompson, and Anchor, whose support ensures the clinics remain free of charge.

Each participant will receive an Auckland FC training kit, a player workbook, and coaching from qualified staff. The first clinic kicks off this weekend and will run for eight weeks across eight clubs, aligning with the school term.

Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker spoke about the importance of the football clinics for the future of the sport.

“Football is the global game. Kids are playing it in schools, clubs, parks and streets in every corner of the world,” said Becker in a press release.

“We are working with NRF to deliver football clinics in our communities in South Auckland and beyond to create pathways, help build confidence and bring people together through the power of football.”

NRF CEO Laura Menzies shared a similar sentiment and was excited by the partnership.

“Our goal is creating thriving football communities. This is an exciting opportunity for the community to experience football, and we’re delighted to partner with Auckland FC on this initiative. We’re working with South Auckland community groups and clubs to understand what’s stopping people trying football, and removing the barriers so they can get involved,” said Menzies in a press release.

“This programme will enable young people to give football a go and learn some new skills in a fun and welcoming environment. We’re excited to make these connections as part of our long term commitment to helping clubs reflect their communities.”

This grassroots initiative strengthens Auckland FC’s connection with the community, helping to grow the game locally while also building long-term support for the club across key regions.

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Boroondara Eagles Secure Landmark Victory as Macleay Park Set to Become NPLW Home

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Image Credits: Boroondara Eagles

A long-awaited breakthrough for the Boroondara Eagles Football Club has brought the vision of a permanent home for women’s football one step closer, with Boroondara City Council endorsing plans for an NPLW-compliant pitch at Macleay Park.

For the Eagles, the ambition to provide women with deserving facilities took a significant step forward this week after the Boroondara City Council committed to upgrading the pitch as part of the Macleay Park Masterplan.

This masterplan involved new sports lights on Macleay Park Oval 3 but failed to see any further development to the soccer facilities or the Boroondara Eagles until Monday night.

The decision marks a defining moment in the club’s history and provides a platform for sustained growth, particularly for its thriving women’s and girls’ football programs.

While the resolution represents an important planning milestone, its significance extends well beyond the construction of a new playing surface. It signals a commitment to ensuring female footballers have access to facilities capable of supporting elite development pathways while remaining connected to their local community.

Purpose-built facilities remain one of the biggest challenges facing women’s football across Australia. As participation continues to surge, many clubs have outgrown venues originally designed around significantly smaller player bases.

For a club that has experienced rapid growth in recent years, the announcement provides the opportunity to establish a permanent home capable of meeting the demands of National Premier Leagues Women’s football.

The investment also reflects a broader shift within local government and football stakeholders towards recognising the infrastructure required to support the continued growth of the women’s game.

The Council’s decision was underpinned by strong community support, with players, families, coaches, volunteers and supporters filling the Council Chamber in a powerful display of unity.

The overwhelming attendance demonstrated the depth of connection between the club and the local community, highlighting how football facilities can become important social and sporting assets beyond matchday.

Although the inclusion of the NPLW-compliant pitch within the Macleay Park Masterplan represents a significant victory, the project remains at the beginning of its journey.

Funding, planning and delivery will now become the focus as the Boroondara Eagles works alongside Council, partners and the wider community to bring the Macleay Masterplan to life.

The club has already called on local businesses, sponsors and community members to become involved in the next phase, recognising that delivering modern sporting infrastructure is a collaborative effort.

Should the project progress as envisioned, Macleay Park has the potential to become more than simply the club’s home ground. It could emerge as a center point for women’s football in the local Boroondara community, supporting participation, talent development and community engagement for years to come.

For the Boroondara Eagles, the Council resolution is not the destination—it is the foundation upon which the club can build its next chapter.

Tottenham Hotspur deliver player development workshop for Football NSW

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Image credit: Football NSW

The workshop focused on sharing knowledge and insights regarding player development, bringing together more than 120 coaches from across NSW with those from Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Experience, insight and education

Valentine Sports Park hosted the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop, uniting Football NSW coaches and members of Tottenham Hotspur’s coaching staff to encourage discussion and learning opportunities about player development.

Tottenham’s player development pathway – from the academy to the first team – has produced some of the most respected names in Premier League history, including Harry Kane and Ledley King.

Under the leadership and guidance of Tottenham Hotspur Player & Coach Pathway Co-ordinator (and UEFA A Licence Coach), Jimmy Martin, as well as members of Tottenham’s coaching staff, Shannon Maloney, Kevin Moffatt and Tyler Blackwood, the workshop was a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced coaches in the game.

“Coach education is a vital part of developing football across NSW, and having more than 120 coaches attend this workshop highlights the appetite within our football community to continue learning and improving,” explained Football NSW Head of Football, Edward Ferguson.

Ferguson continued to outline the value of learning from an organisation like Tottenham Hotspur, a team who have helped grow some of the game’s most exceptional talents. The lessons taken will consequently help to inform future approaches to coaching in NSW.

“The focus remains on creating better learning environments for players, encouraging decision-making, creativity and long-term development.”

What the workshop involved

The workshop encouraged coaches to dive into all aspects of player development: the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects which contribute to the English academy setup.

Furthermore, Maloney, Moffatt and Blackwood – all of whom helped deliver a practical session for attendees – showed how a club’s playing identity can work alongside challenging training environments for players.

Game understanding, creative problem-solving and technical proficiency underpinned the main themes driving the workshop. In an age where individual expression on the pitch appears a dying art, Tottenham Hotspur coaches remain committed to encouraging players to feel confident adapating to a range of in-game scenarios.

Football NSW coaches were also able to attend a Q&A session with King, who spoke about his playing experiences for both club and country.

 

Final thoughts

As Australia continues to nurture the current and upcming generations of talented footballers, workshops such as this are a vital, fundamental part of the journey.

The fastest way to be among the best is to learn from them. The aim now is for Football NSW coaches to take the lessons learned, and apply them to football development in their own academies and teams across the state.

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