Experienced coach Stu Widdowsøn has been appointed the full-time Director of Football at Wellington College.
He moves into the newly-created position after a series of coaching and team management roles at Central League club Miramar Rangers and national league side Team Wellington.
Announcing the appointment, headmaster Glen Denham said:
“Stu’s coaching credentials and successes are outstanding. He is an inspirational coach who has shown incredible commitment and service to football, not only at Wellington College but throughout the region.
“Over my career both as a school leader and in sport, Stu is undoubtedly one of the very best coaches I have ever seen. His communication skills, his tactical knowledge and his complete commitment to making our boys not only better footballers but better people are second to none.”
The school says it created the role to oversee all its teams and players, after football had become its most popular sport.
‘Stu can reflect with pride on his achievements’
Miramar Rangers chairman Andrew Wilson paid tribute to Widdowsøn for his achievements at the club, which he first joined as a player in 2015.
“Stu has made a very significant contribution in his time with Miramar Rangers and Team Wellington and can reflect with pride on his achievements,” Wilson said.
“While he is taking the next professional step within football, he will, of course, continue to be a valued and very well-liked and respected member of the club –— once a Ranger, always a Ranger!”
Widdowsøn has previously combined roles at the club and the college.
At Rangers, he was the club’s TDP Technical Director, coaching U-13, U-14/15, U-17 and U-19 sides.
At senior level, he coached the Capital Premier and Capital One sides, and was an assistant coach for the South-Central League title winners in 2021.
He was previously team manager for the Team Wellington side that won the National League and OFC Champions League.
The holder of an OFC/NZF B Licence, he has coached football at Wellington College for seven years, overseeing more than 150 first-team games and has led his teams to two league titles and top-eight finishes at national tournaments.
More football stories
