Latest news from Friends of Football
British media reports suggest All Whites striker Chris Wood has approved a loan move from Newcastle United to English Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest. The Athletic reports that negotiations between the clubs are underway for deal in the January transfer … Read More
East Coast Bays host a special game in the club’s calendar on Saturday when two teams meet to celebrate the memory of football enthusiast Paul Caunter. Paul Caunter, a man with connections to many football clubs in Auckland and the … Read More
Long-time Auckland City defender and captain Angel Berlanga has announced his retirement as a player after a record 219 appearances for the champion club. Berlanga (35) says a new job and another baby on the way were factors in calling … Read More
Otahuhu United have named Glen Jones as their men’s first-team coach for 2023, with Kieran Gutry as his assistant coach. The pair return to their roles from last season at Seaside Park. Having won their division last season, United plan … Read More
Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková says she was proud of the fight shown by her inexperienced side in the series opener against the world champion United States. But she acknowledges the game got away from the New Zealanders after … Read More
New Zealand will face Vanuatu in the quarter-finals of the OFC U-17 Championship on Sunday. The match will kick off at 8pm (NZT) and be live-streamed by OFC. The game resulted from a draw made by OFC after the completion … Read More
World champions United States coasted to a 4-0 win against the Football Ferns before a record crowd at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. The Ferns battled well to keep the visitors goalless at half-time but the second-half changes off the bench added … Read More
All Whites defender Sam Brotherton has left Auckland City to join Wisconsin-based USL League One club Forward Madison. Brotherton (26) returns to the state where he played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and it’s his third professional contract with … Read More
Nottingham Forest are the latest English Premier League club reported to be interested in a January transfer window move for All Whites striker Chris Wood. Under the banner ‘exclusive’, Football Insider claims Forest “are plotting a surprise move” for Wood … Read More
New Zealand’s Football Ferns might go into Wednesday’s game as underdogs against world champions United States but they’re promising to show “the spirit of the Ferns” and put up a strong fight. As the two-match series approaches, head coach Jitka … Read More
Fencibles United have appointed a new women’s head coach for the 2023 season. Simon Motie joins the club from the United Kingdom where he has coached at the London City Lionesses, the city’s only women-only professional club. Announcing the appointment, … Read More
A New Zealand-born coach with international experience has completed his UEFA Pro Licence, Europe’s highest coaching qualification. Olli Harder (36), currently Sporting Director and women’s head coach at Norwegian club SK Brann, has coached professionally in the United States, China … Read More
New head coach Rudy Mozr has named his senior coaching staff for Bay Olympic’s 2023 Northern League season. He will be assisted by Peter Smith, James Pritchett and Alan Shaker in the coaching of the Premier team, while Shaker and … Read More
New Zealand await the result of Wednesday night’s game between Fiji and Samoa before they learn their quarter-final opponents at the OFC U-17 Championship. Immediately after the Fiji-Samoa game, the last of the pool fixtures, OFC will draw the quarter-finals live … Read More
Organisers expect more than 10,000 fans at Wellington’s Sky Stadium for Wednesday’s friendly international between New Zealand and the world champion United States. It would set a new record for a Football Ferns game in New Zealand, beating the crowd … Read More
Demand for tickets is so high that FIFA are being tipped to move Australia’s opening game at this year’s Women’s World Cup to the 83,500-seat Accor Stadium. The Matildas play the Republic of Ireland on July 20 in a game … Read More
Auckland City head coach Albert Riera says being underdogs can be an advantage as his team heads to Morocco for the FIFA Club World Cup. The Navy Blues face Egyptian Premier League leaders Al Ahly in the first round, sudden … Read More
Football Ferns forward Emma Rolston will be forced to sit out the Wellington Phoenix’s next two Liberty A-League matches. Rolston has been handed a two-match suspension for her role in the altercation with Perth midfielder Ella Mastrantonio, which resulted in … Read More