Western Springs AFC

Western Springs AFC is an association football club in Westmere, Auckland. Western Springs AFC is one of New Zealand's largest clubs. Both the Senior Women's and Senior Men's teams currently play in the Northern League.

Western Springs
Full nameWestern Springs Association Football Club
Nickname(s)Springs
Founded1989
GroundSeddon Fields, Westmere, Auckland[1]
ChairmanWarwick Hooper
ManagerPaul Rutland
CoachScott Hales
LeagueNorthern League
2023Northern League, 5th of 12

The Western Springs' home ground is at Seddon Field on Meola Road in Westmere and also play home games at Cox's Bay, Walker Park and Eastdale Reserve.[1]

History

The current club was formed in 1989,[1] but its history stretches back to 1924 and the foundation of Comrades FC.[2] This team amalgamated with Grey Lynn FC in 1952,[2] briefly becoming Grey Lynn Comrades United, before renaming to Grey Lynn United in 1954.[2] In 1986 this team combined with the New Zealand branch of the Celtic Supporters Club to form Grey Lynn Celtic. It was this team which combined with Point Chevalier AFC (founded 1949)[3] to become Western Springs Association Football Club in 1989.[1]

Controversies

In May 2023, the women's team had a game postponed[4][5][6] and played several games in kits with no logos[7] due to ongoing disputes with the club. Players said they felt “completely disrespected” by the “highly misogynistic behaviour” of the predominantly male board.[8]

The women's team decided not to play their match on 19 May in solidarity with their former manager Ryan Faithful who was sacked a week earlier. Faithful had supposedly stood with the players in their fight for equality.[9] Players said they were constantly pushed to the side to accommodate the men's team.[8][10] The women's team were also unhappy with the men getting paid up to 8 times the women's team[8] and having double the funding despite not qualifying for the national league like their female counterparts.[11] Football Fern Claudia Bunge said it was "sad to see the lack of support they're getting" and that in the lead up to a FIFA Women's World Cup, "it's not good enough". Bunge said "clubs need to be doing more."[6][12]

As part of the women's teams frustrations with the club, the players were unhappy with the "phallic like" logo[13] requesting it to be replaced.[14] The New Zealand Herald states an artist was called in to refresh the logo.[13] Jim Jacobs, the designer of the original logo, said he was surprised to hear the claims of the "phallic like" logo, which was based off Tottenham Hotspur's logo.[14]

Reports by the New Zealand Herald state targets were set by the club in December 2022 after receiving $461,755 for upgrades as a 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup training base.[15][16] This includes females having equal access to facilities and support from the club. The club also set out to have "equal representation of genders in imagery used by the club".[15]

Independent mediators were called in to help settle an agreement between the club and the women's first starting on 30 May.[17][18] In June 2023 an agreement was reached between the women's first team and the club.[9][19][20] The club agreed to increasing the women's team expenses to match the men's expenses, recruit a new head of girl's and women's football, while also engaging an independent advisor to develop the club's programme development strategy. Western Springs also agreed a commitment to "equality, diversity and player representation on club committees".[9] Players were "relieved" and "proud" to have reached an agreement with the club.[19][20]

Current coaches

Men's Head Coach: Scott Hales

Women's Head Coach: Maia Vink

Current squad
As of 13 June 2021[21]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— New Zealand NZL Danyon Drake
— New Zealand NZL Elliot Munford
— New Zealand NZL Liam Gilbert
— New Zealand NZL Joe Wallis
— New Zealand NZL Niko Steinmetz
— Fiji FIJ Samuela Kautoga
— Samoa SAM Faitalia Hamilton-Pama
— Ethiopia ETH Amanuel Molla
— New Zealand NZL Bradley Thomas
— New Zealand NZL Finn Cochran
— New Zealand NZL Theo McIntosh
— New Zealand NZL Dean Lausev
— New Zealand NZL Dane Schnell
— Spain ESP Gerard Garriga
No. Pos. Nation Player
— New Zealand NZL Harrison Freeman
— New Zealand NZL Josh Margetts
— New Zealand NZL Roderick Lockhart
— New Zealand NZL Oscar Browne
— Japan JPN Kenta Nakashima
— England ENG Dawson Straffon
— New Zealand NZL Zac Zoricich
— New Zealand NZL Wade Molony
— New Zealand NZL Aiden Iqbal
— New Zealand NZL Adama Coulibaly
— New Zealand NZL Kayne Vincent
— New Zealand NZL Sam Margetts
— New Zealand NZL Kaea Rangihaeata

Past and Present day internationals

Women's senior internationals include Football Ferns:

Men's senior internationals include All Whites:

References
  1. "Western Springs - Get in Touch". Western Springs AFC. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  2. Ruane, Jeremy. "Grey Lynn". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  3. Ruane, Jeremy. "Pt. Chevalier". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  4. "Western Springs women's match postponed due to 'exceptional circumstances'". friendsoffootballnz.com. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  5. "Newshub report: 'Western Springs players to boycott Friday's match'". friendsoffootballnz.com. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. "Football Ferns hit out at Auckland club Western Springs AFC over battle with women's premier team". Newshub. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. "Western Springs Football Club: Premier women's team take pitch in different uniform". New Zealand Herald. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. "'I felt shame': Mass exodus at top Auckland football club Western Springs after women players 'disrespected'". New Zealand Herald. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  9. "Football: Mediation settles impasse between Western Springs club, women's team over parity". Newshub. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. "Awaiting football royalty, Western Springs a leak". News Room. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. "Western Springs Football Club: Financial accounts show men's team received more than double in funding than women's team". New Zealand Herald. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. "Football Ferns defender Claudia Bunge's warning to Western Springs Football Club". New Zealand Herald. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. "Western Springs Football Club: Phallic logo to be replaced as senior members call for special meeting". New Zealand Herald. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  14. "Western Springs Football Club: Designer of original logo speaks out on 'phallic' claims". New Zealand Herald. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  15. "Fifa Women's World Cup: Documents reveal gender-equity funding conditions for Western Springs Football Club". New Zealand Herald. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  16. "Team Base Camps confirmed for FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™". FIFA. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  17. "Football equal rights row: Mediators called in after top Auckland football club Western Springs threatens walkout". New Zealand Herald. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  18. "Western Springs match postponed after mediation date set". New Zealand Herald. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  19. "Western Springs Football Club and top female players reach agreement over gender equity issues". New Zealand Herald. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  20. "Inside Western Springs Football Club's equality battle: How women's team fought back - and won". New Zealand Herald. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  21. "2021 Northern and Central League Player Lists". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
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