Ngongotaha AFC

Ngongotaha AFC (nɔːŋgoʊtɑːhɑː), also known as the Villagers, is an association football club based in Rotorua, New Zealand. They play their home matches at Stembridge Road.

Ngongotaha AFC
Full nameNgongotaha AFC
Nickname(s)The Villagers, Ngongy
Founded1966 (1966)
GroundStembridge Road
ChairmanAaron Lawson
LeagueNRFL Southern Conference
2023NRFL Southern Conference, 7th of 8 (as Ngongotahā Lakes)
WebsiteClub website

They currently compete in the NRFL Southern Conference as Ngongotahā Lakes alongside Lakes FC. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lakes FC at the end of the 2022 season to have a combined team for the 2023 season onwards.[1][2]

History

1966–1977: Founding Years

Ngongotaha AFC was founded in 1966 in Rotorua, New Zealand. The club began playing its matches at Tamarahi Reserve on Stembridge Road in Ngongotahā.

1978–1994: Northern League

From 1978 to 1994 the club competed in the Northern League football structure, beginning in division four south. The club gained promotion to the third division by winning the league in 1983, dropping only 14 points in the whole season. The club remained in the third division for a further three seasons before gaining a promotion by finishing in second place in 1986. The club stayed in the second flight for eight seasons, with the best performance being a fourth-place finish in 1988.[3]

From 1989 to 1994 the performance of the team began to drop, and they finished bottom of the table with only 10 points in 1994. Following this they were relegated to the newly restructured Waikato-Bay of Plenty Premier League.

1994 – present: Federation Football

Since 1994 the club has boasted three senior men's team and one senior women's team. The first team have played in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation Premiership for the vast majority of this period. They were briefly relegated to the championship in 2008, but won the championship in 2011 gaining promotion to the premiership once again.[4][5] The reserves currently play in the championship.

In 2014 the club had its best ever performance in the Chatham Cup when they reached the round of 16. They were eliminated at home by Melville United.[6]

In 2016 the club won their maiden Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation Premiership title with three games in hand and unbeaten. They won a playoff series against the winners of the Auckland Football Federation/Northland Football Federation Men's Conference winners later in 2016.[7]

For three seasons they played in the Northern League division 2, but were relegated in 2019 and now play in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation Premiership.

Club Achievements

Club Honours
  • Champions – Northern League Division Four South 1983
  • Runners Up – Northern League Division Three South 1986
  • Knockout Winners – Northern League Division Two 1987
  • Champions – Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation Championship 2011
  • Runners Up – Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation Premiership 2015
  • Champions - Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation Premiership 2016

References
  1. "Clubs form partnership to compete in new Lotto NRFL Southern Conference". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  2. "Our powers combined: Football clubs unite".
  3. "Ngongotaha – The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website". Ultimate NZ Soccer. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. "Bring on those heroes to encourage success". Rotorua Daily Post. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. "Football: Ngongotaha are champions". Rotorua Daily Post. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. "Melville into last eight of Chatham Cup". Waikato Times. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  7. "Ngongotaha clinch maiden WaiBop Premiership football crown". Waikato Times. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
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