Birkenhead United AFC

Birkenhead United AFC is a football club based in Beach Haven, on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Northern League.

Birkenhead United

Full name	Birkenhead United Association Football Club
Nickname(s)	Birko
Founded	1960
Ground	Shepherds Park, Beach Haven, North Shore
President	William Taylor
Manager	Paul Hobson
League	Northern League National League
2024	Northern League, 4th of 12 National League, 1st of 10
Website	https://birkenheadunited.org.nz/
Home colours Away colours

Club history

The club was established as Birkenhead in 1960 before it amalgamated with Birkdale in 1963, taking its current name as Birkenhead United.^[1] Since 1965, Birkenhead have mainly played either in Division 1 or Division 2 of the Northern League though they twice early on, made it into Premier Division in 1968 and 1970, only to be relegated again that same year.^[1] They also had one of their best early runs in the 1970 Chatham Cup, making it to the 5th round before losing to Eden 1–4.^[2][3] They wouldn't repeat that success in the cup again until 2010. Again going down in the 5th round, this time to Glenfield Rovers.^[4][5]

Birkenhead started to see more success in the 2010s, with them again making the Premier Division in 2013 and they have stayed there since. They have just missed out on winning the division four times in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.^[1] The success in the local league was also replicated in the Chatham Cup, where in 2012^[6][7] and 2013 they made the quarter-finals.^[8][9] 2015 they made the semi-finals, only losing 3–4 on penalties to Napier City Rovers,^[10] before they finally won the cup in 2016, beating local rivals Waitakere City 3–2 in extra time.^[11][12] They wouldn't have to wait very long before they won the cup again, when in the 2018 Chatham Cup, they made the finals. This time they were facing Wellington side Western Suburbs and after 120 minutes the score was tied 1–1 before Birkenhead prevailed on penalties 5–4 to claim the cup for a second time in three years.^[13][14] In 2021, the club formed a strategic partnership with Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren FC, alongside Nelson Suburbs.^[15]

Season by season record

Season	Qualifying league	League										New Zealand National League									Chatham Cup	Top scorer
		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Pos		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Pos		Name	Goals
2021[16]	Northern League	19	10	3	6	50	33	+17	33	4th		Cancelled[a]									R5	Alex Greive ♦	19
2022[18]		22	16	2	4	56	24	+32	50	2nd		9	4	2	3	19	17	+2	14	4th	R5	Cameron MacKenzie	8
2023[19]		22	7	4	11	46	44	+2	25	8th		Did not qualify									R5	Luke Jorgensen	9
2024[20]		22	13	4	5	54	31	+23	43	4th		9	6	2	1	23	16	+7	20	2nd	SF	Monty Patterson	14

	Champions
	Runners-up
	Third Place
♦	Top scorer in competition

Chatham Cup
Preceded by Eastern Suburbs	Winner 2016 Chatham Cup	Succeeded by Onehunga Sports
Preceded by Onehunga Sports	Winner 2018 Chatham Cup	Succeeded by Napier City Rovers

Notes

1. 2021 National League season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Northern regions.^[17] Championship played as South Central Series, with the northern clubs missing in the first edition.