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 name	Western Springs Association Football Club
Nickname(s)	Springs
Founded	1989
Ground	Seddon Fields, Westmere, Auckland[1]
Chairman	Warwick Hooper
Manager	Paul Rutland
Coach	Maia Vink (HOWF), Scott Hales (HOMF)
League	Northern League National League
2024	Northern League, 2nd of 12 National League, 3rd of 10
Website	https://wsafc.org.nz/
Home colours Away colours
Current season

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.^{[citation needed]} 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 on 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; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player —  NZL Danyon Drake —  NZL Elliot Munford —  NZL Liam Gilbert —  NZL Joe Wallis —  NZL Niko Steinmetz —  FIJ Samuela Kautoga —  SAM Faitalia Hamilton-Pama —  ETH Amanuel Molla —  NZL Bradley Thomas —  NZL Finn Cochran —  NZL Theo McIntosh —  NZL Dean Lausev —  NZL Dane Schnell

No. Pos. Nation Player —  ESP Gerard Garriga —  NZL Harrison Freeman —  NZL Josh Margetts —  NZL Roderick Lockhart —  NZL Oscar Browne —  JPN Kenta Nakashima —  ENG Dawson Straffon —  NZL Zac Zoricich —  NZL Wade Molony —  NZL Aiden Iqbal —  NZL Kayne Vincent —  NZL Sam Margetts —  NZL Kaea Rangihaeata

Past and Present day internationals

Women's senior internationals include Football Ferns:

• Rosie White
• Maia Jackman
• Rebecca O'Neill
• Priscilla Duncan
• Abby Erceg
• Daisy Cleverley
• Sarah Morton
• Elizabeth Anton
• Nadia Olla

Men's senior internationals include All Whites:

• Myer Bevan
• Sam Brotherton.