Auckland FC Reserves

Auckland FC Reserves
Full nameAuckland Football Club Reserves
Founded12 February 2025 (12 February 2025)
GroundFred Taylor Park
Capacity1,000
Owner(s)Black Knight Football and Entertainment
ChairmanBill Foley
Head CoachLuke Casserly
LeagueNorthern League
National League
2025Northern League, 9th of 12
National League, 4th of 11
Websiteaucklandfc.co.nz

Auckland Football Club Reserves is a football team based in Auckland, New Zealand. They currently serve as the reserve side of the Auckland FC of the A-League and compete in the New Zealand National League.

History

Just over a week after Auckland FC was founded In March 2024, it was announced that they would enter a reserve team into the Northern League. This Caused controversy as it was also announced that this would alter the promotion and relegation process for the 2024 Northern League and NRFL Championship seasons just days before they commenced.[1]

Luke Casserly was revealed as the inaugural reserves head coach on 10 February 2024.[2] Auckland FC revealed their inaugural reserve squad on 14 February 2024.[3] On 28 February 2025 Fred Taylor Park was revealed as the reserves home ground for their inaugural season.[4] Auckland FC Reserves played their first ever competitive match on 22 March 2025 in a Northern League fixture away to Fencibles United.[5] Codey Phoenix scored the club's first ever goal as they went on to draw their first match 1–1.[6]

Auckland FC Reserves finished their inaugural Northern League season in 9th place, automatically qualifying for the 2025 National League due to A-League men requirements. In the 2025 National League Auckland FC reserves faced off against Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the first ever edition of the youth New Zealand Derby winning 2–1.[7]

Players

Reserves squad

As of 27 July 2025

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
33 DF  NZL Carlos Ranui
34 DF  NZL Codey Phoenix (captain)
36 FW  NZL Jake Woolford
37 FW  NZL Ralph Rutherford
38 MF  NZL Nick Gaze
39 FW  NZL James Taylor
40 GK  NZL Blake Callinan
41 FW  NZL Benjamin Perez Baldoni
42 DF  NZL Everton O'Leary
43 DF  NZL Ryan Mackay
44 DF  FIJ Semi Nabenu
No. Pos. Nation Player
45 DF  NZL Matthew D'Hotman
46 MF  NZL James Mitchell
47 MF  NZL Dejaun Naidoo
48 MF  NZL Conor Sykes
50 GK  NZL Eli Jones
51 FW  FIJ Shiv Nair
52 DF  NZL Luka Vicelich
58 MF  NZL Nathan Martin
60 GK  NZL Liam Hill
- DF  NZL Evan Masamba Kuzmenko

Senior player appearances

Up to four professional players are eligible to play for the reserves side from this squad. Two under-20 players are also allowed if the reserves side's opposition agrees to their inclusion on match day.[8]

Coaching staff

Technical officials

Position Name Ref.
Head Coach Luke Casserly [9]
Assistant Coach Brian Shelley [10]
Goalkeeping Coach Oscar Mason
Head of Athletic Development Peter Shaw [10]
Head Analyst Jarrod Wallace
Team Manager Jack Jones

Season by season record

National League

Season Qualifying league League 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
2025 Northern League 22 6 5 11 33 37 −4 23 9th 10 5 3 2 17 10 +7 18 4th R2 Ralph Rutherford 9
Champions
Runners-up
Third Place
Last Place
Did not make the Playoff
Top scorer in competition
EF Elimination finals
SF Semi-finals

See also

References

  1. ^ Bonnie Jansen (23 March 2024). "Auckland FC: Introduction of new team impacts Northern Region Football domestic competitions". The New Zealand Herald.
  2. ^ Marco Monteverde (10 February 2025). "Ex-Football Australia head of national performance Luke Casserly lured to New Zealand". News.com.au.
  3. ^ Max Fletcher; Jack Sharp (14 February 2025). "Auckland FC name 17-player squad for club's first Northern League campaign". Friends of Football.
  4. ^ "Auckland FC Reserves Announce Fred Taylor Park as 2025 Home Ground". Auckland FC. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  5. ^ Jack Sharp (21 March 2025). "PREVIEW: Auckland FC Reserves set for Dettol Northern League debut". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Fencibles United v Auckland FC Reserves". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  7. ^ "The Home of Football & Futsal | New Zealand Football". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Phoenix Reserve side in a state of flux". TVNZ. One News. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  9. ^ Burgess, Michael (22 March 2024). "Ex-Football Australia head of national performance Luke Casserly lured to New Zealand". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Auckland FC strengthen their coaching staff for Northern League squad". friendsoffootballnz.com. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.