Pukekohe AFC

Pukekohe Association Football Club

Full name	Pukekohe Association Football Club
Founded	23 February 1960
Ground	Bledisloe Park, John St, Pukekohe, New Zealand
Ground Coordinates	37°12′19″S 174°54′13″E / 37.20528°S 174.90361°E / -37.20528; 174.90361Coordinates: 37°12′19″S 174°54′13″E / 37.20528°S 174.90361°E / -37.20528; 174.90361
President	Michael Lieshout
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Pukekohe AFC is a football (soccer) club in Pukekohe, New Zealand.

Pukekohe AFC currently play in 8 Senior leagues across both Men's and Women's competitions. All teams compete in Auckland Football Federation competitions, except for both Men's and Women's First teams. The Men's First team currently play in an Auckland Football Federation & Northern League Conference competition, and the Women's Premier team compete in the Northern League Women's Premier.

Current Senior Teams

Pukekohe AFC currently competes in the following competitions.

Men

2013

In 2013, Pukekohe AFC competed in 6 divisions within the Auckland Football Federation. The 6th team competed in the ASFA 2013 Division 7, a Sunday League team.

The Senior Mens First team entered the 2013 Counties Cup – a knockout tournament played over a number of weeks from teams in the Counties Manukau district. After beating South Auckland Rangers 2–0 away and Otahuhu Utd. 2–2 (4–2 PENS) at home they made it into the final for the first time in 8 years. Pukekohe AFC lost the final to Papakura City FC 6–1 at Michaels Ave. Reserve, Auckland, on the 7 September 2013.

Team	League	Finished	Played	Won	Draw	Loss	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Coach/Manager
Mens First Team[1]	AFF/NFF Mens Conference League	6th	18	5	2	11	26	52	−26	17	Tam Cramer / Joe Morris*
Mens Reserve Team[2]	AFF/NFF Mens Conference Reserve League	7th	16	5	1	10	30	37	−7	16	Joe Morris / Andrew Bond*
Mens Third Team[3]	AFF Mens Division 7	4th	18	8	6	4	44	21	23	30	Mike Botting
Mens Fourth Team[4]	AFF Mens Division 8	9th	18	5	4	9	17	45	−28	19	Jay Pressnell
Mens Over 35 Team[5]	AFF Over 35 Veterans Division	1st	18	16	1	1	86	9	77	49	Jon Waller
Mens Sunday League Team[6]	ASFA 2013 Division 7	8th	14	3	0	11	18	48	−30	2	Andre van Lieshout

*Joe Morris took over as First Team coach during the season, with Andrew Bond taking over the coaching role with the Reserves team

2012

In 2012, Pukekohe AFC competed in 5 divisions within the Auckland Football Federation.

Women

2013

The 2013 Women's premier team with the Lotto NRFL Women's Premier League Plate

In 2013, the Women's Premier team won the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League Plate, with a 2–0 win over Lynn-Avon United AFC in the Final. It was held on 25 August 2013 at Pukekohe High School fields. Laura Johnstone and Hannah Kraakman scored Pukekohe AFC's goals.^[12]

Team	League	Finished	Played	Won	Draw	Loss	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Coach/Manager
Women's Premier Team[13]	2013 NRFL Women's Premier	8th	11	3	0	8	12	40	−28	9	Steven Upfold
Women's Division Three[14]	AFF Women's Division 3	3rd	14	8	2	4	15	12	3	26	Annette Macfarlane / Karla Shearer

2012

In 2012, Pukekohe AFC had its first New Zealand Football Representative. Courtney van Lieshout^[15] debuted for the New Zealand women's national under-17 football team on 11 April 2012 against New Caledonia Under 17 team in the Oceania Football Confederation Women's U-17 World Cup Qualifiers held at Mangere Park in Auckland, New Zealand. van Lieshout then went on to play as a substitute against Mexico women's national under-17 football team in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azberbaijan. Mexico won the match 1–0.^[16]

Team	League	Finished	Played	Won	Draw	Loss	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Coach/Manager
Women's Premier Team[17]	2012 NRFL Women's Premier	7th	16	5	1	10	24	64	−40	16	Steven Upfold
Women's Division Three[18]	AFF Women's Division 3	6th	19	6	3	10	28	33	−5	21	Annette Macfarlane / Karla Shearer

History

Norm Vare compiled the following details on the history of Pukekohe AFC in 1999.^[19]

Early History

Soccer was first played in Pukekohe as long ago as late 1913/early 1914. A report in the local paper dated April 14, 1914 recorded....

“A most enthusiastic meeting of the Pukekohe Soccer Club was held in the Pukekohe Hotel on the 27th of March. Chairman Mr Blair in presenting the first Annual Report and Balance sheet, stated that the past season had been a very successful one, the team travelling to Auckland every Saturday to compete. One Gold Medal was presented by Mr Wright to Mr Skivington as the most improved player.”

The war years intervened and no other records are available concerning soccer in the area following the 1914 meeting but it would appear that the sport faded from the scene for a period of time. The next piece of information available concerns Mr Ron Fricker, a former Auckland resident who came to live in Pukekohe in 1957 and started a team that played friendly games in Auckland during that year. In 1958 and 1959 the team played competitive football in the Auckland area. Around this time, clubs and teams were being formed by people in Manurewa (Bill Semple and Alex Ogilvie), Papakura Army Camp (Joe Gantey and Archie Weir), Papakura (George Sheppard) and Papatoetoe. Pukekohe High School expanded its teams to form a "Town Senior Side" led by our past President Hank Lieshout. Events moved quickly and a new sub association of Franklin & Districts was established and ready to start competition in 1960.

1960's

The inaugural meeting of the Pukekohe Club was held in the Pukekohe High School gymnasium on Tuesday February 23, 1960 at 8:00pm. Officers elected were:-

• President Mr G Woods
• Vice President 1 Mr D Hendrick
• Vice President 2 Mr J Stevenson
• Secretary Mr J Stevenson

It was established that the Club be called the Pukekohe Ramblers Association Football Club. Club colours would be Black shirts with a Yellow V-neck, White shorts, Black socks with Yellow tops. Subscriptions would be 35 Shillings per annum and a Supporters club would be known as the Ramblers Social Club. Mr G Humphreys was elected the first Club Delegate to the newly formed Franklin & Districts Football Association. Mitch Rogerson was appointed Manager/Coach of the Senior team and coach of the Junior team with Jim Stevenson as Junior manager. H Lieshout, W Still, D Broome and V Littmoden also played representative football for Franklin. Subscriptions for 1961 were tabled as Seniors 2 Pounds, Juniors 2 shillings & 6 pence. Tom Walker of Pukekohe was Manager/Coach of the Franklin representative team that won the Minor Associations Trophy in 1962 – the “Hallyburton-Johnston” shield, after defeating Waikato 4–1 at Galloway Park in Hamilton. Messrs Lieshout, Littmoden, Still and Broome from Pukekohe were in this successful team. In 1963 a combined Pukekohe/Papakura team finished 3rd in the Franklin League. Senior subscriptions were increased to 3 Pounds & 10 shillings. The clubs Senior playing strength read like a United Nations Peace-Keeping Force: 16 Kiwis, 4 Englishmen, 2 Scots, and 1 each from the Netherlands, Ireland, Yugoslavia and Nigeria.

• For the first time, pitches became available at the Fen, Bledisloe Park.
• Pukekohe won the “Wiseman Cup” in 1964 and finished Runners-up in the Franklin League. This achievement saw them promoted to the newly formed Northern League.
• In 1965 Pukekohe progressed through to the 3rd round of the Chatham Cup after drawing 1–1 with Manurewa at full-time and going through on corners 2–0.
• The club colours changed to Maroon and White.
• J Whellams, D Ritchie and H Lieshout gained Representative honours in 1966.
• Pukekohe lost 1–3 to Gisborne City in the Quarterfinals of the Chatham Cup.

Pukekohe won the Wiseman Cup defeating Manurewa 4–1 in the final. Floodlights were erected on the practice pitch. 1968 saw Pukekohe runners-up to Papakura in the Wiseman Cup, losing 2–4.

1970's

In 1973 Pukekohe finished 3rd in the Northern League 4th Division. Runners-up in the Wiseman Cup, losing 4–5 to Hamilton Wanderers in extra time. Derek Jay who had been running Junior teams in conjunction with the Senior club retired with ill health in 1974. A separate Junior Club was formed in 1975. Officers elected were:

• President: Brian Brock
• Secretary: Nellie Lieshout
• Treasurer: Jim McArdle
• JFA Delegate: Hugo Lieshout

The club was named Pukekohe Junior Soccer Club. Over the next few years, the Junior Club made steady progress, while the Senior side dropped out of the Northern League. Membership dwindled and the side continued to struggle in the Franklin League.

1980's

In 1982 the Senior and Junior clubs were brought back together under the same committee and matters improved with 3 Senior and 15 Junior teams being fielded. The club name was changed from Pukekohe Ramblers to Pukekohe Association Football Club (AFC). Shorts were changed from White to Maroon. The Senior 1st team returned to the Northern League 4th Division after beating Avondale United in play-off matches in 1984. The team finished 3rd in the League. Negotiations commenced for purchase of the Junior Boys Rugby Hall on Bledisloe Park as permanent club headquarters. Nellie Lieshout for the down payment launched a $10,000 public appeal. Final negotiations were completed for the purchase of the Club Headquarters in 1985 and a $25,000 mortgage was taken out with the Pukekohe Borough Council. Since 1984 the Senior club has competed in the Northern League, mainly in the 3rd and 4th Divisions although promotion was gained to the 2nd Division for one season. The Reserves have competed regularly in the Franklin (Counties Manukau) 1st Division. The Junior teams have competed successfully in their various competitions with many Junior players gaining representative status. Other results of note: 1987 3rd Northern League 4th Division 1988 2nd Northern League 3rd Division

1990's

During the '90s the older players extended their playing careers in the Masters League. The ladies' team was restarted in 1997 there are now two women's sides at the club. In 1998 the final instalment was paid on mortgage so the clubrooms are now owned freehold.

Awards

• 2012 – New Zealand Football Whole of Football Plan – Club of the Year
• 2012/2013 – Greater Auckland Coaching Unit (GACU) Recognition through Innovation Award
• 2013 – New Zealand Football Quality Club Mark Level 1 ^[20]

Life Members

Pukekohe AFC have recognized several people for their efforts over the years and have been awarded Life Memberships.

• Leslie (Mitch) Rogerson
• Nellie Lieshout
• Ron Brown
• Kevin Loader
• Norm Vare
• Tony Davison
• Trevor Wild
• Hank Lieshout
• Kellie Loader
• Peter Wild
• John Murdie
• Steve Fabrello
• Catriona Fraser

External links

• Club website

References