Football: Ngongotaha AFC gearing up for new season

Ngongotaha AFC player Harlem Simiona, left, during their win against Beachlands Maraetai in a Chatham Cup game last season. Photo / File

Ngongotaha has started its pre-season training and the men's Northern League squad is aiming to take the next step and improve on last season's eighth place.

With several of last year's squad moving on, the club is welcoming new players looking for the challenge of Northern League Football to attend training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Club president Andrew Robb said the club aimed to provide a pathway for players to develop to their full potential.

"From 5 years old through its junior teams up to the first team playing at the high level of the Northern League against some of the best clubs in the Auckland and Waikato/Bay of Plenty regions.

"We are looking for new players to join the squad and help us to continue our development as well as help with the coaching and management of the squad. We know there are players in the area that could add to the overall quality of the squad. We hope to see some new faces come along to our pre-season training and give us a try," Robb said.

Ngongotaha also run men's and women's teams in the Bay of Plenty league, which provides competitive football at a more social level. Both teams are looking for new players. Training for these teams is on Wednesday nights.

This year the club wants to ensure it caters for everyone who enjoys the game and would like to play.

Club secretary Paul Skinner said: "From talking to some of our current and past players it seems there is a demand for social football especially from those that enjoy playing but do not want the commitment of regular league football and those that have stopped playing because of age or fitness.

"We would like to hear from anyone that would like to play just for enjoyment and for them to tell us what we could do to make playing more attractive to them. That might be a game with others in the same age group, an occasional open casual game, indoor five-a-side games, even games played at walking pace for those with limited mobility – anything that might get more people participating in the sport.

Then we can try to arrange games and times that suit those wishes."

• For more information search Ngongotaha AFC on Facebook. Skinner can be contacted at 62hotdog@gmail.com.