The First XI coach Maksim Manko, an old boy who has played professinally in Costa Rica and Argentina.
Football coaching staff creating a buzz as they build teams, support and enthusiasm.
To understand how far Mt Roskill's First XI football side have come, you need to understand the events of 2012.
They were on the brink of relegation to the Senior A3 grace, the fourth tier of Auckland schoolboys' football. Boys were still keen on the game, but it needed a
spark.
The First XI drew that vital game with Long Bay, stayed up in Senior A2 and Callum Christopher, who was coaching junior teams, decided to take action. He engaged Maksim Manko, an old boy who had played professionally in Costa Rica and Argentina, as First XI coach. The pair have worked hard to create the right culture and build up Mt Roskill's football resources to the point where they have nine boys' and three girls' teams in 2016. They make good use of the Being Roskill programme, which is promoted via social media. There is a sense of community involvement and engagement, which means the First XI draws crowds upwards of 300-400 each Saturday.
"The goal has always been to get back to the premier league. They have worked hard and intelligently towards that," says Manko. And he is not just hoping to make up the numbers in the eight-team league.
