October 24, 2025 • 10 mins
Auckland FC finished top of the table in their first season in the A-League.
However the team lost out on a shot at the cup after losing to Melbourne City in the semi finals
This weekend, the first home game of the season takes place against Western Sydney Wanderers - who also shook the stage in their first season in the A-League in 2012.
Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker told Elliott Smith that the team is eager to move past last year's brush with victory, and look ahead to the new season.
"I think the fact that we didn't go all the way through to a grand final was sort of motivation for us this season."
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks, EDB, Bring.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Out the Pikes and Lenda's Celebrations. Figgins OFFC are a
league premius, emulating the Western Sydney Wanderer side of twenty
twelve to thirty by winning the regular season silver out
as an expansion club in their very first season. And
(00:38):
they are not done yet.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Unfortunately they didn't go on to win the title, of course,
losing to Melbourne victory in the semifinals last season. So
can they go one better and advance to the final
and lift the trophy itself this year? Joining us now
as the Chief executive of Auckland f C, Nick Becker
on Weekend Sport Afternoon Neck thinks, sir for your time.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Yeah, please having me?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
How ready are you for the Second Sea at least
when it comes to the home games and I'll get
underway last week. But home game starting the season this afternoon,
How ready?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
They we're really excited to be about go media. Of course,
it's our spiritual home, it's our fortress Fatima.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Fired up.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I think we're pretty we're looking good in terms of
fitness for all the players. We should have a full
squad available. Other than I think Pionakerer Nando's out for
a little bit. We're very It is a good kind
of labor weekend crowd. I think half of Aalgan's gone
away at the other half are here hopefully going to
(01:41):
make along to the game today.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
So the ticket sales are pretty well healthy.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, they're not bad. They're not bad for especially given
it's the first long weekend for people, so understandably a
few of a few have hited out, but really kind
of positive response from Emery who's been here. The ports
sold out, so there'll be full voice in there, so
you really looking forward to being back.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
How much did you at the end of last season
sit back, take a deep race and look back and
what lissens did you take out of that first campaign?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Well, when we to be honest, when we lost the
Simpy finals, absolutely gutted and it's kind of a really
weird feeling because you've got all these plans on about
a Grand Final and then suddenly you know you've got
nothing to do and no one's calling you. But after that,
we got over that. You sort of took a bit
of time to step back and reflect and We're all
super proud of what we achieved last season. I think
(02:32):
the fact that we didn't go all the way through
to a Grand Final and when that was was sort
of motivation for us this season. And I think, you know,
also the way that Auckland responded to us, and you know,
we said right from the start we wanted to make
Auckland proud as a club, both of what we did
on the pitch and off it, and the fact that
we got that response from from Auckland's turning up at
(02:54):
our games, you know, two hundred and forty thousand people
through our gates last season. We just want to really
repay that support and that faith and kind of just
go again this season and kind of go for the
go for the double if we can, but just tried
try and do everything that we can on and off
the pitch.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Was there anything that surprised you last season about the
competition or the way that maybe Aucklanders embraced this team.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
I think, you know, we're really happy with the fact
that we you know, we play on a Saturday at
five pm or a Sunday at three pm, so you
get that kind of like weekend where a whole family
can come along, the sun shining and playing across summer,
and it was just offering something different to Auklands and
they sort of, you know, they came along and tried
(03:40):
it and saw what we were all about and kind
of loved the match that experience and came back. And
I think that was a really you know, big thing
for us was just to do something differently, to be
bold and to be creative with what we did at
go Media, and I think Orklanders loved it when they
came along and saw it. And you know, I was
just absolutely bying away with the number of families and
kids that were in our games, and then suddenly blown
(04:01):
away with the fact that we saw our shirt on
kids all across Auckland and you saw the me you know,
it's it's it's really impressive.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Well, I came back last year.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I was I was away with the covering the All
Blacks and the end of year tour and that was
what late October early to late November came back and
they were everywhere when I got back, and it was
the something I really noticed is that in the month
I had been gone, the season had ready started by
before I left, but Auckland had picked up this team
that embraced it. The jerseys were selling, people were wearing
them out and about, and very quickly caught on.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah it did, It did, And I think that was
the thing. And I think what we did is, you know,
there was a real energy on the pitch. We're playing
exciting football. We were winning games in the last minute.
You know, the team's made up with a lot of
Kiwis and a lot of Aucklanders in the squad and
in a bit of exciting you know, international flare on
there too. And then you get along to the match
day experience you go think, well, that's interesting. I'm seeing
(04:51):
the shirt everywhere. I'll go along to a game. You
go to the game and you say, there's a big
inflatable slide down the hill. You've got this hardcore fan
group who are who have that kind of bring that atmosphere,
the color and the noise, and they're chanting and singing
the whole game. And it's not anything like what you
see in New Zealand sport. It's completely different. And that's
what we set out to do and we delivered that
(05:12):
last season and we're just going to keep on doing
it this season. You know, we're constantly looking to tweak it.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah, I mean people talk about the second season syndrome
or the second album. When it comes to musicians and
that sort of thing, backing it up can be difficult.
How have you approached that this season? How have you
built on what you did last season? I guess from
a fan experience.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Yeah, you know what, that's also a real key we
thing to do, isn't it is? It's kind of go all, well,
it's going to be hard to do that again. But
you know, for us, I think it's actually like it's
a bit of a challenge. It's a bit of an opportunity,
like we are gonna, yeah, we may not go as
well as we did last season, but we're going to
try as hard as we did. Are we going to
work as hard as we did? And we're going to
We're going to continue to do things differently and continue
(05:51):
to kind of like look at challenge, what is just
the normal? I think that's all that we can do
as long as we can sit back and go, yeah,
what at the end of the season, we gave that
absolutely everything. I think the fans will respond really well.
I think football fans are a bit different today. That's
and they and they, you know, they pick their team
and they stick with it through you know, Sickenson, rain
(06:12):
or sun, whatever it may be, and so you kind
of have that that hopefully we will have that hardcore
attitude which is like Awk of the Sea is my team,
and hopefully that just seeps out and resonates across the
whole the whole fan base as well.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Do you think you've got the squad capin will of
going all the way this year?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I do? I do? You know? We made it. We
brought in five players left, so we lost Alex Poulsen.
He was probably our biggest loss in terms of a
keeper of it. But then we brought in Olie Sale.
We've got two great keepers with Michael Food who's at
number one, and Olly Sale, who's going to constantly challenge
him all season. We brought a new so Max Madda
left and we've he went back on loan to Shrewsby,
(06:51):
and we brought in a guy called Sam Cosgrove because
he is a classic big point man, you know sort
of he's he's about six foot five. He'll be in
and around the box if he if he gets on
it and starts scoring goals. I mean look out, look
out to all the other team's defenses and we brought
it exciting you winger and two a guy called lockey
(07:11):
Brook and Lockie has been you know, he set the
A League alight a few seasons ago when over the MLS.
He's come back to do the same again here with us.
So I think we brought in some young and attacking
quality into the side, and then the rest of the team.
You know that was a team around last season. They
already know what it's like to win silverware and they
(07:32):
also which just importantly is they know what it's like
to lose in the semi final and they're going to
have to they're going to want to kind of come
back and go one better this year.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
The first derby a couple of weeks away in November
down in Wellington. How important are they as the centerpiece
of the season, having that three times a campaign.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Yeah, look, everyone loves a derby, right, we certainly do,
and it's also good to see that that kind of
New Zealand sports fans have embraced it as well. You know,
we had two sold out derbies at go Media last season.
I'm sure they'd be great that suits. We only get
one this season, but there'll be two down in Wellington
and I'm sure the Wellington fans will turn out. I've
got no doubt we'll sell odd hours up here and
(08:13):
it shows that the fans want that. There was a
great level of kind of i'd call it respectable band
if that's not Noxy Warren and and well, you know,
we had we had a good dig at each other,
but there was a line and nobody crossed it and
it was kind of it was a lot of fun
and it kind of, you know, it kind of got
back into that good old rivalries that New Zealand sport
(08:35):
probably hasn't seen for a while.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah, certainly, and yeah pretty rarey rare at other sports
levels obviously as well. Just finally, Nick Becker with us
on news Talk ZIB. But you mentioned the Port earlier.
How important to have them as a sort of focal point.
I know you have families that come along as well,
but knowing the Port are going to be there week
in week out, as you said, Rain Haill Shine.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, no, no, we all love the port. The Port
have built up an amazing connection with our with our players,
but also with the rest of the fan base, right
and they do bring that they do something that's hostally
unique to New Zealand sport, and they sing and they
make noise and they bring the atmosphere and they just
really add to the whole match they experienced absolutely well.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Next question you the best of this afternoon as you
kick off your home campaign and indeed for the rest
of the season as well.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
Great to catch up, Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Nick Becket joining us five o'clock kickoff this afternoon for
that game against Western Sydney Wanderers. I think they're expecting
a pretty decent crowd, is he mentioned at the top,
hard and a long weekend in Auckland to see how
many people are actually in the city, but decent old
crowd for this opening game at five o'clock. Of course
(09:44):
to Wellington Phoenix played tomorrow against the Brisbane Raw Phoenix fans,
we haven't forgotten you. Alex Rufe is going to join
us tomorrow on the program to give us their perspective.
They come off, of course to all draw against Perth
Glory in their away trip last week, so we'll get
the Phoenix side of things tomorrow afternoon here on us
Talk zeb Be. Their first home game of twenty twenty five,
(10:06):
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks, EDB, Bring.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Out the Pikes and Lenda's Celebrations. Figgins OFFC are a
league premius, emulating the Western Sydney Wanderer side of twenty
twelve to thirty by winning the regular season silver out
as an expansion club in their very first season. And
(00:38):
they are not done yet.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Unfortunately they didn't go on to win the title, of course,
losing to Melbourne victory in the semifinals last season. So
can they go one better and advance to the final
and lift the trophy itself this year? Joining us now
as the Chief executive of Auckland f C, Nick Becker
on Weekend Sport Afternoon Neck thinks, sir for your time.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Yeah, please having me?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
How ready are you for the Second Sea at least
when it comes to the home games and I'll get
underway last week. But home game starting the season this afternoon,
How ready?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
They we're really excited to be about go media. Of course,
it's our spiritual home, it's our fortress Fatima.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Fired up.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I think we're pretty we're looking good in terms of
fitness for all the players. We should have a full
squad available. Other than I think Pionakerer Nando's out for
a little bit. We're very It is a good kind
of labor weekend crowd. I think half of Aalgan's gone
away at the other half are here hopefully going to
(01:41):
make along to the game today.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
So the ticket sales are pretty well healthy.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, they're not bad. They're not bad for especially given
it's the first long weekend for people, so understandably a
few of a few have hited out, but really kind
of positive response from Emery who's been here. The ports
sold out, so there'll be full voice in there, so
you really looking forward to being back.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
How much did you at the end of last season
sit back, take a deep race and look back and
what lissens did you take out of that first campaign?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Well, when we to be honest, when we lost the
Simpy finals, absolutely gutted and it's kind of a really
weird feeling because you've got all these plans on about
a Grand Final and then suddenly you know you've got
nothing to do and no one's calling you. But after that,
we got over that. You sort of took a bit
of time to step back and reflect and We're all
super proud of what we achieved last season. I think
(02:32):
the fact that we didn't go all the way through
to a Grand Final and when that was was sort
of motivation for us this season. And I think, you know,
also the way that Auckland responded to us, and you know,
we said right from the start we wanted to make
Auckland proud as a club, both of what we did
on the pitch and off it, and the fact that
we got that response from from Auckland's turning up at
(02:54):
our games, you know, two hundred and forty thousand people
through our gates last season. We just want to really
repay that support and that faith and kind of just
go again this season and kind of go for the
go for the double if we can, but just tried
try and do everything that we can on and off
the pitch.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Was there anything that surprised you last season about the
competition or the way that maybe Aucklanders embraced this team.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
I think, you know, we're really happy with the fact
that we you know, we play on a Saturday at
five pm or a Sunday at three pm, so you
get that kind of like weekend where a whole family
can come along, the sun shining and playing across summer,
and it was just offering something different to Auklands and
they sort of, you know, they came along and tried
(03:40):
it and saw what we were all about and kind
of loved the match that experience and came back. And
I think that was a really you know, big thing
for us was just to do something differently, to be
bold and to be creative with what we did at
go Media, and I think Orklanders loved it when they
came along and saw it. And you know, I was
just absolutely bying away with the number of families and
kids that were in our games, and then suddenly blown
(04:01):
away with the fact that we saw our shirt on
kids all across Auckland and you saw the me you know,
it's it's it's really impressive.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Well, I came back last year.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I was I was away with the covering the All
Blacks and the end of year tour and that was
what late October early to late November came back and
they were everywhere when I got back, and it was
the something I really noticed is that in the month
I had been gone, the season had ready started by
before I left, but Auckland had picked up this team
that embraced it. The jerseys were selling, people were wearing
them out and about, and very quickly caught on.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah it did, It did, And I think that was
the thing. And I think what we did is, you know,
there was a real energy on the pitch. We're playing
exciting football. We were winning games in the last minute.
You know, the team's made up with a lot of
Kiwis and a lot of Aucklanders in the squad and
in a bit of exciting you know, international flare on
there too. And then you get along to the match
day experience you go think, well, that's interesting. I'm seeing
(04:51):
the shirt everywhere. I'll go along to a game. You
go to the game and you say, there's a big
inflatable slide down the hill. You've got this hardcore fan
group who are who have that kind of bring that atmosphere,
the color and the noise, and they're chanting and singing
the whole game. And it's not anything like what you
see in New Zealand sport. It's completely different. And that's
what we set out to do and we delivered that
(05:12):
last season and we're just going to keep on doing
it this season. You know, we're constantly looking to tweak it.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah, I mean people talk about the second season syndrome
or the second album. When it comes to musicians and
that sort of thing, backing it up can be difficult.
How have you approached that this season? How have you
built on what you did last season? I guess from
a fan experience.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Yeah, you know what, that's also a real key we
thing to do, isn't it is? It's kind of go all, well,
it's going to be hard to do that again. But
you know, for us, I think it's actually like it's
a bit of a challenge. It's a bit of an opportunity,
like we are gonna, yeah, we may not go as
well as we did last season, but we're going to
try as hard as we did. Are we going to
work as hard as we did? And we're going to
We're going to continue to do things differently and continue
(05:51):
to kind of like look at challenge, what is just
the normal? I think that's all that we can do
as long as we can sit back and go, yeah,
what at the end of the season, we gave that
absolutely everything. I think the fans will respond really well.
I think football fans are a bit different today. That's
and they and they, you know, they pick their team
and they stick with it through you know, Sickenson, rain
(06:12):
or sun, whatever it may be, and so you kind
of have that that hopefully we will have that hardcore
attitude which is like Awk of the Sea is my team,
and hopefully that just seeps out and resonates across the
whole the whole fan base as well.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Do you think you've got the squad capin will of
going all the way this year?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I do? I do? You know? We made it. We
brought in five players left, so we lost Alex Poulsen.
He was probably our biggest loss in terms of a
keeper of it. But then we brought in Olie Sale.
We've got two great keepers with Michael Food who's at
number one, and Olly Sale, who's going to constantly challenge
him all season. We brought a new so Max Madda
left and we've he went back on loan to Shrewsby,
(06:51):
and we brought in a guy called Sam Cosgrove because
he is a classic big point man, you know sort
of he's he's about six foot five. He'll be in
and around the box if he if he gets on
it and starts scoring goals. I mean look out, look
out to all the other team's defenses and we brought
it exciting you winger and two a guy called lockey
(07:11):
Brook and Lockie has been you know, he set the
A League alight a few seasons ago when over the MLS.
He's come back to do the same again here with us.
So I think we brought in some young and attacking
quality into the side, and then the rest of the team.
You know that was a team around last season. They
already know what it's like to win silverware and they
(07:32):
also which just importantly is they know what it's like
to lose in the semi final and they're going to
have to they're going to want to kind of come
back and go one better this year.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
The first derby a couple of weeks away in November
down in Wellington. How important are they as the centerpiece
of the season, having that three times a campaign.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Yeah, look, everyone loves a derby, right, we certainly do,
and it's also good to see that that kind of
New Zealand sports fans have embraced it as well. You know,
we had two sold out derbies at go Media last season.
I'm sure they'd be great that suits. We only get
one this season, but there'll be two down in Wellington
and I'm sure the Wellington fans will turn out. I've
got no doubt we'll sell odd hours up here and
(08:13):
it shows that the fans want that. There was a
great level of kind of i'd call it respectable band
if that's not Noxy Warren and and well, you know,
we had we had a good dig at each other,
but there was a line and nobody crossed it and
it was kind of it was a lot of fun
and it kind of, you know, it kind of got
back into that good old rivalries that New Zealand sport
(08:35):
probably hasn't seen for a while.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah, certainly, and yeah pretty rarey rare at other sports
levels obviously as well. Just finally, Nick Becker with us
on news Talk ZIB. But you mentioned the Port earlier.
How important to have them as a sort of focal point.
I know you have families that come along as well,
but knowing the Port are going to be there week
in week out, as you said, Rain Haill Shine.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, no, no, we all love the port. The Port
have built up an amazing connection with our with our players,
but also with the rest of the fan base, right
and they do bring that they do something that's hostally
unique to New Zealand sport, and they sing and they
make noise and they bring the atmosphere and they just
really add to the whole match they experienced absolutely well.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Next question you the best of this afternoon as you
kick off your home campaign and indeed for the rest
of the season as well.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
Great to catch up, Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Nick Becket joining us five o'clock kickoff this afternoon for
that game against Western Sydney Wanderers. I think they're expecting
a pretty decent crowd, is he mentioned at the top,
hard and a long weekend in Auckland to see how
many people are actually in the city, but decent old
crowd for this opening game at five o'clock. Of course
(09:44):
to Wellington Phoenix played tomorrow against the Brisbane Raw Phoenix fans,
we haven't forgotten you. Alex Rufe is going to join
us tomorrow on the program to give us their perspective.
They come off, of course to all draw against Perth
Glory in their away trip last week, so we'll get
the Phoenix side of things tomorrow afternoon here on us
Talk zeb Be. Their first home game of twenty twenty five,
(10:06):
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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