Auckland FC the name for New Zealand’s new A-Leagues club
Thursday, 14 March 2024
Auckland’s new A-Leagues football club will be called Auckland FC.
Owner’s preferred moniker “Black Knights” appears set to be a nickname.
The club will have a blue and black home kit.
Auckland’s new A-Leagues football club will be called Auckland FC and play in a blue and black home kit out of Mt Smart Stadium.
The name, logo and kit for the franchise – set to play in A-League Men from the 2024-25 season, and A-League Women from the 2025-26 season – were unveiled on Thursday.
“Black Knights” appears to be the intended nickname for the team, much like “The Bulls” is for Macarthur FC, who were the last club to join the A-Leagues, in 2020.
The only mention of “Black Knights” in the press release announcing the name, logo and kit details was in reference to the intended use of The Chamberlain bar in Britomart as “the Black Knights’ official fan zone”.
Auckland FC’s American billionaire owner Bill Foley had expressed a preference to have “Black Knights” as part of the team name – a reference to the nicknames of the sports teams at the United States’ West Point military academy, which he graduated from in 1967.
It is also reflected in the name of the football ownership group he leads – Black Knight Football Club – that, in addition to Auckland FC, owns English Premier League club AFC Bournemouth and has stakes in FC Lorient in France and Hibernian FC in Scotland.
Having Black Knights only as a nickname for Auckland FC appears to be a form of compromise, with local fans wary of a name that would create a link to the New Zealand Knights – the last professional football club based in Auckland.
The NZ Knights played in A-League Men from 2005 to 2007 before collapsing and being replaced by Wellington Phoenix, who have been going strong in A-League Men for 17 seasons and A-League Women for three.
In a statement, Auckland FC said the “visual identity represents the city of Auckland throughout, from its primary colour – electric blue – building on Auckland’s traditional royal blue, to the crest.
“The newly revealed shield contains a graphic tribute to Rangitoto and Auckland’s iconic skyline, and with an ascending ‘A’ for Auckland in its centre.
“The Black Knight visor and the stripes in the badge link the crest to club founder Bill Foley and the teams that form part of the Black Knight Football Group.”
Auckland FC will wear kits produced by New Balance through their licensee partner Belgravia Sports Apparel.
The A-League Men team will be coached by former Sydney FC coach Steve Corica, while another former Sydney FC player, Terry McFlynn, has been installed as the club’s director of football.
Chief executive Nick Becker said: “We are building the elite professional team that Auckland deserves. We want to be successful on the pitch, and we want to create a club that represents Tāmaki Makaurau for generations to come.”
“More Kiwis play football than any other sport and we have seen first-hand how much Auckland has embraced football. Today is just the beginning of a very exciting journey and we can’t wait to build the future together with our community and our fans.”
Foley said: “What I love about football is that it has an incredible power to inspire anyone, no matter their age or background.
“We have a track record of building successful professional sports teams and just like we did in Las Vegas, I saw a unique opportunity to bring a new A-League football club with big ambitions to Auckland and take it to the world stage.”
“We can’t wait to get started, nurture talent, accelerate the pathway for promising players here and overseas, and showcase Auckland and its culture.”