Play Football in New Zealand

Although rugby is the main winter sport in New Zealand, football’s popularity has grown significantly in recent years in both the men’s and women’s games particularly since the launch of the Hyundai A-League which has enabled the country’s top footballers to participate in a professional league.  A number of the country’s best players have made successful breakthroughs in British Leagues, specifically Ryan Nelson at Blackburn Rovers and Chris Spillen at Celtic.  The Kiwis national team, the ‘All Whites’, qualified for the 1982 World Cup and the team stand an excellent chance of qualifying for future World Cups now that Australia has moved to become part of the Asian Football Confederation and New Zealand has a number of talented young footballers in their domestic league. 

New Zealand has one professional team, the ‘Wellington Phoenix’ who play in the Hyundai A-League with 7 other teams from Australia.  Below this there is the New Zealand Football Championship, a semi professional league involving eight clubs who play each other three times during the southern hemisphere summer (September – March).  Sport Lived has affiliations with clubs that play in football competitions just below the NZ Football Championship who play their matches during the southern hemisphere winter (March– late August).  The standard of these competitions is good, comparable with lower non league football in the UK.  Most clubs have 3-5 teams, made up of senior and U20 teams, and a number of clubs also have mid week and social sides.  Clubs usually train 2-3 times a week and play matches at the weekends.  We organise for people to play football in Auckland and Christchurch.  In each city we’ve handpicked the best football clubs for people to join who offer excellent coaching, facilities and top social scenes. We also run an 8 week programme in Christchurch during July and August.

You will live in 4 star city centre apartments with other Sport Lived participants playing football and other sports including rugby, netball and hockey.  Most people stay in 2 bedroom apartments and everyone lives in the same complex providing you with a ready made group of friends as soon as you arrive.  Living in the city means you’ll be near nightlife, places where you can work and public transport so it’s easy for you to get to your club to attending training and matches.

 

Back to Football

Play Football in New Zealand
The price of all play sport programmes include:	Location Price* Dates 2008/09            Christchurch  £4,495  16/3/09 - 23/8/09   Christchurch  £2,295 6/7/09 - 30/8/09       2009/10            Auckland  £4,995  15/3/10 - 22/8/10   Christchurch  £4,795  15/3/10 - 22/8/10  Christchurch    15/3/10 - 6/6/10   Christchurch £2,295  5/7/10 - 29/8/10
4 star city centre accommodation (including rent, furnishings and most bills) Club membership subscription Overseas programme co-ordinator available 24/7 Assistance in organising flights, visas & travel insurance Pre-departure briefing Handbook with useful information Airport Pickup Regular overseas social events Assistance in finding work
*Bond of £300 payable in addition to the programme fee