All welcome at football club with focus on inclusion

The Bucklands Beach Association Football Club (BBAFC) prides itself on being a friendly club that turns no one away, which may help to explain how it’s got a staggering 1200 players on its books.

It fields a dozen senior teams, 14 youth teams, and about 70 to 80 in-house teams.

With the new season fast approaching, the club is putting out a call for players to register.

Its teams play at Rogers Park in Eastern Beach or at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga.

Club president Rachel Penney says it’s dedicated to providing a wide array of programmes for players of all ages and skill levels, ensuring they all have an equal opportunity to improve, excel, and cultivate a deep love for football.

Among the many BBAFC players who have gone on to higher levels of success in the sport are Sean Lovemore, Milly Clegg, Zoe Benson, Jacqui Hand, and Dejaun Naidoo.

“At the heart of BBAFC is our First Team and U23s, a dynamic group of young men who serve as role models for aspiring footballers,” Penney says.

“Led by the remarkable Neil Finnigan, the First Team includes Sander Waterland, our director of football, who’s clinched the Golden Boot for three consecutive years at the Conference level.

“The team is composed of many home-grown BBAFC players and long-serving members.

“This year, the U23s are under the guidance of Tony Gillion, who’s committed to developing these players into future First Team stars.”

BBAFC vice-president David Pasco says the club does “the little stuff” to ensure its players enjoy the experience.

“It’s not all about that game of football and winning. It’s about making friends and parents on the sidelines supporting their kids and having that sort of community identity.

“We’ve got one team and some of the guys are dads in the 40s or 50s and they’ve got their 18-, 19-, 20-year-old sons in the same team. That’s cool.”

The club’s grassroots programme for children aged from five to eight years old is held on Wednesday afternoons.

Its new Football Development Academy operates up to three days a week during school terms and focuses on honing players’ technical and tactical skills.

The club’s involvement in the Northern Region Football (NRF) competition spans from championship level down, from ninth-grade teams through the senior ranks and over-40s teams, Penney says.

Most matches are staged on Saturdays, but the club also participates in boys’ Sunday youth competitions and Community Senior Women’s matches on Sundays.

“We have junior and youth and boys and girls teams who compete in the NRF league, travelling to face other clubs with similar abilities,” Penney says.

“Additionally, tournaments and festivals are a highlight, giving players the opportunity to showcase their skills in a celebratory environment.

“For families who prefer not to travel, BBAFC offers an exceptional in-house competition at Lloyd Elsmore Park on Saturday mornings.”

The club’s also expanded its football programmes for girls and women. Young girls can join girls-only teams as early as the fifth grade.

New senior women players can join the club’s community team without paying the club fee.

Players keen to get involved with BBAFC do not need to have played football previously.

Go online to www.bbafc.org.nz for more information.