Nickname(s) Bays President Steve Buckley Founded 1959 | Ground Capacity 4,000 Head coach Daniel McKenzie | |
Full name East Coast Bays Association Football Club League Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier Grounds Bay City Park, Northcross, North Shore | ||
East Coast Bays A.F.C. is a professional Association football club in Northcross, North Shore City, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier.
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The club is notable for winning the 2008 Chatham Cup and 1981, 2010, 2013 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier seasons.
In 2013, they won their third Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier title.
History
East Coast Bays was founded following a public meeting held at the Progressive Hall (since demolished and replaced by the Bays Club) in October 1958. The committee formed from this meeting entered four junior teams for the start of the 1959 season. As some of the committee members were supporters of Glasgow Rangers, the colours of Royal Blue shirts, white shorts and royal Blue socks were adopted. The white shorts were changes in later years to royal blue when that colour became available.
Since then clubroom facilities have been developed to rank amongst the best in the country, further grounds have been obtained at Ashley Reserve, debt has been retired and the club is progressing. Under the direction of Head coach, Willy Gerdsen, coaching pathways have been developed and the club has embraced the Whole of Football plan developed by New Zealand Football.
They have around 900 juniors, some very talented youth sides, an ever-growing ladies section, and six teams playing in competitive leagues other than the Premiers. The club has become the first in New Zealand to be issued a Quality Mark by New Zealand Football.