Latest news with #NickBecker
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Auckland FC keen to take part in proposed OFC Professional League
Auckland FC's disappointment at being unable to compete in next season's AFC Champions League Elite competition may be tempered by the Black Knights' potential participation in next year's proposed OFC Professional League. A spot in the lucrative AFC Champions League Elite competition usually goes to the winner of the A-League premiership. However, despite winning the A-League Premier's Plate in their debut season, the Black Knights are ineligible to compete in an Asian Football Confederation competition as they are a club from New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation. The A-League's Champions League Elite representative next season will therefore be the team that finishes second on the ladder. With one round of the regular season remaining, four clubs – Melbourne City, Western United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory – remain in contention for second spot. Auckland could yet play a part in determining who finishes second, with the Black Knights meeting Western United – placed third – at Ironbark Fields on Saturday night. And while the Steve Corica-coached Black Knights have switched their focus to adding the A-League championship to their premiership success by winning next month's finals series, they are also planning for next season in the hope of competing in the OFC Professional League, a planned new eight-team competition set to start in January involving Oceania clubs and potentially also including at least one Australian NPL club. As is the case with the AFC Champions League Elite, the winner of the OFC Professional League would have the chance to play in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and every four years in the FIFA Club World Cup. Black Knights chief executive Nick Becker said the club had made a submission to be part of the OFC Professional League and had the support of the Australian Professional Leagues – which runs the A-League – the OFC and New Zealand Football. 'We're just waiting confirmation of whether we're accepted into the league and what the player regulations and all the infrastructures are,' Becker said. 'We don't have full visibility on player regulations on who can and can't compete in it and the number of A-League players we'd be able to field in that competition. 'We'd probably have to have effectively two squads … but we've got a decent-sized squad now, so we'd like to use as many of our own players as possible. 'It would be a good result to be in it to make up for (being unable to play in the AFC Champions League Elite competition).' Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand's other A-League club, has also made a submission to play in the OFC Professional League, which would conclude with a final in May next year.
1News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Auckland FC players on 'unbelievable' Premier's Plate win
Auckland FC put an exclamation mark on their 2024/25 campaign yesterday evening, beating Perth Glory 1-0 in front of a nearly sold-out home crowd before lifting the A-League Premier's Plate at their first attempt. The team were already premiers before walking onto the pitch at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium for one last time in the regular season. After 90 minutes, 28 shots, and a goal direct from a corner by Marlee François, Auckland FC lifted the trophy. Speaking to 1News following the game, Auckland FC forward Max Mata said the club's achievement this season had been 'unbelievable'. 'I'm from Auckland, so to do it in front of the home crowd is unbelievable,' he said. Midfielder Cam Howieson said: 'It means a lot, obviously. This group of players, we came together brand new, and it's a dream come true, what we've accomplished." Vice-captain and defender Tommy Smith said lifting the trophy at home was 'brilliant'. 'It was already in the bag, but to put another win on the board in front of the home fans in the last regular season game is a great feeling." Defender Francis De Vries believed pulling off a trophy-winning season was 'definitely' possible from day one. 'It's always a possibility. Was it realistic, did we think we were going to do this, I don't know,' he said. 'Some of the more experienced players knew that we could do this, and the coaching staff did too. 'It feels great to have achieved it.' This season marked a huge bounce-back for head coach Steve Corica, who had left his previous role at Sydney FC after losing the first three games of the 2023/24 season. He said winning the premiership meant 'everything'. 'That's what it's all about. We strive to be the best, and we are the most consistent team over the course of the season, so to hold up the Premier's Plate, it means a lot." The celebrations won't be too long for Auckland FC, however, as the team now turns their attention to finals football, and a two-leg semi-final later this month to try and punch their ticket to the A-League grand final. Defender Dan Hall and chief executive Nick Becker spoke to Breakfast about the growth of support for Auckland FC this season. (Source: 1News) Speaking to Breakfast this morning, defender Dan Hall said the team celebrated 'accordingly' last night. He said Corica had told the players 'not to undervalue what we've accomplished'. Hall moved to Auckland from the Central Coast Mariners at the start of the season and said it was 'incredible' to see support grow over the season. 'When I first came to Auckland, you wouldn't really see any Auckland FC shirts around, but now, you walk the streets, and I see them pretty much every time I go to the shops. It's been incredible to see the support. 'We wanted to win for them and I'm glad that we did.' Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker said the city had been hungry for a football club. 'They're ready to support a professional football club, but they wanted something different, and I think we've offered that, and we've shown that we're the real deal on the pitch, and there's an amazing experience around.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire season: The vital role of mutual aid for Kansas fire departments
BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — High wind speeds and low humidity can be a dangerous combination for Kansas fire departments. On Monday, both Sedgwick County and Benton responded to a grass fire in Butler County. This grass fire comes as a sobering reminder that firefighters across the state expect a heavier workload during wildfire season. Many smaller departments can't handle large fires on their own, so they rely on their neighbors to minimize damage. The fire in Butler County left around 60 acres scorched and the hills hazy. The billowing smoke drew the attention of the Benton Fire Department. 'We needed the help; we were going to call for them anyway. So, it just made their response a little bit faster,' Division Chief for Sedgwick County Fire Nick Becker said after fighting the flames. Benton and Sedgwick County worked in tandem to contain the damage. Their success Monday is the perfect microcosm for the importance of Kansas' mutual aid system. 'The fire departments can always reach out for help. Through the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, through their emergency managers, the State Fire Marshal's office, the Kansas Forest Service,' Rodney Redinger with the Kansas Forest Service said. First responders to conduct training exercise downtown Tuesday Calling for aid or providing assistance is a fundamental part of all departments, but it's especially vital for rural areas. 'We don't have enough resources or funding to staff enough people to do it by ourselves, so we always rely on our neighbors,' Butler County Division 3 Chief Kevin Webster said. His department in Rose Hill is often called to help their surrounding counties, almost entirely staffed by volunteers. 'During the day, we have four firefighters here. At night, we go down to two full-time firefighters, but we're supplemented with 15 volunteers,' he said. Having extra men, trucks and hoses just a phone call away can be the difference between a dozen burned acres and hundreds. Monday's wind speeds were too high for the state to allow controlled burns. Winds need to be below 15 mph for the practice to be allowed. Fire officials ask anybody working outdoors to secure loose chains or equipment to prevent sparks and to always have a permit for controlled burns. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
