Halswell United
Wikipedia - Halswell United
Halswell United is an amateur association football club based in Christchurch, New Zealand in the suburb of Halswell. They will compete in the New World Mainland Premier League.
The club was founded in 1964 as Halswell United Soccer, changing its name in 1999 when the national body officially changed its title to include the word football, and it is one of the largest clubs in the South Island, with over 900 members.
History
The club was formed in March and April 1964, with meetings at the Halswell Scouts Hall, which were on the site now occupied by the club's rooms. Initial teams were age-group teams (under-9 and under-13 boys). A senior team was soon added. By the second season, the club were granted the right to use Halswell Domain as its home ground. Drainage at the ground was poor, leading to several games being washed out. Building of clubrooms began in 1965; they were extended in 1968. In 1967 the club entered the Canterbury Football Association's competitions for the first time, competing in Division 3B (which they won in their inaugural season). This was followed by promotion to Division One in 1969.
New clubrooms were constructed starting in 1976, and work was completed on them in various stages over the following years, being finally finished in 1988.
Club colours were originally white, with a green hoop added in the club's second season. This strip now forms the basis of the club's away strip. Shorts became green from 1968, and shirts were changed to green and white stripes at the same time.
Halswell Uniteds herrlag spelar för närvarande i New Zealand Football Championship, den högsta nivån av fotboll i Nya Zeeland. Laget har vunnit ligan två gånger, 1971 och 1981, och har även varit framgångsrikt i cupspel, med segrar i Chatham Cup 1970 och 1990.
Klubbens damlag spelar i New Zealand Women's National League, den högsta nivån av damfotboll i Nya Zeeland. Laget har vunnit ligan två gånger, 2010 och 2013, och har även vunnit Kate Sheppard Cup 2010, 2012 och 2016.
Halswell Uniteds ungdomsavdelning är en av de största i Nya Zeeland, med över 500 spelare i olika åldersgrupper. Klubben har producerat ett antal framstående spelare som har representerat Nya Zeeland i internationella tävlingar, inklusive Winston Reid, Chris Wood och Jeremy Brockie.
Klubbens hemmaarena är Linfield Park, en anläggning med 2 500 sittplatser i förorten Halswell i Christchurch. Arenan har också använts för internationella matcher, inklusive matcher i FIFA World Cup för kvinnor 2011.
Halswell United är en stolthet för förorten Halswell och ett viktigt inslag i fotbollsgemenskapen i Christchurch. Klubbens engagemang för att utveckla spelare och främja fotboll har gjort den till en av de mest framgångsrika och respekterade klubbarna i Nya Zeeland.