Coaches
Darren Bazely - Technical Director
UEFA A License
“Darren will be working closely with each club in many areas however supporting the successful implementation of the clubs playing philosophy’s along with the development of effective cultures and standards are pivotal areas of focus. He will also be working closely with each of the clubs DOF’s to support the development and delivery of their programmes to their players and coaches.
Northern Rovers FC ’s purpose is to provide the environment, culture and pathways necessary to enable our players and coaches to achieve their full potential in our sport. We believe this starts with securing the best coaching talent in the land and Darren brings the expertise and experience necessary to develop Northern Rovers into a mecca for coaches on the Shore. We are delighted to be able to share Darren’s rare talent with Eastern Suburbs and Fencibles and we look forward to further developing our relationship with these clubs in the future.”
Adrian Pickstock – Northern Rovers FC
Adam Dickinson - Mens Football Development Manager
OFC/NZF C License
Adam will oversee our Men’s Premier team, the Reserves and our U17 Youth League team. He will be the Head Coach for the Men's Premier team and U17s.
Adam was the Forrest Hill Men’s Premier team coach for the 2020 season and he led FHM’s NRFL Division 1 winning team in 2019 He has packed a lot of pedigree into his football career. Born in Liverpool Adam started his career at Tranmere Rovers in 2005. He played one season there, moving in 2006 to Connah's Quay in Wales. In 2009 Dickinson left the UK, moving to New Zealand to play for Auckland City FC in the ASB Premiership. In 2010 he played for Navua FC, a Fijian Club. With Auckland City, he won two domestic league seasons (2008/09 and 2013/14) and five times the OFC Champions League (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). In 2014 he transferred to Auckland City’s arch rivals, Waitakere United. In 2016 he joined Amicale of Vanuatu to contest the OFC Champions League.
With this appointment, Northern Rovers will take a holistic view of our senior teams and Adam will be charged with developing our talent and preparing them to play at the highest levels.
Andrew Clay - Community Football Development Manager & Women's Premier Co-Coach
OFC/NZF B License
We are pleased to announce that Andy Clay will be appointed alongside Ben Bates as the Women’s Premier Co-coach for the 2021 season. Andy is also our Junior & Youth Community Football Development Manager, working with community teams across the club to support them in growing the game. Andy brings a wealth of coaching experience to Northern Rovers especially in the New Zealand Women’s game. Andy has worked as a coach for over 25 years in New Zealand football, having success everywhere he has gone. Andy has cemented himself in the history books as one of New Zealand’s top women’s coaches with winning the Kate Shephard cup three times. First with Three Kings United in 2012 and then with Glenfield Rovers AFC in 2015 and 2017. Andy has not only won the Kate Shephard cup but had plenty of successes in the Northern Premier League, winning the title in 2007 with Three Kings United and again with Glenfield Rovers in 2018.
Andy is currently the New Zealand secondary schools assistant coach, this appointment was a credit to all the success Andy has had at girls age group levels. Andy has seen most of his success at one of Auckland’s biggest schools, Epsom Girls. Winning almost everything there is to offer here, including several age group titles. These are just a few of Andy’s achievements as a coach which proves his experience is invaluable for Northern Rovers AFC. The club are delighted to have secured him for the 2021 season.
Ben Bate - Women's Head of Football, Women’s Premier Co-Coach and First Kicks Head Coach
OFC/NZF B License
Ben Bate has been the Head Coach of the Forrest Hill Senior Women's team for the last 3 seasons alongside other development roles at the club. As the Women’s Head of Football at Northern Rovers he will take an overarching view of the development of our Girls and Women’s football programme. He’ll build on the strategies and pathways already in place and necessary to develop an unrivalled and compelling environment that attracts, develops and retains the best talent in our Club.
Included in his remit, Ben will co-coach the Women’s Premier team alongside Andrew Clay. He will also head up our First Kicks Programme which is so critical to the future of Northern Rovers.
Ben has worked with both the Northern and Auckland National Women's League teams, winning the competition with Auckland in 2017 as an assistant coach under current FFDP lead Gemma Lewis. He has been to two World Cups (Men's U20 in 2015 and Women's U17 in 2016) as a technical staff member. Prior to this, he worked with the Football Association of Wales as technical staff member through their Women's pathway from U15 to Senior International including the U19 UEFA Women's European Championships in 2013. Whilst completing his BSc in Sports Coaching and Sports Science Masters Degree Ben worked with perennial Welsh Premier League Champions The New Saints as a technical staff member winning 3 league titles and 2 National Cups in 4 years as well as competing in Champions League qualifiers that took him to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Sweden and Denmark amongst others. Ben is the current Head Coach of The Northern Lights playing in the National Women’s League.
Kane Wintersgill - Head of Boys Junior & Youth Football
OFC/NZF A License and NZF Junior Level 3 certification
Kane joins us having spent the last five years at Eastern Suburbs where he played an integral part in both the coaching and coach development areas of the club, across all ages of the men's game. As well as spending four seasons as the Assistant Coach of the Men’s National League side. Prior to this Kane was the Director of Football at Sacred Heart College during the college's most successful period of their history. Having spent time in different technical roles within New Zealand Football, he travelled to Chile for the 2015 U17 World Cup, and more recently to India for the 2017 U17 World Cup.
Kane will be responsible for bedding in Northern Rovers' playing style and philosophy across our Junior and Youth age groups (U9 to U15). He will also be responsible for creating a learning environment culture that will support our coach development right across the club, this includes developing a coaching education programme for Pro coaches, players and parents .
Michael Halliday - Head of Girls Junior & Youth Football
OFC/NZF B License and NZF Coach Educator
Michael Halliday brings a wealth of experience to this role with his involvement in the New
Zealand's women's game for many years. Michael has a passion for the development of the women's game in New Zealand and will work very closely alongside Ben Bates in creating
future pathways for any girl or women, no matter their ability.
He will be responsible for building on Northern Rovers playing style and philosophy across our Junior and Youth age groups (U9 to U14). Michael has been involved as a sport scientist with NZF and held many coaching jobs in top clubs across the country including, Glenfield Rovers AFC Women’s Assistant coach and the Coaching Director at North Shore United.