Three former All Whites—Winston Reid, Tim Brown, and Noah Hickey—have joined the ownership group of Auckland FC, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience from their time as top-level players.
With over 580 professional and international appearances between them, the trio is united in their passion for New Zealand football and is committed to helping the club succeed.
About the three owners
Winston Reid
The former All White and captain of West Ham brings vast experience from his time in the Premier League, where he played over 150 games. Born in Auckland, Reid is particularly excited about supporting the club in his hometown.
“Getting involved as an investor with Auckland FC feels like the perfect opportunity for me. I love what the club has to offer, what it represents to Auckland, as well as the coaching and development pathways available to help players achieve their very best,” he said in a statement.
“Becoming a professional football player is one of the hardest things to achieve; it takes more than just talent. I’m humbled by the opportunity to give back some of my own experiences as a professional footballer, to the next generation.”
Tim Brown
Brown is now better known as the co-founder and co-CEO of sustainable footwear brand Allbirds and played over 100 times in the A-League and 30 times for New Zealand. His extensive professional career is complemented by his success in business.
Brown shared his ambitious vision for Auckland FC.
“Considering the number of people locally who are playing it and its global appeal, football is massively under-represented in New Zealand,” he said in a statement.
“Auckland FC represents an opportunity to change that for the benefit of players as well as the wider NZ football community.
“I’m pleased to be joining an ownership group with such experience and expertise. We have some serious ambitions for this club, and with a world-class network of global investors, I’m confident they can be achieved.”
Noah Hickey
Hickey is another former All White and now serves as CEO of fleet maintenance software company Whip Around and co-founder of the fashion brand Asuwere.
After a professional football career spanning Auckland, Europe, and the All Whites, Hickey has built a successful corporate career.
Reflecting on his involvement with Auckland FC, Noah is confident he can unite the city of Auckland and pathways for future players.
“I’ve played football in Auckland, Europe, and internationally. Being overseas, you really notice the cultural behemoth football is and its ability to bring people from all backgrounds together,” he said via statement.
“There’s a great opportunity here to do that in Auckland, to unite the city and create better pathways for future players to make it professionally. Having people like Tim and Winston involved is vital to that success, and I’m delighted to join them, Ali, Anna, and Bill and become a part of it.”
The reason behind this move
The new additions join existing local owners Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray, while American businessman Bill Foley remains the majority owner.
Together, the group is focused on the long-term success of the club and creating clear pathways for young Kiwi talent to reach the professional level.
Auckland FC’s strong corporate foundations are further strengthened by the appointments of Tim Brown and Noah Hickey who have sustained success in the business industry.
Whereas for Winston Reid, the chance to give back to the city where he was born is a significant motivation, and he is determined to help the next generation succeed at the highest level.
Auckland FC CEO, Nick Becker, emphasised the club’s vision and how they plan to tackle the near future.
“All of us at the club, players, staff, and our owners share a clear vision for Auckland FC. We are proud to represent New Zealand’s biggest city, and we are working hard to build a club that has its fans at the core of our decision-making, and we’re investing in genuine talent pathways for young Kiwi boys and girls,” Becker said in the club statement.
“We are incredibly lucky that our owners recognize the growth trajectory that football is on in New Zealand and can see the opportunity that having a professional club in Auckland offers. When I look at the calibre of the ownership team now in place, I’m incredibly confident of what Auckland FC can offer, whether that be fans, players, staff, sponsors, and Auckland at large. This is great news for us, but also great news for the city.”
Conclusion
This move by Auckland FC is brilliant, combining the experience and expertise of three footballing legends to try and propel them up the table as quick as possible in this tough transitional period.
With a myriad of fantastic on-field signings, an experienced coach and now this new ownership group, Auckland FC are very carefully building a solid and sustainable foundation to launch themselves as a top club.
