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Hibiscus Coast Football Men’s First Team has secured promotion to Auckland’s top division for the first time in the club’s 53-year history after finishing third in its division.
The promotion came down to the final game of the season. Hibiscus Coast needed a win away against Taupō FC. A goal five minutes into the second half, then three further goals in the final 15 minutes sealed a 4-0 victory.
The club paid tribute on social media to everyone who had contributed to the men’s first team over the past 53 years, including players, coaches, support staff, sponsors and fans.
Technical director and Men’s First Team head coach Nathan Cranney reflected on a season that did not start as planned.
“The club paid tribute on social media to those who had contributed to the men’s first team over the past 53 years, including players, coaches, support staff, sponsors and fans.
Technical director and men’s first team head coach Nathan Cranney says the team’s disrupted pre-season made for a difficult start, with limited player availability, injuries and a number of new players still settling into the squad.
“Once we settled, we really started to impose ourselves on games,” he says. “We moved the ball with purpose, created sustained pressure, consistently got players into dangerous areas and played with the confidence to take the game to our opponents.”
The team also reached the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup, but Cranney says promotion remained the season’s main objective.
“We had to win our final four games. There was no hiding from that pressure. The players embraced it and delivered when it mattered.”
Cranney says he is proud of the group and believes the team’s style of play can take the club forward.
