North Harbour Pride


LATEST NEWS: 2008-2009 SEASON
PRE-SEASON TRAININGS... sept 27 2008
Pre-season preparation for all grades - Under-16, Under-20 and Premiers has started with The Pride training at Stafford Park on Stafford Road, Northcote, just off the northern side of the Harbour Bridge. The three Pride teams - the Jaguars, Panthers and Roar - have been working out on Saturdays for the past three weeks but with the advent of Daylight Saving will now train during the week as well. This coming week trainings will be at Stafford Park on Thursday, October 2 from 6:00pm and again on Saturday 11:00am til 2:00pm. All new players are welcome to attend.
MAJOR SIGNING... july 14 2008
The Pride Management Team is pleased to announce the appointment of professional American Quarterback Justin McKenzie as its Head Coach for the 2008-2009 competition season. Justin is currently playing in Germany in the European League, his sixth season as a professional player, and will take up his coaching duties at The Pride at the conclusion of his Northern Hemisphere contract. "Justin will bring a wealth of experience to the club and his signing is a major coup," said Pride Chief Executive Mervyn Hurley. "Justin's coaching and playing credentials are impeccable and he will be a great asset. His on-field talent as a QB, and his coaching and training abilities are the centre-pin of The Pride's quest for the KiwiBowl this coming season." According to Joe Ashfield, a former Pride Head Coach, Justin is by far the most experienced international player to come to New Zealand to play and coach. Ashfield spent four consecutive seasons with The Pride and took them to three KiwiBowl Finals. He is now coaching in Iowa after a stint at Stanford University. A graduate from the University of Redlands in California, Justin has played in professional teams in Germany, Austria, Panama, Finland and England and is currently playing for the Kirchdorf Wildcats in Germany. Justin is also a fitness instructor and a football scout and whilst in New Zealand will be looking for talented players to place in the US and Europe. He is due to arrive in New Zealand in early September.
MORE SIGNINGS TO COME... july 14 2008
Watch out for more updates as The Pride completes negotiations with several other leading international players who will join the team for the new 2008-2009 season, to be played for the first time under the management of the newly-formed regional body American Football Auckland [AFA].
PRIDE PLAYER IN AF2... july 14 2008
News will be posted soon on our very own Ephram White who is in the Arena 2 football league in the US. Ephram, at 21 years old, is the first Maori to play AF2. He is with the Lubbock Renegades out of Lubbock, Texas. Ephram will be re-joining The Pride for the 2008-2009 competition season.
DIGGER IS BACK... july 14 2008
Pride giant Digger Penetito [pictured below left] is back with club after a season layoff for personal reasons. Digger, at 18 years old and towering a massive 6'4" and weighing in at 140kg, has been with the club since he was 15 and has been a pivotal player in the Pride juniors and colt teams. This coming season Digger advances to the Pride Roar and brings with him amazing playing credentials. Hailing from Waiheke Island, Digger has already been the subject of a Maori TV documentary, has been to football training camps at the University of Hawaii and is under watch by several US high schools. The Pride Management Team is pleased that Digger is back with the club.
NEW SEASON'S DATES... july 14 2008
Tentative dates for the 2008-2009 season have been released with the competiton schedule to follow shortly. Prospective dates are: Juniors U16: October 4 to December 20 Colts U19: November 1 to December 20 AFA Premier Competition: Nov 15-Dec 20; Jan 17-Mar 7 NZ Colts: IFAF Jnr World Cup, vs Australia, Canberra, Jan 24. More detail on the IFAF World Cup soon...
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