FHM History

About Forrest Hill Milford United

Introduction

For over 30 years Forrest Hill Milford AFC has been operating from our headquarters at Becroft Park on the corner of Tristram Avenue and the Northern Motorway. During that time we have grown from strength to strength. Over the years the club has been at the forefront of a number of key initiatives, primarily focused on the growth of the sport at the midget and junior levels.

In 2006 we implemented one of the most innovative and ambitious programmes offered by any club in the region whereby we have retained the services of Director of Coaching and seven qualified professional coaches who are actively involved on a day-to-day basis in improving the skills of all our junior players. We also have several initiatives running for our senior players.

Our goal is to continue building the club both in terms of numbers and skill by creating excellent players today who will become the role models for future generations of midgets and juniors.

History

Forrest Hill Milford AFC was formed in 1975 with four junior teams as a result of demand for a soccer club to cater for the needs of the rapidly growing population of the greater Forrest Hill Milford areas.

Under the guidance of several local personalities including Rod Mills, Rick Turner and Derek Fitzpatrick the club was incorporated with its headquarters at Becroft Park, Forrest Hill, which has proven to be a most convenient location for players from Forrest Hill and the surrounding suburbs of Milford, Castor Bay, Campbells Bay, Mairangi Bay, Sunnynook and Glenfield.

The club grew very steadily over the first ten years and under the direction of Ian Shaw, Ross Bindon and Ray Allen a major commitment was undertaken in 1985/86, this being the building of the present clubrooms at Becroft Park for the Club's exclusive use.

At the same time a commitment was made to promote the senior side of the club in order to provide ongoing opportunities for players graduating from the junior ranks. The club's senior team which had been formed in 1984 to contest the Northern Qualifying Division of the Northern League won this League in 1987 and promotion to the Northern League Fourth Division. In that year the senior side of the club fielded four teams, three of which won their respective competitions.

1988 saw the Club's senior team again win promotion by winning the Northern League Fourth Division.

A newly formed women's team was added to the senior club in 1989, a year in which the men's senior team was successful in winning both the Annual Cambridge Pre Season Tournament and also the Tokoroa Amcor Cup Tournament at the end of the season.

The following year, 1990, the senior team won the Northern League Third Division and further promotion which necessitated, at a cost of some $19,000 in early 1991, the extension of changing rooms etc. to provide the necessary separate changing facilities for both home and visiting teams, plus match officials. A North Shore City Council grant of $12,000 assisted with this expense.

In 1992, the council recognized the growth of the club when it allocated the existing rugby field at Becroft Park to soccer as part of a rationalization of sports grounds to various codes. The club has maintained sole use of the grounds for the soccer season and anticipates doing so for the foreseeable future.

Over the last decade the clubs junior ranks have been gaining in strength and we are attracting players from a wider radius. At the present time the club caters for 600 junior and 100 senior players. With the implementation of our professional coaching scheme, including our “ Skill School ” for midget players, numbers will continue to grow.

The club's midget and junior players attend tournaments all over the upper North Island . While encouraging members to play the game for the games own sake, the club does encourage serious competition and is active in coaching and training the top teams in each junior grade with professionally accredited coaches.

We have also maintained an excellent relationship with our key sponsors, all of whom have continued to offer their unwavering support through the provision of kit, discounts and cash grants to assist the club with its many worthy causes. The club's catchment area, the wide demographic of membership, together with its prime location at Becroft Park offers an excellent opportunity for sponsors.