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The Navy Blues Top 20 List for 2016

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 24 December 2016

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - We look back at 2016 and pick out the top 20 moments from another successful Navy Blues calendar year both on and off the pitch.

Time for a bit of fun - we all know how subjective lists can be; some are deliberately provocative, others are laid out like click bait so you spend 15 minutes trawling through copious pop-up pages in search for some sort of pay-off.

You can relax, we've taken the pressure off you.

In this Navy Blues Top 20 list, we've provided a selection of memories for you to pour over, ponder, reflect and agree or disagree with - it doesn't really matter - then we've given you the chance to join in and tell us what your favourite memories of the calendar year of 2016 were.

Rearrange them, re-order, agree, disagree - the choice is yours.

Have we said already how this list is by no means definitive? Good, so we understand each other.

Without any further adieu, let's begin...

1. Winning the OFC Champions League

Auckland City FC becomes the first club to win six continental titles in a row after beating fellow Kiwis Team Wellington. Team Wellington came into the match as the first team to break the Super City 11 year stranglehold on the then ASB Premiership when they beat the Navy Blues 4-2 after extra time at QBE Stadium. It was fitting therefore the Navy Blues rallied to seal their eighth continental title and their sixth thanks to two goals by Solomon Islands international Micah Lea'alafa and All Whites midfielder Clayton Lewis.

2. Dae Wook Kim's goal versus Kashima Antlers

Powerful in the air, the former South Korea futsal international made the world sit up and notice when his bullet header from an Emiliano Tade free-kick gave the Navy Blues a shock 1-0 lead against the J.League champions Kashima Antlers. The precision and technical perfection of the delivery and execution had Auckland City FC fans on the edge of their seats. Sadly, the Navy Blues couldn't hold onto their 1-0 lead and eventually succumbed 2-1. But for a moment, everyone connected with the Navy Blues believed anything was possible. That Kashima Antlers then went on to lead Real Madrid 2-1 in the FIFA Club World Cup final only stimulates the imagination further.

3. Hi-Chew extend Navy Blues sponsorship agreement

Morinaga continue to back the ambitions and objectives of Auckland City FC by extending their one season sponsorship deal into a second. Preparing a team to compete on three fronts with the FIFA Club World Cup, OFC Champions League and the Stirling Sports Premiership is no easy task but with the backing from the makers of Hi-Chew confectionary, the Navy Blues can look to the future with confidence.

@AucklandCity_FC I blame you for my obsession with these pic.twitter.com/2YO9u7KOQp
— Ho Ho Hözil (@MeslootHozil) December 23, 2016

4. Kappa come on board

Kappa signed up as chief kit supplier for the Navy Blues taking over from Nike. The club wore its brand new kit for the start of the Stirling Sports Premiership campaign and haven't looked back since. While Kappa came on board, the club was also grateful for the ongoing support of our community of sponsors and community partners, fans and volunteers who each do a sterling job in service of the Navy Blues - fantastic job!

5. Navy Blues stick five past Waitakere United

The Super City derby has long been the benchmark for excellence but in recent times the Navy Blues have dominated the fixture to the extent that some of the gloss was thought to have come away from a game famous for producing compelling football with no shortage of drama. That said, the Navy Blues and their supporters never tire of a good Super City derby win and clobbering Waitakere United 5-1 on February 4 of this year will take some beating. Ryan De Vries bagged an unforgettable hat-trick while Darren White and Clayton Lewis chimed in with one each. Sam O'Regan netted for United.

6. Joan Vila Bosch - FC Barcelona comes to Kiwitea Street

FC Barcelona Director of Coach Methodology Joan Vila Bosch came to Kiwitea Street and delivered several youth coaching sessions to an enthralled audience that included our own Ramon Tribulietx, Ivan Vicelich, New Zealand Football's Darren Bazeley, then WaiBOP United coach Peter Smith and former Navy Blues coaching legend Allan Jones. Vila Bosch was brought to New Zealand by the Youth Football Development Trust, in collaboration with Auckland City FC, and ran coaching seminars in Auckland and Christchurch. His visit also symbolised the ongoing relationship between the Catalan giants and the ASB Premiership club. More here.

7. Moreira gets the Navy Blues out of a hole against Lae City Dwellers

Papua New Guinea football is on the rise and there was no keener reminder of that than the short, sharp, shock the Navy Blues got when they faced Lae City Dwellers in the OFC Champions League. In a group stage where winning and goal difference was absolutely key, it was imperative the Navy Blues get three points. Dae Woom Kim opened the scoring midway through the second half but the afternoon turned sour when Raymond Gunemba scored a beautiful goal from a free-kick with just four minutes to go. A draw would put Vanuatu side Amicale in pole position in the group and leave the defending champions scrambling for a semi-final spot. Enter Joao Moreira. The Portuguese striker has a strong scoring record in this competition and popped up with a much-needed winner with just a minute to go.

8. Navy Blues possession game undoes Amicale....eventually

It had Adam Dickinson's name written all over it - a big strong physical presence matched by a timely finish. When Amicale went 1-0 up thanks to a former Navy Blues FIFA Club World Cup legend, fans must've feared the worst in what shaped up as a must-win "quarter-final"-style final group stage match. Amicale saw very little of the ball with the Navy Blues possession stats at least 70-30 for much of the game and it was that lopsided stat that would prove the difference. Amicale held out bravely but when Darren White equalised with 14 minutes to play their shoulders sagged and it was no surprise when Joao Moreira and Ryan De Vries each scored in a bizarre final minute. Moreira's goal, which came courtesy of a bizarre clearance by former Bari goalkeeper Mauro Boerchio that struck a team-mate in the back, was a good laugh on an otherwise mostly nerve-shredding night, if nothing else. Check it out at 2mins, 06 secs.

9. FCB Escola

Another Navy Blues-FC Barcelona connection - the FCB Escola camps are rolled out at QBE Stadium during the OFC Champions League and set the bar high for future camps. The next FCB Escola camp comes to New Zealand in April 2017 and you can find out more about times, dates, cost and what to expect by visiting this link here.

10. Navy Blues players pick up professional contracts

The Navy Blues have a reputation for dominating regional and domestic competition but very little recognition for giving players a pathway to professional football. One player who managed that feat was defender/midfielder Michael Den Heijer. The former Kashiwa Reysol youth player came to Kiwitea Street for the OFC Champions League 2015 campaign and stayed with the club as the Navy Blues picked up the OCL and then ASB Premiership double. With opportunities for first team football limited, Den Heijer moved on with the club's blessing to pick up a contract with Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen. He joins other former Navy Blues players Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk) and David Browne (FC Groningen) in Dutch football.

11. Navy Blues make a splash at OFC Nations Cup

Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi plays a role for the All Whites as they take out the OFC Nations Cup in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. Hudson-Wihongi was a stand out for the Navy Blues as they wrapped up the OFC Champions League prior, but the 20-year-old is restricted to a handful of minutes in the Nations Cup but did come up against Auckland City FC team-mate Micah Lea'alafa. Lea'alafa and his Solomon Islands side turned in some impressive performances but lacked consistency to be a strong title contender but there was no doubt the influence of Navy Blues coach Ramon Tribulietx made a difference, particularly in the performance against New Zealand.

12. Navy Blues tame the Lilywhites to end the year with a Gridlock Derby win

There was no doubt about it - Eastern Suburbs AFC's inclusion in the Stirling Sports Premiership alongside Hamilton Wanderers and Tasman United has given the competition a much needed boost. That made the Navy Blues 1-0 win over the team known as the Lilywhites all the more satisfying. Emiliano Tade's retaken penalty was not comfortable viewing for some, but the importance of the goal can't be understated - Auckland City FC are notoriously vulnerable post-FIFA Club World Cup, so to beat one of your city rivals on their own turf in the final game of the year physically and mentally stretched was pleasing to supporters.

Goal to @AucklandCity_FC! 1-0 #ESvAC pic.twitter.com/K8VkYDBwMb
— Paul Harper (@pauljmharper) December 18, 2016

13. Goals, goals, goals versus Team Wellington

The 4-0 win over Team Wellington was as complete a performance as you can imagine and handed new coach Jose Figueira a second consecutive loss to ponder. Joao Moreira with two goals, Emiliano Tade and Ryan De Vries with the others handed the Navy Blues an impressive 4-0 victory. Since then, Team Wellington have recovered to sit top of the table as the calendar year flips over and perhaps illustrates just how important that first win could be within the context of the minor premiership race. Intriguingly, the defending champions host the Navy Blues at David Farrington Park in Wellington on January 8 with both teams having all to play for.

14. Enaut Zubikarai signs for the Navy Blues

A cursory glance at Enaut Zubikarai's CV is enough to convince anyone he's something special. Zubikarai is easily one of the bravest goalkeepers to pull on the Navy Blues jersey and was outstanding in the win over Eastern Suburbs AFC. His fearlessness in fronting strikers, particularly at point blank range, is something to behold and he still possesses an incredible athleticism. One of the Navy Blues key performers at the FIFA Club World Cup against Kashima Antlers, he also pulled off one of the saves of the season in the 1-1 draw with SC Sagamihara when he slammed a long range 35 metre dipping volley wide with an outstretched right arm. What made the stop even more impressive was his change of direction against a shot that dipped an swerved. Check out his double save against Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas below.

15. Navy Blues active in our Local community

The Navy Blues prides itself on its activities in the community and there was no shortage of giving in that sense - school visits to Dominion Road Primary, Wesley Primary, Wesley Intermediate, Good Shepherds Primary, Edendale Primary and engagement with Dairy Flat Primary Schools saw first team players Alfie Rogers, Clayton Lewis and Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi become familiar faces in the immediate catchment around the Kiwitea Street home ground. Over 1,000 children and parents clicked through the Kiwitea Street gates as the club continues to grow its local reputation as a relevant community asset. We also welcomed Mount Albert Ponsonby AFC to Kiwitea Street as we donated the Brian Stanyer Memorial Cup in memory of the late Brian Stanyer. A fantastic tribute to a top administrator and even better bloke.

VIDEO #NavyBlues duo @alfie_rogers & @Clayton_Lewis10 see some familiar faces at Wesley Intermediate #ACvCU @JacobSpoonley @AdamMcGeorge pic.twitter.com/uU4BsaVRjw
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) November 4, 2016

16. Auckland City FC active in the Pacific community

Undoubtedly the club's relationship with the Butterfly Trust continues to grow as the Navy Blues extend the hand of friendship and community to the people of the Pacific. The Butterfly Trust and Auckland City FC are in their fourth year of partnership and continue to contribute much to the needs of people in Vanuatu by way of education and community projects. This continues good work built over the years with similar intiatives undertaken by the club itself and first team players like Takuya Iwata in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in the past. This included cash donations to rebuild projects following cyclones and tsunamis, kit donations and clothes drives, amongst others.

17. Darren White, Takuya Iwata become dads

Time for a change of pace and time to acknowledge two Navy Blues favourites as they become fathers for the first time. Both fullbacks, both first names on the Navy Blues team sheet, Darren White and Takuya Iwata each welcomed new additions to their family and ours at different points in 2016. Iwata, most daringly, became a father while on tour during the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 and didn't meet his daughter until some time after December 8. Everyone connected with the Navy Blues wishes them both well in their journey as parents.

18. Navy Blues stage stirring comeback

Its not often a 2-2 draw finds its way onto a Top 20 list but there's no doubt about the courage, character and combative qualities shown by the Navy Blues when they came back twice against Team Wellington to snatch a valuable draw at David Farrington Park on 17 January. Bill Robertson blasted the capital men in front after just five minutes before Emiliano Tade levelled shortly after. Ben Harris nudged Team Wellington in front from the penalty mark on 15 minutes before Tade equalised again on 23 minutes. Things turned decidedly pear-shaped when Jacob Spoonley was sent off midway through the second half forcing Danyon Drake into the mix as the Navy Blues held on for an important point.

19. Give the ball to Ryan plus records, records, records

Ryan De Vries swept all before him in a season of distinction - the Navy Blues frontman picked up club Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, Keryn Jordan Memorial Award for Club Golden Boot and the Supporters' Player of the Year trophies to along with his ASB Premiership Golden Boot award. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi nabbed Young Player of the Year while Marko Dordevic was awarded Sportsman of the Year. Team records continued to be broken as the their seventh minor title overall. The club's trophy haul now reads FIFA Club World Cup bronze medal (1), OFC Champions League titles (8), OFC President's Cup titles (1), Stirling Sports Premiership titles (6), Stirling Sports minor premierships (7), Charity Cups (3) for a total of 26 trophies and honours for achievements on the field of play.

20. This brand new website

Modesty should forbid us from mentioning our own brand new website but we're so happy with it, it'd be rude not to, especially compared with what we worked with before. The analytics are very healthy by the way but we're keeping that to ourselves..!

21. What does your Top 20 look like for the calendar year of 2016?

All lists are subjective and not everyone agrees with everything they read - that's just the nature of lists. We don't pretend to be the authority on what should be a defining Top 20 so we cordially invite you to tell us what your best memories or Top 5, Top 10, Top 15 or Top 20 Navy Blues moments should be. All you need to do is head to our Facebook page here and add your ten cents worth in the comments below.

Ends