Stage set for skipper’s final game

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 7 June 2024

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC captain Cam Howieson will play his final game for the club against local rivals Auckland United FC in Round 12 of the Northern League on Saturday afternoon at Kiwitea.

Following the match Howieson, who played 191 games and scored 42 goals for the Navy Blues, will join his New Zealand teammates for the All Whites OFC Nations Cup set to take place in Fiji and Vanuatu from June 15, before embarking on a new professional journey with A-League expansion club Auckland FC from next month.

The City skipper says the Dominion Road Derby is a fitting occasion to bid farewell to the club his teammates and the fans.

“Great way to go out, in a derby game so looking forward to that, really happy that I can play my last game at Kiwitea in front of family and friends and with the boys one more time to go out there and put the shift in and try to collect the win.”

Saturday’s match will be the tenth Dominion Road Derby with Auckland City FC winning seven matches so far while United recording two victories during the 2022 domestic season.

Meetings between these two sides are always keenly contested and highly anticipated affairs and Howieson is expecting another tough encounter.

“It will be no different to a usual derby, two great teams going at it, they obviously have a little bit of a young squad but a lot of quality in there so we won’t be taking this one easy, as we don’t with any games, we will prepare well, will watch the video footage and put our best team to go out there and try to collect three points.”

To mark Howieson’s final game Auckland City FC will be running a special competition and prize giveaway.

All junior and youth players who attend the Dominion Road Derby and design their own “Thank you Cam!” sign will receive a ticket to receive either a FREE hotdog/drink combo or a FREE hot chips/drink combo!

The best sign will receive Cam’s playing shirt from the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023.

MATCH DETAILS
Northern League R12
Saturday 8 June 2024
Auckland City FC vs Auckland United FC
Kiwitea St, Sandringham
Kick-off: 3:00pm

AC SQUAD: 1-Conor TRACEY (GK), 2- Mario ILICH, 3- Adam MITCHELL, 4-Christian GRAY, 7-Cam HOWIESON (c), 8-Gerard GARRIGA. 9-Angus KILKOLLY, 10-Dylan MANICKUM, 11-Ryan DE VRIES, 12- Regont MURATI, 13-Nathan LOBO, 16-Joe LEE, 18 - Areya PRASAD (GK), 19-Liam GILLION, 21- Adam BELL, 22-Tong ZHO, 23- Alfie ROGERS, 24-Joe WALLIS (GK), 25- Michael DEN HEIJER, 26-Rayan TAYEB, 27-Stipe UKICH.

COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
TECHNICAL: Adria CASALS
LOGISTICS: Keith COTON
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE