Chairman’s Message

Dear Members,

As the season draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been another memorable year for our club.

First and foremost, congratulations to our Women’s Conference side, who have been crowned back-to-back league champions with three games to spare. This is a remarkable achievement and a true reflection of their dedication and commitment. We now look forward to hosting Lakes from Rotorua in three weeks’ time for the end-of-season playoff, where our ladies will compete for a place in the Championship.

While results have not always gone our way for the Men’s First Team, their determination remains unwavering. They now face a crucial six-point clash this Saturday against Mangere AFC, and I encourage everyone to show their support. Across the club, our community teams continue to perform strongly, with several still pushing for top-three finishes. Meanwhile, our Women’s Reserves proudly sit at the top of their league with games still to play — another outstanding achievement.

Off the field, we’ve made significant strides. We renewed our lease with Auckland Council, securing the long-term future of our home, while also strengthening our partnership with the Bill McKinlay Trust. Together, we’re preparing some exciting close-season projects that you’ll read more about in this newsletter.

A very special mention must go to the HART team, who this year celebrate an extraordinary 50 years of service to the club. Such loyalty and dedication are rare, and on behalf of all members, I thank you sincerely for your tireless contributions, both on the field and in executive roles over the decades.

It has also been refreshing to see the energy brought by our Kickstarters programme and the growth of our 12th Grade side, both of which have added a great vibrancy to the club. Looking ahead, I am delighted to confirm that this year we will be hosting a collective end-of-year prizegiving, a fantastic opportunity to come together as one club and celebrate everyone’s achievements.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ben, our long-serving caretaker, who has kept BMK in fantastic condition over many years. We wish him every success in his new adventures overseas.

As the season winds down, I wish you all the very best. I look forward to seeing many of you around the club in the coming weeks, and of course at our prizegiving.

Warm regards,Jason LynchChairman

Prizegiving

It’s nearly time for the Annual Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC Prizegiving! This is always one of the highlights of the year, and we encourage all teams and members to attend so we can celebrate together.

📅 Date: Saturday, 11th October 2025⏰ Time: 7:00 PM📍 Location: Bill McKinlay Park (Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC Clubrooms)

The club will be in touch with team managers regarding award categories and nominations.

Fines

A reminder that each player is responsible for their own fines. There are still a number of outstanding fines to be cleared — please ensure these are settled as soon as possible.

Executive Committee

There’s a myth that joining the Executive Committee means taking on a huge workload. In reality, this has changed significantly in recent years.

We are now looking for new committee members to help guide the club through an exciting period of growth and change. If you are interested, please reach out to:

📞 Jason Lynch – 027 508 5595

Under 19 Tournament

We again will be attending the prestigious under 19 Tournament in Napier. We are excited by the group of players that have been chosen to represent the club.

We wish David Hernandez and his management team all the best with preparations over the coming weeks.

Bill McKinlay Park Upgrades

Bill McKinlay Park, overseen by our partners at the Bill McKinlay Trust, continues to hold a special place in our club’s history. Over 20 years ago, we became one of the first clubs to move from natural grass to a turf pitch — a landmark moment in New Zealand football.

That pioneering turf has now reached the end of its life. In December 2025, work will begin on a brand-new state-of-the-art turf, ready for the 2026 season. Alongside this, a full floodlight upgrade will also be completed.

 In conjunction with this exciting project the new land lease for Bill Mckinlay Park Incorporates the extended land into the car park by the railroad tracks- This paves the way for further development of the ground and future growth of the club.

These upgrades will ensure our facilities remain among the very best in New Zealand — an exciting step forward for the club and wider football community.

Article added: Wednesday 03 September 2025