Our Team

Bobby Almond

Chairman

Born in London 1952
Emigrated to NZ in 1973

 

Involved with Football in Playing, Administration and Coaching capacity from 1973 to 2004.

Founder member of Centre Circle in 1999 
Board Member for 12 years.

 

Current Occupation: Customer Service Representative
Previous Business Career: Business Manager for Caltex NZ Ltd for 25 years

 

Favourite Team: Manchester United and soft spot for Millwall

 

Reason for Joining: Absolutely the right thing to do, given what football has done for me.

Graeme Archer

Treasurer

Born in Christchurch 1960

 

Played football from 5-50 years old.

Coaching and administration for many years

 

Occupation: Builder

 

Favourite Team: Arsenal

 

Reason for Joining: For the love of the game

 

 

Shane Goldfinch

Board Member/Secretary

Born in Northland 1964

 

Has been involved in some capacity as a volunteer, committee member, consultant and administrator throughout

 

Favourite EPL team: West Ham Utd​​​​​​

Favourite A-League team: Wellington Phoenix

 

Reason for Joining: I am motivated to give back to football after it has given me so much.

Sue Griffin

Board Member

Born in Fairlie, grew up in Dunedin

 

Occupation: 28 years in HR management in Christchurch & Auckland

2013-2024 – alcohol licensing committee & Commissioner for Selwyn, Ashburton & Kaikoura. Ministry of Justice advisory group for update of sale/supply alcohol Act 2022-2024

2015-2019 Christchurch District Court Bail team, JP since 1989

 

Raised with rugby, interest in football began with my 2 sons & their dad at Halswell United 

CFA President in 1995-6, put in place board/CEO structure 

Life member CFA/Mainland Football

Joined NZ Football board 2013 - headed NZF Womens’ Committee, head of delegation to WWC 2015 in Canada, NZF rep U20 WC games/final in 2015, delegate to FIFA Congress in Mexico City, achieved naming of NZF Womens’ Knockout Cup – as the Kate Sheppard Cup.

 

Reason for Joining: Learned of Centre Circle through Steve Sumner. Raising funds to benefit junior football particularly is part of my giving back to football.

John Hanson

Board Member

Born in Bradford UK

Came to NZ in 1985 to play for Christchurch United

Emigrated to NZ 1986

 

Occupation: Logistics manager

 

Favourite Team: None in particular but always a soft spot for Bradford City

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Reason for Joining: Love football, good cause, and a great way of keeping in touch with football mates.

 

 

 

Alan Stroud (Stroudy)

Board Member

Born in Aberdeen came to NZ when I was a wee bairn.

 

Grew up on the North Shore then varsity in Dunedin doing Phys Ed played for Dunedin City before moving to Christchurch where I joined Western and then Christchurch United then to Rangers AFC.

First game for Canterbury at English Park in 1985 against the All Whites playing up front with Kevin (0 – 0 ), played The All Whites again later in the year this time back in goal for a 1 -1 draw.

 

Last game for Canterbury against Otago in 2003 and have been involved ever since as goalkeeping coach.

 

In and out of the All Whites from 1986 – 1996 last game in 1995 v Paraguay (2 – 3 ) at the national stadium in Santiago, Chile.

 

Married to Helen with Ben, Georgia and Lucy, three wonderfully sporty grown up kids.

Occupation: Taught Phys Ed at Mairehau High School then Sales Rep for Lion Breweries for 16 years before buying into O’Shea’s Public House where I am the publican.

Reason for Joining: I have been on the Centre Circle since it’s reconception, it is great fun with a great bunch of people doing good things to help out our football community.

Eddie Cropley

Board Member

Born in Dunedin 1967.

 

Played junior football for Dunedin City, senior football for Dunedin Technical AFC, Burnside AFC, Napier City Rovers and currently playing masters for FC TWENTY 11.

 

Have been involved in some capacity as a volunteer, coach, committee member and administrator throughout.

 

Favourite EPL team: Liverpool.

 

Favourite A-League team: Wellington Phoenix.

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Reason for Joining: I am motivated to help more young people engage in football.  

Neil Hinton

Board Member

Grew up in Rotorua (1st club Rotorua City), then moved to Christchurch to study.

 

Played Club football for UC Football, Woolston and Rangers plus that briefly resurrected National League team in the mid/late 90's.

 

Been away from Football for a few years (decades) but now keen to get back involved - my body is far too fragile to play!

 

Lifelong Tottenham sufferer (COYS!)

 

Andy Doherty

Board Member

Born in Christchurch 1969

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Rangers junior.

 

Played senior Football at Technical before moving to Melbourne.

 

Returned to Football playing Masters for O'Shea's 11 and have now joined the Coastal Spirit Board.

 

Married to Karyn with two daughters Jacqueline and Caitlin.

Occupation: GM Canterbury Basketball.

 

Favourite Team: Newcastle.

 

Reason for joining: Bobby & Stroudy and our joint love of Football.