2024 - Rowan Cicero

Rowan has been a big presence at BBAFC for well over 14 years, 10 of which he was playing, 7 coaching and has been on the Exec since 2018, he was elected President in 2022, of which he held for two fabulous years.  He stopped playing then with the demand of extra duties, to focus all his energy on the management and operations to ensure a sustainable pathway for all our members.

Rowans passion and vision for BBAFC was to establish a culture of belonging and ownership amongst the players, coaches and supporters, he has succeeded immeasurably as this culture starts from the top and filters down through to the grassroots.

In his time as president, Rowan single minded drive to ensure that whatever we do as a club, it is aimed at providing a great football experience to each and every club member.  He has overseen a positive change in the culture of the club as a result.

Rowan works tirelessly year-round, but especially during the winter football season, as he heads the setup crew for our In-house competition every Saturday Morning, often he’s at LEP by 6.30am, and is constantly watching over the day, following up and ensuring things are done for pre-game and post-game setup.  During the week he liaised with Council to ensure fields are mown and marked, co-ordinated with the HPCC Manager, and is in contact with our representative at NRF.

Rowan encapsulated the essence of what BBAFC strives for, and his enthusiasm infects all he comes in contact with.  

2023 - David Pasco

David’s BBAFC journey began in 2004 as a side-line parent before becoming manager for his son Harrison’s team in 2005 & 2006.  He was given the coaching reigns in 2007 where he coached the team to a Division 2 title in his first season in charge.  2011-2013 saw David form a lethal coaching partnership with previous Committee Member, Paul Mackenzie in the U17s and eventually U19s where they led their team to victory, winning two titles in three fantastic seasons, before he joined the famous 040s Thunderbirds as a player. David then captained the Thunderbirds who have now won two Division Titles in 2014 & 2019. He also trains with and has featured in several games for the Senior Mens Div 3 Phins in recent years.

David’s time on the BBAFC Exec Committee stems back to 2010 where he held the Treasurer role for a decade. He had a small break in 2021 before being nominated for the Vice President role heading into 2022, at which time he was recognized and awarded our Prestigious Yellow Jacket, which is the highest accolade award at BBAFC, only three recipients have come before him.  It shows overall dedication, loyalty, love and honour to the club as a whole.  David dedicates many hours to BBAFC and has done for countless years, he teamed up with the club President last year to drive the passion and vision for BBAFC towards a culture of belonging and ownership amongst the players, coaches and supporters.  Together they have overseen a positive change in the culture of the club as a result.

2021 - Andrew Pullar

Andy first turned up at Bucklands beach with his son Angus in 2007, and started coaching another son Riley in 2009.  Come 2010 he was coaching 2 sons Locky and Riley.  He continued coaching Riley for 9 years through to 2017.

It was in 2010 that Andy took on the role of Junior Convenor overseeing junior teams, playing draws, field setups, tournaments, equipment.  A role he held for 10 years.  In 2011 he was appointed to the Executive Committee that oversaw the running of the whole club.

In 2018 Andy was appointed President of BBAFC overseeing all aspects of the club.  He tirelessly worked away many years a lot of the time what he did was unseen, things just got done. Last year he retired as the President with over 15 years of outstanding service to the club. He was this presented with a Life Membership in honour of all he has done. 

Over that time key milestones were achieved:

• Doubling of player membership to over 1200 players in 2021
• Development of our senior men’s first team playing in the NRLF competition
• Excellent relationship with Howick Pakuranga Cricket in the sharing of their clubrooms
• Relocation to Lloyd Elsmore Park for in-house and senior football
• Developing key partnerships with the likes of Adidas and sponsors.
• Implementation of a new on-line registration system

In closing such a humble man that worked tireless and diligently for the club, so very appreciated.

2020 - Paul MacKenzie

There is only ONE Paul MacKenzie...

2019 - David Parker

David Parker was an intrugral part of the development of the women's space at BBAFC.  David initially was coaching just his son Jamie and an unruly but talented mob, as they passed through the 8, 9 and 10th grade alongside fellow coach Mike Nevines. (That initial group included BBAFC alumna Jacqui Hand, now a Football Fern, who we managed neither to ruin nor put off football forever!! Also Jack Nevines and Ethan Butler who went on to senior football at the club).

David took on the girls at 13th grade, including daughter Charlie, as they moved en bloc from Fencibles.  When the girls finished 17th grade it was ‘do we give up or play senior football’ and most wanted to carry on if they could and were still in Auckland. So the Junior Prizegiving recruitment 'mum' drive began.  David started a ‘new to football’ group mainly Mums of BBAFC kids, for a 6 week never-played-before summer intro to the game on the brand new turf at William Green. (This was repeated each summer for a few years and over 100 ladies gave football a go). Also entering a couple of women’s only teams in the summer 7-a-side mixed comp at Fencibles each year and that was where the BBAFC Vixens name was first born (most people will have forgotten that’s where the name first came from). 

In 2014 the first senior womens team was entered into the AFF Div4 League, with a team of mixed ages 16 to 45, including two mum-daughter combinations, resulting during the season in a 6-1 win over Clendon at Roger’s Park.

2015 numbers rose and two teams were fielded, training together as one squad, Wednesday evenings at William Green Domain. The coaching team doubled to two with Kim White asissting David and taking the second team to games, plus the occasional guest appearances (Rowan Cicero). Without any other advertising or recruitment other than our own BBAFC mums each year, numbers grew through word of mouth including getting a regular supply of American and German nannies working in East Auckland!!

"BBAFC was so supportive - They WERE the women’s senior first team, and the club treated the group as such.  Sunday morning Rogers Park fixtures were just brilliant, with food in the Pav after the game.  With that one team we won promotion from Div 3, and then with numbers increasing and fielding two teams we were in  Div 2 and Div 4, the latter of which were at that time bottom of the table, winless and officially the worst team in Auckland Women’s football. But we always said we were better footballers than those who weren’t even bothering and if we kept practising and learning that would change. Sure enough, the milestones came - a first goal, a first point, a first win, then a seemingly miraculous but in my mind inevitable 5 game winning streak, celebrated in exactly the same way as the games where the ladies finished on the other side of the score line. From one end of the spectrum to the other though, a sense of fun, a fierce determination to learn and be better, and enjoying and supporting each other, just by being part of it, just being a true team and playing football, and a love of being all that. Plus some great end of season parties!  I was so proud of both teams, but my proudest coaching moments were watching that perhaps somehow unexpected Div 4 group grow and develop, build friendships and ties that continue to this day, even with former players now retired or moved back to the US or on to Australia or playing for other cubs but still loving football. Just look at the comments on socials for everyone still connected.  That’s what football should be about, and that’s why I stayed away from outside recruitment of players and aims for a higher-level team for the club. Not because they aren’t laudable aims, but because I loved what this group were creating. And I still love that I was/am part of that particular element of what BBAFC provides in the community I called home for 22 years and miss every day. What a time we had……              "   David P