View source for Manawatu United

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2019}}
{{more footnotes|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox football club |
  clubname = Manawatu United |
  current  =  |
  image    = manawatu-utd.png |
  alt      = logo |
  upright  = 0.6 |
  fullname = Manawatu United |
  nickname = YoungHeart |
  founded  = 2004 |
  dissolved = 2015 |
  ground   = [[Memorial Park (Palmerston North)|Memorial Park]]<br/>[[Palmerston North]], [[New Zealand]] |
  capacity = 8,000 |
  chairman = Paul Barris |
  coach    = [[Stu Jacobs]]|
  league   = [[ASB Youth League]] |
  season   = 2010–11 |
  position = 8th |
  pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_white_shoulders|pattern_ra1=|
  leftarm1=009900|body1=009900|rightarm1=009900|shorts1=009900|socks1=009900|
  pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_white_shoulders|pattern_ra2=|
  leftarm2=FF0000|body2=FF0000|rightarm2=FF0000|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FF0000|
}}

'''Manawatu United''' (previously known as '''YoungHeart Manawatu''') was a [[soccer|football]] club based in [[Palmerston North]], New Zealand. It participated in the [[New Zealand Football Championship]], and fielded a youth side in the [[National Youth League (New Zealand)|National Youth League]]. Their home ground was [[Memorial Park (Palmerston North)|Memorial Park]].

In 2014, the team was renamed to Manawatu United.

== History ==
[[File:Performance chart nzsl YHM.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly ladder positions for YoungHeart Manawatu in NZ 1st division soccer]]
Manawatu United was formed in 2004, under the name YoungHeart Manawatu, to compete in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC). Based in Palmerston North, they were the sole franchise in the region.

In the inaugural NZFC season (2004–2005), Manawatu United finished bottom of the league.

However, in 2005–2006 they finished runner-up to champions [[Auckland City FC]] at the end of the regular season. In the finals, United lost both their playoff matches and exited early.

The 2006–07 season saw Manawatu United finish second again at the conclusion of the regular season, this time behind [[Waitakere United]]. United lost their preliminary final to Auckland and missed out on a spot in the [[OFC Men's Champions League|O-League]] as a result.

2007–08 was a somewhat disappointing campaign given the success of the previous two seasons. Manawatu United finished the regular season placed sixth on the table, well adrift of the playoffs.

A return to the playoffs came in the 2008/09 season, as United finished in third place in the condensed regular season. What followed was an emphatic two-goal victory in the first leg of a two-legged semi-final against [[Auckland City FC]] in [[Palmerston North]]. In the return leg Auckland used their home advantage equally as well to win 3–0, consigning Manawatu to a 4–3 defeat on aggregate and another missed grand final and [[OFC Men's Champions League|O-League]] appearance. Auckland went on to win the final.

2009–10 was a frustrating season for the Manawatu United faithful as the side finished in sixth place but only two points away from a playoff spot. Perhaps the highlight of the season was an unexpected 4–1 victory over [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] at [[Kiwitea Street]].

A bittersweet moment came during the 2010 off-season as standout young player [[Cory Chettleburgh]] signed a contract with professional [[Netherlands|Dutch]] club [[Sparta Rotterdam]]. This was a significant loss for the side as they looked to bounce back from a fairly disappointing campaign.

At the conclusion of the 2012–13 season the franchise didn't have their league license renewed and  were replaced by a New Zealand Under 20 squad [[Wanderers Special Club]] for the 2013–14 season although they retained a team in the ASB Youth League.

== Folding ==
Due to the ASB Youth League being reduced to only the 10 teams given licenses to the 2016–17 ASB Premiership, Manawatu United dissolved at the end of the 2015 ASB Youth League Season.

== Ground ==

[[Memorial Park, Palmerston North|Memorial Park]] was the home ground of Manawatu United. They had played at this ground since the 2008–09 season, having previously played their home fixtures at [[Arena Manawatu|Central Energy Trust Arena]]. Memorial Park has a capacity of approximately 8000 people.

== Squad ==
''2010–11''

{{football squad start}}
{{fs player|no=1|nat= NZL |name={{sortname|Matt|Borren|nolink=1}}|pos=GK}}
{{fs player|no=2|nat=New Zealand|name=Hamish MacKay|pos=DF}}
{{fs player|no=3|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Matt|Smith|nolink=1}}|pos=DF|other=Academy}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat= ENG |name=Jamie O´Connor|pos=DF}}
{{fs player|no=6|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Matthew|Kennedy|nolink=1}}|pos=DF}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat= SAM |name=Jared Curtis|pos=MF}}
{{fs player|no=8|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Nathan|Cooksley|nolink=1}}|pos=MF}}
{{fs player|no=9|nat=Vanuatu|name=[[Seule Soromon]]|pos=FW}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Adam|Cowan|nolink=1}}|pos=DF|other=Captain}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Hamish|Mackay|nolink=1}}|pos=DF|other=Academy}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=12|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Nathan|Morath|nolink=1}}|pos=FW}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Michael|McKnight|nolink=1}}|pos=MF|other=Academy}}
{{fs player|no=16|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Michael|Fraser|nolink=1}}|pos=FW|other=Academy}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat= NZL |name=Barry Lewis|pos=DF}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Benjamin|Wilkes|nolink=1}}|pos=GK}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Willy|Hodge|nolink=1}}|pos=MF}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Jared|Bloor|nolink=1}}|pos=FW}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Michael|White|Michael White (footballer)}}|pos=MF}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Khair|Jones|nolink=1}}|pos=MF}}
{{fs player|no=24|nat=New Zealand|name={{sortname|Graham|Cravan|nolink=1}}|pos=DF}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=Chile|name={{sortname|Pablo|Moya|nolink=1}}|pos=MF}}
{{Football squad end}}

== Staff ==

* Team Manager: {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Steve Green.
* Head coach: {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Stu Jacobs]].
* Assistant coach: {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Andy Sawyer.
* Goalkeeper coach: {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Steve Green.
* Physiotherapist: {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Rodney Brooks-Mann.
* General Manager: {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Neil Perry
* Sponsorship & Marketing Manager: {{flagicon|New Zealand}}

== Club Records ==
* '''All-time leading goalscorer:''' [[Benjamin Totori]] (33)
* '''Most goals in a season:''' [[Benjamin Totori]] (24 in 2006/07 season)
* '''Biggest win:''' 8–1 vs. [[Hawke's Bay United]], 2005/06 season
* '''Biggest loss:''' 0–8 vs. [[Team Wellington]], 2007/08 season

== Managers ==
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Shane Rufer]] (July 2006&nbsp;– June 2008)
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Bob Sova]] (July 2008&nbsp;– June 2011)
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Stu Jacobs]] (July 2011–15)

== Performance in OFC competitions ==
*[[OFC Men's Champions League|Oceania Club Championship]]: (1 appearance)
:: [[Oceania Club Championship 2006|2006]]&nbsp;– 3rd place&nbsp;– Won against [[Nokia Eagles]] {{flagicon|FIJ}} 4&nbsp;– 0 (stage 4 of 4)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
! Competition
! Round
! Club
! Home
! Away
! Position
|-
|rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | [[2006 OFC Club Championship|2006]]<ref>{{cite web |title=2006 OFC Champions League - Oceania |url=https://int.soccerway.com/international/oceania/ofc-champions-league/2006-new-zealand/group-stage/r4732/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref>
|rowspan="5" | [[OFC Men's Champions League|OFC Club Championship]]
|rowspan="3" | Group B
| {{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Nokia Eagles]]
| colspan="2;" style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;" | 2–2
| rowspan=3; style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;" {{won|'''1st'''}}
|-
| {{flagicon|NCL|french}} [[AS Magenta|Magenta]]
| colspan=2; style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;" | 3–0
|-
| {{flagicon|VAN}} [[Tafea FC|Tafea]]
| colspan=2; style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;" | 1–0
|-
| Semi-finals
| {{flagicon|TAH}} [[A.S. Pirae|Pirae]]
| colspan=3; style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;" | '''1–2'''
|-
| Third place play-off
| {{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Nokia Eagles]]
| colspan=3; style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;" | '''4–0'''
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060419061045/http://www.nzfc.co.nz/ New Zealand Football Championship] (official league site) (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070112043408/http://www.youngheart.co.nz/ Official website] (archived)
*[http://www.ruahineafc.co.nz Youth Soccer Palmerston North]
{{New Zealand Football Championship}}

[[Category:Association football clubs in Palmerston North]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2004]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Sport in Manawatū-Whanganui]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:2015 disestablishments in New Zealand]]