COACHES

2023 Pro Coaches

Paul Gothard - Head of Men's & Junior Football

OFC/NZF B, FA/UEFA Goalkeeping B, FFA L3 Advanced, AFC B and L2 Advanced Goalkeeper Licenses

Paul Gothard will be leading the charge for our Juniors and Men's areas of the club. Paul will also be Head Coach of the Premier Men's team.

Paul joins us for 2022 onwards, having been with the Wellington Phoenix on their coaching team. Prior to this, Paul has had various roles with NZF, Auckland City FC and was part fo the England C team through the 90's.

Dene Gilmore - Premier Women's Co-coach

Dene Gilmore is a football coach based in Auckland, New Zealand. He is currently head coach of the Northern Rovers Premier Women’s team as well as head coach of the Northern Rovers U14 Girls team. He has been involved with Northern Rovers since 2021, when the club was formed by the merger of Glenfield Rovers and Forrest Hill Milford United, and before that was a coach at Forrest Hill Milford United.

Dene has a wealth of experience and knowledge in coaching female footballers of all ages and levels. He has helped develop players who have gone on to play for elite pathways in New Zealand and overseas, such as Sarah Gregorius, Emma Kete, Kirsty Yallop and Ria Percival. He has also won several titles and awards with his teams, such as the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League in 2009 and the Sport Auckland Sports Team of the Year in 2008.

Dene is passionate about creating a positive and enjoyable environment for his players, where they can learn and grow as footballers and as people. He is always looking for new ways to improve his coaching skills and methods.

Dene is a respected and admired coach in the Auckland football community, and he is committed to supporting the development of female football at Northern Rovers and beyond.

Premier Men Head Coach

Paul Gothard

Premier Women's Co-coach

Jill Gilmore

Jill has been coaching female footballers for over a decade, and has achieved remarkable success with her teams. She has won six Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League titles and was named Sport Auckland Sports Team of the Year in 2008. She has also helped develop players who have gone on to play for elite pathways in New Zealand and overseas, such as Ria Percival, Betsy Hassett and Grace Vincent.

We are fortunate to have her coach our Women's Prem team and our U16 TDP Girls team this year.

U23 Men Head Coach

Andy Clay

Reserve Women Head Coach

Connor Westbury

Connor is an aspirational young coach working in the youth girls space. He has been coaching at Northern Rovers for the past 2 years and previously played for the club as a youth player.

Connor is also currently in charge of football at Northcote College where he oversees the football program. He has done so for the past 6 years. 

Coaching Highlights

  • Working with the Northern Rovers Youth National League team in 2022 as Assistant Coach

  • Northcote College 1st XI Boys Coach 2023

Coaching Qualifications

  • NZF/OFC C License (Working towards)

  • NZF Junior lvl 2

  • MEd - Thesis topic - Coach Development at NZF

  • Sport NZ - Coaching For Impact - 2 year coach development program

U17 Boys Head Coach

Freddi Gonzalo

U16 Girls Head Coach

Jill Gilmore

U15 Boys Head Coach

Dave Springer

U14 Girls Head Coach

Dene Gilmore

U14 Boys Head Coach

Guy Herve

U13 Boys Head Coach

Andy Andersen