Fun Football is Northern Rovers FC's programme for 8 and 9 year olds, and for most players it's the step up from First Kicks into their first experience of team football. Under NZ Football's Whole of Football 2.0 framework, this age group plays 5v5 football with a goalkeeper on a smaller field, keeping the game fast, fun, and full of involvement for every player. Rather than travelling to other clubs on Saturdays, Grade 8 and 9 play in an in-house competition at Becroft Park, so the focus stays on learning the game in a familiar, low-pressure environment alongside other Northern Rovers families.
Grades and eligibility
Grades in football are determined by year of birth.
- Grade 8: players born in 2018
- Grade 9: players born in 2017
The format
Games are played Saturday mornings at Becroft Park on a 30m x 20m field, 5v5 with goalkeepers.
- Grade 8 kick off: 9am
- Grade 9 kick off: 10am
How Saturday works
Home teams are asked to arrive by 8.30am to collect the field pack (cones, balls, and GK gloves).
- 8.30am - Home team arrives, collects field pack from the equipment room
- 9.00am - Grade 8 kick off; Grade 9 warm-ups begin
- 9.00–9.20am - Warm-ups
- 9.20–9.35am - First half
- 9.35–9.40am - Half time
- 9.40–9.55am - Second half(Games must finish by five minutes to the hour to allow the next group to start.)
- 10.00am - Grade 9 kick off, following the same schedule
The last home team of the day is responsible for packing all equipment away. Goals should be stacked in three piles: two at the far end of the fields against the Tristram Ave fence beside the light towers, and one on the concrete pad to the west of the clubhouse. All cones, spot markers, and field markings return to the equipment room downstairs in the clubhouse.
Teams
We encourage players and parents to put a team of 7 together themselves, but if you're not able to, the club will organise teams based on school groups. Each team needs:
- 7 players
- 1 manager
- 1 coach/referee
Coach/referee: This is a hybrid role. You can be on the pitch with the players to help organise them, but we recommend staying toward the backline so you stay out of play.
Manager: Managers handle the admin during the week and assist the coach with substitutions on game day.
Grade Convenor: Each grade has a volunteer Grade Convenor who works alongside club staff and the Director of Football to keep things running smoothly. If you have any questions or concerns during the season, your Grade Convenor is your first point of contact.
Equipment
Each team will be provided with a gear bag containing 7 bibs, 10 cones, GK gloves, a whistle, POD certificates, and a bag of 7 balls for warm-ups and any mid-week team training.
Uniform
All players are required to wear the official club shirt and shorts, which can be purchased from our online shop or from the Lotto apparel shop on the lower floor of the McFetridge clubrooms. The shop will be open on Friday nights through May. A limited supply of second-hand shirts is available for $25.
Skill Centre
The Rovers Skill Centre is not compulsory but is strongly recommended. Sessions are fun-based with a focus on the core skills needed to play well and enjoy the game, and are run by our Skill Centre Manager alongside club-qualified coaches.
For Grade 8 and 9, sessions run 4.30–5.30pm. You can choose one or two sessions per week:
- Term 1: Monday and Friday evenings at Becroft Park
- Terms 2 and 3: Monday and Wednesday evenings at Becroft Park
All participants registered for the full year will receive a free training tee, which should be worn to all Skill Centre sessions. We ask parents to watch from the clubhouse or courtyard rather than pitchside, so players can concentrate fully and coaches have their full attention.
Talent Development Pathway
Northern Rovers FC is one of a select group of Auckland clubs holding an NRF Talent Development Programme (TDP) licence, giving our players a clear pathway to higher-level football alongside Auckland FC. The TDP formally begins at Grade 14, but our Director of Football and club coaches start looking from Grade 8 and 9 for players who show strong technical foundations, the right attitude, and the drive to develop. Players identified may be asked to train at a grade up and will need to be enrolled in the Skill Centre.
Registrations
Registrations are closed for the 2026 season, and will reopen in January. In the meantime, keep an eye out for our other programmes for this age group, including our Term 4 Skill Centre and School Holiday Programmes. Sign up to our club newsletter to stay in the loop.
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