The A-League’s newest club, Auckland FC, have signed their second goalkeeper, adding Eastern Suburbs’ Joe Knowles to their growing squad.
Knowles (19) was the first-choice goalkeeper for Auckland National League club Eastern Suburbs for the past two seasons, helping them reach the Chatham Cup final in 2022.
His previous clubs include Melville United and Bay Olympic, and he has played for New Zealand at U-17, U-19 and U-23 levels, and was a member of the national squad that won the 2023 OFC Men’s Olympic qualifier tournament in Auckland.
In early 2024, he had a brief spell with Sydney-based St George City who play in the NSW National Premier League.
His move was helped by the Lee Fratelli agency, based in Auckland/Sydney.
Main photo: Joe Knowles makes a save for Eastern Suburbs against Auckland United in the Northern League. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Knowles and All Whites goalkeeper Michael Woud will work with recently-recruited goalkeeper coach Jonathan Gould.
READ MORE: Michael Woud among first Auckland FC signings >>>>
READ MORE: Auckland FC recruit former Phoenix staffer Jonathan Gould for coaching role >>>>
Knowles’ signing brings to 19 the number of players contracted to the A-League newcomers.
Auckland FC signings
Goalkeepers
- Michael Woud (25), goalkeeper, most recently with Japanese club Kyoto Sanga, and six caps for the national team.
- Joe Knowles (19), goalkeeper, signed from Eastern Suburbs, and New Zealand age group international.
Defenders
- Hiroki Sakai (34), defender, Japanese international previously with J-League’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
- Callan Elliot (24), full back, former Wellington Phoenix player whose last club was Scotland’s Motherwell, and has played three full internationals for New Zealand.
- Scott Galloway (29), full back, an Australian U-23 international and former Wellington Phoenix player who joins from Melbourne City.
- Francis De Vries (29), left back, joins from Eastern Suburbs and six appearances for New Zealand.
- Dan Hall (25), centre back, joins from treble-winning Central Coast Mariners.
- Tommy Smith (34), defender, pro career with clubs in the UK and United States, and 55 caps for New Zealand.
Midfielders
- Jake Brimmer (26), midfielder, Australian age-group international and former Johnny Warren Medal winner who has left Melbourne City to join Auckland.
- Joey Champness (27), winger, joins from Turkish club Adnaspor, and has nine caps for New Zealand.
- Cam Howieson (29), midfielder, long-time captain of OFC Champions League winners Auckland City, and 20 caps for the All Whites.
- Jesse Randall (21), left wing, joins from national champions Wellington Olympic, and has six caps for New Zealand.
Forwards
- Max Mata (23), striker, overseas experience in Switzerland, Estonia, Ireland and UK, with 14 appearances for the All Whites.
Scholarship signings
READ MORE: The future of Auckland FC — the young players signed on scholarship contracts >>>>
- Adama Coulibaly (19), midfielder/defender, signed from Western Springs. He’s been included in the New Zealand team for the OFC Men’s U-19 Championship in July.
- Luis Toomey (22), attacking midfielder, signed from Eastern Suburbs. Formerly with the Wellington Phoenix youth set-up, he spent six months with Finnish club Pallo-Iirot.
- Liam Gillion (21), winger, signed from Auckland City. Gillion joined Auckland City after playing junior football for Manurewa and youth football for Wellington’s Western Suburbs.
- Finn McKenlay (18), midfielder, signed from Eastern Suburbs. Previous clubs include Birkenhead United, East Coast Bays and Onehunga Sports. Selected for the national team for July’s OFC Men’s U-19 Championship.
- Oliver Middleton (18), midfielder, signed from Auckland United, where he has come through the club’s academy. Another selected for the national team for the OFC Men’s U-19 Championship.
- Jonty Bidois (19), forward, signed from Tauranga City. One of the leading goalscorers in this season’s Northern League, he played for Christchurch United in last year’s Men’s National League.
About Auckland FC
Auckland FC is majority owned by Texas billionaire Bill Foley, with former All Black Ali Williams and businesswoman Anna Mowbray as local co-owners.
Known as the Black Knights, Auckland FC will play their home games at Mt. Smart’s Go Media Stadium when the 2024-25 season starts in October 2024.
The 2024-25 Isuzu-UTE A-League season kicks off in October and Auckland FC inaugural season memberships are now on sale at the club’s website.
Auckland FC is the latest club in Foley’s growing sports portfolio, which also includes AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League, a significant investment in FC Lorient of France’s Ligue 1, and Hibernian FC in the Scottish Premier League.
The club will enter the Liberty A-League women for the 2025-26 season.
This story was first published on July 29, 2024.
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