By Liam Higgins
After missing qualification to this year’s Men’s National League, Christchurch United will rebuild around their youthful squad.
In 2024, when United came third in the Southern League, it ranked the highest of all regional competition clubs for minutes played by those under 20.
Leading the rebuild is head coach Ryan Edwards, who has a track record for fostering young talent.
Edwards took over at Christchurch United after the 2023 side, led by head coach Paul Ifill, won an historic treble: Southern League, English Cup, and most notably, the Chatham Cup, New Zealand’s oldest club competition.
Ifill moved to Wellington Olympic and many of United’s experienced squad departed for pastures new, leaving behind a youthful side.
The club replaced Ifill with former Petone Football Club head coach and general manager Ryan Edwards.
Edwards was aware of the challenging task ahead of him when taking on the role, following some good conversations with Ifill.
“He knew a lot of players were leaving,” Edwards said.
“Even if he was to stay, he would’ve been in a similar sort of situation. I knew the model was about academy development and that there was a massive rebuild needed.”
Edwards’ Petone side was the youngest club side in the entire National League in 2023.
He also spent time as an academy coach at Wellington Phoenix and believes his time at Petone prepared him well for the United job.
“I walked into something not so dissimilar at Petone, where we basically didn’t have a squad because the last two years had been so bad on and off the field that most of the squad had left.
“I had to recruit in a much harder context, where a lot of people didn’t want to come to Petone. So, I am well used to this.”
Adding experienced players to his squad to help nurture this young crop of first team players is of huge importance to Edwards.
“A big part of learning is learning from role models and seeing the behaviours, mindsets and qualities that experienced quality players have.”
He mentions the likes of Joel Stevens and Travis Graham as fulfilling this role.
Stevens, a former All White, followed Edwards from Wellington, while Graham has played in the South African Premiership.
“Their ability to problem solve in games, to communicate and, importantly, to show up when times are tough, and having that resilience that young players need to learn quickly – I think it’s quite a big one.”
United academy manager, Jude Fitzpatrick, says it’s “pretty rewarding” to see former academy players perform for the first team and, in some cases, represent their country at youth level.
“It’s why you do your job. It’s the objective of the club to get a large proportion of our young, homegrown players into the first team space and beyond. It’s been awesome.”
Fitzpatrick also notes the impact these players have on the players in the youth teams.
“Last year, we had five players that had been at Christchurch United representing New Zealand under 17s. I know firsthand how much of a motivator that was.”
“They want to be the next one to train with the first team on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, and they come back and talk to their mates about how it went,” he said.
Malcom Hinman was a part of the Christchurch United Supporters club a few years after the club formed in 1970 and served on its board.
He was invited back to become a board member when Christchurch Football Academy merged with Christchurch United and was surprised to see United win the treble so soon after the merger.
Hinman is now the chairman of the Christchurch United Trust, a separate entity that aims to support youth in their sporting development. Despite the silverware last year, Edwards’ young side has left Hinman optimistic for what lies ahead.
“I think we’re building again with the difference that it’s all about our youth, bringing lads through the academy into that first team. That’s going to be the future, no doubt.”
Looking forward to the 2025 season, coach Edwards is optimistic about the team’s future.
“They have experienced a lot of highs and lows this year. You have to go through those lows to grow as an individual and as a team.
“So many of the lads had barely played … men’s football before [this season]. Next year, they’ll be much more prepared and resilient.”
Liam Higgins
Liam Higgins is a student journalist at the University of Canterbury.
This story was first published on September 25, 2024.
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