North Wellington FC is excited to confirm our U19 Head Coaches for the upcoming Labour Weekend Tournament, taking place 25–27 October 2025 at Park Island in Napier.

We’re proud to announce Tate Macpherson as Head Coach of the U19 Boys and Ben Coom as Head Coach of the U19 Girls. Both bring strong leadership, deep experience, and a passion for player development that aligns with the club’s long-term vision.

Tate Macpherson to Lead U19 Boys

Tate, North Wellington’s Director of Football, will lead the U19 Boys squad after the conclusion of the winter season.

“I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be leading the U19 Boys as Head Coach at the upcoming Napier competition,” says Tate. “It’s a fantastic opportunity, and I’m genuinely excited to be working with such a talented and committed group of young athletes.”

With years of experience across professional youth environments, Tate brings a development-first mindset to the role.

“Those experiences have only heightened my passion for player development. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this group comes together—not just for this tournament, but as they continue to grow and develop in the seasons ahead.”

Player evaluation will take place over the coming weeks, with selections based on matchday performance and training contributions.

“I’ll be evaluating both current and past performances, as well as observing players during sessions and games. These insights will help shape our final preparations and squad selections.”

For any questions, players or families are welcome to contact Tate at directoroffootball@northwellingtonfootball.com.

Ben Coom to Lead U19 Girls

Ben Coom, Head Coach of North Wellington’s Women’s First Team, will take charge of the U19 Girls team for the Napier campaign, building on the exciting progress made across the women’s space this season.

“I’m delighted to share that I’ve been selected to lead the girls U19 team in this year’s Napier competition,” Ben says. “We’ve made so many positive internal steps forward. We have a young side, a team that’s hungry to do well, open to learning, and focused on progression.”

This season has also seen successful integration between the First Team and TDP environments, a foundation Ben believes will be key heading into the tournament.

“We’ve seen real progress and huge signs that we’re ahead of the curve in terms of our three-year plan. With the opportunities we’ve given TDP players to step into the first team, both learning and contributing, I’m very excited to continue this into the Napier competition.”

Final selections will be confirmed post-season, with a mix of current players and potential guest additions considered.

“Thanks to the hard work Kim and Tate have put in with the TDP side, and what we’ve built in the First Team, we’ll be in a fantastic position to compete, with a target of going deep into the competition.”

Ben can be contacted directly at womensheadcoach@northwellingtonfootball.com for any questions or further discussion.

What’s Next

Confirmed training schedules, key dates, and squad announcements will be communicated soon. We encourage players, families, and supporters to keep an eye on club channels for updates.

We look forward to a strong campaign in Napier and can’t wait to see both squads represent the club with pride.

Article added: Thursday 10 July 2025