Work with the best. Become the best.

The Waikato Football Academy is about taking young players and developing their strengths and weaknesses to become the next All White or Football Fern. We focus on young player development and team work to align with school football. 

The Academy’s History

Waikato Football Academy started approximately 10 years ago initially, with a successful junior program for 5-12 year olds. These programs were previously based at Southwell School,  St Paul’s and Tamahere Model School.  Programs in Matamata and Hamilton Wanderers commenced shortly after. Youth programs were also run at Porritt Stadium with Hamilton Wanderers, before teaming up with Claudelands Rovers to consistently develop players towards Federation Youth Leagues. We have proudly seen many of our junior player’s progress from the Academy to selection for WaiBOP Rep programs.  

Notable players

The Waikato Football Academy team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from great coaching, mentoring and academy management.  The goal of Waikato Football Academy is to develop the skills of these players which could lead to opportunities overseas.  We have had players who have been under our coaching achieve these goals – we assisted James Davies and Dominic Edwards in their trials and subsequent contracts with Torquay Academy and Henry Crayton with his university scholarship in America.

Director of Football

Waikato Football Academy’s director, Mark Cossey is a former All White and former Head Coach of Hamilton Wanderers FC Northern Premier League and Stirling Sport National League team.  With over a twenty year playing career, Mark was a prolific National League goal scorer for Waikato United, North Shore United and Melville United.  Mark has been running player development programmes in the Waikato for over fifteen years and has worked with the regions most talented players including Chris Wood, Marco Rojas and Logan Rogerson.  Mark is a New Zealand UEFA B Coaching License holder and currently the Head Coach for the Claudelands Rovers Mens 1st team. 

 

“When there is EFFORT, ATTITUDE and DESIRE….nothing is impossible”

– Lionel Messi