Napier City Rovers Football Club

10/03/2025

💙⚽ Women in Football Month – Introducing Jill Wilson ⚽💙

Jill Wilson has been a dedicated part of Napier City Rovers since arriving in New Zealand in 1975. Over the years, she has taken on countless roles at the club, including captain of the women’s team, secretary, kitchen helper, bar helper – and the list goes on!

There aren’t many weekends where you won’t find Jill at Park Island, still enjoying the game she loves.

🔵 What first drew you to football?
"My Mum and Dad. They used to take me to watch Brighton boys when I was about 7. I used to stand on a box at the front of the terraces with a tin can filled with marbles to rattle."

Jill, thank you for your incredible contribution to the club and the game! 💙👏

10/03/2025

🔵⚪ Player Announcement – Kaeden Atkins Returns! ⚪🔵

We’re delighted to confirm that Kaeden Atkins is back for another season with Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers! 💙⚽

Kaeden made his debut in 2018 and has already hit an incredible 100 appearances for the club. A powerful, strong, and quick defender, he brings experience and leadership to the backline as we head into the 2025 season.

Great to have you back, Kaeden! Let’s go! 💪🔵⚪

09/03/2025

🔵⚪ Partnership Announcement ⚪🔵

The Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers are pleased to welcome back The Surveying Company HB for their second year as a valued partner! 🎉

Specialists in planning, surveying, and engineering, Nick, Seamus, and the team bring expert solutions to projects across the region. Their continued support helps us build a strong foundation both on and off the pitch!

Thank you, The Surveying Company, for being part of the Rovers family! 💙⚽

Check them out here 👉 thesurveyingcompany.nz

07/03/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Ben Wade is back in blue for The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers in 2025! 💙⚽

After a few seasons away, Ben returns to the club as an attacking player ready to give everything for the badge. His energy, skill, and passion will be a huge boost to the squad as we gear up for the new season.

Welcome home, Ben! Let’s go! 💪🔵⚪

07/03/2025

More preseason action is locked in for this Saturday, 8th March, as The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar National League and Reserves sides take the field!

📅 Saturday, 8th March
⏰ Both games kick off at 2PM
📍 National League side – Bluewater Stadium
📍 Reserves side – Bond 11

Get down and support the boys in blue as they continue their preparations for the 2025 season! 💙⚽

07/03/2025

We’re excited to welcome SIGNBIZ - Signage + Design + Print back for their second year as the official signage sponsor of The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers! 🎉

As a leader in branding activation and creative signage solutions, SignBiz continues to help bring our club to life with high-quality signage and branding. Their expertise and commitment to excellence make them a fantastic partner for Rovers!

For more details on their services, visit 👉 signbiz.co.nz

Great to have you on board again, SignBiz! 💙⚽

07/03/2025

We’re excited to confirm that Kyle Baxter will be continuing as part of the coaching team for The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers NZ National League side in 2025!

Kyle has recently achieved his OFC/NZF Goalkeeping C Licence, further strengthening his expertise and commitment to developing top-level goalkeepers. Congratulations, Kyle – a well-deserved achievement! 👏⚽

We’re thrilled to have Kyle back for another season and look forward to seeing his impact on the squad in 2025!

05/03/2025

🔵⚪️ Partnership Announcement ⚪️🔵

We are thrilled to welcome back PGC Constructors Limited as a valued partner for 2025 – marking their 5th year as a sponsor! 🎉

With a highly qualified and experienced team of quantity surveyors, project managers, and strategic design partners, PGC Constructors has played a key role in delivering commercial and residential projects across New Zealand, from social housing developments to large-scale commercial and industrial structures.

Led by Paul Bannister, Graham Scarfe, and their dedicated team, PGC Constructors is not only passionate about building strong foundations in the construction industry but also about helping Napier City Rovers create opportunities for the next generation of footballers.

Great to have you and the team back on board for another season, Paul and Graham! 💙⚽

Check them out here 👉 pgcconstructors.co.nz

05/03/2025

Pre season is well underway for The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers NZ National League side which means one thing….. our very own Neil Reid is back in action. Episode 1 for 2025 is here!

Summer's been all about wedding bells and hard graft in training for inspirational leader.

05/03/2025

💙 Celebrating Women in Football! ⚽🎉

March is all about celebrating the incredible women in football – from players and coaches to referees, volunteers, and passionate supporters who make the game what it is!

The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers will be sharing more stories and highlights throughout the month, so watch this space as we shine a light on the amazing women in our football community.

Stay tuned and join us in celebrating! 🙌💙

05/03/2025

🔵⚪ Mason Johnson Joins The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers 🔵⚪

We’re excited to welcome Mason Johnson to the Rovers for the 2024 season!

Mason, 19, from Hull, UK, brings a strong footballing background, having developed through the Hull City youth system before gaining valuable senior experience with North Ferriby FC in non-league football.

A versatile attacking option, Mason adds creativity and energy to our squad, and we can't wait to see him in action at Bluewater Stadium!

Welcome to Napier, Mason! 💙⚽

04/03/2025

Napier City Rovers is proud to announce that The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar is continuing as our Major Naming Rights Partner for the 8th consecutive season! 🏆💙

A huge thank you to Chris, Kerri and the team for their unwavering support. Their passion for football and the local community makes this long-standing partnership truly special.

Make sure you head down to The Thirsty Whale on West Quay in Ahuriri, mention Napier City Rovers when you arrive, and enjoy their fantastic hospitality. While you're there, don’t forget to leave a TripAdvisor review to show your support! 🍻⚽

Visit them here 👉 thethirstywhale.co.nz

Thank you, Thirsty Whale, from everyone at City Rovers! Here’s to another great season together!

04/03/2025

The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers is excited to welcome Harry Townsend to the club for the 2025 NZ National League season!

Harry, 23, from Truro, UK, is a talented goalkeeper set for his first season in New Zealand. He developed through the youth system at Plymouth Argyle before heading to the United States, where he played for Missouri State Bears.

At Missouri State, Harry linked up with current Rovers first-team player Matt Jones, forming a strong connection that will now continue in New Zealand. His experience and skill between the posts make him a fantastic addition to our squad.

Welcome to the Rovers family, Harry! 💙⚽

03/03/2025

We’re excited to announce that Ben Kent will be joining the Div 2 Women’s team as their new coach!
Ben’s journey with Rovers began in 2010, where he played for almost every team possible, driven by his love for the game. In 2016, he was awarded Club Member of the Year and won the coveted Concrete Cup, a moment he still holds dear to this day.
After spending the last seven years traveling around Europe, learning the ropes as a sparky, Ben has now decided that Hawke’s Bay is where he wants to call home. With a passion for football and a commitment to coaching, he’s ready to help guide the team forward and take on this new challenge.
Ben’s enthusiasm for the game is infectious, and while he’s eager to develop as a coach, he still proudly supports his second favourite football club in the world — Arsenal. As Ben always says, “You can take the boy out of North London, but you can’t take North London out of the boy!”
We’re thrilled to have Ben back in the Rovers fold, and we can’t wait to see what he brings to the Thirsty Whale Div 2 Women’s team! Trainings are every Tuesday from 6pm at Park Island, all welcome.

03/03/2025

The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers are excited to announce that Adam Turner and William Stanger will take on the roles of player-coaches for our Championship side in the upcoming season.

Both Adam and Will bring a wealth of National League experience and leadership to the squad. As senior players, they will play a crucial role in guiding and developing our younger talent, setting high standards both on and off the field.

Their experience, dedication, and passion for the game make them ideal role models, and we look forward to seeing them lead the team with skill and determination.

Join us in congratulating Adam and Will – we can't wait to see what the season holds!

28/02/2025

⚽ PRESEASON DOUBLE HEADER THIS SATURDAY! ⚽

It’s a football-filled Saturday at Park Island! We’ve got two exciting preseason matches you won’t want to miss:

🔥 The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar NCR National League Side vs PN United at Bluewater Stadium
🔥 The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar NCR Premiership Side vs PN United on Bond Field 10

📅 Saturday
⏰ 2:00 PM Kick-offs (Double Header!)

🎟️ FREE ENTRY – Come down and enjoy the game!
🍔 Refreshments & Snacks available in the clubrooms

Don’t miss the chance to see top-tier football as both sides go head-to-head in their preseason preparations. Perfect for fans of all levels! Bring your friends and family for an unforgettable day of football.

28/02/2025

The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers NZ National League team Season Launch will be held on the 22nd of March starting at 6:30pm at the Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar.

We are thrilled to kick off a brand new season filled with fresh opportunities, exciting announcements, and exclusive offers! Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, this launch is the perfect chance to experience what’s new and celebrate the start of something special.

If you would like to attend please RSVP to Will at [email protected] by the 7th of March.

27/02/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Jack Albertini will be returning for his third season with The Thirsty Whale Restaurant and Bar Napier City Rovers NZ National League side! Last season, Jack made his 50th first team appearance for the club, a remarkable milestone for such a young and talented player.

Jack is a versatile defender who can play anywhere along the back line, bringing strength, reliability, and agility to the team's defense. With a bright future ahead of him, we can't wait to see what he'll achieve in the upcoming season.

Let's all welcome Jack back to the squad for another exciting year at Rovers!