Phoenix Academy Continues Strong Season with Victory Over Wrexham
Wellington, New Zealand – The Wellington Phoenix academy is experiencing a highly successful period, highlighted by a recent 1-0 victory over Wrexham. this win underscores the academy’s commitment to developing young talent and providing a clear pathway to professional football.
The Phoenix academy, established in 2013 by the Welnix group, has grown significantly as its inception. What began with a single men’s youth team and a small staff has evolved into a comprehensive program at Fraser Park, featuring eight age-group sides and over 25 dedicated staff members, including leading New Zealand coaches, sport scientists, physios, and analysts. It is now recognized as the country’s largest privately-run academy.
The academy’s success is evident in recent achievements. In early july, the Phoenix U-15 boys’ team clinched the Christchurch International Cup, while the women’s reserves secured the Kelly Cup, awarded to the top-performing women’s team in Capital Football competitions. Looking ahead, the women’s reserves are set to compete against Cashmere Technical for a spot in the Kate Sheppard cup final, and both the U-18 women and men’s reserves are contending for top-two finishes in their respective Central Leagues.
A key aspect of the academy’s philosophy is its “if they’re good enough, they’re old enough” approach to player selection, a principle championed by the club’s leadership. this has lead to opportunities for academy players to feature in the first team, with liv Ingham being the first female player to join the academy in 2021. The academy now comprises five men’s teams (U-14, U-15, U-16, U-18, and U-20) and three women’s teams (U-16, U-18, and U-20), offering what the club states is the sole high-performance pathway for young female footballers in New Zealand.
All eight academy teams participate in Capital Football competitions during the winter months, with the two reserve teams competing in the National League Championship each spring. The Wellington Phoenix demonstrates a significant investment in its academy, exceeding that of any other A-League club. This investment has facilitated the professional aspirations of numerous young New Zealand footballers, with notable alumni including Liberato Cacace, Sarpreet Singh, Macey Fraser, Alex Paulsen, Ben Old, and Finn Surman. Currently, half of the players in the Phoenix’s men’s and women’s first teams are academy graduates, with eight women and ten men having progressed through the club’s high-performance pathway.
The match against Wrexham, played on Saturday, July 19, 2025, saw the Wellington Phoenix secure a 1-0 victory with a goal from Luke Flowerdew in the 49th minute. This result further solidifies the academy’s reputation for developing talent and achieving success on the field.
