Club Notables
This page is dedicated to the players that have represented our club over the years, whether they've grown up in the region or come from overseas to play for us. And while we recognise that many players have gone to play in the Mainland Premier League for Nelson Suburbs, this page is really designed to highlight those who have moved away from the region to play at higher levels either in New Zealand or around the world.
We are proud of our development programmes and like to think we've had an influence and impact on these players in some way while they were in our club.
We will keep this page as up to date as we possibly can with news about these players as we receive it.
We are proud of our development programmes and like to think we've had an influence and impact on these players in some way while they were in our club.
We will keep this page as up to date as we possibly can with news about these players as we receive it.
Jeremy Brockie
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Jeremy Brockie is a New Zealand footballer who now plays for SuperSport United in the South African Premier Football League. He has represented NZ at senior international level and at the Olympic Games.
Jeremy started playing football at Richmond as a junior, and then went to play for Nelson Suburbs in the Mainland Premier League. He has also played for the NZ Knights, Sydney FC, North Queensland Fury, Newcastle Jets and the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. In the 2012/13 season for the Phoenix, Jeremy scored 16 goals in 25 appearances and then had a season with Toronto FC in the MLS League. Jeremy remains our clubs Boys Ambassador of Football. |
Emily Jensen
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Emily Jensen left nelson in 2014 and spent the year in Auckland working and training with the NZ U20 women's football team. The full time intensive focus paid off when they made it through to the quarter finals at the FIFA U20 womens world cup which was held in Canada.
In 2015 Emily got offered a four year scholarship to Santa Clara University in California where she currently studies and represents the college at football. Emily is our Girls Ambassador of Football. |
Michael White
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Michael White was born in Wales and started his football in NZ for Richmond. In 2005 he joined Canterbury United for the NZ National League and in 2006 joined the NZ Knights in the A-League.
In 2007 Michael moved back to Wales and joined Rhyl FC in the Welsh Premier League where he finished top goal scorer. Michael moved back to NZ in 2009 and has played for various clubs including Nelson Suburbs in the Mainland Premier League, and for clubs in the NZ Central and National Leagues. |
Furkan Kokcu
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Furkan Kokcu grew up playing football in Nelson and played many of his junior years with Richmond Athletic AFC.
In 2012 Furkan joined the Wellington based Ole Football Academy, where he trained and studied full time until January 2015. He was then accepted on a four year scholarship to attend New Jersey Institute of Technology New Jersey, USA. Furkan is currently playing in the NCAA Division 1 league with his NJIT team and studying Business Finance. |
Jordan Yong
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In 2010 Jordan Yong came to NZ to play football for Richmond, and was part of the memorable Chatham Cup Round 2 winning team that beat Nelson Suburbs 2 - 1.
In 2011 Jordan was offered a contract with Kings Lynn Town FC, so returned to the UK. In 2017 Jordan returned to Nelson and plays for Nelson Suburbs in the Mainland Premier League and also for Tasman United in the New Zealand National Premiership League. |
Sam Mason-Smith
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Sam Mason-Smith is another English player that came to NZ to play for Richmond, and after leaving at the end of the 2011 season, moved to Wellington to further his football. He signed for Team Wellington in the National League and also played for Miramar Rangers in the Central League, and had a season with the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.
Sam currently plays for Hawkes Bay United in the New Zealand National Premiership League. |
Ben Harris
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Ben Harris moved to NZ in 2015 from UK club Hampton & Richmond Borough, who compete in the Isthmian League (which is tier 7 and 8 in the English football pyramid), because his Mum lives in Auckland. Ben had however met current Richmond 1st team coach Matt Campbell, and was interested in spending some time in Nelson where he ended up signing for Richmond.
After scoring more than a goal a game while with the club (with 4 goals in 10 minutes against Nelson College in one match), Ben landed a contract with Team Wellington in the ASB National Premiership League. In June 2017 Ben travelled home to the UK after spending 2 and a half years here. Over that time he had some pretty special statistics: 2015 (RAFC - Local 1st Division) - Played 6 matches, scored 14 goals 2015/2016 (Team Wellington - National League) - Played 12 matches, scored 13 goals (finsihed season as Golden Boot and National League Champions) 2016 (Miramar Rangers - Central League) - Played 14 matches, scored 19 goals (Managers Player of the Year, Players Player of the Year, Golden Boot) 2016/2017 (Team Wellington - National League) - Played 16 matches, scored 15 goals (runner up Golden Boot and National League Champions) 2017 (RAFC - Local 1st Division) - Played 3 games, scored 9 goals We wish Ben all the very best for whatever he does next and look forward to seeing him back in NZ one day in the future. . |