Club Update | Roger Bridge as new Club President

Our East Coast Bays AFC Board is proud to announce our new Club President is Roger Bridge.

Roger has been a member of the ECBAFC Board for four years, Club Secretary for two years, Vice President for 2 years, and more recently he held the role of Acting President. He is passionate about the club and says he’s proud to represent club members as President and continue the excellent work alongside the club’s Board, coaching teams, and volunteers.

‘Our club is a fantastic community to be a part of. It’s a place where all ages, genders and playing levels are welcomed and where players can grow and develop in a supportive environment. Club volunteers and our coaching teams are at the heart of our success and inclusive culture, and I am incredibly lucky to be working with such a talented and committed team,’ he says.

Roger first joined our club whānau in the mid-1970s as a junior player for the Mairangi Bay Marvels, before making his way through the junior ranks and representing New Zealand in the youth space. In the  late 1980s, he moved to the United States where he lived for over 10 years; attending college, then playing for the fledgling Minnesota Thunder and ultimately as a coach for his alma mater, Macalester College.

Roger’s focus has been on lifting female participation in football, and through his role as Board member, Girls and Women’s Convenor and coach of his daughter Katelyn’s youth teams, he’s played a key role in significantly lifting girls participation since 2018.

‘Our Board’s immediate focus is on capitalising on the Women’s World Cup developments to showcase the sport and encourage more people to give football a go. Already the investment in our club by FIFA and the USA women’s team is going to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come,’ he says.

‘Beyond this, I will be working with our Board to continue to create value and opportunities for players of all playing levels, ensure our club’s financial health is sustainable, and continue to improve our club communications.’

Roger is a familiar face at ECB, but what some people may not know is Roger’s other passion is motorbikes (he has three) and keeping up with his kids, which has seen him taking up white water kayaking (and sees him spending much of the time upside-down floating down a river).