OUR Starting LineUP
Our Starting Lineup are the incredible major donors who have generously committed $20,000 or more to the Foundation. Click on the lineup below to find out more about them and their passion for football in New Zealand.
If you are interested in joining our Starting Lineup, making a donation or supporting one of our fundraising campaigns, please get in touch.
Mark Stewart MNZM is a former Chairperson of the New Zealand Football Foundation who has continued to support us, generously pledging $500,000. A prominent businessman and lover of sport, Mark has always focused on giving back to his community. He was awarded the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Community and Sport. We are very grateful for his continued involvement with, and belief in, the New Zealand Football Foundation.
The late Sir Eion Edgar was a renowned New Zealand businessman and chairman of the Forsyth Barr Group. He was also a generous supporter of the Football Foundation, who believed in our mission and our work. Sir Eion played a critical role in ensuring the New Zealand Football Foundation was able to fund grassroots social initiatives, pledging an incredible $500,000. We are grateful for the ongoing support of Sir Eion’s family.
Carol Waller made history in 1975 as New Zealand’s first female goalkeeper. The four-cap international made her Football Ferns debut in their first ever international game, as they beat Hong-Kong 2-0 on 25 August 1975 at the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Defying all expectations, they went on to win the entire tournament, beating Malaysia 3-0, Australia 3-2 and Thailand 3-1 in the Asian Cup final watched by 12,000 spectators.
As well as playing, Carol dedicated more than 45 years to developing football in New Zealand, serving in a multitude of roles to advance the sport and female football in particular. Key achievements include being secretary of Eden Football Club (later becoming Three Kings, then Auckland United) for 32 years from 1975 to 2007.
Carol Chaired the New Zealand Women’s Football Association (NZWFA). In 2001, FIFA required all teams competing on the international stage to have one association in charge. Consequently, the NZFWA was absorbed into the New Zealand Football Association.
On the international scene, Carol served on FIFA Women’s Football and age-grade Women’s World Cup committees. She was Match Commissioner of the under-17 and under-19 Women’s World Cup matches held in Russia (2007) and Thailand (2006).
Carol was awarded the Friends of Football’s Medal of Excellence in 2019 and is acknowledged as a member of the NZFF Starting Lineup as a representative and guardian of the NZWFA, following their generous donation to the Foundation after winding up.
Dr Johanna Wood is President of New Zealand Football and a generous supporter of grassroots initiatives in Aotearoa. An experienced educator hailing from Central Football, Johanna is passionate about the power of football to help women and rangatahi achieve their goals on and off the pitch. Dr Wood’s generosity supported the purchase of first footballs for young people signing up to play the game for the very first time.
Our Partners & Supporters
Every team needs supporters. At the New Zealand Football Foundation we are so grateful for our partners who believe in Football For Good just as much as we do. They know the power of sport to make real change in society and they are committed to helping us do the māhi to support our communities. The generosity of our partners is crucial to enable us to support so many worthy projects.
