Otago United
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| Full name | Southern United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Southern, SU |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Ground | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Capacity | 30,500 |
| Chairman | Chris Wright |
| Manager | Paul O'Reilly |
| League | Stirling Sports Premiership |
| 2015–16 | 8th |
Southern United, previously Otago United, is a football club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Southern United was formed in 2004 as Otago United, to compete in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC). Based in Dunedin, Southern United, the sole representative from Federation 7, is one of eight teams competing in the NZFC. The club was formed by 21 clubs and 4 associations from within the geographic area from Timaru south to Invercargill.
Lutz Pfannenstiel, the only player to play professionally on every FIFA continent once called Otago United home.
In the inaugural season (2004–05), Otago United finished second from bottom but they improved to finish 5th out of 8 in the next season. However Otago United went from bad to worse in 2006–07 finishing in dead last and ending the season being humiliated 8–0 by league winners Waitakere United. The following season was slightly better finishing in seventh, ahead of Canterbury United, despite achieving the record for the least goals scored in around robin season. The shortened 2008–09 season saw the team secure 2 wins (both 2–1 over Canterbury United, home and away) and Two draws (3–3 at home vs Waikato and 1–1 away vs Wellington). Despite the season been seven games shorter they still managed to score three more goals than the previous season. After a good start to the 2011–12 season Otago United lost several key players and slumped to a run of one draw and seven defeats. A 3–3 draw with Waikato in the final game of the season earned them 6th spot on the table. The high points of coach Murray's first year in charge were perhaps the blooding of several promising new young players and the selection of team captain Tristan Prattley in the NZ National under-23 Football team. Gran's Remedy was the sponsor for the 2012–13 season, but the loss of Prattley (to Waitakere United) and NZ National under-20 Football team representative Joel Stevens (to injury) mid-way through the season severely hampered Otago, and they could only finish in 7th place with just two wins – avoiding the wooden spoon only on goal-difference.
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