Auckland FC’s history-making inaugural Isuzu UTE A-League season has been commemorated at the city’s museum.
The club’s iconic jersey has been donated to the Auckland War Memorial Museum after an historic 2024-25 campaign that captured the hearts and minds of fans in the city and beyond.
Nando Pijnaker’s number four shirt worn against Sydney FC in October 2024 has a name at the museum. It is the jersey the New Zealand international donned as he scored a stunning 97th-minute goal to sink the Sky Blues as Auckland went on to win a record-breaking six successive matches in a row to begin life in the competition.
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The Black Knights ended their debut season with a Premiership.
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“I’m grateful to Auckland Museum for accepting the shirt and recognising its significance. A bit like our debut season, it’s not really sunk in, and I’m not sure it will until I’m much older and looking back on my career and what we achieved,” said Pijnaker, who was at the museum to hand over the shirt and sign the Deed of Gift.
“I love this city, our fans, what together we’ve all achieved, and to know a piece of it will always be here is special.”
Museum CEO David Reeves said: “Auckland Museum’s collections are built around stories that shape this city and its people.
“Objects like Nando’s shirt represent not only a remarkable game, but our sporting culture, community pride and the achievements that make this city.”
Auckland FC have started 2025-26 with four points from two games as the reigning premiers prepare to host Adelaide United in Round 3 on Saturday.
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Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker added: “As an Aucklander, I’m a frequent visitor to the museum. I used to come here a lot when I was a child and gaze at all the various exhibits.
“To know a piece of Auckland FC will always be here, for young kids with big dreams to gaze up at, is huge, both personally and professionally.
“When we started this club, we talked a lot about making ourselves part of the fabric of the city and being a team Auckland can be proud of. The job is never done, but it is moments like today that make you realise you’re on the right track.”
