Auckland FC Director of Football Terry McFlynn on Building Something New in Oceania

When the OFC Professional League kicks off its first-ever matchday, it will mark more than the start of a season. It will signal the beginning of a long-awaited professional era for Oceania football — and Auckland FC Director of Football Terry McFlynn knows exactly how rare that moment is.

“This is a milestone for the region,” McFlynn told SDH AM. “For us to be chosen as one of the clubs to help launch this competition is incredibly special. There’s a lot of pride in being part of something that’s never been done before.”

For Auckland FC, the journey into the OFC Pro League is not just an expansion of competition — it is an extension of a philosophy. As part of the Black Knight Football Club portfolio, the club is building a structure designed to connect pathways across continents, from Oceania to Europe, while remaining rooted in its local community.

A League Years to a New Frontier

McFlynn’s experience in building football operations has spanned leagues and continents, but the challenge of launching a club into a brand-new competition brings a different kind of pressure.

“It was a sprint from the start,” he said. “From identifying the coaching staff to building out the medical team, managing visas, travel logistics — everything was happening at once. You don’t get much time to sit back and reflect. You’re just focused on getting to matchday one.”

That urgency, however, is paired with long-term purpose. For Auckland FC owner Bill Foley and the Black Knight group, the OFC Pro League represents an opportunity to create professional pathways for players who previously had few options at home.

“The goal is to create opportunities for Kiwi players and Pacific Island talent,” McFlynn explained. “This is another professional team in the region, another chance for players to stay connected to the game at the highest level.”

Why the OFC Pro League Matters

For decades, Oceania football has produced talent without a consistent professional ecosystem to support it. The OFC Pro League changes that equation.

“There’s a lot of talent in the Pacific Islands,” McFlynn said. “This is something the region has been crying out for. If you look at how Africa built its competitions over time and what that’s done for national teams, that’s the hope here — that this league raises standards and creates a stronger future for Oceania football.”

The league’s hub-based format reflects the unique geography of the region. With matches rotating through Auckland, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Australia, logistics demand flexibility — but the experience offers something far beyond football.

“It’s a life experience for the players,” McFlynn said. “Different cultures, different countries — that’s something you carry with you forever. But from our side, we’re here to compete. We’re here to win.”

Community at the Core

Auckland FC’s identity is firmly grounded in its city, one of the most diverse and multicultural in the world. That connection deepens with the club’s involvement in the OFC Pro League.

“The Pacific community in Auckland is incredibly important to us,” McFlynn said. “This gives us a chance to represent that community on a bigger stage, in another region of the world.”

That pride is already visible — from billboards across the city to fans wearing kits in everyday life. It is the kind of cultural presence that turns a football club into something more lasting.

“You walk around and see kids in jerseys, trying to copy their heroes,” McFlynn said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Rivalries, Identity, and a Growing Game

The opening fixtures bring instant drama. Auckland FC’s debut includes a rivalry with South Island United, adding a north-versus-south storyline that New Zealand football fans have been waiting for.

“For years there was only one professional club in the country,” McFlynn said. “Now there are three within 18 months. That’s a huge step forward. Fans love rivalries — it gives the league energy from day one.”

On the field, Auckland FC’s style reflects the shared philosophy of the Black Knight group: high tempo, possession-based football, adjusted to the realities of climate and travel.

“We want to play attractive football,” McFlynn said. “Quick combinations, shots on goal, scoring goals — bringing joy to the fans. That’s always the aim.”

That approach will feel familiar to Atlanta United fans as well, with former ATL UTD 2 defender Ronan Wynne now part of Auckland FC’s squad — another example of the global pathways modern football continues to create.

Building Calm in the Chaos

Launching into a new league means constant problem-solving. For McFlynn, the key lesson has been balance.

“There are a million moving parts,” he said. “The most important thing is staying calm, keeping a level head, and having a clear strategy. Getting the right people in the building. Creating an identity everyone believes in.”

That identity — rooted in community, opportunity, and competitive ambition — mirrors the broader mission of the OFC Pro League itself.

As the first matchday arrives, Auckland FC steps onto the field not just as a club chasing results, but as part of a movement reshaping football in Oceania.

“This is bigger than one season,” McFlynn said. “It’s about building something that lasts.”

And in a region that has waited a long time for this moment, that feels like the right place to start.