Meet Our Director of Football...

Stu Widdowsøn took on the role of 1st XI coach at Wellington College in 2018, and in 2024 became the College’s first-ever Director of Football. Over the course of his tenure, Stu has overseen more than 200 1st XI matches and led the team to three senior league titles in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Under his guidance, Wellington College’s football programme also achieved two Top 10 finishes at the Premier Nationals and a victory for the Y10 1st XI in the Junior Premier Nationals in 2024. In 2025 The Y11 1st XI won the Premier Reserve Divsion, the first Y11 team to ever achieve this feat.

Stu’s coaching journey began at Harpole FC, a small community club in his hometown of Northampton, England. A move to China between 2013 and 2015 saw him coach and teach abroad, before relocating to New Zealand in 2015.

In New Zealand, Stu’s coaching career flourished, particularly at Team Wellington FC and Miramar Rangers. He held various roles, including Technical Director of the club's Talent Development Programme, and earned his Oceania B License. 2026 has seen Stu appointed Head Coach of Miramar Rangers Women's Central League team.

Reflecting on his coaching career, Stu says, “I began coaching at Miramar Rangers in 2015 with a U15 youth team, which was an enjoyable start that led to further opportunities within the club. I was fortunate to be involved with Team Wellington FC, where I took on roles ranging from team manager and analyst to assistant first-team coach. My time at Team Wellington was incredibly rewarding, as it provided me with a close-up view of the game at the highest level outside professional football. During my time there, I had the opportunity to travel throughout the Pacific region with the club for the Oceania Champions League, and in 2018, I was part of the squad that won the tournament. Winning the Oceania Championd League was amazing, but more importantly qualified us for the FIFA Club World Cup. We faced Al Ain from the UAE in an unforgettable 3-3 draw, ultimately losing in a penalty shootout. While heartbreaking at the time, the experience and the lessons I learned from coaching at that level were invaluable. I was fortunate to be part of successful teams at Team Wellington, winning the National League in 2016/17 and 2020/21, and coaching a group of top-level players. When I returned to Miramar Rangers, I was part of a talented squad that won the South Central Series in 2021. After seven years at Miramar Rangers, I moved to Wellington College in 2024 as Director of Football. Although I had been with the school since 2018, this role didn’t exist at the time, and with the growing number of boys participating in football, there was a clear need for a structured organisation within the programme.”

In our inaugural year with a Director of Football in place, we saw a successful season: the Senior 1st XI won the local competition, finished 10th at the Premier Nationals, the Year 10 1st XI took top honours at the Junior Nationals, and the Year 9 1st XI claimed their division. More importantly, over 500 boys participated in football at Wellington College, a testament to the programme’s success and growth.

Our football programme has made significant strides in the past year, thanks to the hard work of our coaches, parents, and volunteers. We are proud to offer opportunities for players of all levels and are committed to continuous improvement.

Stu is a big Leeds United fan & prior to leaving England, held a season ticket in the Gelderd End following them all over the country and Europe.

If you'd like to get in touch with Stu, please email him at s.widdowson@wc.school.nz.

We look forward to seeing even more boys on the field in 2026 and can’t wait to see you all out on the grass this winter!