Alby Kelly-Heald

Alby Kelly-Heald was promoted to the men’s first team squad in December 2023, having signed a scholarship contract with the Phoenix through until the end of the 2026-27 Isuzu UTE A-League.

The towering goalkeeper is Lukas Kelly-Heald’s twin brother.

They both played their junior football at Island Bay United and spent a season at North Wellington before joining the Phoenix academy, where they were regulars for the reserves in 2022 and 2023.

Still only 18-years-old, he travelled to Argentina with the New Zealand side for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup but didn’t feature at the tournament.

Kelly-Heald started all nine of the reserves’ matches in the 2023 National League Championship before being signed as the third goalkeeper for the first team squad for their memorable 2023-24 A-League campaign.

He was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2024 OFC U-19 Nations Cup and he won the golden glove award after not conceding a single goal during the tournament.

He made his senior debut in August 2024, starting in goal in the round of 32 Australia Cup match against South Melbourne.

Kelly-Heald was upgraded to a full pro contract in September 2024, keeping a clean sheet on A-League debut against Sydney FC in January.

> 2025-26 season

Alby Kelly-Heald featured in four games across the 2024-25 campaign after recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the beginning of the season.

He shared ‘keeper reps with Josh Oluwayemi and Eamonn McCarron.

He also appeared in five games for the reserves in the National League Championship, keeping a clean sheet against Auckland United.