Gisborne City AFC

Gisborne City Association Football Club was an association football club in Gisborne, New Zealand. Founded in 1939 as Eastern Union, the club changed its name to Gisborne City after winning the Central Districts League at the first attempt in 1967.^[1]

Gisborne City

Full name	Gisborne City Association Football Club
Founded	1939 (86 years ago) (1939) as Eastern Union AFC
Dissolved	2008; 17 years ago (2008)
Ground	Childers Road Reserve
Capacity	1655
Home colours Away colours

History

Chart of yearly ladder positions for Gisborne City in NZ 1st division soccer

As Eastern Union, the club had competed in the Chatham Cup since the early 1950s, and reached the semi-final (and North Island Final) in 1957, losing to eventual champions Seatoun 3–1.

Gisborne set the New Zealand record for the most players from one club to be chosen for the New Zealand national football team to compete at a FIFA World Cup. Five players were selected to participate in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.

In 1984, Gisborne became the first team from outside New Zealand's three biggest cities Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch to win the national championship.

Chelsea connection

The Chelsea song "Blue is the Colour" was adopted as the clubs anthem.

The following former Chelsea FC players also played for Gisborne City:

• Brian Turner
• Ken Armstrong

Honours

National

• New Zealand National Soccer League^[2][3]
  • Champions (1) 1984
• Chatham Cup^[3]
  • Champions (1) 1987
• New Zealand Challenge Trophy
  • Champions (1) 1985^[4]
• Air New Zealand Cup
  • Champions (1) 1984^[4]

Exhibition matches

1982: vs Bournemouth 0-4^[5]

Notable players

World Cup All Whites

The following players represented the New Zealand national team also known as the All Whites at a FIFA World Cup whilst playing for Gisborne City:^[6]

1982 FIFA World Cup

• Kenny Cresswell
• John Hill
• Keith Mackay
• Brian Turner
• Grant Turner (did not play due to injury upon arrival in Spain)

Other

• Jock Aird