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Gisborne City

Full name	Gisborne City Association Football Club
Founded	1939 (85 years ago) (1939) as Eastern Union AFC
Dissolved	2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Ground	Childers Road Reserve
Capacity	1655
Home colours Away colours

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.

History

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

Champions (1) 1984

• Chatham Cup

Champions (1) 1987

• New Zealand Challenge Trophy

Champions (1) 1985

• Air New Zealand Cup

Champions (1) 1984

Exhibition matches

1982: vs Bournemouth 0-4

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:

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

References

1. Kungler/Zlotkowski, Peter/Andre (5 October 2004). "New Zealand 1967". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
2. New Zealand — List of champions, www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
3. ^ Atkinson, N., Watters, S., and Shanks, A., Football - Men’s club and provincial football, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 7 June 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
4. ^ New Zealand — List of Various Cup Finals, www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
5. AFC Bournemouth Tour of New Zealand 1982, www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
6. New Zealand international matches — Details 1980–1989, www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

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• Association football clubs in New Zealand
• Gisborne, New Zealand
• Sport in the Gisborne District
• 1939 establishments in New Zealand
• New Zealand association football club stubs