Papatoetoe Association
Football Club Inc.
Our Proud Past - The First 15 Years 1959-1974
1959 - The
Papatoetoe Association Football club was conceived when local boy Ken Hastings
decided there had to be a better way of being able to play the sport he loved
than having to travel and play for an Auckland team and in his case, cycle to
Avondale. He discovered four other Papatoetoe boys keen to form a home team and
the seeds were sown.
1960 - Local
schools were contacted and our Junior teams were started, initially two
supported by enthusiastic parents washing playing shirts in family coppers. Our
first Junior Committee was formed to help with the growing Junior/Midgets
Division. Other South Auckland clubs were also being formed and with them we
became part of the Franklin & Districts competition. From nothing to a
fully competitive club in a very short time - a big step - but as we were to
discover, the years ahead were to be just as hectic as Papatoetoe AFC grew into
one of New Zealand's Premier clubs.
1961-1964 Meetings moved from hairdressing Shops to member's homes. A Works committee is formed to negotiate a new home ground, possibly at Milan Road but many different offers were made over the next year before Papatoetoe East allowed us, use of their school fields. With a count of 156 boys in our Junior/Midget division the need for a home ground is becoming increasingly demanding. The club has two teams in the FDFA 1st Division.
Finance was tight,
the added cost of equipping the increased number of teams was high and the fees
low. Fundraising was necessary to keep going. A Building Fund has been started
but slow progress being made.
We moved to Milan Road, at last we had a permanent home, but a lot of work was needed to get it into a fit playable condition. A garage was borrowed to use as a changing shed (which had to be reassembled three days later after been blown down by gale winds) and it still stands behind the clubrooms today.
1965 A Supporters club was established. The old RSA Bowling Club hall was purchased for 50 pounds and moved to Milan Road as temporary changing rooms and accommodation and a future development plan was drawn up.
1966 -1967 A Club
Badge was designed and the lease of Murdoch Park was finally accepted and
signed. A senior team was entered in the Northern League and Northern League
Reserve division and two in Franklin. The club investment in junior football
was beginning to pay off, seven young players including Billy De Graff were
included in the Franklin U23 squad. We now had 18 junior teams and many badges
and cups were won.
Further
developments were made to the changing rooms and hot showers were installed. A
canteen was established and by the end of the season the Junior Committee was
quite financial and made a 120-pound donation to the building fund.
1968-1969 With a major exodus of players to Auckland teams further inducements were included e.g. Travel Allowance $4.00 per car, Meal Allowance - 50cents per player. Clubroom plans were accepted and preparations were made to start stage one of construction. Though only 10 years old Papatoetoe AFC was fast becoming one of the largest clubs in New Zealand.
1970-1971 Again this was a year of hard work to keep the building campaign progressing but both Junior and Senior sections applied themselves off and on the field. The Senior team won promotion to the Northern League Premier division. A recommendation was made that future coaches of the Premier team be non-players.
George Davie
who had been involved in the sport of soccer for the past 25 years stepped down
from President but continued his involvement in other positions and in
many ways. When George passed away this club lost a great stalwart.
1972 -1974 Fundraising for the building and development programs became the club priority, so much so, it appeared to be at the expense of playing as we were reminded not to forget that we needed to take a more professional approach to our Senior Team and Coach.
Three of our Juniors were selected as North Island representatives: E.Saints, A Revell & R.Herbert our U18 reached the final of the Junior National Cup.