Papatoetoe
Association Football Club Inc.
Our Proud Past - 1975 to 1989
1975 An U18 was entered in the Senior Competition and proved successful in winning its league. The increasing abilities at all ages of our Junior players is very heartening and augers well our for future. The innovation of a windup Sports Day proved worthy of repeat. Plans of suggested extension to existing clubrooms were submitted.
1976-1978 1976 was a problem year
for the club when the commitment of all members would be tested. Our Senior
1 team was relegated to the Northern League 2nd division. Our Executive
and SMC also lost valuable experienced m
embers . Floodlighting
was also a problem and the Clubrooms were proving inadequate for the needs of
the Club. Despite these setbacks were still fielded 40 teams and twelve of our
Junior teams winning their FDFA championships the JMC organized two successful
fundraising events, a Gala day and a Walk-a-Thon with funds going towards
our clubroom extension. 1978 a new Games Room and canteen was completed and we
were successful in securing a Liquor Licence which meant out our bar sales
improved dramatically.
1979 New Senior coaches
Derek Lunt (formerly Courier Rangers) and Ian Hastie (former NZ international)
attracted a few experienced players including Peter Lapper, Bob McConnell and
Dave Hutchinson, all of whom had Rothmans League experience
. This combined with
rising starts like Bruce Graham and John Johnston to name a few, lead to our
team becoming Runners-up in the 2nd Division and thus again First
Division stakes in 1980. At Junior level we fielded 26 teams. Club spirit
continued at a high level displayed by our conducting a Fashion Show and Miss Papatoetoe
Contest!.
1980 Our
Club's 21st anniversary year was a highlight in our history. We fielded seven
Senior (
including Northern League
and U19), 26 Junior and two Womens teams, one of which was to play Papatoetoe's
first international against a California Sunshine Girl's team. Junior foot ball
was again performing well with 40 boys gaining Franklin representative honors.
Our Senior team sought to establish its presence again in First Division and
Kevin Curtin (former NZ Goalkeeper ) was signed up. We were to finish 6th
place, however notice had been served that Papatoetoe had arrived. The 21st
Anniversary celebrations held over a June weekend proved an unqualified
success.
1981-1983 Our Northern
League finished 4th in the First Division and were Runners-Up in in the Country
Foods Knockout Cup. We fielded a reduced number of teams, 31 in all. 1982 NZ
soccer realized its ambition to play in the World Cup Finals - Es
pania '82. It was also
the year Papatoetoe's dreams were realized when it not only gained entry into
the Rothman's Soccer League but also became the first team to win the double of
the Country Foods Northern League First Division and The Country Foods Knockout
Cup. We fielded 47 teams, nine Senior teams, 35 Junior teams and three womens teams.
Fundraising also gained more attention. Further Club building development
is approved.
1984 The Silver Jubilee year of Papatoetoe AFC was to produce an ambitious fund raising project when some 300 club members, supporters and friends were to engage in a catering project at 'Sweetwaters '84'. This project not only provided publicity but earned a phenomenal $47,000!
The Rothman's Soccer League was to be delayed due to NZ's Olympic involvement with four Papatoetoe players; F.van Hattum, B.McClure, C.Tuaa and A.Metzger proudly representing us.
New Zealand Caps during this period:
1981 - D.Huff 1983 - I. Masson 1983 to1986 - B. McClure 1984 - F. Van Hattum, M.Felton 1983, 1984, 1988 C.Tuaa, A. Metzger 1986 - T.Mason 1987 to 1988 - N. Barkley 1988 - G.Scholfield, C.Zorocich, P.Brydon
3-5th August was our SILVER JUBILEE celebrations.