Papatoetoe
Association Football Club Inc.
Our Proud Past - 1990 to
2002
1990 started off in dramatic style, the 1st Team being relegated to the Country Foods 1st Division and six weeks prior to the season starting, the Senior Coach was dismissed and Peter Kelly appointed to the position, unfortunately there wasn't a team either. However after some frantic organising and many nights of discussions we fielded a team for the first game with some old hands like Rex'y Fletcher and Alby Bowcott.
After six games it played 6 lost, 6 goals for, 5 goals against 23, it was going to be a long hard season, but with true Papatoetoe pride and determination and the signing of Prevan Jeram, Buzzer McKay and John Richardson from England we turned the corner by drawing our 7th game 1 - 1. We were on a roll and with everyone associated with the team doing their piece, we starved off relegation again, contary to the news media's beliefs, by winning the last 5 games . Grateful thanks to Manukau who did not pick up a single point over that time which allowed us through. To add to the tension the last game against Ellerslie was called off by the referee after 51 minutes due to heavy rain. We were 1 nil down but won the reply the following week - nerve racking stuff.
1991 was probably the highlight of this decade in which the 1st Team won the League, top 5 play-off and the promotion series against Olympic from Wellington on away goals merit after we locked up at 4-4 and extra time to regain national League status again, the first and only club in NZ to be relegated and then to win their way back again.
Also in this year the Club won the Counties 1st and 2nd Division Championships, the Over 30's won the Auckland title, the Counties Manukau Cup and our Ladies were runner's up in their division.
Throughout the decade our membership has fluctuated slightly, in 1990 we fielded 6 senior teams and 14 Junior teams, while this year we fielded 9 Seniors and 10 Junior teams. All players and member alike have been worthy ambassadors of our club in winning numerous championships and representative honours of which we are very proud of and with our friendly family atmosphere it has kept us to the forefront over the years as the top club in Counties Manukau - lets keep it that way.
" COME ON REDS ! "
New Zealand Caps during this period:
1993 M. Ridenton 1997 - M. Atkinson, M. Elrick
Special mention must be given to our Club Patrons :
Patron : Ross Robertson MP
Patron:
Steve Williamson
Vice Patron: Phil Greenbank -
Papatoetoe Counciller, JP
Vice Patron: Neville Culpitt