Welcome!

Welcome to the latest newsletter keeping you in touch with the news from within the Christchurch Football Club.

A big weekend for our Womens Premier team playing in the final against UC, 2:45pm at Rugby Park.

As mentioned to the junior club is that one thing we have over UC is numbers! 

Let's all get down there in our red and black to support OUR TEAM!! We're behind you all the way!

Read on for more details…

Premier Men's Match Report

(Crying Towel)Saturday 19th June 3pm @ Tane Norton Pk

FT: 0-86

Coming off a hard game the week prior against 2023 champions and current leader-board holders, Marist Albion, there was a quiet optimism that the annual Crying Towel match v middle table Linwood could be a game to create an upset. 

Being a big event on the rugby calendar for both Clubs, preparation was a wee bit different. Earlier in the week, club matriarchs Gerald Wilson and Jerry Rowberry met with the team to talk about the origins and the history of the Crying Towel, a game in which only a handful of Premier teams had played in. We were also honoured to have Tom Christie come along to training and help out as well as chat with the boys. 

We were also privileged on Saturday to wear the Clubs 160th anniversary jersey to acknowledge the Club turning 160 in 2023. The jerseys, back to the more well known loose fitting red and black hoops with white collars, also had the clubs Championship winning dates on the sleeves (Men and Women). On the front was the names of all the players that have represented CFC at national level – All Blacks and Black Ferns. (sorry Dallas the jerseys were made before your call up). These were presented to the players prior to kick off by patron and life member Gerald Wilson.

Adding Jack “Bona” Kneebone playing his blazer match against a team his dad, Simon, coaches and brother, Harry, plays in was looking to be a good day out.   

Fielding the best possible team of players the coaches had available, we knew it would be a big game. Linwood at their home in the recently renamed Tane Norton Park, their Club Day, Crying Towel, Richie Mo'unga the water boy, acknowledging the sad passing of Connor Garden-Bachop. They drew on all of that and gave us a fair old whipping from start to finish. 

I won’t dwell too much on the actual game. It was a long hard battle. Players such as Jamie Carr gave his all. With nothing to lose and a look to the future the coaches cleared the bench of up-and-coming Colts Jack Hart, Seth Hignett, Christian Williams–Schwalger (debut) and Preston Tait (debut).

It doesn’t get any easier this week for the final game of the round. University at University. They will be looking for a massive bonus point win in an attempt to pass Marist-Albion and clinch the round-robin win. All the pressure on them. My thoughts are with CFC having nothing to gain or lose to just go out there and show them what they are capable of. 

*As I understand it, the very limited edition 160th jerseys will be auctioned off at the Clubs 160th dinner being held in July as part of the Clubs fundraising initiatives. Be sure to get your bids in.

 Bones

Classics (Choppers) Match Report

Saturday started off much like last week as we hosted the Shirley Wankers on No1 as they scored quickly & quite often as we as a team really couldn't find our groove. With the end of a short season looming team spirits were high, we had good numbers for our final home game however as half time seemed forever to arrive, we were shell shocked & wondering what was going on. 

With some subs coming on after half time, it was time for an attitude shift & up tempo to digging ourselves out of our hole. Even as the Wankers tired themselves out like a teenage boy locked away in his room with too much ‘hawk tuah’ they still managed to score a couple of tries. 

With about 20mins remaining we finally kicked into gear had some biffo, got a nice yellow card but were finally holding them back & putting in some good moves of our own until at long last their defence was breached and we crossed the line, 10mins later we crossed over again & after it was converted, we at least resurrected some self-respect on the score sheet.

 Player of the day was Leon well done mate!

Til nek time. 

Up up

Cuck Seagal

Blazer Game

On Saturday 22nd June 2024, Premiers hard boy Jack Kneebone (aka Bona) played his blazer game against Linwood in the Crying Towel match.

Bona, who played all his junior and Colt rugby at CFC joined the Premiers at the beginning of the 2022 season. His first game was against Sumner that season coming off the bench. 

Whilst injury dogged him for the later part of 2022 and most of 2023, he has started every game in the #4 jersey this season.  

Congratulations Bona on this well-deserved milestone. As mentioned in your presentation speech, CFC has and is always will be your Club. That sort of sentiment and attitude is shown each and every week you take the field. 

Looking forward to your 50th game already.

Bobs Word 

Like any good Aussie when they lose, they don’t talk or report about it. That stands for me as well certainly for last Saturday anyway.

The Linwood Club always put on a great pregame luncheon and last Saturday was no exception. We enjoyed some great banter and serve as a constant reminder of the wonderful camaraderie that can be derived from not just our game but sport in general.

I am not going to gloss over the fact that playing wise our great club is in a bit of trouble. Let’s not panic however as most other clubs have found themselves in similar situations in recent years and have bounced back.

It is my personal belief that our ties with our feeder schools need to be rekindled and strengthened forthwith as their 1st VX players are still the fuel that fills our tank.

We need to look farther afield for players in positions where we lack depth etc etc. The list goes on.

Make no mistake however, it is we as a club who have dropped the ball over the past few years, but I have absolutely no doubt that given the strength of knowledge, experience, direction and leadership, access to resources and support we’ll be back stronger than ever.

Despite their results I want to commend our Div One team on their wonderful attitude in the face of adversity. Hang in their lads, ‘tough times don’t last, tough people do'.

The club is behind you every step of the way and I can assure you that no stone will be left unturned in our joint quest for some better results.

Congrats to The Blues. Too big, too strong, too fast. Clearly a very well coached and balanced team.

That’s it from me for another week. See you Saturday.

Give Em The Axe

Bob

Think Tank Discussions

President Jerry Rowberry, Kit Chambers, John Mill and Ray Waghorn met up last Sunday to discuss all things rugby and the perils of today's world.

Hope the afternoon was well enjoyed by you all, and problems were solved!

Junior Rugby

It was a big week for our fundraiser this week, all the pies arrived and thanks to a group of volunteers, it was fast work with every players orders being picked.

We cannot thank you enough to those who got behind this!

A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes to get this up and running, all done by the amazing Jess on the Junior Committee. Winners of the top team fundraisers will be announced at the end of term party and the total amount fundraised also.

Introducing the next Junior Committee member Tina, you will often see Tina and her son Ari around the club at any event, they help out with anything and everything and love what they do!

Christchurch Football Club 160th Dinner

The Christchurch Football Club invites members and guests to join us for a celebration of this great club and all it has achieved over the 160 years it has been around.

Special Guest Steve Tew will be guest speaker while we celebrate the club and our legends, alongside delicious food and drinks.

Please click on the link here to register your interest in either a seat or a table, please note tables are going fast so be in quick!

Any questions to be directed to events@christchurchpark.co.nz

Book this Venue

If you are a business that is looking for a central conference venue or meeting space with full catering and motel units, Christchurch Football Club is the perfect place! Members discount available.

Please contact: Jen Muller 021 0222 7810

Article added: Monday 01 July 2024