Central United FC Reunion

For further enquiries and to purchase tickets contact Colin Cook on 021 221 5005.

"Passion, Perseverance and Pride" 

The Central United Story... 

            Central United FC is recognised today as one of the premier football clubs in New Zealand. When the club was formed back in 1962 this was far from the case.

Their rise through the ranks of the game in our country is a unique, colourful and sometime controversial story typifying passion, perseverance and pride...on 8 November the club will celebrate this journey with a reunion for all past players, coaches, administrators and supporters. 

The Dalmatian migrant influence on New Zealand history is long, rich and profoundly positive.  The earliest generations played their part in building this country from the ground up, and successfully integrated into Kiwi society while retaining their unique cultural heritage.

Later arrivals were similarly positive in their efforts and contributions, and many brought with them not only the traditional love of culture, wine and good company, but also a passion for football.  In a rugby-mad country like New Zealand, this was a further mark of difference, and football became another theatre in which these migrants could gather and enjoy their common experience and background.  For 2 years in the late 1940s, the Jadran Yugoslav Sports Club provided a focal point for these energies, but was unable to maintain this momentum.  A new entity was needed, and arrived in 1962 with the formation of Central Soccer Club.

Many members of the local Yugoslav, Dalmatian and Croatian communities supported this endeavour with a mixture of time, effort and money.  The team started out in Auckland�s lowest senior grade, and led a peripheral existence playing at different grounds around the city.  But whether it was Auckland Domain, Rewa Park, Western Springs, Walker Park, Anderson Park or Rosebank Road, the quality of the side was obvious and their results invariably reflected this.

There were also chances for games out of Auckland, like the trip north to Whangarei to play a friendly fundraiser for the Skopje Earthquake Fund, and the journey south to face Adriatic in Wellington.  These sojourns not only strengthened bonds within Central�s ranks, but also allowed valuable links to be forged with other clubs.

The club earned early success by winning it�s league in 1964 and gaining promotion to the Northern 2nd Division league for the 1965 season.

This promotion required the formation of the first two junior teams and transformed Central Soccer Club from adolescence to early adulthood.

     1965 proved to be a break through year for the young Central Football Club, finally putting down roots at todays home ground at Freyberg Field on Kiwitea Street in Sandringham.  Thanks to the Mt Albert Borough Council the Club was granted the use of this site, which had previously been the home of the Pioneers Softball Club, and a training ground for Ponsonby FC. The small field  with it�s modest facilities was perfect for the emerging club�s needs and within a couple of years, the Council allowed floodlights to be erected � at the club�s expense, of course � and Central�s home began to take shape.

This was the late 60s, and Freyberg Field soon became known as a place for good football and, er, boisterous spectators.  But more than that, it provided space for Dalmatian migrants of different generations, hosting community events like the annual Married v Singles match each September.  It also allowed the club to establish some good natured local rivalries, such as the annual match with Metro FC for the Paul Jelicich Memorial Trophy.

The club continued to grow and whilst they weren�t yet playing on the hallowed turf of Auckland�s Newmarket Park, their sights were set high and team photos were often taken there. 

With the junior club growing and taking root,  Central Soccer Club was in good health as it entered the 1970s. Teams were enjoying success out on the field and the club continued to cast the net wide with trips and tournaments to Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua and Cambridge. 

The intriguing jockey match was but an entr�e for the good times and great food which were the norm at Freyberg Field, and the community celebrated a major landmark for the club in 1974 with the opening of newly constructed clubrooms.

Central was increasingly finding itself in the midst of controversy off the field, often in the face of outright prejudice from opponents and administrators alike.  Trips to court and good behaviour bonds were not the fare of most football clubs, but these things brought the community together as they looked forward positively to the 1980s.

Now it was time for Central AFC�s star to rise and the 1983 visit to Sydney, hosted by Jadran Hajduk, was an important building block and entree for on-field success.  In 1984 Central won the Fourth Division (North), going through the 18 match season undefeated � a club first that has yet to be matched.  Two years later, the third division title followed after a narrow miss in 1985.   Central were now getting noticed, for all the right reasons.

Another string was added to Central�s bow when the club�s first women�s team took to the pitch in 1986.  Despite not having played before, the team were fast learners and by their second season were renowned winners.  Enthusiastic supporters of the men�s first team, the two sides would travel together to away matches, and even ventured off to Waiheke for some football and fun� Indeed, it�s seems many a future marriage was born from these teams�

On field success was soon matched by off field ambition, as the club community set about widening the pitch in 1986, Building new clubrooms in 1987 and once again widening the pitch in 1988 to meet the Premier league criteria. Transforming Freyberg Field into one of the best football facilities in New Zealand required the club to spend huge sums of money purchasing adjoining land � which was subsequently  gifted to the Council - and completing extensive landscape works.  Without the monetary donations and thousands of hours of volunteer labour from our members, along with the immeasurable help of many Professionals, Tradesmen and Contractors within our wider community, none of this would have been possible.

Bricks to be laid, walls to be built, panels to be painted and drains to be installed � it was all go at Kiwitea Street!  The club also had to pay for the building of new car-parking spaces, to accommodate the four figure crowds that the first team matches attracted � especially when the visitors were perennial rivals Massey.

But it was back on the pitch that this period was aptly crowned. After earning promotion from the 2nd division in 1987 despite finishing 3rd, Central were crowned champions of the 1st Division in 1988 and gained promotion to the Northern Premier League for the very first time.

Despite a poorly officiated final match against Metro, which raised questions regarding acceptance of Central�s rise, the club had every reason to celebrate, and was now well on the way to reaching undreamed of heights.

This Reunion is a celebration of the struggle for acceptance, the gaining of respect and the jubilation of promotion.  But more than that, it is a celebration of the countless people who have put countless hours into building this club, this community and this sporting institution.  Central United is unique in New Zealand football, and is rightly proud of that fact.  It is full of people who do for each other, rather than expecting from each other � and it has been since day one. 

 CLUB HONOURS:

National League Champions 1999 & 2001

Chatham Cup Winners 1997, 1998, 2005 & 2007

            National League Runners Up 1998

Chatham Cup Runners Up 2000 & 2001

Northern Premier League Champions 2004, 2007 & 2008

Northern League First Division Champions 1988, 1991 & 2000   

Anyone wanting to purchase a last-minute ticket to this function please contact Colin Cook ASAP on 021 221 5005.