Gisborne City AFC

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Gisborne City | image = 200px|logo | fullname = Gisborne City Association Football Club | nickname = | founded = {{Start date and age|1939|paren=yes}} as ''Eastern Union AFC'' | dissolved = {{end date and age|2008}} | ground = Childers Road Reserve | capacity = 1655 | sponsor = | President= | Manager = | league = | kit_alt1 = sky blue jersey, shorts and socks | pattern_b1 = | pattern_la1 = | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1= | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 =2288FF | body1 =2288FF | rightarm1 =2288FF | shorts1 = 2288FF | socks1 = 2288FF | kit_alt2 = white jersey, shorts and socks | pattern_b2 = | pattern_la2 = | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2= | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = FFFFFF }} '''Gisborne City Association Football Club''' was an association football club in Gisborne, New Zealand. Founded in 1939 as '''Eastern Union''', the club changed its name to Gisborne City after winning the Central Districts League at the first attempt in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kungler/Zlotkowski |first=Peter/Andre |date=5 October 2004 |title=New Zealand 1967 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz67.html |access-date=13 June 2022 |website=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>

==History== thumb|Chart of yearly ladder positions for Gisborne City in NZ 1st division soccer As Eastern Union, the club had competed in the Chatham Cup since the early 1950s, and reached the semi-final (and North Island Final) in 1957, losing to eventual champions Seatoun 3–1.

Gisborne set the New Zealand record for the most players from one club to be chosen for the New Zealand national football team to compete at a FIFA World Cup. Five players were selected to participate in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.

In 1984, Gisborne became the first team from outside New Zealand's three biggest cities Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch to win the national championship.

===Chelsea connection=== The Chelsea song "Blue is the Colour" was adopted as the clubs anthem.

The following former Chelsea FC players also played for Gisborne City:

* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Brian Turner * {{flagicon|England}} Ken Armstrong

==Honours==

===National=== * '''New Zealand National Soccer League'''<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nzchamp.html New Zealand — List of champions], ''www.rsssf.org''. Retrieved 11 February 2024.</ref><ref name=TeAra>Atkinson, N., Watters, S., and Shanks, A., [https://teara.govt.nz/en/football/page-2 Football – Men’s club and provincial football], ''Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand'', 7 June 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.</ref> **Champions (1) 1984 * '''Chatham Cup'''<ref name=TeAra/> **Champions (1) 1987 *'''New Zealand Challenge Trophy''' **Champions (1) 1985<ref name=cups>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz-varcuphist.html New Zealand — List of Various Cup Finals], ''rsssf.org''. Retrieved 11 February 2024.</ref> *'''Air New Zealand Cup''' **Champions (1) 1984<ref name=cups/>

== Exhibition matches==

1982: vs {{flagicon|England}} Bournemouth 0-4<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bournemouth-nz82.html AFC Bournemouth Tour of New Zealand 1982], ''www.rsssf.org''. Retrieved 11 February 2024.</ref>

== Notable players == ===World Cup All Whites=== The following players represented the New Zealand national team also known as the All Whites at a FIFA World Cup whilst playing for Gisborne City:<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nz-intres-det80.html New Zealand international matches — Details 1980–1989], ''www.rsssf.org''. Retrieved 11 February 2024.</ref>

'''1982 FIFA World Cup''' * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Kenny Cresswell * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} John Hill * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Keith Mackay * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Brian Turner * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Grant Turner (did not play due to injury upon arrival in Spain)

===Other=== *Jock Aird

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-sports|chat}} {{succession box|title=Chatham Cup Winner|before=North Shore United|after=Waikato United|years=1987}} {{s-end}}

Category:Association football clubs in New Zealand Category:Gisborne, New Zealand Category:Sport in the Gisborne District Category:1939 establishments in New Zealand Category:2008 disestablishments in New Zealand