NZCT Supports Gisborne Thistle AFC

NZCT has awarded $17,500 to Gisborne Thistle AFC to help cover the cost of fielding, Central Football and NZ Football League games, flights for long distance games, ground and referee fees for the 2023 season.

Assistant Treasurer Mark Baple said, "This support from NZCT has been invaluable in assisting with travel costs to transport our players around the central football region which has proved a logistical nightmare in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, which made our season exceptionally challenging."

Gisborne Thistle AFC is once again entering a team for the third year running in the Central Football Federation League which involves long distant travel to away games in the Federation region including Taranaki, Levin, & Manawatu. The club has utilised flights for these long distant games for the last two seasons. This has reduced the need to travel on Fridays, which was a barrier for many of the players who worked full-time. It also relieved general post-game fatigue, which was an issue for a ten hour bus trip from Taranaki to Gisborne.

With our state highway closed and teams pulling out, in order for us to play in the League we had to commit to playing all our away games first. Our fixtures were significantly altered and the League team played nine away games in a row, which meant a big commitment from the players. Support for travel from NZCT has been vital in helping support the team with these away games.

In the Central Football Federation League, referee and ground fees are mandatory and have a large financial impact on the club. By receiving funding for these fees, in conjunction with the Pay Half Play Hard initiative through NZCT and Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti, we will be able to remain self-sufficient from a financial perspective, while further reducing costs to members.

Gisborne Thistle AFC was founded in 1924 and currently has seven football teams (including youth, women’s, social, and regional levels) and two netball teams.