BURNDALE ‘THE EARLY YEARS’
Burndale United Association Football Club was formed in late 1967
following favourable response to an advert placed in the August edition of the
‘Papanui Herald’.
The seven foundation members were:
Terry McIntyre
John Rigby
Paul Brown
Robert Gooding
Gavin Roberts
John Waugh
The first meetings were held at Terry McIntyre’s house in Kyeburn Place, Burnside.
The clubs original name, Burndale, was an amalgamation of the two main membership catchment areas, Burnside and Bishopdale.
It is no coincidence that the clubs chosen claret and sky blue colours are identical to those of West Hams Terry McIntyre, the clubs first secretary, was a lifetime West Ham supporter having lived close to their London grounds.
After Canterbury Football Association Junior and Senior accreditation and approval of colours, the newly formed club went on a recruitment drive comprising to start with posters in shop windows so that at the beginning of the first season in 1968 they were able to field two senior and eleven junior teams. Junior subscriptions were set at the princely sum of fifty cents in order to attract members at a time when rugby was still the dominant sport in the area and at schools.
Four pitches were allocated by the council on the area of Burnside Park now used by rugby. It is often forgotten that up until 1970 rugby was played on the inner part of Burnside Park, which is now shared by the soccer and cricket club.
The C.F.A placed our 1st men’s team in the 3rd Division but after winning their first three games close to ‘double figures’ the team was promoted to Division 2 where they went onto win, thanks to the prolific scoring prowess of Charlie Stuart. The captain of the first men’s team, Tony Van der Looy, is still on active member of the club some 35 seasons of soccer later. Tony is a life-member in the truest sense.
In the innugrial season the junior section was also very successful with seven out of the eleven teams winning their respective grades. Because gear was in short supply the junior section played in white shirts which did not inhibit the club winning a cup for having the most smartly turned out and best behaved juniors.
Boasted by baby boomers growth in junior numbers was so dramatic over the next few years that by 1972 Burndale fielded forty four junior teams and could boast to be New Zealand’s largest soccer club.
1969 21 Junior Teams
1970 33 Junior Teams
1971 40 Junior Teams
1972 44 Junior Teams
In comparison over the same period the senior clubs numbers varied between three to four teams. After match festivities largely revolved around the proverbial ‘couple of crates of beer’ which were consumed in the not yet converted concrete changing rooms still used today. It was not till the end of 1973 that the changing rooms, jointly owned by Burndale, Burnside West Cricket and the Waimari Council, were converted into a clubrooms pavilion thanks to the efforts of the Cricket Club.
At the same time, fuelled by the enthusiasm of Bruce Baker and Bernie Quinn, a very strong supporters club ran for many years. The majority of members were parents who helped to bolster the clubs finances with cake stalls, raffles etc. The supporters club also organised the end of year prize-giving and party for juniors, the first one being held at Isleworth School and the year after in the community hall that stood on the corner of Memorial Avenue and Clyde Road. Later junior end of season functions were held at the now defunct Fendalton Hall.
With such large numbers in the junior ranks the bulk of the administrative burden fell upon the Junior Organiser and the respective Grade Organisers. The club is indented to the efforts of Peter Gooding who held the position of Junior Organiser in the formative years 1968 through to 1973. Peters father Robert ‘Pop’ Gooding was also a foundation member and the clubs first president. Robert Gooding continued to coach and referee junior soccer well into his seventy’s and followed the clubs fortunes until his death in 1991 at the age of ninety years. Rightfully Peter and Robert Gooding became Burndales first life members.
Tony Munn, Peter Devine, John Wortelboer, Bob Stanton, Rob Armour, John Waugh and the fore-mentioned Bernie Quinn and Bryce Baker were also prominent in the clubs early years.
The rapid growth in playing numbers also put pressure on the inner grounds at Burnside Park which cumbinated in the committee approaching the Waimairi County Council to gain access to the then vacant Nunweek Park. With the assistance of Councillor Fred Blogg who was the clubs patron at the time, two full sized pitches were secured on the corner of Harewood Road and Roydvale Road extension. It was sometime later to Burndales use of Nunweek Park that the Merivale Rugby Club and Harewood Hockey Club became interested and acquired pitches.
From day one the club had strong links with the Kendal area, many practices were held at Kendal School and the hall housed registration days from 1969 up until the late 1980’s. Annual meetings were originally run at the Kendal Avenue Kindergarten rooms and later, as the club grew in size, at the church hall across the road.
Burndale United AFC officially became an incorporated society in September of 1969 with the clubrooms listed with the Department of Justice as the secretary Peter Devines house in Hounslow Street.
CLUB MEMORABILIA WANTED!
COMING SOON; 'TIME TO DRAW THE RAFFLE'
A separate site dedicated to preserving a pictorial history
of the Burndale/Burnside Soccer Club.
Club photo's both new + old will be transferred to this site
where we have adequate 'room' to do justice to them all.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS WELCOME.
E.Mail Photos to; gilberts@ix.net.nz
Post Photos to; Burnside AFC Photos C/- PO Box 31-161, Ilam.
[Note; All photos will be returned to their owner after scanning]
Contact; Paul Gilbert (the youngster with the ball above) on 3588-324
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