Gisborne Tairāwhiti under-13 team the Central Football Federation champions

The Gisborne Tairāwhiti under-13 team who won the Central Football Federation tournament in Napier at the weekend are, back row (from left): Ander Batarrita (coach), Cory Land, Archie Cook, Harry Gardiner, Archie Gillies (goalkeeper), Kobe Donnelly, Rori Fukushima-Hall, Flynn Morrissey, Micah Searle, George Ure, Billy Frain, Jack Turner, Rhodes Dennison and David Ure (coach). Front: Arthur Tilghman, Johnny Batarrita-Clarke and Jaxon Allan. Absent: Benny McKinnon. Picture supplied

Gisborne Tairāwhiti footballers are the Central Football Federation champions for the under-13 age group.

It’s the culmination — but not the end — of a six-year journey for many of the team, who came together as representative footballers in 2018 when they were seven and eight years old.

Gisborne Thistle teammates Ander Batarrita and Davie Ure have sons in the team, and six years ago they volunteered to coach the side. Players have come and gone from the squad but a core group stayed together through the age groups and the payoff came at Napier’s Park Island ground on Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend started with a 1-0 loss to Hawke’s Bay, but Gisborne picked themselves up to beat a strong Manawatū side 3-2 in the second game of the day.

On Sunday they drew 1-1 with Taranaki and then beat Whanganui 2-0. The top two teams from round-robin play went into the final, and Gisborne beat Hawke’s Bay to the spot on goal difference.

Gisborne beat Manawatū 2-1 in the final.

The result represented a turnaround from previous representative matches this year.

Manawatū beat them 7-1 earlier in the season in Palmerston North. Gisborne had played a 4-3-3 system then . . . four at the back, three in midfield and three up front.

“We changed the formation for the games against them in the tournament,” Batarrita said.

“They had very big players up front, so we went with a 5-3-2 formation . . . three central defenders with two attacking wingbacks, three midfielders and two up front.

“Manawatū hadn’t lost a single game all season, and we beat them twice in the tournament.”

This was the team’s first season of 11-a-side tournament play.

In the past they played nine-a-side football.

Games at the tournament were 15 minutes each way.

Team members were Cory Land, Archie Cook, Harry Gardiner, Archie Gillies (goalkeeper), Kobe Donnelly, Rori Fukushima-Hall, Flynn Morrissey, Micah Searle, George Ure, Billy Frain, Jack Turner, Rhodes Dennison, Arthur Tilghman, Johnny Batarrita-Clarke and Jaxon Allan. Benny McKinnon was also a member of the squad but was unable to make the trip.

Batarrita said the team had varied international influences.

Players had Scottish, English, Spanish, North American and New Zealand heritage, among others.

Some were steeped in football culture. They became like a family, on and off the field, and they worked hard on their game, committing to summer training as well as regular practice sessions during the winter.

Other coaches had given invaluable help over the years. Blake Mulrooney, Sebastian Itman, Lee Smith, Pat Frain and goalkeeping coach Mark Baple had all made an impact on the team’s development.

The beginning of this season brought mixed results.

“We played Hawke’s Bay three times for a loss, a draw and a win, but we beat Taranaki 7-1 at a game day in Palmerston North,” Batarrita said.

The skill and teamwork of the Gisborne players helped them overcome much bigger sides from the larger centres.

As for next year, some things are not certain.

Football academies could be in the future for some players, but the bulk of the side will still be in Gisborne.

For the moment they will enjoy the taste of impressive success.

Other coaches had given invaluable help over the years. Blake Mulrooney, Sebastian Itman, Lee Smith, Pat Frain and goalkeeping coach Mark Baple had all made an impact on the team’s development. And this year, Thistle Youth coach Matt Harvey had helped by including the boys in regular training sessions with his squad.