Gisborne Thistle to remain in Eastern Premiership football league

The Childers Road Reserve No 1 ground bathed in light, thanks to Gisborne Thistle’s new floodlights next to the grandstand and more lights are planned for the other side of the pitch. Photo / Electrinet Gisborne Thistle Facebook page

Gisborne Thistle will stay in football’s Eastern Premiership this year and look overseas to strengthen the first team.

The departure of the Jags’ perennial top goalscorer Jimmy Somerton to local rivals Gisborne United and a possible move to Wellington for skipper Cory Thomson had raised questions about playing strength.

But club chairman Mark Pearce said the committee had decided to enter the first team in the Hawke’s Bay-dominated Eastern Premiership and the club would probably have four teams in the local men’s competitions, with at least one of them in the top local league.

The club expected to enter two teams in the local women’s league, with one team travelling to Hawke’s Bay in March for pre-season competition.

“The mood of the meeting was very positive,” Pearce said. “Everyone was motivated to get things going.

“We’ve had some good turnouts at the first few training nights and it looks as if the first team will be a mixture of youth and experience.

“We’re also working on bringing out two players from Britain. One is an 18-year-old goalkeeper and the other is a 19-year-old holding midfielder. We’re sorting out accommodation and work for them.”

The installation of floodlights on the grandstand side of the No 1 pitch meant night games could become an option, Pearce said.

More lights were planned for poles near the embankment that hold lights for the No 2 ground. The new lights would face the No 1 ground and could be in place “in the next couple of months”.

Grants from trusts had been helpful in that development.

“At the end of the day, it’s about growing football in Gisborne – from the youth right through,” Pearce said.

Thistle’s decision to continue in the Eastern Premiership is good news for football fans. They will be able to see two derbies between Thistle and United and can watch teams from outside the district play Gisborne sides at Childers Road Reserve or Harry Barker Reserve most weekends during the season.

The Eastern Premiership is scheduled to start on March 28 and the Tairāwhiti men’s championship is expected to start on April 11 (the week after Easter).