Plenty of game time in Logan memorial

Striding out: Gisborne United's Josh Harris prepares to strike the ball ahead of Gisborne City's Max Logan at a pre-season football tournament at Childers Road Reserve on Saturday. The tournament was named after Max's late father, Geoff Logan. Picture by Paul Rickard

Players in the inaugural Geoff Logan memorial pre-season football tournament had easily enough time on the park before the teams called it a day.

Gisborne Thistle and Gisborne United would have been in the final on Saturday but they elected not to play it and no match was held to decide third and fourth.

In the end, the trophy was awarded to Gisborne City.

City were something of an Old Boys side and featured Logan's son Max Logan.

Wainui were the other side in the four-team competition at Childers Road Reserve.

Playing the final after three 60-minute round-robin games, as originally scheduled, would have been some ask.

Thistle first-team coach Garrett Blair said warm weather took its toll on the players and the teams decided it had been a big day already.

“It was a lot of football,” he said.

The tournament was organised to give Gisborne teams game time in the pre-season without the stress of travelling.

Geoff Logan was a keen supporter of local football and co-founded Gisborne's Sunshine Brewery.

He provided sponsorship, helping to cover fees for representative sides.

Blair described Saturday's event as a celebration of football and said people bought into the spirit of it.