Thistle, United looking into football federation league

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE Thistle AFC chairman Ron Young says it is time for a local club to go to the next level and enter a team in the 2016 Lotto Central Federation Premier League.

“Firstly I’d like to say I’m disappointed that Team Gisborne are pulling the pin on the Pacific Premiership,” he said following Team Gisborne’s decision not to defend the title in 2016.

“Thistle have been fully supportive of the Team Gisborne concept — fielding a composite team and providing a pathway to bigger and better things for players from 15 to 20 years old — but it’s time now to move on.

“Team Gisborne have won the Pacific Premiership three times in the past four years. It’s time to move up to the Federation League.

“It’s not all about youth. It’s about doing what is good for football in Gisborne, which is why we would prefer to enter a team in the federation league (Central Federation Premier League). But before that happens we need to scout around and make sure we have a good coach in place, players who will commit to travel and the finance to ensure that we can fulfil our obligations, not pulling out halfway through the season.

“We are an aging club player-wise. We have some good senior players throughout our teams but we would need an influx of young players.

“If that scenario doesn’t work out then we would look at putting a team in the Pacific Premiership as a stepping stone to the federation league.”

Gisborne United secretary Molly Adams said her club had discussed the possibility of fielding a team in the federation league when they heard that Team Gisborne had pulled out.

“Financially we would be OK to compete in the federation league but we would need some players to come across from Team Gisborne to give us a competitive squad.

“If Thistle entered a team in the federation league we would look at taking Team Gisborne’s place in the Pacific Premiership.”

Disappointed at Team Gisborne's decisionCentral Football chairman Phil Holt said he was disappointed at Team Gisborne’s decision.

“The pathway they were trying to provide for the young players coming through New Zealand Football’s (WOF) Whole of Football programme was the correct one.

“United and Thistle have expressed an interest in entering the 2016 federation league.

“From my own viewpoint I would be keen to see the federation league expand to 10 teams (from eight teams). The inclusion of one or both teams would have quite a financial impact on all the clubs involved.

“While there is a travel equalisation fund it is probably only as big as the sponsorship money Central Football receive from Lotto for the fed league. If sponsorship was $1000 and there are only eight teams, then there is more money in the travel pot than if there were 10 teams.”

Holt said the final make-up of the 2016 federation league would be decided by the Central football development committee of which he is a member.

“United and Thistle would have to be very confident they could both meet the financial cost of taking part and also the costs of not fulfilling their obligations to remain in the competition in its entirety.

“I would have thought an easier step would be for the teams to enter the Pacific Premiership. It would be less of a financial burden and they could test the waters with respect to the standard of competition they would get.

“Both teams have played in the Federation Cup (knockout), with United winning it in 2014.”

The Central Federation Premier League this year comprised eight teams from Manawatu, Taranaki and Wanganui. Team Taranaki won the title.

Gisborne Thistle last competed in the league in 2006. They were third.