Ngongotaha AFC celebrate 50

IT'S OURS: Ngongotaha celebrate their great season.

Ngongotaha AFC will celebrate a half century of football in the town next month.

The club, which this season won the WaiBOP Premiership title, was formed in 1966 and a weekend of events is planned for October 14-16.

While the first team plays at the top level within the Waikato/Bay of Plenty federation, and could, with a victory in a two-leg playoff secure a spot in the Northern League second division next season, the club also provides opportunities for men, women and children to play the game.

Ngongotaha vice-president Allan McKernon, who was born the same year the club formed, said the 50th anniversary of the club was a "huge milestone" for football in the community.

"What an achievement, we are the oldest club in the area and we are very proud to be able to be a flagship for football in Rotorua," the former first team player said.

"It's fantastic that we can celebrate this year with the success of the men's first team and the style and way in which they have gone about winning the Premiership.

"But it's also important to honour the women at the club and the future in the youth."

The historic club currently has 222 playing members and continues to grow.

Among the events planned is the opportunity to try walking football - football without running - a relatively new concept in New Zealand, but one that is gaining popularity in the UK.

There will also be a meet and greet social event, a first XI v invitational XI game, women and junior games together with barbecues and raffles and the club's prize-giving function.

"We are trying to make as many of our current and former members as possible aware of the jubilee weekend," said secretary Paul Skinner.

The weekend prior, the club will host a game between Kotuku XI - selected from Rotorua schools - and Kurungaituku Toa XI, a Maori select team, to support the promotion of female football. That game will be at 1pm on October 8.

"The women are very important at this club. They bring a huge family atmosphere and element here and it's crucial to celebrate everything they have achieved here," said McKernon.

"We want to raise the profile of women's football and hopefully an event like this can do that."

Contact Paul at 62hotdog@gmail.com to register for the celebrations, or see the club website www.ngongotaha.sportingpulse.net.