Grant helps Thistle with travel costs

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

New Zealand Community Trust has awarded $17,500 to Gisborne Thistle football club to help cover the cost of fielding a team in the Central Federation League.

The money is helping pay for flights for long-distance games, as well as ground and referee fees over the 2023 season.

“This support from NZCT has been invaluable in assisting with travel costs to transport our players around the Central Football region,” Thistle treasurer and goalkeeping coach Mark Baple said.

“It’s proved a logistical nightmare in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, and it’s made our season exceptionally challenging.”

Gisborne Thistle AFC entered a team in the Central Federation League for the third year running. That has meant travel to places such as New Plymouth, Levin and Palmerston North.

The club has used air travel to get their players to these places which reduced the need for the Friday travel that had been a barrier for many players working full-time.

It has also relieved general post-game fatigue — an issue for a 10-hour bus trip between Gisborne and Taranaki.

With the state highway closed and teams pulling out, Thistle committed to playing all their away games first in order to secure their participation in the league, Baple said.

The fixtures were significantly altered, and the team played seven league games and a Chatham Cup game away before their first home league game on July 14.

It meant a big commitment from the players and NZCT support for travel had been vital for these away games.

“In the Central Federation League, referee and ground fees are mandatory and have a large financial impact on the club,” Baple said.

“Because we receive funding for these fees, in conjunction with the Pay Half Play Hard initiative through NZCT and Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti, we are able to remain self-sufficient from a financial perspective while further reducing costs to members.”

Founded in 1924, the Gisborne Thistle club has seven football teams (including youth, women’s, social, and regional-level sides) and two netball teams.

NZCT grants allocated to organisations across Tairāwhiti in the latest funding round —

$7650.00 to CCS Disability Action Tairāwhiti Hawke’s Bay Inc, for a generator — Gisborne district.

$30,000 to Club Surfcity Inc, for salary.

$13,048 to Gisborne Harrier Club Inc for contractor — club coach and event director; defibrillator; portaloo hire.

$20,000 to Gisborne Trampoline Club Inc, for salary.

$1950 to National Heart Foundation of NZ, for defibrillators for Auckland, Gisborne and Wellington.

$100,817 to Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union Inc, for travel and accommodation; contractor — competitions manager (excluding expenses); salary — game development manager — senior and performance (excluding benefits and allowances); salary — game development manager — junior and women’s (excluding benefits/allowances).

$9246 to Special Olympics NZ, for salaries of sports director and regional sports coordinators.

$20,650 to Tairawhiti Multicultural Council, for grab bag items; hi-vis jackets.