Reflections of the WC Football of Yesteryear ....

Pre 1940's
1889 - Wellington College:
The Foundation for Association Football in the Region Over a half century before association football became an official code at Wellington College the school had provided a haven for the formal introduction of the game to the Wellington region.In 1889 the supporters of the association code in Wellington enthusiastically set about publicising and promoting their game in a city and region that was very much a rugby stronghold.  Click here to read more
1934 - Colleges' Old Boys Meet
In the curtain-raiser to the 1934 Chatham Cup a team of Rongotai College 'old boys' ("Rongotai") defeated a team of old boys from Wellington College ("Wellington") in a hard-fought game on the Basin Reserve on Saturday.During the first spell, Rongotai, aided by the wind, held a decided territorial advantage, and established a lead, which Wellington could not make up. Some fine individual work was shown on both sides during the game. Click here for the full report

1940 to 1960
1946 - The Start of Football at Coll.
Early in 1946, it was announced in Assembly that those boys who wished to play soccer that winter should meet at lunchtime in Mr (Froggy) Balham's Room, [he was born in France]. Fifteen or so boys turned up and we were told by Froggy that he was pleased to offer his classroom for our needs but he knew nothing about the game. A senior boy, Konstandinos Gerondis, aided by another senior James Mastrogeorge recorded our names and experience. Click here to read more

1947 - Making a Mark on NZ Football
1947 was the start of a period when the then past and the present of Wellington College and football caught up!In this year Alan Johnson (‘Pat’) Harris who had attended Coll from 1931 to 1934 made his “All Whites” debut – the first of 5 “A“ internationals. A year later Rex Boyes who was a Wellington College contemporary of Pat Harris made his debut - the first of 7 appearances for New Zealand including a number as captain. To read more on WC & NZ Football click here.

1948 - Johnny Shankie – More than Man with a Magic Board
“On wet days, Mr Shankie came up to the College with a magnetic board which stood on an easel with metal discs which he moved around showing moves." stated 1948 1st XI player and the chronicler of the first four years of WC football, John Taylor (at WC from 1945 to 1949). Mr Shankie was Johnny Shankie and he was a very important part of the early football boys’ development and success. His involvement was the consequence of a commitment by the Wellington Football Association in their earlier lobbying for the College to formally accept Association Football as a code played at Coll. They undertook to provide appropriate football expertise. To read more about Johnny Shankie click here

1950 - Reps. Galore
In the years since football commenced at Coll in 1946, a number of players had been selected for Wellington regional Secondary School age group representative teams.In 1950, the fifth year of football, the numebr of WCFC boys selected as regional representatives was quite exceptional and created a record that was to be in place for many years. Click here to find out about the 1950's reps.

1950s - Brothers in Arms
As football at College consolidated and moved into the 1950s, the competition to get into the First XI intensified and there was great pride in being a football 1st XI member. Probably no greater pride was evidenced than by those families who had a series of boys in the team. To read more about the footballing brothers click here. 

1952 - The First Ever WCFC Traditional
The first annual match between Wellington College and New Plymouth Boys High School took place at New Plymouth on Saturday March 12th, 1952.   The team arrived at New Plymouth on the Friday evening and members were immediately dispatched to their billets. After the game, which was the chief attraction at Western Park, the two teams attended a dinner at a New Plymouth tearoom.   On the Sunday, the team was taken up Mt Egmont and had refreshments there. The inevitable snow fight ensued with everyone getting thoroughly wet and cold after it. To continue reading about this first Traditional click here

1953 - Changing Strip
In 1953, eight years after football had officially commenced at Wellington College, the Firsts wore an official strip that was not based on a rugby jersey as the previous ones had been.The new strip, which was also shared by the College’s hockey teams, had a shirt with a front of one side being gold and the other black...To see how the WCFC strip has changed over the years click here

1955 - Hosting South China Athletic and New Plymouth BHS
In a five day period in late June and early July of 1955, Wellington College Football helped host both the South China Athletic FC team and the fourth annual Traditional against New Plymouth Boys High.

South China Athletic is a professional football club based in Hong Kong and was, at that time a leading Asian football powerhouse. They were in New Zealand to play a series of ‘Tests’ against the New Zealand representative team (now known as the “All Whites”)...To read more on these visits to WC, click here.

1956 - The First Decade
Although Association football was not adopted as a school sport at Wellington College until 1946, the school has many links with the game in the Wellingon area. Our grounds seem to have been used from time to time for soccer matches before public grounds were fully developed to cater for the sport. During May, 1889, the first soccer match on our grounds was played between Scotland and England... Click here to read more

1957 - A Peaceful Prelude to a Debacle
In 1957 the annual Traditional match between the Wellington College and New Plymouth Boys High 1st XIs was played, at the request of the Wellington Football Association, as the curtain-raiser to an association football ‘Test’ match between New Zealand and FK Austria on August 3rd 1957 at Athletic Park.Many of the Wellington College football boys and supporters of that era have communicated about their vivid memories of the Traditional and the Test that followed. To them it is a significant football memory. To read more on this memory, click here.

1958 - The 1958 1st XI Remember
We enjoyed our football (soccer) games visiting and playing against other schools in the Wellington region. Back in 1958, there were two soccer pitches at the Basin Reserve and as it happened, we often played on the eastern pitch before the main game on the western side.We trained up on the top ground, Alexandra Park, which required a chug up the track. Click here to read more

1958 - The Amazing Mr Bliss
The 1958 1st XI fondly remembered their coach, Ken Bliss, as "a very kind and gentle person". We were later advised that Mr Bliss, now in his 90s, was leading an active life in retirement in Pukekohe.An article in the Howick and Pakuranga Times underlines this. The article focused on Ken Bliss, then 89, being a regular participant at a local Gym. It recounted that he valued life highly because of his younger past. Click here to read more on the Amazing Mr Bliss.

1960 to 1970
​​​​​​​1960 - A Sad Moment
One of the saddest articles involving a 'football boy' in the earlier years of Wellington College football was the notice in the 1960 Wellingtonian advising of the tragic passing of 1952/53 football 1st XI captain and outstanding all round sportsman, Peter Preston. To read more of this article, click here.

1960 - The 1960 Captain ReflectsI
attended Wellington College from 1956 to 1960 and greatly enjoyed my football at College. I was a member of the 1st XI in 1959 and had the privilege of being the Firsts captain in 1960. It was a wonderful time but I also fondly remember some of the earlier Wellington College age group teams I played for. In particular, the 1958 Wellington College Intermediate A team (equivalent to the 15/1 of today) coached by 'Weasel' Page. Click here to read more of Peter's memories.

1969-1970 - The Playing Field of Yesteryear
Dad laced up the brown leather boots that he'd ferociously dubbined last night, tucked the off cuts of carpet underlay that would do duty as shin pads into socks, and took the third of his four sons by the hand.Too young for school but old enough for the soccer pitch. Dad took the boy by the hand and led him on to the paddock for the first time. "You stand here, don't move" Dad said, as he marshalled two teams to halfway.Dad was the coach, with Mr Kavanagh, as well as the referee, orange-slicer and club treasurer. Not bad for an old-school New Zealander who'd played halfback for Hutt Valley High First XV....Click here to read more 

1970 to 1980
1970 - The 1970 Christchurch Boys High 'Traditional
'This was the first match of a newly instituted regular fixture with C.B.H.S, although we had played them on two separate occasions. In the 1967 tournament we managed to squeeze a 2-1 win and, in 1968, when the C.B.H.S team were en route to Auckland, we lost 1-2. Click here to read the full match report

1980 to 1990
Have you got any recollections, reflections, news paper cuttings from this era, if so please do drop our editor Rob Greenfield an email at [email protected]

1990 to 2000
1990-1992 - The Golden Period
I played 1st XI for 3 years from 1990-1992... and have played many many games with Mark Burton, Mark Clare, Simon Eliot and Duncan Oughton - all of them going on to be All Whites as mentioned in the most recent Lampstand. My playing days with these characters were not only first the XI, but also Wellington age grade teams, from U9 through to U23 and then National League and U23 Olympic trials etc... I certainly got to see a lot of skills/talents displayed over the years!Two particular stories stick in my mind... click here to relive the tales.....

1995 - Whistling From Above
Former radio commentator, soccer and cricket identity Trevor Rigby, who could make the dullest national soccer league match sound interesting, recently made a refereeing comeback in the most bizarre circumstances. A Rongotai College man from way back, Rigby turned up to watch a second grade youth soccer match against Wellington College to find no referee and no parents able to control the game. Click here to read more

2000 to 2010
2008 - Ball In The Rain
In August 2008 the Wellington College Football club was requested by Capital Football on behalf of the Wellington Phoenix to supply 12 "ball persons" at short notice for the Phoenix v Melbourne Victory match at Westpac Stadium. Another club had pulled out suddenly.We only had a few days to make arrangements but a quick email to younger WCFC members resulted in an immediate and overwhelming response with well over twice as many as required instantly volunteering. Selection was on a first in first confirmed basis. To share the experience of the ball 'persons' click here.

2009 - Superstar:Mike Nelson
In 2009 1st XI player, Michael Nelson represented Football in the 2009 Wellington College Sports "Superstars" competition. The Wellingtonian of that year reports on how he went. Click here to read more on Mike Nelson's win

2010 - The Art of Football
In 2010, Wellington College football player, Jamie Greenfield, was able to combine two passions-his love of both football and of graphic design. Jamie, then a Year 12 student, was required to produce a portfolio for his NCEA 2 Design subject.

His project involved designing promotional material for a sporting hero, including a brochure, billboard and poster. He chose the Wellington Phoenix as the subject with a particular emphasis on Wellington College football old boys Leo Bertos and Tim Brown. To read more on Jamie's assignment and view is work, click here.

2010 onwards
2010 - Simon Elliott's Wisdom
Wellington College football competes in both College Sport Wellington (CSW) and Capital Football Leagues. While CSW teams are always identified by numerals (e.g. 15/2), teams in Capital Football are allowed team names. In recent years, the names of prominent Wellington College old boy All Whites have been used. In many cases the teams and their ‘name’ develop a close relationship. Below is a message sent to all members of the 2010 Grade 14 Elliott team by former Wellington College 1st XI and All White player, Simon Elliott. Click here to read Simon's message.

2011 - Wellington College Ready for Chatham Cup
It's a one-off game and anything could happen.  That is the attitude Wellington College first XI coach Charlie Howe is taking to his side's Chatham Cup game against premier league side Waterside Karori at Karori Park on Easter Monday. Click here to read the full article

2011 - The Battle of Alexandra
What a game.. the atmosphere was palpable as the 15/3s defeated the 15/4s 3–2 at Alexandra Park.   After adjusting to the unaccustomed start time of 1pm and a venue change, both teams kicked off with the commitment which always comes with a College derby and the 4s struck first early in the first half, before Robert Smart, in his best game of the season for the 3s, pushed up the right flank to equalize. Hugo Sissons, recovered now from the illness which kept him away from last week’s Paraparaumu clash, made it 2 – 1 at the break before James Cope struck for 3 – 1 midway through the second half. Click here to read the full match report

2011 - One Picture, Many Stories
'It was a single camera click on a misty early winter day but it froze in time a multitude of memories.' To find out what tales one mum's Saturday morning picture tells, click here.

2012 - College Sport Wellington Final 
The 1st XI very deservedly won the Premier Youth Championship Cup Final played on the College artificial turf on Thursday evening. To read the full match report click here 

2012 - The 'Schol' Boys
The 2012 Wellington College 1st XI had reasonable success on the field winning both the Scots College pre-season tournament and the College Sport Wellington Premier Youth championship for the Trevor Rigby Cup.But the results that stand this team apart from all others were received long after the season finished when, in February 2013, the NZ Qualifications Authority announced the 2012 NCEA scholarship results. An amazing five players from the regular squad were awarded 16 NCEA scholarships including 5 attained with an 'outstanding' distinction. Click here to read more on this remarkable achievement