Grants Braes AFC

In the 1970s things heated up a fraction on the pitch for the Snr Club!

1970

Grants Braes AFC in the 1970 Season entered 4 Jnr teams, one in each of 8th Grade and 9th Grade and two in the 10th Grade. One in each Section, also First Time we can see an 'A' team listed.

The best performing Team was the 9th Grade Section 2 side who came second in their League.

Grants Braes entered two Senior teams into the Local Leagues.

Second Grade 'A' and a 3rd Grade side.

Second Grade 'A' side

Played 12

Won 12

Drawn 0

Lost 0

For 103

Against 18

Points 24

Won the League by 6 Points with Kings High Second.

Third Grade Side

Played 12

Won 8

Drawn 1

Lost 3

For 42

Against 22

Points 17

Second, in the Table, Roslyn Wakari won with 21 points.

For the Second Grade Side, star Striker Paul Robertson scored more than half the Team Goals for the 1970 Season with an amazing total of 57 Goals.

From the Club Notes of the 1970 year, they mention a few Jnr stand out of players.

8th Grade Martin Keane

9th Grade

10th Grade A Murray Cliffe and Phillip Eaton

10th Grade B Stephen Major and Leslie Smith

Also mentions that all the Jnr Sides suffered from a lack of training and the Club was looking to remedy that situation. What caused this issue is unknown, it's the first time the Club has mentioned this issue.

Club finances in 1970 ended up at $284.75, finances were Audited by R M Hill.

1971

In April 1971 Grants Braes AFC was granted permission to adopt the new Bayfield ground as Our home ground. Arrangements were being made with Carisbrook Cricket Club to gain access to their Clubrooms during the Football Season.

Grants Braes AFC was given a Cup in the Honour of John Patterson, for his work fostering the sport of Association Football in the District of Waverley. Which is still in the Clubrooms now, it was replaced with the John Patterson Founders Sheild.

On the pitch

Grants Braes entered 3 Jnr Teams in 1971, one each in the 7th,8th and 10th Grade.

The top performers were the 9th Grade side who came second in their Section.

Snr teams, Grants Braes entered the Fletcher Cup for the first time ever. We also had our 3rd Grade Team.

Financially, the Grants Braes AFC had one of Our better years, $534.94 !!

Tragedy struck Grants Braes again with the untimely loss of one of the Club's most ardent supporters Mr. Charles McCurdy.

1972

On the pitch

Jnr Grants Braes entered 3 teams, one each in the 8th, 10th A, and 10th B Grades.

Highlights of that season were the 8th Grade side who came second in their competition, they were coached by a Mr. Les Carrick. Les also was part of the 1972 Committee.

Snr Teams again where Fletcher Cup and Third Grade

Unsure of their results unfortunately

During the 1972 Season, Mr. Alan Richards had to resign from his role as Treasurer ( the only one the club had had at this point ) owing to health reasons. To show appreciation for Alan's work with the Club he was nominated as the Club's First Life Member. This was to be voted at the next AGM.

Financially Grants Braes AFC ended up at $658.46

1973

On the pitch, 4 Jnr Teams 8th Grade, 9th Grade, and two teams in 10th Grade.

The best performing Team was the 9th Grade side which came second in their Section.

Snr Teams entered into the Fletcher Cup and Third Grade.

The Fletcher Cup Side won their Grade, the Club's first Snr Trophy. The team was Coached by Mr. I Porter.

The Team List for the Fletcher Cup in 1973 was as follows

J Sinclair

K Murray

W Richards

M Hall

K Judd

L Hall

D Salter

R Hodson

P McDonnell

P Robertson

B Hall

D Thomas

A side note, Grants Braes Home pitch of Bayfield was very wet and was unplayable for a lot of the '73' Season

Financially Grants Braes ended up with $832.28 in the account.

1974

Another Trophy !!

25th Of September 1974

Grants Braes won the Chinese Charity Shield by defeating Kings High 2-1 at the Caledonian Ground.

Grants Braes AFC Junior Club carried on being successful in Team numbers. One Team in each of the following Grades 8th, 9th, and two teams in the 10th Grade.

Richard Thompson's 9th Grade side won their section, while Les Carricks 10th Grade side finished in Second Place. David Thomas 10th Grade side finished 4th.

Snr teams Grants Braes entered Fletcher Cup and Third Grade.

The Fletcher Cup side came second that season.

Harry Kerr ODT sportswriter in 1974 made a funny comment in his sports round-up, he suggested that Grants Braes Teams drawn to play at Bayfield should carry a reliable tide timetable! The possible suggestion is that the Bayfield Inlet Ground Reclaimanation WASNT 100% successful!

Another interesting article in the ODT was titled

The day the ball floated away…

An interesting one came up in the meeting of the Otago Football Association on Monday night it seems last week that Grants Braes were playing the School of Physical Education at Bayfield Park. With about 13 minutes remaining the ball was kicked into the inlet, it did not float back to the shoreline until about 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the referee had abandoned the game!

Now the rule states that each team must provide a ball and the home team and in this case, Grant's Braes must provide an additional ball three balls, therefore, shouldn't be available before the game began.

As it happened the students did not provide a ball and Grant's Braes did not provide the second ball as required by the rules.

Since both teams failed to comply with the rules the OFA decided that because the School of Education was leading 4-2 at the time of the incident they would award the match points to the School Of Education.

I wonder if Grants Braes had a second ball available, would they have been astute enough to kick the ball into the tide thus have gained two competition points.

Retirement ..

Mr. I Porter who was the Fletcher Cup Coach and had developed a strong side in that league Retired at the end of the 1974 Season.

Finance wise Grants Braes ended up with $949.38 in the account.

1975

PROMOTION !!!

The Grants Braes AFC committee decided to accept the offer to join the Second Tier Broadlands Qualifying Competition. Which was one Tier below National League Football.

A massive step up in Quality for a Team that mostly came through the Grants Braes Jnr Teams.

Mr. George Little took over the reins for the Newly Promoted Grants Braes AFC Side.

Our first victory came on Saturday 26th April 1975, against Technical a good 2-1 Win. Goals from Bill Richards and Murray Hall. Murray's goal was from a tight angle!

By the end of 1975, Season Grants Braes AFC finished 5th equal with Dunedin City. Winning 10 games!

Another highlight of the 1975 Season was the Application for Funds to assist with the Installation of the Showers in the Bayfield Park Pavilion.

Other Snr Teams were in the Second and Third Grade. Two tiers down from the Top Team.

Grants Braes had 6 Jnr teams in the 1975 Season, the most team in their short 14-year history.

Teams and Coaches

11th Grade Mr. Gillan's

10th Grade Mr. Thompsons

9th B Grade Mr Tisivaris

9th A Mr. Carrick

8th Mr. Paterson

7th Mr. Hodson

All teams did well that season!

Subs for Jnrs were $2:50 per boy with a Maximum per family of $5!

Grants Braes AFC in 1975 held insurance for parents who Transported Boys to the games! This was a major attraction for Parents it seems.

1977

The 1977 season was not the best for the club as far as a southern league was concerned we ended up third from the bottom and relegated to the Fletcher Cup division this may be a good thing as there was a big gap in the team this may bring his closer together. Our main fault was not the substandard team but too many players with second sports and had no hesitation in just leaving us on Saturdays for these other sports and it was only at the end of the season and we had good teams that we won our games, as the second grade was not released players we were struggling at times. Dave Thomas when the trophies in the best club member

The second grade had some good matches and should have been further up the ladder they were led by Gordon Scott but would again be let down by 3 to 4 players all going away at the same time which made it difficult for them during the season. The second-grade b team was nearly always short OF players some of whom did not even have let anybody know who they will not be there or given Saturday, and they were lucky to be so far up the table. their captain Dick Thomas has transferred to Wellington and will be missed.

Stuart Collins 3rd grade team play to amazing football at times as the Rider from vouch for over there was there most organised in the club and were some of their players game from would remain a deep secret

Housey without how's he will be no club or through some member Street this is a joke if there were no housing the subs there we 25 there will be 25 to $30 subs trip it must be paid to Arthur Thomas can and Phyllis Rigby John Patterson frankston in the last 6 months to Stuart Holland's and members of the 3rd grade side they have done a great job next time you put on your strip and tracksuit remember it came from housing funds the balance sheet will tell you how much

Finance remain sound but we are still sure if you subs and these players are not eligible to vote or at a meeting or to play in the 1978 season the club has done it's best to have good gear and this year the second grade will benefit with new shirts and shorts

Bayfield Park still has not been tended to buy the reserves department and it last year we went over to 3 months without plan on the ground this has been there story since 1970 all it needs is in the area of 20 square yards to be repaired in the middle of the ground all our request for of their fears who must hang on to what we have here as we will be winners in the long run when the proposed development of the part tap parks takes place hour showers were vandalised during the offseason and it took a good day number of days work to repair them

The Juniors had a very good seasoned with three teams either winning or being very close to the top Les Carrick was the man responsible for the smooth running of the junior section and we're all grateful to him and his band of parents

Parents to help us were Mrs Mullen Mr Right Mr ripples Greg Taylor and dedicated member of Alan gadd the only one of our seniors to take a junior team with Bob Russell we extend our sympathy to Alan Richards and Hitchcock both of these members have family bereavements this year

Our most urgent need is a new clubroom where we can relax after the matches and your committee has this in hand and hopefully this can More than a dream next year . Our thanks for the referees and the O.F.A to all those persons that helped us during the 1977 season

Written by John A Patterson secretary and Alfred Thomas President