Welcome to this Edition of our In Touch E-Newsletter

Our final newsletter of the year, confirms the outcome of our recent AGM, elected club officers and awards. A short message from our Chairman Viv de Beus below.

As we get close to the end of 2022, it is a good time for everyone to reflect on how things have gone this year.   It has been another difficult year for everyone with Covid restrictions in the first third of the year and post that, the ongoing issues still hanging around and affecting our everyday lives.

In the end of year report and at the AGM, we discussed the challenges we have faced, and the great efforts gone in by everyone in a very difficult year.  We now look forward to 2023 at what we all hope is the new normal, with not too much interruption. 

At our AGM, we welcomed two new members to the CFC Board - Jimmy Summerfield and Matt Mustchin.  The skills they bring will only enhance our team this year, and we say welcome to them both.  We enclose short bios below.

As mentioned at the AGM, Bryce Thomson, after 14 years has stood down as a Board Director (but is not going away).  We again thank Bryce for the fantastic service he has given to the CFC.

Our remaining Board Directors and officers, were all re-elected for a further term as follows:

Patron: Gerald Wilson

President: Jerry Rowberry

Board Members:

Viv de Beus

Hunter Johnston

Andre Thompson

Sarah Knox

Chris Mason

John Lane

Club Captain: Hunter Johnston

As a Board, our focus will be on the three main areas we outlined at the AGM, those being Commercial Operation, Sport and Facilities.  We will continue to develop our plans to best support these focus areas.  We are working through as a Board to allocate some responsibilities for these, and we will share the outcome of that in the new year.

One behalf of the Board I would like to thank everyone for their great support in 2022 and we look forward to prosperous 2023.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone

Viv de Beus

Christchurch Football Club Board Chairman

NOMINATION FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP – Noel Walton

During our recent AGM, the Board recommended that Noel Walton be elected a Life Member of the Christchurch Football Club.

Noel joined the club in 1986 and played 2^nd Grade A for 3 years. He was appointed Club Treasurer in 1988-89. Noel was Secretary of the club 2002-2004.  In 2006 he was one of the chief negotiators in setting up CFC World Company Ltd.  He became Chairman of CFC World the next year and led that very important financial body from 2007-2021.

Moved: Jerry Rowberry

Seconded: Alan Trent

Passed by acclamation

NOMINATION FOR COTTRELL AWARD – Ken Charlton

During the AGM, those present, also consider nominations for The Cottrell Award. The Cottrell Award recognises the outstanding contribution of a club member in any aspects of club administration over many years.

The award is named in memory of former club member Mr A I “Beau” Cottrell. Beau Cottrell played for CFC Senior A 1928-36 as a front row forward. He played for Canterbury A 1928-34 and the All Blacks 1929-32.  He was President of the CFC for 23 years, Club Patron 1982-88 and a Life Member.

The Board recommended that Ken Charlton be elected the winner of the Cottrell Award.

Ken joined the Club in 1963 and played 5 years in 3^rd Grade A’. ‘He coached Junior boys teams 1978-1980. He was elected to the club management committee 1990-1993.  He has been an Axemen since 1995.  Since retiring as a builder, Ken has spent many hours at the clubrooms every week doing repairs and odd jobs.  He has been a loyal and committed member of our club for 60 years.

Moved: Jerry Rowberry

Seconded: John Mill

Passed by acclamation

Matt Mustchin – Board Director

Photo with my daughter and my Dad after Cara’s 100 game for St Margaret’s netball

After coaching the CFC Colts Premier team for the last three years, I still wanted to be able to give back to the club that has given me so much and felt it was the time for me to step up to a board role.

I have been a member at the club since 1996 but my relationship goes back lots further than that, as I spent many years hanging around as a kid, when my Dad was very involved with the club. From Bangor Street, to digging the drains with Dad at the current clubrooms, CFC is a big part of my life.

Having played over 100 senior games for the premier side, I ventured overseas for ten years playing in Ireland, Scotland, and Japan, with the highlight being five tests for Scotland.

On my return home, I took over the coaching of the premier side for three seasons before stepping down to help coach my son’s team for three years, before stepping into the colts coaching role.

I enjoy continuing to challenge myself personally and have the Coast 2 Coast bug. I am currently training towards the two-day individual in 2023, after missing this year’s race due to covid.

Work wise, I am a Project Manager with a focus on Plumbing for DBC Building services, recently starting work on the new Christchurch Stadium.

I am looking forward to the challenge of working with the Board to keep CFC moving forward.

 Jimmy Summerfield – Board Director

I am a Cantabrian through and through. I grew up supporting, playing, and refereeing grass roots rugby, and now enjoy many a frosty morning on the side-line supporting my two sons playing junior rugby.

In my current role as General Manager of Richmond Club, The Borough, I continue to be heavily involved with the game.

My key skills are in hospitality, gleaned over twenty-five plus years, my current experience reporting to a committee, and my ability to lead and navigate a multi-million-dollar business through a post-earthquake total rebuild – all while negotiating a challenging financial climate.

I possess a broad array of additional skills and strengths that are well suited to the position. These include executive leadership, the ability to think both progressively and strategically, a focus on teamwork, an easy going yet determined nature, a strong sense of community focus and involvement, plus the ability to collaborate with people from all walks of life. I also have extensive experience in HR, employment law, health and safety protocols and financial sustainability.

I am well versed in governance, as I currently report to an Executive Committee in my role. We meet monthly and collectively work to guide the Club through the demanding times we face.

I have worked alongside some of the key CFC staff and volunteers over recent years and I look forward to being part of a focused board, committed to driving this great club forward as it celebrates it’s 160^th year in 2023.

Grounds & Facilities Update

Thanks to the awesome support provided by our grounds and maintenance funders, Mainland Foundation and the Kiwi Gaming Foundation, we were able to close our grounds last week, to allow much needed annual renovations to get underway.

We expect the grounds to reopen at the beginning of February, but we will provide a further update later in January. Until then, please ensure that the closure is respected, and the grounds are not used under ANY circumstances.

The absolutely wonderful Readylawn team, headed up by Roger & Pete, have again provided us with their exceptional support and guidance, to help us navigate the every increasing challenges we face to keep our grounds maintained and safe for our club community. As we increasingly look to year round usage of the fields, it is even more important to ensure our maintenance schedule adapts to our changing club requirements, while trying to manage the ever increasing costs related to doing this.

Roger & Pete have worked closely with the CFC team, so we have a plan in place, with materials secured to see us through the 2023 season. The picture above, shows the Readylawn team in action on day three of our annual renovation.

While all of the above has been planned, scheduled, costed, funded and put in place, the ongoing maintenance and care of the facilities continues under the careful management of our Grounds team and Milsie's volunteer crew. Milsie's team are currently busy repainting and freshening up the changing sheds and tunnels - and anyone who has been to the tunnel area recently, will see the great work being undertaken. We are so lucky to have such great support within our club!

In addition, while work continues to source a replacement Groundsperson, Russell Bayliss has once again supported the club by coming out of retirement temporariliy to take on the role of Acting Groundsman.

It is safe to say, the small team who regularly work at Christchurch Park (as well as the Readylawn crew), love having Russell around. His can do attitude, exceptional work ethic and smiling face make him a much loved part of our team. He is always fixing or mending something for us and continually finding new ways to make processes more efficient. His is also a font of knowledge and his quiet guidance and support is truly apprecitated.

Thank you Russell for all you do - if we could clone you, we definitely would, you are definitely one in a million!

Sponsorship Update

We are very excited to be planning for the 2023 season ahead, which will celebrate our 160^th Anniversary. We have lots of events and opportunities being planned by junior and senior committee, over the next twelve months, to provide some excellent networking and social opportunities for our club sponsors, alongside the opportunity to promote their brand.

Sponsorship options are available in the following areas:

• Field 1 Fence Signage
• Other specific club/bar signage
• Junior/Senior Apparel Naming Rights
• Specific Junior/Senior Gear Naming Rights
• Events/Tournament Naming Rights
• Corporate Sponsorship (provide event space and general club membership options to use the club rooms and grounds during an agreed period, subject to availability)

We can tailor a sponsorship package to suit your business needs and requirements. If you are keen to be involved and support the best community club around, please either complete the expression of interest link here or contact nicola.flint@christchurchpark.co.nz for more information.

One of the things we are proudest of within our club, is our community connections and the relationships we build upon because of these connections. Many of you will know that getting established in a new town, without existing family connections can be tricky to navigate, so we hope that our club community will help one of our newest club members, Justin McCarthy.

Justin has recently moved to Christchurch, having spent the last three years in Wellington. During his time in Wellington, he was with the Hurricanes as a Performance Analyst. He also coached with Pōneke Football Club, Oriental-Rongotai Football Club and with Wellington U19’s. Previously Justin was coaching Age Grade teams with Munster Rugby and also coaching with Cork Constitution Rugby Club in Cork city, Ireland. 

Justin will be our Premier Div 1 Men’s Attack Coach for the 2023 season, and he is already fully involved with our pre-season activities becoming a familiar face amongst our wider club members, as he helps and gets involved with activities around the club.

Justin is looking to secure some rental accommodation from mid- January, ideally a one-bedroom apartment or a mature flat share, close to the club in proximity. Justin is also looking for employment opportunities from the new year and would love to hear from any of our club families/businesses who may be looking for a flexible, friendly, professional, with a wide range of skills ranging from a professional valuer in Ireland, to being part way through his building apprenticeship from his time based in Wellington. References, CV and further details available on request.

Justin would be happy to meet with anyone who might be keen to help and can be reached on justinmac00@hotmail.com

Good luck Justin – and welcome to the CFC Family!

2023 Rugby Registrations are open!

We have an exciting schedule of events being planned for our 160^th anniversary year. We are aiming to start the season with a bang and encourage all new and returning players to complete their registration forms early, to be part of the action.

We have sent invites out to all 2022 players inviting them to re-register (via the email address supplied during last year’s registration). These invites have pre-filled personal information from last season. However, for those who haven’t received this or for new friends and family keen to be part of our awesome club during 2023, please complete and share the link below:

Senior Rugby Player Registration (18+ years + as at 1^st Jan 2023)

Junior Rugby Player Registration (U6-U17 grades inclusive)

That’s it for now – except to wish you all a fantastic Christmas and New Year!!

Article added: Wednesday 14 December 2022