Welcome!

Welcome to the 22 April update from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with everything happening in and around the club.

ANZAC DAY. Lest We Forget

As ANZAC Day approaches, Christchurch Football Club pauses to honour the 49 CFC players who made the supreme sacrifice in service to our country.

They were players, teammates, and proud members of our club before answering the call. We remember their courage, their loyalty, and the legacy they left behind. On the field and far beyond it.

On ANZAC Day, and always, we will remember them.

Lest we forget.

Wow what a great weekend with our senior teams all playing at home to celebrate our Senior Club day! Starting on Friday night where the Premier Women’s team completely outplayed last year’s champions, New Brighton!! The team are very appreciative of the support given to them by the club and it was awesome to see the Premier Men’s team at the club on the night showing their support along with a lot of other club members and supporters!! On Saturday we saw our Premier Development team play Sydenham and they came away with a very good win and set the afternoon up for some exciting footy to follow. Talk about exciting what can you say about the Premier Men’s game with over 100 points being scored with Sydenham taking out the game 54 to 50! Both teams played an exciting style of footy with lots of ball movement and even though the total number of points scored was high each team put in many big hits on defense! It was great to see the Choppers back in action with their numbers growing and again if you want play or know of people wanting to play social footy get in touch with us. The last game of the day saw our Premier Colts team play New Brighton in a preseason game at 5-30pm and the team came away with a solid win and showed they will be a team to watch in the Premier Colts grade in 2026.

On Friday night we had the privilege to host Jules, Shardia, Matt, and Nic from Mortgage Link (insert their link) along with their families who are a key sponsor of our Premier Women’s team. If you are wanting a home loan, looking to refinance or simply want a review of your current home loan along with your KiwiSaver please contact the Mortgage Link team.

Then on Saturday we had the privilege to host Craig from PAK'nSAVE Papanui who are our major sponsor at the club. We are extremely grateful to PAK'nSAVE Papanui for their wonderful sponsorship and ask that all members go to PAK'nSAVE Papanui as it is “the only place to do your grocery shop”

It was fantastic to see the Axemen host the Bus Drivers on Saturday afternoon prior to the Premier Men’s game where a lot of stories were told and memories relived. It is awesome to see this group getting together each and every year to celebrate two great clubs who share so much in common both on and off the field!

On Sunday we saw CRU hold a Small Blacks Coaching course for a number of our coaches. The morning started with a breakfast for all attendees, followed by the course and we thank the CRU for coming to the club and engaging with our coaches! After the course, our second “Have a Go Day” was held and again was well coordinated by the Junior Committee with strong numbers turning up as the morning also included a “tackle clinic” that was very well run by Budgie.

On ANZAC weekend we only see the Premier Development and Premier teams playing with both away to Sumner on Monday with kickoffs at 1pm and 2-45pm respectively

As no other rugby is being played over ANZAC weekend and that the above two teams are playing away the club will not be open so if you need a place to catch up with family & friends to have a drink & a feed please head to The Elmwood and support our wonderful sponsor!!

To keep everyone updated regarding subscriptions we ask that all players register as soon as possible and pay at the time of registration as our goal is have all Senior subscriptions paid by the end of May and all Junior subscriptions paid by the end of June. As mentioned previously we are working our way through RX/Stripe/Xero platforms to ensure all those that have paid are correctly captured and where appropriate invoices are sent out. Unfortunately it is a very manual process reconciling payments when three platforms are not synced so we appreciate your patience, support, and your positive feedback especially when invoices are sent and payments have been made 😊

Last week I spoke of R.E.S.P.E.C.T and I want to thank you all for seeing a change in behaviour with regards to looking after one another as well as putting crates on the floor! We still have work do with regards to respecting the clubrooms as it is disappointing to find a hole punched in the ceiling of the men’s toilets (this is not the first time by the way), doors swung open that sees dents punched in them and toilet seats damaged – if we find the people responsible for causing the damage you will be required to pay for the repairs or if people are caught in the act of vandalism you will pay for the repairs and be removed from the club. Please know that we do hold functions on a Sunday for external parties and it is very embarrassing when we have to deal with repairing damage or advise that the toilets are out of order due to the actions taken by some disrespectful people.

Lastly I want us all to take a moment and remember those who gave so much so as we can enjoy what we have today!!!!

Regards

Shu

Axe Attack Weekend Almost!!

Prems wow (yes it was a loss but end to end audacity), Prem women smashing it, Crocs amazing, Tonu you wee Rippa, Classics, mmmm interesting, Colts good hit out under lights and showing promise.

For a majority of these teams I am seeing well prepared coaches, planned sessions on the grass, structured attack and defence and a whole lot of Fun!!!!!

You might not see the FUN in some teams until after the game normally but with these teams we are seeing and hearing it on the playing arena.

It is so refreshing to hear this happening and the positive play is now reflecting in positive support at game time and in the club rooms after the games.

I think as coaches progress up from age group to age group we start to undervalue the impact Fun has on the training and the game. A large number of our players are only here because they want to be with their friends and those friendship can and do continue for life. You see it every weekend with Ferguson, Rowberry, and Wilson, Cottam , Mills and Mason and Sherratt, Langley and Cron. Names that are forever linked to this club but linked to each other through friendships, built while playing in the Red and Black Jersey.

It does show why we play the game, winning is important but if we are winning and having fun on the way, it’s a lot more fun.

#Coaching tip for the week when teaching tackle.

Use the hit shields to practice the squeeze you want your players to establish when they wrap their arms.

  • Have players face each other.
  • Get Player 1 to throw the hit shield at Player 2.
  • Have Player 2 catch with one arm and squeeze it into their cheek.
  • Make sure you’re swapping sides through the catching drill.

In the next few weeks when the teams are announced across the junior section of the club, we will have a coaching guide in it for our coaches. It will provide some structure for you as a coach to follow and what we as a club really want from you and for our players.

Simple things around what to coach at each level, how long to spend on training.

Here is an extract from the draft document:

CLUB SKILL PHILOSOPHY

1. Catch & Pass First

Every player, every session:

  • Accurate catch-pass
  • Both hands
  • Under pressure

2. Body Height Wins

  • Low in contact
  • Strong body shape
  • Dominant collisions (age appropriate)

3. Game-Based Learning

  • Small-sided games over drills
  • Decision-making always present
  • Add defenders early

4. Play Fast, Play Smart

  • Encourage movement and support
  • Avoid over-coaching structure early

I really look forward to sharing the final copy with you all.

This weekend is the Super Round at our New Stadium. I am looking forward to attending and watching some good rugby. 

Monday sees our Premier Men and our beloved Crocs heading to the Seaside resort of Sumner to wreak havoc on the Seasiders. Get along on your day off and watch the teams have some FUN!!!

Cheers

Budgie

An Important Axemens Club Announcement

CFC/AXEMEN TO HONOUR ALL CLUB CENTURIONS.
The CFC Axemen are excited to announce the establishment and recognition the Axemen Centurions.
“ This is a project the Axemen have been working on for some time.  We felt it was time to formally recognise and reward those former and present members who have made an enduring contribution to the Christchurch Football Club”, said Axemen Chairman Bob Eastgate. 
 

Since 1863, Christchurch Football Club has been built on more than results.
It has been built on commitment — season after season, generation after generation.

The Axemen name has always stood for resilience, loyalty, and the willingness to keep turning up when it matters most. It represents those who put the club first, who carried the jersey with pride, and who helped pass the CFC culture from one era to the next.

What Is an Axemen Centurion?

An Axemen Centurion is a player, coach, or manager who has reached 100 Senior Grade games of service, from Under 19’s, Women’s to Senior/Premiers, with the Christchurch Football Club.

One hundred games is not a moment — it is a journey.
It reflects seasons of preparation, sacrifice, resilience, and commitment to others.

Centurions are recognised not for individual accolades, but for service sustained over time — the very quality that has allowed the Christchurch Football Club to endure for more than 160 years.

Eligibility

You may be recognised as an Axemen Centurion if you have achieved 100 or more Senior Grade games with the Christchurch Football Club in one or more of the following roles:

  • Player
  • Coach
  • Manager/Physio

Service may be accumulated across seasons and teams and reflects genuine contribution in the red and black colours.

The Axemen Centurion Register

All recognised Centurions will be recorded in the Axemen Centurion Register, plus they will receive a souvenir as a living record that honours those whose commitment has contributed to the club across generations.

The Register exists to:

  • Preserve Axemen Centurion history
  • Recognise loyalty and longevity
  • Connect past, present, and future club members
  • Reinforce the values that define the Christchurch Football Club and the Axemens Club

Registrations open now.

Eligible individuals — or those wishing to nominate a past player, coach or manager — are invited to register for inclusion in the Axemen Centurion Register.

Where formal records are incomplete, the club acknowledges that our history is often carried through memory and shared experience, and these will be respected as part of the verification process.

To Register or Nominate:

Please register by following the link here and provide:

  • Full name
  • Role(s) with the club (player, coach, manager)
  • Approximate years of Senior Grade involvement
  • Team(s) or era(s) played, coached, or managed

Registrations will be reviewed by the Club and the Axemens Club to ensure the integrity of the Centurion Register.

A Living Legacy

Each registered Centurion will be recognised and inducted at special function(s) throughout the year.

Becoming an Axemen Centurion is not an endpoint.

It is recognition that your service forms part of the foundation on which future club members will stand.

“ From Latimer Square in 1863 to the present day, the strength of Christchurch Football Club has always come from those who stayed. It is time to recognise those who have reached or surpassed the 100 game milestone. The Axemen are truly honoured to organise and operate this scheme oncbehalf of the Club” Bob Eastgate.

Give ’Em the Axe.

Click here to register or nominate a 100 game veteran.