Welcome to the 10 June update from Christchurch Football Club. Keeping you connected with all the fantastic events and happenings in and around the club including last weekend's amazing festival of rugby, fun, community and celebration! 

What an awesome weekend that saw us celebrate our Junior Club Day!! The weekend started off with Friday night footy where the Crocs and the Colts each played Marist- Albion. A big thank you to everyone that came down to support our teams even though the rain had arrived by kick off! Then on early Saturday morning the preparation for the big day began with the Junior Committee in full swing setting up the fields, the BBQ for the sausage sizzle along with the teams fundraising for the upcoming Queenstown Tournament. 

Great to see all the players and parents enjoying the morning with a lot of awesome feedback received!!

Our thanks to all the food truck vendors who turned up, Bangkok Wok, Mussel Madness, Empire Chicken, Donut Kettle Korn, Coffee Skills, Rollicious and Event Hire (Bouncy Castle) for supporting our day along with Abbott Insurance Brokers for providing their BBQ trailer that saw 700 sausages cooked and distributed throughout the morning. 

Our thanks to Chris Timbs from Peter Timbs for suppling the sausages and to Bryan, Lucy & their team from Pak n Save in helping arrange the bread, sauces, drinks etc. and the wonderful support provided by the Premier Men’s and Women’s teams in ensuring every player got a sausage & drink! To the Premier Women’s team awesome work on the face painting team!! 

To the team from the CRU thank you so much for being here and engaging with all of us along with Tony Smail (CEO CRU) and members of the CRU Board who visited on the day as we appreciated seeing you all here 😊 To Bret and the team from Abbott Insurance Brokers thank you for being our Game Day Sponsor and activating the club referral process whereby we can all benefit from our relationship and ensuring we protect all things necessary!

With regards to Edward and his team from Rollicious I want to highlight the great work they are doing in providing high quality and fresh food from their truck out front of our clubrooms, via the kitchen where food is bought & delivered over the bar and for the after match meals provided to our Premier Men’s and Women’s team (yes they are all one and the same everyone!!). As a team (Edward, Morne’ and myself) we are always reviewing each week on a Monday what worked well over the weekend, what we need to get better at, and this review also includes how the food sales went and what we need to do with regards to the menu to lift sales. 

We are prepared to offer different menu options that are cost effective for all parties however we do need the support of everybody when different menu options are available and that includes getting positive feedback.

It was great to see former Nomads players and their families here at the club along with many members wearing their blazers as well. Special note of thanks to a few of the Nomads who helped me out in getting the after match meals down to the respective changing rooms post the Premier game – much appreciated lads!

To Morne’ and his team thank you for keeping everyone happy from behind the bar with awesome service!!

Subscriptions 2026 – Keep up the great work!!!

 We want to thank everyone that has paid their subscription to date as it means a lot to us as it allows us to continue to invest in our players and club with confidence

 Again if have any questions please contact accounts@christchurchpark.co.nz in the first instance

  •  Senior Div. 1-6 & Women’s                  $240.00
  • Colts and any Under 21 player           $160.00
  • General                                                 $50.00
  • Social                                                     $20.00

Junior Family Member –

  • 1 player (first child in the family) $115* includes team photo payment
  • 2 or more players (same family) payment $230* includes team photo payment
  • 3 or more players (same family) $300* includes team photo payment *includes a Family Membership of $60

 Coaches & Managers of all teams will now be following up to ensure all subscriptions are paid as soon as possible”

Regards

Shu

The Benefits of Team Sport for Junior Players

In an age where young people have more competing demands on their time than ever before, participation in team sports remains one of the most valuable experiences a child can have. Whether it is rugby, netball, football, hockey, basketball, or any other team environment, sport provides benefits that extend far beyond the scoreboard.

Developing Physical Health

The most obvious benefit of team sport is physical activity. Regular training and games help young people improve their fitness, coordination, strength, agility, and overall health. In a world increasingly dominated by screens and sedentary activities, team sports provide an enjoyable way for children to stay active while developing lifelong healthy habits.

Participation in sport also teaches young athletes the importance of preparation, recovery, nutrition, and looking after their bodies—skills that can serve them well throughout their lives.

Learning Life Skills

One of the greatest strengths of team sport is its ability to teach valuable life lessons. Young players learn the importance of commitment, discipline, punctuality, and responsibility. They discover that success is often the result of consistent effort rather than natural talent alone.

Sport also teaches resilience. Not every game will be won, and not every performance will be perfect. Learning how to respond to setbacks, disappointments, and challenges helps build character and prepares young people for situations they will face outside of sport.

Building Confidence

Every training session and every game presents opportunities for growth. As players develop new skills and contribute to their team's success, their confidence naturally grows.

For some children, sport provides a platform to discover strengths they may not have realised they possessed. Whether it is leadership, communication, determination, or problem-solving, team environments often help young people find confidence that carries into school, work, and everyday life.

Creating Friendships and Belonging

Team sports provide an environment where friendships are formed through shared experiences. Players celebrate victories together, overcome challenges together, and create memories that often last a lifetime.

Being part of a team gives young people a sense of belonging. They learn that they are part of something bigger than themselves and that their contribution matters. This sense of connection can have a significant positive impact on a young person's wellbeing and self-esteem.

Learning Teamwork and Communication

Modern society places great value on the ability to work effectively with others. Team sports provide one of the best environments for learning these skills.

Players quickly learn that success is rarely achieved alone. They must communicate, cooperate, support teammates, and sometimes put the needs of the team ahead of their own. These lessons transfer directly into school, workplaces, and future relationships.

Developing Leadership

Not every leader wears the captain's armband. Team sport creates opportunities for young people to lead through their actions, attitude, and example.

Players learn how to encourage teammates, take responsibility, make decisions under pressure, and support others. These experiences help develop future leaders both on and off the field.

Supporting Mental Wellbeing

Sport provides an important outlet for young people to release stress, build confidence, and develop positive social connections. The combination of physical activity, friendship, routine, and achievement contributes significantly to mental wellbeing.

Being involved in a team also provides a support network of coaches, teammates, volunteers, and parents who can positively influence a young person's development.

The Role of Parents and Volunteers

The benefits of team sport are only possible because of the commitment of coaches, managers, referees, and parents who dedicate their time to creating positive experiences for young people.

Their support helps ensure that sport remains a place where children can learn, grow, and enjoy themselves regardless of their ability level.

More Than a Game

While winning games can be exciting, the true value of junior sport lies in the people it helps shape. The lessons learned through teamwork, resilience, discipline, leadership, and friendship often stay with young people long after their playing days have ended.

Every training session, every game, and every shared experience contributes to the development of confident, capable, and connected young people. That is why team sport remains one of the most powerful tools we have for helping the next generation thrive.

Cheers

Budgie

Junior Club Day: A Day to Remember! 🏉

What a day it was! Junior Club Day delivered everything we love about rugby at CFC — great games, big smiles, and a community that shows up no matter what.

Sure, the weather wasn't exactly picture-perfect, but since when has a bit of New Zealand grey stopped a rugby player? Not here, and certainly not on Club Day. The conditions did nothing to dampen the spirit on show, with some fantastic rugby played across the grounds and plenty of memorable moments to keep everyone talking.

It was wonderful to see so many families out supporting their kids, and even better to watch our young players rise to the occasion. The standard of rugby on display was a real credit to the work being done across all our junior teams — the effort, enthusiasm, and enjoyment on every player's face said it all.

A massive thank you must go to our Junior Committee, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the day run as smoothly as it did. Events like this don't happen without a huge amount of planning and dedication, and it absolutely showed. Special mention also to Shu and Budgie — your contribution on the day was greatly appreciated.

We'd also like to extend a huge thank you to club sponsor Peter Timbs Meats for the sausage sizzle — always a highlight and never underestimated!

 Along with the team from Abbott’s Insurance and senior players that helped with cooking. And of course, a big shout-out to Pak n Save and all of our wonderful sponsors whose generous support makes days like this possible. We truly couldn't do it without you. Also a big thank you to CRU for coming down and adding to our club day.

Coming up: Team Photos 📸

Don't forget — team photos are on next week! Keep an eye out for further details on timing and what to wear, and make sure your players come looking their best. These are the shots they'll look back on for years to come.

Here's to many more days like it. Go CFC! 🔴⚫