History Alhambra_Union_Rugby_Football_Club

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 alhambra
1.3 union
1.4 war, depression , baby boomers
1.5 merged club
1.6 21st century

history
origins

the alhambra union rugby football club know today formed @ end of 1986 season , first took field in 1987. 2 clubs in north end of dunedin had each operated in excess of 100 years , after years of informal discussions agreed merge clubs.

union had numbers lacked grounds. after season of training , playing, picturesque north ground far picture. alhambra had grounds losing numbers after lost senior status @ end of 1983.

alhambra

formed in 1884 club founded members of old albany street school arranged kick around @ thompson s paddock, known harbour terrace. @ end of first season members began clearing bush @ opoho , permission obtained play games there in 1885. same year club joined orfu , given colours of red & black. in 1886 played first senior game, drawing against kaikorai.

in 1891 club had first taste of success winning senior , junior banner. seniors repeated feat following season. in first decade of 1900s club enjoyed purple patch winning senior banner in 1902 (13 games undefeated), 1905, 1909 , 1910. runner-up twice in period well.

union

the union football club formed in 1872 after special meeting on 24 february 1871 @ annadale arms hotel. meeting took place after boys of otago boys high school had played game against dunedin club, had been formed.

first reports of games played union appeared in local papers in 1874, although report on game played between dunedin , north dunedin involved union club.

the first club resident robert stout later became sir robert stout. go on provincial councillor, prime minister , later chief justice. become long serving patron of club.

after tough times in depression of 1880s club won first senior banner in 1887. repeated title again in 1890. games played on north ground @ time surrounded picket fence.

war, depression , baby boomers

leading first world war, both clubs struggled , held enthusiastic administrators determined keep them playing. union picked senior banner in 1916. alhambra won title again in 1920 jock richardson playing part. later go on captain black test team on famous 1924 invincibles tour.

in 1926 union club amalgamated ymca second grade team. new monogram developed triangle appearing first time.

the depression years in 1930s tough clubs games continued played. alhambra played kaikorai murphy memorial first time in 1938 going down 3-0.

after finishing last in 1938 union club guided title in 1939 black did vorrath defeating southern 9-6 in final, last minute ron silver penalty.

the second world war again tough clubs. rival clubs alhambra , kaikorai combine ensure games played.

by late 1960s peak of baby boomers had occurred @ primary schools , both clubs benefited large schoolboy numbers. ten fifteen years later these numbers had progressed through senior clubs.

in 1975 union club had 9 teams training on north ground. alhambra had mini-revival in late 1970s talented students tim burcher , rex smith leading them gallaway shield in 1977.

the merged club

the obvious benefit of merged club increased playing numbers. in 1987 4 senior teams played in finals fourths winning banner. university beat seniors penalty in last action of day.

the strength continued in 90s impressive performances across club. seniors consistently in top four, contesting final twice. colts teams strong during period, picking banner in 1993.

from late nineties through current times club has been buoyed success of second grade , women s teams have consistently made top four. women s team won banner in 1999 on of strong performances 3 black ferns, farah palmer, jacinta nielson , maree edwards. in same year club had unique honour of having both men s , women s nz rugby player of year in josh kronfeld , farah palmer. both playing club @ time , situation unlikely ever repeated.

the 21st century

in 2003 club had 3 players in highlanders filipo levi, seru rabeni , ben herring being selected. rabeni went on play fiji in world cup.

2006 year supporters had waited for. premier men s team won banner, beating university 23-17 @ carisbrook. 67 years long time wait. semi-final against southern had gone extra-time before team won 42-23. double achieved women losing 24-20 university team, made far bulk of otago team.

leading 2007 rugby , cricket world cups, both of national coaches in these sports, graham henry , john bracewell, had played union club. club again won banner in 2008 beating dunedin 26-10 in final.

the women s team won final in 2007 on southern 84-3 , gained hat trick on next 2 years beating pirates twice in finals. players represent black ferns during these years carla hohepa, kathleen wilton , kelly brazier.