100 Years
Of
Timaru Celtic Rugby Football Club
Celebrated On
Queens Birthday Weekend
JUNE 2006
Around 450 registered for the centennial, so with members and partners there was a fair group in the clubrooms at various times over the weekend.
The Friday night get together and social was a great start and the auctioning of replica club playing jerseys was a successful venture with many members priding themselves with their favourite numbered jersey.
Around 370 attended the Centennial Dinner at Roncalli Gymnasium on the Saturday night. As good a function as you could have anywhere was the general comment made. The venue was good, the meal was good, the presentation was good and the speakers were good, the company was good.
Sunday Mass at the Basilica had a very large attendance of members and were blessed with Father Earl Crotty saying the Mass and making it a very special occasion.
The unveiling of a Centennial Plague in the clubrooms after Mass set the score for what turned out to be a very social and reminiscing day for those still able.
To those who attended-your attendance made the celebration-to those who did not -bad choice.
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Celtic centennial research unearths interesting fact
Oldest Affiliated Catholic Club in New Zealand
In research for their centennial publication, Celtic Rugby Club have discovered they are the oldest affiliated Catholic club in New Zealand.
This interesting discovery was made by the author of the history, which is to be published before the centennial celebrations at Queen's Birthday Weekend next year.
There are other clubs which may be older but they were not affiliated to the New Zealand union until after 1906.
The Rev Father Tubman assigned one of his staff, the Rev Father le Floch, to form the first club in the parish comprising boys and young men who had recently left school or had arrived in Timaru.
Father le Floch had been in Timaru from France only a short time and his command of English was limited, however this did not impair his enthusiasm for his allotted task.
The boys and young men were told to attend a meeting in the presbytery and the club was formed. The longest debate was naming of the club "Celtic" or "Marist Old Boys".
The colours were red and green, red relating to the Catholic martyrs of France as a gesture to the first president, Father le Floch, the green relating to the fields of Ireland. J. C. Wade was the first secretary in March 1906.
More history will be related in the book but the club would like more information from members. Old photographs and newspaper cuttings would also be appreciated.
Chairman Len King said arrangements were coming along nicely with over 1200 members on the database. He said there was still a large number of former players and committee members who had yet to contact the committee.
Mr. King said the Alpine Energy Stadium was booked for the Saturday with all Celtic's club games from under-eights to the senior team scheduled