The Colligan family have been mainstays of Auckland club football for half a century, and they’re still finding ways to connect with the sport they love.
Jimmy Colligan came to New Zealand from Liverpool in the 1970s to play football and he quickly settled into the Northern League.
When he was playing for Oratia United (who he later coached), the team mascot was 5-year-old son James, who had already started playing for the club’s juniors.
As a teenager, James and team mates from Kelston Boys’ High School formed the nucleus of Te Atatu’s first team, taking the club from the second division into the Northern League’s first tier.
After seven seasons there, he joined Mt Albert Ponsonby for four seasons, helping them win the Northern League second division.
A bonus was playing alongside his youngest brother, Jared, who has since played more than 100 games and scored more than 60 goals for Bay Olympic, before re-joining MAP this year.
As a coach, James Colligan led Te Atatu back into the Northern League in 2015.
“I loved coaching but it was very time consuming so I had to give it up when we started my business, The Clubroom,” James says.
The Clubroom is a one-stop golf shop that offers a wide range of services for golfers, specialising in custom club fitting.
The business has stores in Albany and Eden Terrace, and stocks all the top golf brands, including Ping, Mizuno, Titleist, Cobra, Wilson and PXG.
Main photo: The Clubroom has supported major golf events, involving top players such as Ryan Fox.
James Colligan’s passion for football and golf has combined with The Clubroom’s support for Friends of Football’s annual charity golf day, to be held at Huapai Golf Club on Thursday May 19.
The Clubroom has generously supplied a range of golf prizes for the 25 teams who will compete for this year’s Bill MacGowan Memorial Trophy.
Click here for more about our annual golf day >>>>
The event will give Colligan the chance to catch up with football friends.
He still turns out for the over-35s at Lynn-Avon and he’s already watching the next generation of footballing Colligans in action.
His son, another James, plays for West Coast Rangers.
About The Clubroom
The Clubroom is the home of golfing excellence. The custom pro shop provides a premium range of golf equipment and expert advice to golfers at any level.
As a golfer, James also represented North Harbour in age-group teams through to senior level.
For expert fitting and a wide range of in-depth club fitting information, contact:
James Colligan
James@theclubroom.co.nz – 021 983 880
James is usually based at the company’s Newton Road premises.
How to find The Clubroom
91 Newton Rd, Eden Terrace
4/35 William Pickering Drive, Rosedale
