Members and supporters of Poverty Bay’s Gisborne Thistle have been celebrating the club’s 100th anniversary over Easter, drawing messages of congratulations from near and afar.
While Thistle hosted a Good Friday mix and mingle at their Roebuck Road base, Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle gave them a long-range shout out, celebrating the links between them.
“When founded in 1924 by an exiled Scot, Jock MacLean, he named them after Partick Thistle, hence the name Gisborne Thistle,” Partick Thistle told their supporters through their website.
“Remarkably, 100 years on, as they celebrate their special anniversary with a series of events this weekend, Gisborne Thistle’s current head coach is none other than Tam Cramer, a Glasgow-born Partick Thistle supporter now living in New Zealand.”
Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan, captain Brian Graham and first team players Scott Robinson and Blair Alston recorded messages for all at Gisborne Thistle to enjoy as part of their celebrations.
“This is a club we can all take to our hearts and send our very best wishes to from Maryhill to the east coast of New Zealand this weekend,” Partick Thistle said.
Gisborne Thistle’s celebrations continue on Easter Saturday with games at Childers Road Reserve and an evening dinner, with live band, at the Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club.
On the pitch, Thistle’s first team provided spectators with plenty of Friday entertainment, losing a nine-goal thriller to Palmerston North United in the first round of the Lotto Federation Cup.
The game was streamed by the club.
Watch the match
Result
Game played on Friday March 29, 2024
Gisborne Thistle 3 (Jimmy Somerton 23′, 81′ pen, Jirah Wanoa 54′)
Palmerston North United 6 (James Redpath 6′, Sendiron Enumbi 12′, 50′, Bay Shi 48′, 78, Samuel Ross 87′)
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