Huntly Thistle AFC will celebrate a remarkable milestone in 2026 — 100 years of football, community and shared history.
How important is the club to the local community?
Huntly Thistle AFC has been an integral part of the Huntly community since its establishment in 1926. Along with other clubs in the Huntly area, such as Glenn Afton, Starr Town and Pukemiro. While the club started as nothing more than a shed on the Huntly Domain, it grew to be a landmark where many domestic and international games have been played.
Since it was established, it has been a place where the community could come together, participate and gain a sense of belonging in the wider community outside their immediate family. The club has been a home away from home to many families whose names have echoed within the walls over the decades, since the doors opened. We are also proud to be associated with past players who have represented New Zealand as either players or coaches. This included Michael Main, the current New Zealand women’s coach, who represented the club for a number of seasons.
When did planning for the 100th jubilee begin?
The planning started in October 2025 with a small subcommittee of 6 people who are all current members of the club, with our families’ involvement extending over the past 100 years. An event of this scale requires extensive planning not only of the weekend, but also regarding the budget and funding of the event.
What can people expect from the jubilee celebration?
The event we are hosting will span the whole of Labour Weekend 2026. Starting Friday evening and continuing into both Saturday and Sunday. We will be providing a mix of live entertainment, social and exhibition games and fun elements for the children and families.
Why do you think this club has survived and thrived for a century?
Keeping the club doors open year after year has been no easy feat. The club has had many struggles over the last century, both with operational costs and retaining members and players. From the onset, Huntly Thistle integrated into local competitions, participating in the Waikato provincial leagues to build a competitive presence, including championship wins in 1926 and 1931. Membership grew through strong family involvement, establishing the club as a family-oriented organisation that emphasised community ties. In its debut season, the team achieved early success by winning the Waikato league, earning qualification into the 1926 Chatham Cup, New Zealand’s premier knockout tournament.
At one point, there was only a handful of members, as the 1930s brought significant challenges, such as the Great Depression, which saw many residents, including potential players, migrate elsewhere for work opportunities. However, the love, the dedication and devotion to the club and the game of football (soccer) that people associate with the club have meant that the doors have stayed open no matter what. Throughout our history, the club has thrived, hosting up to 4 men’s teams, a women’s team, an over-30s Sunday league and the junior team in the 70s-80s.
What moments from the club’s history will be honoured during the jubilee?
Celebrating our victories in the Waikato provincial championships, including titles in 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957. These wins qualified us for the national Chatham Cup competition. Our consistent performances in the lower divisions during the 1960s and 1968 championship of Division Two A earned Huntly Thistle promotion to Division One. More recently, division wins in the last 10 years have resulted in promotions into higher divisions.
We will also celebrate members who are no longer with us and families that have contributed to the club and its success for 10 decades.
What role have volunteers played in reaching this milestone?
Our committee and volunteers are the pillars on which our club stands; they are the reason the door stays open, and daily operations are continued. It was volunteers who established Huntly Thistle AFC 100 years ago, and their tireless efforts, commitment, dedication and countless hours of time have provided us with a rich history and shoes we are continuously trying to fill.
How does it feel to bring together multiple generations of players for this event?
This event will create an amazing opportunity for people of all ages to come together and share their memories and experiences of the club and what it has meant to them over the years. We are fortunate to have a few past members attending who are in their 90s.
In addition to this, families that have been a part of the club for decades will be acknowledged along with their history. We plan to complete a timeline of the last 100 years for the club to capture this and prompt people to share their history, priceless memories and experiences with those attending.
After 100 years, what does the future look like for the club?
After reaching this milestone, it is hard to think further into the future. That said, ideally, we would love to see the club grow and flourish so the future generations can create their own memories and experiences on the fields and in between it walls. We would like the club to become more and offer more to the local community than just a football club.
Huntly Thistle 100th Jubilee Ticket Sales Close 31 March
Labour Weekend
Friday 23rd Oct- Sunday 25th October
Friday Night- Meet and greet
Saturday Day Men’s social and exhibition games
Saturday Night- 4-person comedian show and dinner.
Sunday Juniors games and women’s games
Sunday Night Live Band and dinner
For any questions, contact us at [email protected] OR call Toni Snapes 0274949974
