A Red Hot season for Whanganui Athletic

from Celebrating Whanganui - Spring/Summer Oct 2022

Tonga Project – major milestone achieved

Agolden lion is the centrepiece of the Whanganui Athletic badge and their players showed trademark characteristics of bravery and courage this year, as they broke an eightyear drought to become Federation League Champions of the Central North Island region.

Wembley Park was deemed a fortress this year as the reds won every single game at home throughout the 2022 season, and only managed to lose to 2021 Central league champions and arguably the best football club in New Zealand, Wellington Olympic, in the Chatham Cup.

Whanganui Athletic appointed Matthew Calvert as the player coach this season after building an immense reputation throughout the club and the town when he was imported in 2016. Captain Ryan Holden and Vice-Captain Quinn Mailman also joined that same year, as Holden moved over to family and Mailman turned 15, the minimum age for Men’s football. Now six years on, there are 287 first team caps between these players, and a lot more joyous moments than the singular win they obtained in the 2016 season.

Peter Czerwonka was recently appointed President of the Club and along with Vice President Scott Burney, they put in strenuous time and effort pushing this club into a positive position. Over the last couple of decades, the club has tried to emulate the golden era of the 90’s where Athletic was a formidable force nationwide, however, there were too many waves of quality that were followed by lackluster seasons. The club is now moving in a consistently positive direction that is sustainable and will continue to grow.

With new clubrooms bound for the near future, everything is coming together for a club who has worked so hard and had a lot of things go against them. This season was no different, losing two key players and having an abundance of injuries at crucial moments.

The club boasts an extremely loyal fan base, often outnumbering the opposing teams’ fans at away games. A significant number of these fans are young children and their families who have been coached by the Athletic players. The club is moving in a great direction, making compelling changes off the pitch and playing high quality football on the field. They are ensuring a bright future and that Whanganui Football is highlighted not just now, but for many years to come.

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At a time when some clubs are struggling, the Wanganui Tramping Club approaches its 70th birthday full of confidence with a growing membership topping 250 and an increasingly busy programme of activities.

The club began in September 1952, triggered by a teenager, Margaret Murch. After she took a bible class trip up Mt Ruapehu she wanted to do more tramping but found there wasn’t anything she could join. Her advertisement in the newspaper personal column got a good response, a public meeting followed and the WTC was on its way.

Flash forward 70 years and membership has shot up. The club runs trips on Wednesdays, Thursdays and weekends, has three vans, a popular cycle adjunct and a new headquarters at the race course after sharing the Deerstalkers’ Hall for 50 years.

The big birthday will be celebrated with a gala potluck dinner followed by a tramp in the Kauarapaua Valley, one of the first tramping areas and where the club had its first hut.

Make all inquiries about trips to Pam phone 022 457 2097 or Dorothy phone 345 7039 or email membership@whanganuitramping. org.nz.

The Wednesday contact is Trish, phone 021 127 3862, and the Thursday contact is Anne, phone 345 4776. Call both by 6pm the night before for day trips.

To join weekend trips call the leader by the previous Tuesday at the latest. Call by the night before for day trips. As some trips have limited numbers, leaders have the final say about who to take as they are responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone on their trips.

For further information visit our website www.whanganuitramping.org.nz.