NATIONAL LEAGUE A- Z : Blockhouse Bay

Founded   1948
Colours     French Blue
Ground     Whitney Street
Honours    National League 1970, Runners Up 1972
                  Chatham Cup 1970, Runners Up 1975
                  Country Food Cup 1981, Runners Up 1983

Blockhouse Bay were founded by a team from the Blockhouse Bay Boys Brigade who had grown too old to compete in the church league competition so they entered a team in the Auckland FA competition and competed in the Open grades.

There are records of a team called Blockhouse Bay that played in the Auckland FA competition in the years 1926-27. There is no connection between the clubs.

In 1960 the club won promotion into the Auckland premier division. In 1964 a re-organisation of the club took place and as the forward thinking club created a company, Auckland United Promotions Ltd with the idea of entering the forthcoming National League without causing any financial stress on the club. Auckland United Promotions was very successful and allowed the club to construct modern club rooms at Whitney Street.

On the field Blockhouse Bay gained a place in the new National League and in 1970 Blockhouse Bay won the first ever National League and to back it up they did the double winning the Chatham Cup as well. Throughout the 70's they were one of the teams to beat in the National League, finishing runner up once and 3rd on 3 occasions. They also finished runner up in the 1975 Chatham Cup final. Then a tough year in 1979 saw them finish 8th and was followed by a tougher year in 1980 when they were relegated.

From 1981 until 1997 and with the exception of 1986 & 87 they played in the premier division of the Northern League with their best performances being runners up in 1990 & 1996.

Notable players and managers
NZ International Bert Ormond was manager for the first 6 years of the National League (70-76) and won the League & Chatham Cup and was runners up in both.

Blockhouse Bay players who were capped by New Zealand include Colin Shaw, Dave Taylor, John Morris, Iain Ormond, Gary Paddison, Glen Adam & Alex Metzger

English International Mick Channon appeared for Blockhouse Bay in the 1984 Northern League.

Where are they now
In 1997 Blockhouse Bay came to the decision that they should sell Whitney Park and consider joining with another club. At the time the Auckland FA was encouraging clubs to amalgamate. Near by Green Bay-Titirangi had been again refused planning permission to build on Crum park, the Council put forward a proposal that they move to Olympic Park and develop its clubrooms next to the Athletic club. It became obvious that the 2 clubs should look at an arrangement that suited both parties and so in 1997 Bay Olympic was born

Apart from 2 seasons in Northern League Division 1(2000-01), Bay Olympic have been in the Northern League Premier Division winning it 4 times (2005, 06, 11 & 12)




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