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Date published: Mon, 06 Sep 2010 05:46:05 +1200
Where it all began...
Harps History
Harps Gaelic Football Club was formed in Auckland in 1986 . The first season and for many more after this meant we had one men’s senior team.
The competition in Auckland then was thirteen a side and the first season Harps had only the bare thirteen. However those thirteen gave their all and proved to be very competitive setting the tone for the future of the club. We also contributed to the overall running of the Auckland G.A.A by taking active rolls within the committee. Something that we are still doing today.
2002 saw a huge leap forward with the formation of a ladies team and we have never looked back. The enthusiasm of the initial group rejuvenated the club and contribute immensely to the great spirit prevalent in the club today. We have enjoyed periodic success over the years on the men’s side of things and more recently the ladies have started their ball rolling. All of which means that standards have been set for the teams of today and tomorrow to emulate.
We have also had and continue to have many great times off the field. With the coming and going of so many great people over the years it has been inevitable that great lifelong friendships have been formed.
We at Harps in 2008 hope that the launching of this website will make it easier for all those Harps players and members around the Globe to keep up with how the lads and lasses of the present are going and enable them to keep in touch with us here and with each other wherever they may be. Thank you to all who have contributed to make the club what it is today and that is a very friendly welcoming environment. As some have said "A Home Away From Home "
We would also like to invite anybody who may be considering playing Gaelic football in Auckland to get in touch with us.
The 1st ever Harps Team - 1986
Photo
Back Row L-R Brendan McLoughlin, Frank Whooley, Ron Bredesen, Mickey Rogers, Paul Graham, Gerry Roper, Noel Quinlivan
Front Row L-R Paddy Fahey, Emmett McAteer, Gerry Denny, Danny White (Captain), Michael O’Malley (Vice Captain), Ciaran O’Malley.
In 1986 Gaelic Football in Auckland was thirteen players a side. The original Harps Team had the bare thirteen for most of that season. The team was made up of a few men that had never played in Auckland before and really had not played much at all. There were a few that had been pretty much permanent substitutes on local teams and four or five that had been regular players on other Auckland teams.
The original goal was to field a team every Sunday and never default, no matter what way the results were going. It is fair to say that the season was a success beyond our wildest dreams. We beat very good Celtic and Gaels sides against all odds and lost the league to Rangers in the last game when we were beaten by one point. The spirit and enthusiasm had been great all year and it set the tone for the many seasons to come.
We had challenges off the field too which we had to face up too. We had decided that we would play in sky blue and call ourselves Harps. However we had no money for a new kit. Danny White said he would look after that and he sponsored a set of dark blue touch rugby t-shirts, which we purchased from Stirling Sports. To get some funds together we (with the permission of the GAA) ran the bar at the games every Sunday and took the profit. In those days the bar was the boot of someone’s car and we would bring a couple of drums and fill them with ice. We bought the beer every Saturday (around 12 -14 dozen cans) and did not leave the ground on Sunday’s until every last can was gone.
Its fair to say the money we made from this over our first few years enabled us to establish ourselves very well. We were able to have “Harps Nights Out” where new players would get to meet everyone else and be welcomed in. This tradition continues to this day.
Obviously over the years all these originals have given up football and all bar three remain in Auckland. All however, wherever they may be, still maintain an interest in the clubs progress.
Harps Gaelic Football Club was formed in Auckland in 1986 . The first season and for many more after this meant we had one men’s senior team.
The competition in Auckland then was thirteen a side and the first season Harps had only the bare thirteen. However those thirteen gave their all and proved to be very competitive setting the tone for the future of the club. We also contributed to the overall running of the Auckland G.A.A by taking active rolls within the committee. Something that we are still doing today.
2002 saw a huge leap forward with the formation of a ladies team and we have never looked back. The enthusiasm of the initial group rejuvenated the club and contribute immensely to the great spirit prevalent in the club today. We have enjoyed periodic success over the years on the men’s side of things and more recently the ladies have started their ball rolling. All of which means that standards have been set for the teams of today and tomorrow to emulate.
We have also had and continue to have many great times off the field. With the coming and going of so many great people over the years it has been inevitable that great lifelong friendships have been formed.
We at Harps in 2008 hope that the launching of this website will make it easier for all those Harps players and members around the Globe to keep up with how the lads and lasses of the present are going and enable them to keep in touch with us here and with each other wherever they may be. Thank you to all who have contributed to make the club what it is today and that is a very friendly welcoming environment. As some have said "A Home Away From Home "
We would also like to invite anybody who may be considering playing Gaelic football in Auckland to get in touch with us.
The 1st ever Harps Team - 1986
Photo
Back Row L-R Brendan McLoughlin, Frank Whooley, Ron Bredesen, Mickey Rogers, Paul Graham, Gerry Roper, Noel Quinlivan
Front Row L-R Paddy Fahey, Emmett McAteer, Gerry Denny, Danny White (Captain), Michael O’Malley (Vice Captain), Ciaran O’Malley.
In 1986 Gaelic Football in Auckland was thirteen players a side. The original Harps Team had the bare thirteen for most of that season. The team was made up of a few men that had never played in Auckland before and really had not played much at all. There were a few that had been pretty much permanent substitutes on local teams and four or five that had been regular players on other Auckland teams.
The original goal was to field a team every Sunday and never default, no matter what way the results were going. It is fair to say that the season was a success beyond our wildest dreams. We beat very good Celtic and Gaels sides against all odds and lost the league to Rangers in the last game when we were beaten by one point. The spirit and enthusiasm had been great all year and it set the tone for the many seasons to come.
We had challenges off the field too which we had to face up too. We had decided that we would play in sky blue and call ourselves Harps. However we had no money for a new kit. Danny White said he would look after that and he sponsored a set of dark blue touch rugby t-shirts, which we purchased from Stirling Sports. To get some funds together we (with the permission of the GAA) ran the bar at the games every Sunday and took the profit. In those days the bar was the boot of someone’s car and we would bring a couple of drums and fill them with ice. We bought the beer every Saturday (around 12 -14 dozen cans) and did not leave the ground on Sunday’s until every last can was gone.
Its fair to say the money we made from this over our first few years enabled us to establish ourselves very well. We were able to have “Harps Nights Out” where new players would get to meet everyone else and be welcomed in. This tradition continues to this day.
Obviously over the years all these originals have given up football and all bar three remain in Auckland. All however, wherever they may be, still maintain an interest in the clubs progress.