About Us

Our Story

The Christchurch United story began in Nelson, New Zealand, back in 1966 with the meeting of two men who were watching their sons play football – Derrick Mansbridge and Fred Haydon (both now deceased). Without these two great forward-thinking men our great club would never have been founded.

Over the 4 years prior to the formation of the National Football League in 1970, they had many meetings and found support with several other Christchurch clubs – Rangers, Christchurch City, Technical and Shamrock, who all purchased shares to get the club off the ground.

After much effort, Christchurch United was born, to compete in the new national football league competition.

At these early meetings it was resolved that the clubs emblem was to be “THE RAMS” this was in line with Derby County football club in the UK. The club song was to be “United we Stand’, and it was decided that the club would play in Blue. Our first coach was a Welshman Gwyn Evans whose son Ceri went on to play for us also to become a New Zealand International – an All White.