Gisborne Boys’ High School has three senior teams in the local men’s league, first, second and third divisions. Junior students when not selected for any of the senior teams, participate in the Saturday morning Super League competition.
There is also a seeded schools competition on Wednesday afternoon in which all students are welcome to join. This competition is divided into two sections and in 2009 our First XI won defeated Lytton High School 5-0 to win the top section.
Gisborne Boys’ High School has a proud history of involvement in local and interschool competitions since 1956. The first time a First XI team was selected was in 1956 when it played a selection from the senior men’s B competition and won 5-2. From 1957 to 1959 the First XI won the B grade competition three times in succession and as a result was promoted to the A grade in 1960. By now the school team was arguably one of the best secondary school teams in New Zealand, with wins of 11-0 against Napier and 4-3 against a Manawatu under 18 year rep team.
Since 1960 Gisborne Boys’ High school’s First XI has been part of the local Poverty Bay men’s A grade (later called the Eastern League) competition. Highlights being:
| 1967 | 3rd place Eastern League division 1 |
| 1969 | 3rd place Eastern League division 1 |
| 1975 | 2nd place Eastern League division 1 |
| 1978 | 1st place Eastern League division 1 |
| 1979 | 3rd place Eastern League division 1 |
| 1982 | 3rd place Eastern League division 1, 3rd Bailey Cup knockout competition, won A section 7-a-side |
| 1984 | 3rd place Eastern League division 1 |
| 1986 | 2nd Bailey Cup |
| 1988 | 2nd Bailey Cup |
| 1991 | 1st place Bailey Cup |
| 2004 | 1st place Eastern League division 2, winners of Chris Moore cup competition. |
| 2011 | 2st place Eastern League division 1, 2nd place Bailey Cup competition. |
The school also has a proud record in inter-school fixtures, with games against Napier Boys’ High, Hastings Boys’ High, Rotorua High, Lytton High, Palmerston North High, Hamilton Boys’ High, Kelston High and Sacred Heart High, occurring on a regular basis until the creation of the Super 8 Competition.
In 1967 we were invited to one of the first National Secondary School’s Football tournaments in Christchurch, with some of the best schools in the country. While never managing great success in the premier tournaments that followed, we did manage to win 2 satellite tournaments, in Palmerston North (1986) and Gisborne (1980) and 2nd place Palmerston North, after a playoff (1979)
The 1990 First XI even managed an overseas tour to play a selection of Brisbane schools, our first and last OE.
1st XI Football 2011 Tournament
The 1st XI Football team traveled to Papamoa for the Malcolm Cowie football tournament. The tournament boasted an impressive 24 teams from which the boys finished 5th.
Making the top 8 was no easy task with wins over Reporoa 3-0, Mt Maunganui 4-0, Wainuiomata 9-0, a 2-2 draw with Northcote and a last minute loss to Gisborne Campion 1-0. The goals came from a number of players including Josh Baty, Matthew Adams, Jared McMillan, Cheauxyan Maukau-McPhee, Jordan Peipi, James Bristow and Jesse Sadlier.
Having qualified for the Top 8, our next opponents Sancta Maria proved too strong, out muscling us on a less than desirable pitch 3-0 loss. This loss however influenced a more aggressive style of play in our last two games, with comprehensive wins over Onslow 3-1 and Papatoetoe 2-1.
Overall, the trip was a huge success, bringing the team closer together on and off the field. A special mention must go to Christian Tafau who received the Player of the Tournament. Finally I would like to thank Mr Davidson, Mr Ryan, Mr Sadlier and Mr Radburn who all played their part in ensuring the boys were organised and ready.