Page 22 - Grassroots Issue 3 - March 2016
P. 22
GUS A RICHMOND BOY THROUGH THE AGES
BY COREY ROSSER
HE STARRED FOR RICHMOND THROUGH THE BRIGHT DAYS OF LEAGUE IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND, AND NOW
GUS ‘TOA’ FEPULEAI IS CHARGED WITH LEADING ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S OLDEST CLUBS THROUGH A
PERIOD OF HUGE CHANGE IN THE AREA.
THE 1970’S – WHEN FEPULEAI CAME ONTO THE SCENE AS A TALENTED WINGER – SAW RICHMOND AND
PONSONBY CLAIM THREE FOX MEMORIAL PREMIERSHIPS BETWEEN THEM, AS THEY LIFTED THE
AUCKLAND CBD TO BECOME THE PRIDE OF LOCAL LEAGUE DURING PARTS OF THE DECADE.
BUT FAST FORWARD TO CURRENT DAY AND LEAGUE IN THE AREA IS A DIFFERENT STORY, WITH BOTH
THOSE CLUBS NOW STRUGGLING IN AN INCREASINGLY CROWDED SPORTING ENVIRONMENT IN A PLACE
WHICH IS RAPIDLY LOSING THE POLYNESIAN INFLUENCES WHICH IT WAS BUILT ON.
(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
