Gribblehirst Park in Auckland has been home to Eden Rugby Football Club Inc. for decades. Gary, the organiser, wanted to share a bit about the club's history with everyone.
The club, which started back on February 2, 1922, was first known as the Roskill Rugby Club. It didn't take long before the name changed to Eden, thanks to the availability of Eden Park for their home games. By the late 1920s, the club settled at Gribblehirst Park, named after Mr. Gribble and Mr. Hirst, who reclaimed it from Cabbage Tree Swamp.
Initially, the headquarters were on Parrish Road, right next to the park. Lou Gunning's bootmaker's shop on Valley Road was where the committee meetings took place. From the get-go, the team, donned in green jerseys with a white band, was already competing for the Gallagher Shield. Later, they switched to the yellow and black hoops to stand out from other teams.
Their Parrish Road property was a buzzing hub for rugby training. Teams from University, Grammar Old Boys, and even North Auckland trained there. But as more people moved into the area, the noise from the training shed, made of corrugated iron, became a bit too much for the neighbours. So, the club decided to move to Gribblehirst Park.
In 1958, the Parrish Road property was sold, and the old clubrooms were demolished. The members then carried everything across the road to Gribblehirst Park and rebuilt it piece by piece. The new clubrooms even kept the original roof beams from Parrish Road.
Today, Eden Rugby Football Club Inc. still calls Gribblehirst Park home, just down the road from Eden Park. The club focuses on developing junior players and has a range of programmes backed by loyal sponsors. Gary invites everyone to come along, join the club, and celebrate its rich history in the heart of Auckland. Cheers!