Club History

This Club has operated under many names over the past 87 years since its inception.
It started at Onehunga Methodist Church to give a social sporting outlet to the young men and of course this encouraged the young ladies to come along also. It then moved to be under the auspice of Onehunga Athletic Club and eventually operated as the Onehunga Association Football Club in Princes St Onehunga, on ground opposite the Exchange Hotel. In 1965 it was able to move yet again and take over the sports grounds that had been made on Mangere Mountain. This land was first used by the Mangere Rugby Club in 1949 with three teams. – It was renamed Onehunga-Mangere United. The inception of Softball as a summer sport in 1980s brought a new
dimension and it once again underwent a few variations until Onehunga Mangere United Sports Club was finally accepted by everyone.

The Club has certainly experienced the highs of winning the Chatham Cup and many other trophies through the years and also times of sinking down through the senior grades. No matter how the teams do, they are always supported by the parents and fellow players on the sidelines. There have been All Whites who played for the Club and many Reps in the grade football teams.

Many strong friendships have been made as the enthusiastic parents worked so hard so hard to raise sufficient funds to build and furnish the Clubrooms now well established on top of the Council owned changing rooms.

Committees have worked hard through the decades and the strength of the Club is seen at Junior Prize-givings overflowing the David Lange Hall at Waterlea School.
The Club has celebrated reunions at 70 and 75 years and so many past players were enthusiastic to come back to meet up with old pals and enjoy reminiscences of games played over the years, when their friendships were first made.

This is a club with a very strong family feeling. You can see the children of our past players chasing that round ball over the same pitches that their parents had run over in years gone by, showing off their inherited skills. The weekly prize giving for the juniors is done before the Seniors every Saturday and the Clubrooms are packed for this event. Boys and girls are encouraged to enjoy these sports. O-MUSC has the ability to cater for the young people of Mangere Bridge and surrounding areas, in these sports.

From Club Life Member: Val Payne concerning Alan Fraser who left Auckland to join the rest of his family in the South Island several years ago and who has been over the years a tremendous support and asset to OM and to Auckland Football:

"I think that Alan Fraser is still our worthy Patron.

In his Christmas letter there is an article from some local paper telling us that the Mainland Football Assn had presented him with a Lifetime Achievement award earlier this year.

Alan (74) had recently resigned from the Mainland Board after 55 years in Soccer administration.

He started the Canterbury Junior Assn in 1952 as a 19 year old Atlantis (now Cashmere) player. This was the Club he joined after leaving Christchurch Boys High and he wanted to develop a Junior Section. This began his service to JFA that ran until 1981. He has also been chairman of Canterbury JFA and NZJFA from 1982-1984.He moved to Auckland to become Auckland Soccer’s CEO for the next 16 years until 2000. He was also President of NZ Women's Assoc and joined Mainland Board in 2002. However it is some of his work at less exalted levels that has given him the most satisfaction- particularly getting Soccer established as a sport in North Canterbury.

He started Rangiora Club in 1965 when he advertised and four or five people came to his house for a meeting. He played for the new Club himself a couple of seasons.

A highlight in his career was to receive the MBE in 1978 for his services to sport. He acknowledged the wonderful support he has had from his family in earlier years as he would never have accomplished so much without them. His wife Loris used to cut the stencils and reel off the draws for the JFA on a Gestetner, in the 50s.

While he is bowing out of administration because of his ill health after four strokes, Alan has six Grandchildren playing Soccer, three for Rangiora and he continues to go along on Saturdays to watch them playing. He also helps out in the Mainland Office one morning a week advising them on the misconduct reports.

In November 2007 the Canterbury-Westland Soccer Board also presented him with an award for outstanding service to Winter Sport. Lotto sponsored Loris and his daughter and grandchildren to the dinner where it was awarded.

We wish Alan and his family all the best for the future."