Saturday 8 September 2012 saw 350 guests gather at Ellerslie Events Centre for the highlight of Central United’s 50th birthday celebrations – the club’s Golden Jubilee Ball.

Players, coaches and supporters from the past five decades enjoyed one of the most memorable evenings in the club’s history which was brilliantly MC’ed by Sky Television’s Dennis Katsanos.

There were many highlights including the preview screening of the moving short film “The Central United Story: 1962-2012” which was expertly produced by Sa’id Milton.

All life members, centurions, double and triple centurions along with those players who have scored more than 50 and 100 goals for the club were presented with commemorative badges, trophies and tankards over the course of the evening to honour their long and outstanding service to the club along with their meritorious achievements.

Later in the night the Jubilee auction drew overwhelming support and some fierce interest from the assembled bidders with two marquee items up for grabs.

A framed 2012 Chatham Cup winning shirt, including a winners medal that was signed by the entire Cup-winning squad and team management was claimed by a popular recipient – life member and 1962 “Original” Davor Antunovic while the All Whites playing shirt signed by the only four players of Croatian descent to have represented the New Zealand men’s side in a full international (Ivan Vicelich, Chris Zoricich, Paul Urlovic and Tony Laus)
was won by Petar and Rebecca Sain. Central United FC thanks these people for their kind generosity and support.

Another memorable moment was the presentation of gifts from Central United by club president Ivan Vuksich to both the Croatian Cultural Society and Dalmatian Cultural Society. Both of these organisations have been great supporters of Central for many decades and their terrific support of the club’s Golden Jubilee celebrations this year has been very much appreciated by everyone at Kiwitea Steet. Len Stulich and Tony Unkovich, presidents of each society collected their gifts from Ivan on behalf of their respective clubs.

Musical entertainment was provided by Prva Liga along with the Dalmatian Tamburica orchestra and both provided fantastic performances during the evening.

Central United FC would like to sincerely thank their community partner Trillian Trust along with major Jubilee sponsor Westpac Mussels Distributors Limited and secondary sponsors Placemakers Cook Street, Vlatkovich & McGowan Barristers & Solicitors, Herceg Architecture & Design, Fletcher Construction and Vuksich & Borich Civil Engineering for their generous support of the club during it’s 50th season celebrations.

The spirit, camaraderie and smiling faces that were so evident among all of the guests assembled for the event provided the perfect backdrop as the club celebrated this historical landmark.

Central United FC is unique in New Zealand football, indeed across all of New Zealand sport and is rightly proud of this fact. It is full of people who do for each other, rather than expect from each other – and it has been like that since day one.

Sloga je Moc…Strength in Unity!

Central United Football Club, 1962 – 2012

To view images from Central United’s Golden Jubilee Ball please click >here