Family and football: a legacy that keeps on kicking
The Generation Gap is a multi-generational football club based in Kirikiriora, Hamilton. The
club has been going for many years and as well as a meaningful ‘generational gap’ between
the players, is a group full of integrity, morals and sportsmanship.
Generation Gap was founded by Mark Gregan in 2015. Mark and his son, Leo Gregan
combined with their friends to make a football team and played socially in a Hamilton
competition for seven years. The name ‘Generation Gap’ came about with the mixed
generations in the team, which ranged from Leo and his teenage friends, up to their dads
who were mostly in their 40s.
After Mark retired in 2022, Leo decided he was going to step up and take over the
management of the team, and continue his Dad’s legacy. He said, “Keeping the team going
is important to me.”
As time went on, the team started growing, so Leo decided to create two teams. One
competitive, and the other social (although, they only ever play “just for fun”).
Leo talked about the difficulties he faces when running the football teams, including scale. “I
want to push into 11-aside teams.
However, this comes with a lot of challenges and
roadblocks.”
“To see this community evolve would be having a larger player base, getting sponsorship and entering 11 aside tournaments, and just seeing it have a positive impact on the community”.
Leo gergan
The club currently has approximately 30 members with 18 active players, so sourcing
players for 11-aside teams is challenging. Accessing players from other clubs, ensuring
reliability within the team and finding sponsorship are also all major hurdles. “All of which I’m
willing to face,” Leo said. “However, it is difficult.”
Heading into the future, Leo would like to see Generation Gap continue to make a real,
positive difference in the community around it.
Leo Gregan – Photo Addisen Peacock
With the multiple generations involved in the team, Leo thinks this opens the
club up to more people within the community. It gives the club an inclusive feel, where no
matter your age you are welcome.
From the players to the sideline supporters, the unconditional support on or off the field is
really important. “It’s an expectation that the team becomes a little bit like your family” Leo
added.
After all the organisation, sourcing players and gathering sponsorship, Leo says, “watching
everyone on the field having fun, playing good football, and having long yarns afterwards
makes it all worth it.”
