Those who have given our club life

Joined in 1990 progressing through the junior ranks before becoming a long-serving member of the Premier Men’s team.

Coached junior and senior teams, helping develop players across all levels of the club. Served in numerous leadership roles, including Treasurer, Secretary and President, while also volunteering for many years as Bar Manager and contributing significantly to the club’s growth and development.

Through his role as a Partner at McIntyre Dick, has helped foster the firm’s long-standing support of Thistle FC, while continuing to dedicate countless volunteer hours to the club.

Began playing football at the age of three and has dedicated much of his life to Thistle Football Club and football throughout Southland. Served as President from 2010-2024 helping lead the club through a period of growth, strengthening its foundations.

Beginning his playing career with Thistle in 1989.

He competed at the highest level for the club over a number of seasons, including in the Southern League and the Donald Gray competition, also earning selection for Southland, competing in the South Island Wide League, Southern League, and Southland representative fixtures.

His performances were consistently recognised, earning him Thistle FC Footballer of the Year on at least three occasions.

He has coached and supported both men’s and women’s teams, served as a valued committee member for several years.

Douglas was awarded his life membership at the club's 75th jubilee.

He started playing for the club in 1972 as a junior and progressed through to senior player.

Has been involved in coaching senior mens and women and currently runs the junior club.

Joining the committee in 1994 and has been part of the committee covering roles of secretary, treasurer and currently junior coordinator.

Has been part of Southland football committee's in junior and senior levels and was awarded Southland Football life membership

He represented Southland as a player and was vice president of the club as well as serving on numerous club committees.

The wife of the late Doug Ottley, Esme was a foundation member of the Thistle Women’s Club, and was a fundraiser for that section. She also chaperoned Southland women’s representative teams.

Represented Southland as a player and coached Thistle club and Southland junior representative teams. He is a former club captain.

A long-serving former secretary and treasurer of the club, John was also secretary of the Invercargill City combination. He also served as vice president of the Southland Football Association.

Bill is son of one of the original members of thistle as a player Bill represented Southland and North-Otago . He coached Thistle club teams , Coached and Managed Southland representatives teams

He is a former Club Captain , President and Secretary-Treasurer. A life member of the Southland Football Assn and has also been the president and a forerunner to the southland Junior Football assn he was Southlands delegate to the NZFA .

Bill is also a patron of the Southlands Referees association.

1974:Doug represented Southland and New Zealand as a player while a member of the now defunct Brigadiers club. Later he played for Thistle but was mostly involved in coaching. He coached many Thistle club teams, and also Southland representative teams including senior, junior and women. He also coached the Invercargill City combination. Doug was a former club president and vice-president of the Southland Football Association.

One of the original club members, Arthur represented Southland as a player. He also coached Thistle club teams and was a former club captain, president and patron.

The son of one of the club’s original members, Jock. Dave represented Southland as a player a record 50 times. He also played for Otago and the South Island. He is a former club captain, president and secretary-treasurer.

One of the original club members. Bill represented Southland as a player and also managed Southland teams. He was a former club secretary and also president and chairman of the Southland Football Association. A holder of the New Zealand badge as a referee he was a life member of the Southland Referees’ Association and was a former president of that association. Bill was also a former president of the New Zealand Referees’ Association.

A key figure in the establishment of Thistle. He represented Southland and Otago as a player, coached Thistle teams, and was a club captain. He coached and managed Southland representative teams. A life member of the Southland Football Association. Former president chairman, secretary and treasurer of the association, Larry was also a ‘former New Zealand Football Association council member. He won the 1960 Southland Amateur Sports Trust’s sports administrator of the year award. The S.F.A.’s all-weather park at Sandy Point was named in his honour.

Thistle’s first life member, he was a former club secretary, treasurer and chairman of the Southland Football Association.