CHATHAM CUP 100 YEARS

 

So, I'm back after three years. Well I haven't really been away just not blogged anything since then but I do have an excuse, I have written another two books - four in total now which are -

Wellington United - 125 Years (out of print)

Waterside Karori - In Black and White 125 Years (contact club for copies)

Lower Hutt City 100 Years (Contact Club for copies)

The Mighty Magyars - Hungaria AFC (copies $30 DM me) 

So as well as the books and still doing photography (see here) I also seem to have ended up as at first, secretary, and now somehow, Chair or Wellington United! So doing all this and also working full time means I haven't really had any time to blog.

So what's got me back into it? - well the Chatham Cup, 2023 marks 100 years since it was presented to the NZFA - click here to read about the first three years. I'd been planning to write history of it to be published this year but just didn't have the time - my plan now is to aim for the 100th final which will be in 2029.

In the mean time, I though I'd do something for the 100th year anniversary. My plan is a series of blogs, focusing mainly on the Wellington clubs (as that's where I'm based) from the preliminary round to the final, along with some stories from the last 100 years of the Chatham Cup. So lets see how it goes!

I'm starting with a preview of the Preliminary Round of the 2023 Chatham Cup in Wellington.

All these games are on ANZAC Day, Tuesday 25th April - all games are 2pm kick off's

PAEKAKARIKI v NAENAE 

Campbell Park, Paekakariki, KO 2pm 

Bay of Plenty cup debutantes, Waipuni, paraphrased the great Brian Clough saying “We wouldn’t say we’re ranked at the bottom of the Chatham Cup rankings, but we’re probably in the bottom one" . While this could be true I'm sure Paekakariki could argue the case its wrong. The club that plays in the Kapiti leagues puts a combined team of the older guys and the younger ones at the club together to take a shot at the Chatham Cup. The captain last year Robbie Gasson, who was also named Kapiti Local Player of the year, is a good example, he actually played in the same Onslow U10 champion junior team, the Simlas, as me way back in 1980 something (we're both almost 50ish).

This will be Paekakariki's third entry in the Chatham Cup, they lost 1- 0 to Wellington College in 2008, their inaugural season and then entered last season where they narrowly went down 2-1 in to this years opponents Naenae!

Naenae, who managed to get to the Chatham Cup quarter Finals in 2005 and are  celebrating their 75th year this season are currently playing in Capital Division 3, but have had a terrible start to the season, conceding 18 goals in their first 3 games. It will be a tough game for them. I do think Paekakariki could cause an upset.

PREDICTION : Paekakariki to get revenge for last season and cause an upset win

 

 LOWER HUTT CITY v BROOKLYN NORTHERN UNITED

Fraser Park Turf, Lower Hutt, KO 2pm

Lower Hutt City are in a rebuilding year after they have split from the Wellington Phoenix. They made the final of the Chatham Cup in 2012 with a very young team including the likes of Hamish Watson, they went down 6-1 to the All White laden Central United. They are in Capital Premier this season, but yet to record a win.

BNU are a division below and currently sitting top of division one, so this should be a close game.

The teams have met three times in the Chatham Cup, 1971 BNU won 4-2, with Lower Hutt winning the next two, 1976 1-0 and 2003 4-0   

 PREDICTION : Game to go to Extra time, Lower Hutt to overcome BNU

 

WELLINGTON UNITED v SEATOUN

Te Whaea, Newtown, KO 2pm

OK, Conflict of interest, whatever, my club is Wellington United but I'll be realistic here. 

In the past Diamonds would easily be the favourites but they are now playing in Capital Division Three, while Seatoun are back in Capital Premier, so it's Seatoun's game to lose.

Seatoun are two time winners of the Chatham Cup, it may be way back in 1957 & 58, but the  game in 1958, a 7-1 win over Christchurch City, is a record win in the final (equaled in 1989 when Christchurch United beat Rotorua City by the same score).

  PREDICTION :Going to say a draw and pens will decide it.

 

 

 

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY V WAINUIOMATA

 

Boyd Wilson Turf, Kelburn, KO 2pm

 

Another potential upset Victoria University are in Capital One while Wainuiomata are Cap Premier. Wainui have conceded 17 goals in their last two games (11-1 & 6-1 losses), while University are mid-table but with just one loss.

 

University's best run in the Chatham Cup came back in 1955 when they got to the North Island Final and went down 4-1 to Auckland's Eastern Suburbs. Wainui made it to the quarter finals in 1990, including beating National League side Nelson United before a 1-2 loss to Christchurch United.

 

The clubs have met five times in the Chatham Cup. Vic Uni have won the last two encounters, in 2007 (4-0)  & 2015 (2-0), while Wainui have won three (3-2, 1976, 1-0 1991 & 3-2 1993) 

PREDICTION : would like to say a Vic Uni win, but think Wainui will do it

 

 KAPITI COAST UNITED \ HOROWHENUA COASTAL v GREYTOWN

Weka Park, Raumati, KO 2pm

This is a bit of a different one. The draw says Kapiti Coast United, however it is actually Horowhenua Coastal (and even this isn't their final name). Basically what's happened up the Kapiti Coast is after years of Raumati Hearts, Paraparaumu United, Waikanae, Kapiti Coast United etc the current clubs on the coast (KCU, Waikanae, Otaki, Paekakariki & Manukau) have got together and formed a club to compete at tier one level. The clubs will still exist at the social level and feed into Horowhenua Coastal. It's a good and sensible idea and hopefully it works but history in NZ Football does go against them.

They are still in the process of setting up the club so when it came to enter the Chatham Cup they still weren't affiliated, so they have had to enter under the Kapiti Coast United name.

So anyway, how this game goes anyone knows (sorry silly rhyming there). Horowhenua Coastal are in Capital one and have Andy Hedge as their coach (ex Phoenix). Greytown are in Capital three and are helped by having Josh Stevenson, who has played over 250 games for Napier City Rovers. 

This will be Greytown's fifth game in the Chatham Cup and they are yet to win, the most spectacular game coming in 2013 when they lost 4-10 to BNU!

 PREDICTION : Both teams have had a good start to the season, but I think HCFC (or officially KCU) will prove too strong for Greytown

 

ISLAND BAY UNITED v MARIST

Wakefield Park 1, KO 2pm

Two old clubs, Marist formed in 1896 (although didn't start playing football until about 1906) Island Bay United formed as Technical Old Boys in 1931. 

Marist have won the Chatham Cup twice, 1932 & 46 and were runners up in 1945. These days they are in Capital Division 2, while Island Bay United are in the Capital Premier Division.

The clubs have met five times in the Chatham Cup. Island Bay have never lost, although in 2002 they only got through 4-3 on penalities. 

PREDICTION :The first three games in the cup between the clubs (1981,82 & 86) all ended with a 6-1 win to Island Bay, I think the same could happen here.

 

 UPPER HUTT CITY v STOKES VALLEY

Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, KO 2pm

The Bogan Derby!!!! Well it may be a play on stereotypes but these clubs are next to each other and Upper Hutt City do actually use the Bogans as their nickname.

They've met once in the Chatham Cup when Stokes Valley won 1-0 in 1987. I don't think that will be repeated today. Stokes Valley are in Capital Two while Upper Hutt are unbeaten in Capital Premier. 

PREDICTION :Easy win for Upper Hutt City

So there it is my preview of the preliminary round Wellington games in the 100th year of the Chatham Cup. Get along to one of them on Tuesday at 2pm.