1926 Chatham Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1926 Chatham Cup was the fourth annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand
.
The competition was run on a regional basis, with five regional associations (Auckland, Wellington, Waikato, Canterbury, and Otago) each holding separate qualifying rounds. In all, 36 teams entered the 1926 competition, with the overwhelming majority being from the North Island.
Huntly Thistle's club website records that the club beat Pukemiro 6-0 and Hikurangi 4-0 before losing to the eventual finalists North Shore 3-1. These teams, and those known to have qualified as regional champions and/or taken part in island finals brings the list of known entrants to 20.
One unusual feature of the 1926 competition was that three of the four semi-finalist sides were composed largely of staff from three of the country's largest mental hospitals, at Sunnyside, Porirua, and Seacliff.
, Wellington, a change of venue from the previous finals which had been at Newtown Park
or Athletic Park
. The following year the final briefly returned to Newtown Park, before making its permanent home at the Basin Reserve, a venue which was used regularly until the 1970s.
In the final, played in front of some 4000 spectators, Sunnyside's Archie Trotter became the first player to complete a Chatham Cup final hat-trick
. The match was high scoring, but contemporary reports suggest that many opportunities were missed by both teams. H. Pickering put Sunnyside in front after just seven minutes. Archie Trotter doubled the lead for Sunnyside before L. Hipkins scored for North Shore. After the half-time interval Trotter scored two further goals before John Woolley scored a late consolation for North Shore.
Other notable features of the final included the appearance in the North Shore team of both Reg Baxter and Ces Dacre
. Baxter weas the first player to play for two different sides in Chatham Cup finals, having been part of the successful Seacliff
team in the 1923 final
. Dacre, while a fine player and New Zealand representative at football, is best remembered as one of New Zealand's foremost early cricketers.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The competition was run on a regional basis, with five regional associations (Auckland, Wellington, Waikato, Canterbury, and Otago) each holding separate qualifying rounds. In all, 36 teams entered the 1926 competition, with the overwhelming majority being from the North Island.
Huntly Thistle's club website records that the club beat Pukemiro 6-0 and Hikurangi 4-0 before losing to the eventual finalists North Shore 3-1. These teams, and those known to have qualified as regional champions and/or taken part in island finals brings the list of known entrants to 20.
One unusual feature of the 1926 competition was that three of the four semi-finalist sides were composed largely of staff from three of the country's largest mental hospitals, at Sunnyside, Porirua, and Seacliff.
The 1926 final
The final was played at the Basin ReserveBasin Reserve
The Basin Reserve , is a cricket ground in Wellington, New Zealand, used for Test, first-class and one-day cricket. Some argue that its proximity to the city, its Historic Place status and its age make it the most famous cricket ground in New Zealand...
, Wellington, a change of venue from the previous finals which had been at Newtown Park
Newtown Park
Newtown Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and athletic events. The main pitch has a 400 metre, all-weather rubberized athletics track around it, as well as the spectator stands and the corporate loungue...
or Athletic Park
Athletic Park (Wellington)
Athletic Park was a well-known ground used mostly for rugby matches in Wellington, New Zealand. The ground was also the inaugural home of New Zealand's principal knockout football tournament, the Chatham Cup ....
. The following year the final briefly returned to Newtown Park, before making its permanent home at the Basin Reserve, a venue which was used regularly until the 1970s.
In the final, played in front of some 4000 spectators, Sunnyside's Archie Trotter became the first player to complete a Chatham Cup final hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
. The match was high scoring, but contemporary reports suggest that many opportunities were missed by both teams. H. Pickering put Sunnyside in front after just seven minutes. Archie Trotter doubled the lead for Sunnyside before L. Hipkins scored for North Shore. After the half-time interval Trotter scored two further goals before John Woolley scored a late consolation for North Shore.
Other notable features of the final included the appearance in the North Shore team of both Reg Baxter and Ces Dacre
Ces Dacre
Charles Christian Ralph Dacre, more commonly known as Ces Dacre, was a cricket player from New Zealand who also represented the New Zealand in football . He was born 15 May 1899 in Devonport, Auckland and died there on 2 November 1975...
. Baxter weas the first player to play for two different sides in Chatham Cup finals, having been part of the successful Seacliff
Seacliff AFC
Seacliff AFC was a football club based in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. They are notable for being the first team to win the Chatham Cup competition. They contested the final on later occasions in 1924, 1925, and 1929...
team in the 1923 final
1923 Chatham Cup
The 1923 Chatham Cup was the first annual nationwide football competition in New Zealand.The competition was run on a regional basis, with separate northern and southern tournaments, with the winners of the two meeting in the final...
. Dacre, while a fine player and New Zealand representative at football, is best remembered as one of New Zealand's foremost early cricketers.
First Round
- * Extra time was not played owing to fading light