The 1956 Chatham Cup was the 29th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand

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 regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds. Teams taking part in the final rounds are known to have included Eastern Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs AFC

Eastern Suburbs is a semi-professional association football club in Kohimarama, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1.-Club history:...

 (Auckland), Rangers (Bay of Plenty), Hamilton Wanderers

Hamilton Wanderers

Hamilton Wanderers is an semi-professional association football club in Hamilton, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier.-External links:**...

, Eastern Union (Gisborne), Moturoa

Moturoa

Moturoa is a coastal suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the west of the city centre. The population was 3,558 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 315 from 2001....

, Colenso Athletic (Hawkes Bay), Wanganui United, Kiwi United (Manawatu), Masterton Athletic, Stop Out

Stop Out

Stop Out is an association football club in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. They are based at Hutt Park, Gracefield in Lower Hutt.The Stop Out organisation was founded in 1919 with the aim of providing recreation to Te Aro Flat children associated with the wellington city missionso as to prevent them...

 (Lower Hutt), Shamrock (Christchurch), West End (South Canterbury) and Northern

Northern (soccer)

Northern AFC is a semi-professional association football club in North East Valley, Dunedin, New Zealand. They are currently competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.The club is based at The Gardens Ground, North East Valley, Dunedin....

 (Dunedin).

The 1956 final

Lower Hutt's Stop Out celebrated its jubilee year with a solid win in the final. The team scored early through a header from Jack Sharp

Jack Sharp (footballer)

Jack Sharp is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Sharp made his full New Zealand debut in a 5-6 loss to South Africa on 28 June 1947 and ended his international playing career with four A-international caps to his credit, his final cap an appearance in a...

, a goal which was followed by a spectacular strike from Brian Sergeant and further goals from Abram Schryvers, and Fred Benge

Fred Benge

Fred J Benge was an association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Benge played three official A-international matches for New Zealand in 1954, all against trans-Tasman neighbours Australia, the first a 2-1 win on 14 August, followed by consecutive 1-4 losses on 28...

. Shamrock could only manage a consolation goal late on from Ernie Fields.

Final