1972 Chatham Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Chatham Cup was the 45th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand
.
Early stages of the competition were run on a regional basis, with the National League
teams receiving a bye until the later stages of the competition. In all, 99 teams took part in the competition. Different sources give different numberings for the rounds of the competition: some start round one with the beginning of the regional qualifications; others start numbering from the first national knock-out stage. The former numbering scheme is used in this article.
The final saw the end of a Chatham Cup era, being the last final to be held at the Basin Reserve until 1980. The Basin Reserve had been the host of every final since 1928.
's Graham Dacombe became the first player to score four goals in one final since John Donovan in 1958
. All three matches were refereed by R.W. Harries.
The first match was played in typical windy conditions at Wellington. United played with the wind in the first spell and should have had the lead early on when Mount keeper Kevin Curtin
appeared to step back across his goal-line when holding onto a Vic Pollard
cross. The referee turned down their appeal and the goal was not given. United were soon to gain the lead, however, with the first of Dacombe's four strikes. Two goals from penalties for the Mount, both taken by Ron Armstrong
, followed before Dacombe restored the balance. In the second half Brian Turner put Mount Wellington into the lead for a second time, only for Dacombe to again level before the final whistle. In extra time it was United who took the lead for a second occasion, and it required a late Earle Thomas
equaliser to send the tie to a second game.
The second match was played on Christchurch United's territory at English Park, the first time a final had ever been played outsider the North Island. Compared with the first match it was a dour game, with only one goal a piece and nowhere near the first tie's excitement. Dennis Tindall
opened the scoring for Mount Wellington, and the only other goal of the game was the equaliser from Ian Park
.
The third bout took place at Mount Wellington's Newmarket Park ground, and finally it produced a result. Alan Park opened the scoring for United before the interval, followed in the second spell by Alan Marley
. Armstrong pulled one back — again from the penalty spot — but that was the last of the scoring. There were vociferous protest from the Mount when substitute Dave Taylor had a late effort disallowed, but in the minds of many this was poetic justice for Pollard's denied effort in the first match.
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...
.
Early stages of the competition were run on a regional basis, with the National League
New Zealand National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...
teams receiving a bye until the later stages of the competition. In all, 99 teams took part in the competition. Different sources give different numberings for the rounds of the competition: some start round one with the beginning of the regional qualifications; others start numbering from the first national knock-out stage. The former numbering scheme is used in this article.
The final saw the end of a Chatham Cup era, being the last final to be held at the Basin Reserve until 1980. The Basin Reserve had been the host of every final since 1928.
The 1972 final
The 1972 final was a marathon effort, unprecedented and unequalled in Chatham Cup history. In the days before penalty shoot-outs replays were played if scores were level after extra time. The 1972 final required not one, but two replays, with the first of these being held in Christchurch (the first time that city had been host to a final match). The total aggregate of 13 goals across the three matches was a record for a final - indeed the eight goals in the first match equalled the previous record. In the first match, Christchurch UnitedChristchurch United
Christchurch United is a semi-professional association football club in Christchurch, New Zealand. They compete in the Robbie's Premier Football League.-Club history:...
's Graham Dacombe became the first player to score four goals in one final since John Donovan in 1958
1958 Chatham Cup
The 1958 Chatham Cup was the 31st annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.The competition was run on a regional basis, with regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds....
. All three matches were refereed by R.W. Harries.
The first match was played in typical windy conditions at Wellington. United played with the wind in the first spell and should have had the lead early on when Mount keeper Kevin Curtin
Kevin Curtin
Kevin Curtin is an association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Curtin made his full All Whites debut with a substitute appearance in a 1-3 loss to Australia on 9 October 1972 and ended his international playing career with 18 A-international caps to his credit,...
appeared to step back across his goal-line when holding onto a Vic Pollard
Vic Pollard
Victor Pollard is a former dual cricket and football player who represented New Zealand at international level.-Cricket career:...
cross. The referee turned down their appeal and the goal was not given. United were soon to gain the lead, however, with the first of Dacombe's four strikes. Two goals from penalties for the Mount, both taken by Ron Armstrong
Ron Armstrong
Ronald W Armstrong is a former New Zealand association football player who represented New Zealand.Armstrong made his full All Whites debut in a 2-4 loss to New Caledonia on 18 July 1971 and he ended his international playing career with 25 A-international caps to his credit, his final cap being in...
, followed before Dacombe restored the balance. In the second half Brian Turner put Mount Wellington into the lead for a second time, only for Dacombe to again level before the final whistle. In extra time it was United who took the lead for a second occasion, and it required a late Earle Thomas
Earle Thomas
William Earle Thomas more commonly known as Earle Thomas was a soccer player who represented New Zealand at international level.Thomas' clubs included Hamilton, University-Mount Wellington, Eastern Suburbs AFC, and Blockhouse Bay....
equaliser to send the tie to a second game.
The second match was played on Christchurch United's territory at English Park, the first time a final had ever been played outsider the North Island. Compared with the first match it was a dour game, with only one goal a piece and nowhere near the first tie's excitement. Dennis Tindall
Dennis Tindall
Dennis Tindall was a New Zealand soccer player who represented his country.Tindall made his full All Whites debut in a 2-4 loss to New Caledonia on July 18, 1971 and ended his international playing career with 21 A-international caps and 5 goals to his credit, his final cap also earned in a loss...
opened the scoring for Mount Wellington, and the only other goal of the game was the equaliser from Ian Park
Ian Park
Ian Park is a former soccer player who represented New Zealand.Park made his full All Whites debut as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Iran on 18 August 1973, and ended his international playing career with 20 A-international caps to his credit, his final cap in a 6-1 win over Solomon Islands on 29...
.
The third bout took place at Mount Wellington's Newmarket Park ground, and finally it produced a result. Alan Park opened the scoring for United before the interval, followed in the second spell by Alan Marley
Alan Marley
Alan Marley is a former association football player who represented New Zealand.Marley made his full All Whites debut in a 4-1 win over New Caledonia on 17 September 1972 and ended his international playing career with 12 A-international caps and 3 goals to his credit, his final cap a substitute...
. Armstrong pulled one back — again from the penalty spot — but that was the last of the scoring. There were vociferous protest from the Mount when substitute Dave Taylor had a late effort disallowed, but in the minds of many this was poetic justice for Pollard's denied effort in the first match.