1972 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1972 New Zealand National Soccer League was the third season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football.
finished last in the 1971 league, and joined the winners of the Northern, Central, and Southern leagues — Takapuna City (North Shore), Waterside (Wellington), and New Brighton (Christchurch) respectively — in a play-off series to decide the team which would be granted entry to the national league. Teams all played each other in home and away ties, as a result of which New Brighton gained entry to the league.
There were two further changes to the league from the previous year; Dunedin Suburbs
disbanded as a team, their place being taken by the Caversham
side who had been instrumental in this short-lived union, and Mount Albert-Ponsonby
also renamed themselves - briefly - as Auckland City.
was by far the league's top scorer, his 22 goals being one more than the entire Auckland City
tally. A final match scoreless draw against Gisborne City
was to cost them the league. They led the table at that point, but Mount Wellington won its two outstanding matches to take the trophy.
Christchurch United
and Eastern Suburbs both held the lead at different points of the season, but a poor finish to the season for Suburbs saw them drop to fourth. Gisborne City
's mid-table finish was the result of good home form but poor away form. Gisborne's season saw the arrival of a man who would have a big influence on New Zealand football, Kevin Fallon
, who played his first game in the league mid-season.
The two Wellingtonian teams, Stop Out
and Wellington City again struggled, neither of them looking like title contenders, but improving on their previous league seasons. Caversham
started brightly with five wins in its first seven games, but that's where their form ran out, and they managed just three points in the rest of the season. They were safe from relegation, however, since the bottom two clubs both had far worse seasons. New Brighton only managed one win all season, and only survived in the league through Auckland City
's worse goal record.
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
club 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...
football.
Promotion and relegation
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs
Western Suburbs is an association football club in Porirua, New Zealand. They play their home matches at Endeavour Park in the Porirua suburb of Whitby and compete in the Central Premier League....
finished last in the 1971 league, and joined the winners of the Northern, Central, and Southern leagues — Takapuna City (North Shore), Waterside (Wellington), and New Brighton (Christchurch) respectively — in a play-off series to decide the team which would be granted entry to the national league. Teams all played each other in home and away ties, as a result of which New Brighton gained entry to the league.
There were two further changes to the league from the previous year; Dunedin Suburbs
Dunedin Suburbs
Dunedin Suburbs was a former parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand from to 1893.The electorate was represented by one Member of Parliament, William Dawson, representing the Liberal Party.-Election results:-References:...
disbanded as a team, their place being taken by the Caversham
Caversham (soccer)
Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook...
side who had been instrumental in this short-lived union, and Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
also renamed themselves - briefly - as Auckland City.
Team performance
A very close finish to the season saw three teams at the top finish within one point of each other. Again it was Auckland teams plus Christchurch United who dominated the table, with Mount Wellington finishing strongly to pip Blockhouse Bay to the title. The Mount's win was largely the work of coach Ken Armstrong, and was underpinned by an excellent home record, with eight wins and one solitary loss. Blockhouse Bay's Iain OrmondIain Ormond
Iain Ormond is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Ormond scored a hattrick on his full All Whites debut in a 4-1 win over New Caledonia on 17 September 1971 and ended his international playing career with 10 A-international caps and 5 goals to his credit,...
was by far the league's top scorer, his 22 goals being one more than the entire Auckland City
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
tally. A final match scoreless draw against Gisborne City
Gisborne City
Gisborne City FC is a soccer club in Gisborne, New Zealand who play in the eastern league 1st division. Their home ground is Childers Road. They have won the National League, Air New Zealand cup, and the Chatham Cup....
was to cost them the league. They led the table at that point, but Mount Wellington won its two outstanding matches to take the trophy.
Christchurch United
Christchurch 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:...
and Eastern Suburbs both held the lead at different points of the season, but a poor finish to the season for Suburbs saw them drop to fourth. Gisborne City
Gisborne City
Gisborne City FC is a soccer club in Gisborne, New Zealand who play in the eastern league 1st division. Their home ground is Childers Road. They have won the National League, Air New Zealand cup, and the Chatham Cup....
's mid-table finish was the result of good home form but poor away form. Gisborne's season saw the arrival of a man who would have a big influence on New Zealand football, Kevin Fallon
Kevin Fallon
Kevin Fallon is an English born football coach residing in New Zealand.He started his career with Sligo Rovers in 1967. He played in 102 matches for Sligo in the League of Ireland Championship, the FAI Cup, the Shield, the City Cup and the Blaxnit All-Ireland Cup.He made his debut for Sligo in an...
, who played his first game in the league mid-season.
The two Wellingtonian teams, 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...
and Wellington City again struggled, neither of them looking like title contenders, but improving on their previous league seasons. Caversham
Caversham (soccer)
Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook...
started brightly with five wins in its first seven games, but that's where their form ran out, and they managed just three points in the rest of the season. They were safe from relegation, however, since the bottom two clubs both had far worse seasons. New Brighton only managed one win all season, and only survived in the league through Auckland City
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
's worse goal record.