1977 Chatham Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1977 Chatham Cup was the 50th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand
.
Early stages of the competition were run in three regions (northern, central, and southern), with the National League
teams receiving a bye until the Fourth Round of the competition. In all, 142 teams took part in the competition. Note: 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.
, Kenny Cresswell
, Peter Simonsen
, and Keith MacKay
. Against them was a Mount Wellington side containing the likes of Ron Armstrong
, Brian Turner, Tony Sibley
, and Earle Thomas
.
The final was low-scoring but not without excitement. The only goal came early in the second half when referee John Perkins pointed to the spot after a foul on Nelson's David Powdrell by Stewart Carruthers. The penalty was converted by John Enoka giving Nelson a one goal lead they never relinquished.
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 in three regions (northern, central, and southern), 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 Fourth Round of the competition. In all, 142 teams took part in the competition. Note: 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 1977 final
Nelson United became the first team from outside the four main urban centres to win the cup since 1962. Their winning team contained several players who were to make a considerable mark on New Zealand soccer, either as players or administrators, among them Kevin FallonKevin 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...
, Kenny Cresswell
Kenny Cresswell
Kenneth "Kenny" Grant Cresswell is an association football player who represented New Zealand internationally, appearing in all 3 matches of New Zealand's first FIFA World Cup finals appearance....
, Peter Simonsen
Peter Simonsen
Peter R. Simonsen was a football player who represented New Zealand internationally, being part of the 1982 squad that participated at 1982 FIFA World Cup finals....
, and Keith MacKay
Keith Mackay
Keith "Buzzer" Gordon Mackay was a football player who represented New Zealand internationally, appearing in all 3 matches of New Zealand's first FIFA World Cup finals appearance....
. Against them was a Mount Wellington side containing the likes of 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...
, Brian Turner, Tony Sibley
Tony Sibley
Anthony Sibley was a successful New Zealand soccer player who frequently represented his country in the 1970s and 80s.He finished his playing career for the All Whites with 48 A-international caps to his credit....
, and 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....
.
The final was low-scoring but not without excitement. The only goal came early in the second half when referee John Perkins pointed to the spot after a foul on Nelson's David Powdrell by Stewart Carruthers. The penalty was converted by John Enoka giving Nelson a one goal lead they never relinquished.