1977 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1977 New Zealand National Soccer League was the eighth season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football. An expansion by two teams meant that it was the first year in which twelve teams took part. Prize money was significantly increased for the top three clubs, and the number of teams relegated increased from one to three, these being automatically replaced by the winners of the three regional leagues.
, relegated in 1976, returned to the regional league, and three new teams took their place. These were the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Hamilton, Nelson United
, and Dunedin City
respectively).
over Stop Out
. Shore ran hot and cold, with a string of six wins early in the season followed by a string of lacklustre performances which saw them slide down the table. Hutt Valley's Stop Out showed a marked improvement from the previous season, when they only narrowly avoided relegation. Trans Tours Christchurch United
also rebounded from the previous year's poor showing. Newcomers Hamilton (soccer) completed the top four. Two-thirds of the way through the season they were leading, but one win in thei last seven games ended their title challenge.
Wellington Diamond United and Mount Wellington completed the top half of the table. WDU's season was highlighted by a 7-3 win over New Brighton, a goal aggregate record for the league up until that point. The Mount's season was badly affected by the loss of players to qualifying matches for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
, and a goal drought late in the season cost them dearly. Nelson United
started and ended the season brightly, but the middle of the season saw a disastrous run of ten matches without a win, leaving them seventh at the season's end. They were followed by Blockhouse Bay, who recorded their lowest league position yet, largely due to the loss of key players to other sides, notably Iain
and Duncan Ormond
, who had moved to North Shore and Stop out respectively.
Eastern Suburbs
finished just above New Brighton, avoiding relegation only by way of a better goal ratio. This was largely the result of two big wins by Suburbs over the Seasiders in which they had scored eleven goals in total and only had three scored against them. It was a bad year for South Island sides other than Christchurch United — New Brighton were accompanied into the regional leagues by the two Dunedin sides, Dunedin City
and Caversham
. City were doomed by their terrible start to the season. Nine straight losses meant they were always going to have a struggle to catch up, and despite a very strong finish to the season they failed to make up the ground. Neighbours Caversham had as forgettable an end to the season as city's start to it, failing to find the net in their last eight games.
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. An expansion by two teams meant that it was the first year in which twelve teams took part. Prize money was significantly increased for the top three clubs, and the number of teams relegated increased from one to three, these being automatically replaced by the winners of the three regional leagues.
Promotion and relegation
With an expanded league, there was no promotion and relegation play-off series for 1977 league places. Gisborne CityGisborne 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....
, relegated in 1976, returned to the regional league, and three new teams took their place. These were the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Hamilton, Nelson United
Nelson United
Nelson United is a New Zealand soccer club, based in the South Island city of Nelson. Their home ground is Guppy Park. The team was founded in 1968 through the amalgamation of Nelson Rangers and Nelson Thistle...
, and Dunedin City
Dunedin City
Dunedin City is a former New Zealand football club based in the South Island city of Dunedin. The team won the Chatham Cup in 1981, and was a member of the National League in 1977 and 1979-87, before withdrawing from the league for financial reasons...
respectively).
Team performance
No one team dominated the 1977 league, which was won narrowly by North Shore UnitedNorth Shore United
North Shore United is a semi-professional football club based in North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.Their home ground, Allen Hill Stadium, is located in the suburb of Devonport.-History:...
over 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...
. Shore ran hot and cold, with a string of six wins early in the season followed by a string of lacklustre performances which saw them slide down the table. Hutt Valley's Stop Out showed a marked improvement from the previous season, when they only narrowly avoided relegation. Trans Tours 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:...
also rebounded from the previous year's poor showing. Newcomers Hamilton (soccer) completed the top four. Two-thirds of the way through the season they were leading, but one win in thei last seven games ended their title challenge.
Wellington Diamond United and Mount Wellington completed the top half of the table. WDU's season was highlighted by a 7-3 win over New Brighton, a goal aggregate record for the league up until that point. The Mount's season was badly affected by the loss of players to qualifying matches for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
, and a goal drought late in the season cost them dearly. Nelson United
Nelson United
Nelson United is a New Zealand soccer club, based in the South Island city of Nelson. Their home ground is Guppy Park. The team was founded in 1968 through the amalgamation of Nelson Rangers and Nelson Thistle...
started and ended the season brightly, but the middle of the season saw a disastrous run of ten matches without a win, leaving them seventh at the season's end. They were followed by Blockhouse Bay, who recorded their lowest league position yet, largely due to the loss of key players to other sides, notably Iain
Iain 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,...
and Duncan Ormond
Duncan Ormond
Duncan Ormond is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Ormond scored the winner on his full All Whites debut in a 1-0 win over Australia on 13 June 1979 and ended his international playing career with 7 A-international caps to his credit. His debut goal was...
, who had moved to North Shore and Stop out respectively.
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:...
finished just above New Brighton, avoiding relegation only by way of a better goal ratio. This was largely the result of two big wins by Suburbs over the Seasiders in which they had scored eleven goals in total and only had three scored against them. It was a bad year for South Island sides other than Christchurch United — New Brighton were accompanied into the regional leagues by the two Dunedin sides, Dunedin City
Dunedin City
Dunedin City is a former New Zealand football club based in the South Island city of Dunedin. The team won the Chatham Cup in 1981, and was a member of the National League in 1977 and 1979-87, before withdrawing from the league for financial reasons...
and 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...
. City were doomed by their terrible start to the season. Nine straight losses meant they were always going to have a struggle to catch up, and despite a very strong finish to the season they failed to make up the ground. Neighbours Caversham had as forgettable an end to the season as city's start to it, failing to find the net in their last eight games.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.