1983 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1983 New Zealand National Soccer League was the fourteenth season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football. Manurewa
comfortably won the league for the first time, finishing eight points clear of second-placed Hanimex North Shore United
. This was the first season in which a win scored three points; prior to this they were worth only two.
, and Invercargill Thistle
) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Papatoetoe
, Nelson United
, and Dunedin Technical
respectively).
From 1983 play-offs for promotion and relegation returned, with the bottom side in the league playing off with the three regional champions for a solitary league place. This was thus the last season in which the top teams from the regional leagues would automatically enter the league. In the event bottom-placed Dunedin Technical
withdrew from the league at the end of the season, meaning that the three regional champions would play off for the vacancy.
were by far the league's strongest side in 1983, and would have finished first by either the old or new points system. They scored five more goals than the second highest scoring team, and conceded fewer than any other side as well on their way to the title. Their season was topsy-turvy, and after three matches they were bottom of the league with just one point. Their remaining 19 matches contained only two further losses, however. Their team was bolstered by the twin acquisitions of Steve Sumner
and Mark Armstrong
, who between them scored 30 goals. Sumner was the league's top scorer with 18, and the inaugural winner of the league's Golden Boot award.
Hanimex North Shore United
repeated 1982's second placing, and did so in a similarly unorthodox fashion. As with their 1982 performance, they could not repeat their home form away. At home they were invincible, with ten wins and a single draw from their eleven matches. Away, they were a different side, drawing five, losing six, and failing to pick up a single win. Newcomers Papatoetoe
impressed with their third placing. unlike North Shore, it was the reds' away form which saw them reach the heights, with seven wins on the road. Mount Wellington had a lacklustre season by their high standards, finishing fourth. They led in the first half of the season, but their later form was inconsistent and the league at the halfway mark was too close for that to go unpunished. Fifth-placed Christchurch United
had also headed the table mid-season, but a series of bad results saw them drop to the lower reaches of the table.
Wellington Diamond United was another team briefly in title contention after an undefeated string of eight matches. A mid-season break did them no favours, and they found it impossible to replicate this early form on the resumption. Early competition leaders Miramar Rangers
also found their early good form elusive to repeat, and their last seven matches included just two wins. Napier City Rovers
' season was the opposite of this; they started very poorly but produced an excellent second half to the season to rise out of relegation danger. Dunedin City
was another team to have a mid-season change of fortune. With five games to go they were second on the table, but their final five games produced only one point.
Gisborne City
had a consistently poor season, never being far from the foot of the table. Nelson United
finished one point below Gisborne, a far cry from the brief spell they had at the top of the table after the opening round of matches. Neither they nor Gisborne was in any real danger of relegation, however, as Dunedin Technical
found the step up from the regional leagues simply too great. They set records of the wrong sort with 59 goals scored against them and a gap of 20 points between them and eleventh placed Nelson.
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. Manurewa
Manurewa (soccer)
Manurewa AFC is a semi-professional football club in Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1-History:...
comfortably won the league for the first time, finishing eight points clear of second-placed Hanimex North Shore United
North 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:...
. This was the first season in which a win scored three points; prior to this they were worth only two.
Promotion and relegation
Promotion was automatic, with the three lowest placed sides in the 1982 league (Hamilton, East Coast BaysEast Coast Bays (soccer)
East Coast Bays AFC is a professional football club in Northcross, North Shore City, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier....
, and Invercargill Thistle
Invercargill Thistle
Invercargill Thistle is a former New Zealand football club based in the South Island city of Invercargill. The team was founded in 1936 and continued as a separate team until 1969, when it became part of the short-lived Invercargill United team. It operated again as an independent team from 1974 to...
) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Papatoetoe
Papatoetoe (soccer)
Papatoetoe AFC is a semi-professional football club based in Papatoetoe, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1.Former club coaches include current All Whites coach Ricki Herbert.-History:...
, 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 Technical
Dunedin Technical
Dunedin Technical - known locally as "Tech" - is a semi-professional association football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They compete in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.-Club history:...
respectively).
From 1983 play-offs for promotion and relegation returned, with the bottom side in the league playing off with the three regional champions for a solitary league place. This was thus the last season in which the top teams from the regional leagues would automatically enter the league. In the event bottom-placed Dunedin Technical
Dunedin Technical
Dunedin Technical - known locally as "Tech" - is a semi-professional association football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They compete in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.-Club history:...
withdrew from the league at the end of the season, meaning that the three regional champions would play off for the vacancy.
Team performance
It was Auckland's year, with all of the top four places filled by teams from the Queen City. The league was very close with teams who had led early ending in the bottom half of the table and vice versa. As the second half of the season started only two points separated second from ninth, and at the end of the season fourth and seventh place were separated on goal difference alone. ManurewaManurewa (soccer)
Manurewa AFC is a semi-professional football club in Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1-History:...
were by far the league's strongest side in 1983, and would have finished first by either the old or new points system. They scored five more goals than the second highest scoring team, and conceded fewer than any other side as well on their way to the title. Their season was topsy-turvy, and after three matches they were bottom of the league with just one point. Their remaining 19 matches contained only two further losses, however. Their team was bolstered by the twin acquisitions of Steve Sumner
Steve Sumner
Steven Paul Sumner is an English-born, New Zealand football player, who was captain of the national team during the country's first successful campaign to qualify for the World Cup, in 1982.-Club career:...
and Mark Armstrong
Mark Armstrong (footballer)
Mark Armstrong is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Armstrong made his full All Whites debut in a 1-1 draw with Fiji on 18 February 1980 and ended his international playing career with seven A-international caps and three goals to his credit,...
, who between them scored 30 goals. Sumner was the league's top scorer with 18, and the inaugural winner of the league's Golden Boot award.
Hanimex North Shore United
North 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:...
repeated 1982's second placing, and did so in a similarly unorthodox fashion. As with their 1982 performance, they could not repeat their home form away. At home they were invincible, with ten wins and a single draw from their eleven matches. Away, they were a different side, drawing five, losing six, and failing to pick up a single win. Newcomers Papatoetoe
Papatoetoe (soccer)
Papatoetoe AFC is a semi-professional football club based in Papatoetoe, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1.Former club coaches include current All Whites coach Ricki Herbert.-History:...
impressed with their third placing. unlike North Shore, it was the reds' away form which saw them reach the heights, with seven wins on the road. Mount Wellington had a lacklustre season by their high standards, finishing fourth. They led in the first half of the season, but their later form was inconsistent and the league at the halfway mark was too close for that to go unpunished. Fifth-placed 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:...
had also headed the table mid-season, but a series of bad results saw them drop to the lower reaches of the table.
Wellington Diamond United was another team briefly in title contention after an undefeated string of eight matches. A mid-season break did them no favours, and they found it impossible to replicate this early form on the resumption. Early competition leaders Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers AFC is a semi-professional New Zealand association football club in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. They are current holders of the Chatham Cup, the fourth time they have won the trophy...
also found their early good form elusive to repeat, and their last seven matches included just two wins. Napier City Rovers
Napier City Rovers
Napier City Rovers are an association football team based in Napier, New Zealand. They are currently competing in the Central Premier League.-Club history:The team was founded in 1973 via a merger of Napier Rovers and Napier City....
' season was the opposite of this; they started very poorly but produced an excellent second half to the season to rise out of relegation danger. 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...
was another team to have a mid-season change of fortune. With five games to go they were second on the table, but their final five games produced only one point.
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....
had a consistently poor season, never being far from the foot of the table. 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...
finished one point below Gisborne, a far cry from the brief spell they had at the top of the table after the opening round of matches. Neither they nor Gisborne was in any real danger of relegation, however, as Dunedin Technical
Dunedin Technical
Dunedin Technical - known locally as "Tech" - is a semi-professional association football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They compete in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.-Club history:...
found the step up from the regional leagues simply too great. They set records of the wrong sort with 59 goals scored against them and a gap of 20 points between them and eleventh placed Nelson.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.