1985 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1985 New Zealand National Soccer League was the sixteenth season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football. Wellington Diamond United finished as champions, three points clear of 1984 title-holders Gisborne City
.
, and Rangers
respectively). Auckland University were victorious, becoming the first relegated side to instantly regain their place. The 1985 league was thus the first one to contain an identical starting line-up to the previous season's competition.
who were leading at the half-way stage but saw that followed by a slump featuring three home losses. Hanimex North Shore United
greatly improved on their 1984 form to finish third, having taken over the lead from Gisborne but being unable to hold onto it as the season drew to a close. Mount Wellington also improved on the previous season's efforts, but were draw-prone at home costing them a higher finishing position.
Miramar Rangers
continued to be entrenched in the middle of the table, its fifth placing being the fifth time in a row that it had not finished in the top or bottom four. Their position was the result of a late season rally after a 10-game winless run had left them close to the bottom of the table. Sixth-placed Nelson United
's season was rescued by its mid-season form. It had a poor start and end to the season, but between these won nine of eleven games. Nelson were followed by Auckland University. The previous season's bottom-placed side boasted a radically changed squad, with only three members playing in both seasons, and the team showed a steady, if not brilliant, improvement. Dunedin City
rounded out the top eight with an inconsistent season. Towards the end of the come=petition they were in the top four, but they only won one of their last five games and slipped back down the table.
A dramatic mid-season slump saw Christchurch United
slip to an unlikely ninth place. An inability to find goals was compensated for by a sturdy defence, but that alone was not enough to see the team into the top half of the table. Below them came 1983 champions Manurewa
, who suffered a crippling start to the season with just one win from its first eight matches, and never recovered. Papatoetoe
's fall from grace was still more noteworthy. Two top three finishes in 1983 and 1984 were followed by an eleventh place showing in 1985. The team was unlucky, suffering a series of narrow losses, and actually scored more goals than in either of the previous two seasons, finishing with a goal difference of just -1. Last place went to Napier City Rovers
, who remained rooted to the bottom of the table with a poor first half to the season. Even a late rally didn't save the club, though its position belied its abilities. It managed to achieve the unusual double of relegation from the national league and a win in the Chatham Cup
in the same season.
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. Wellington Diamond United finished as champions, three points clear of 1984 title-holders 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....
.
Promotion and relegation
Auckland University finished last in the 1984 league, and took part in a play-off with the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Hamilton, Stop OutStop 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 Rangers
Rangers A.F.C.
Rangers AFC is one of the oldest still existing Canterbury football clubs located in Christchurch, New Zealand.- History :Rangers AFC was founded in 1910 by a group of dedicated players who were denied the opportunity to play on Saturday owing to the nature of their employment...
respectively). Auckland University were victorious, becoming the first relegated side to instantly regain their place. The 1985 league was thus the first one to contain an identical starting line-up to the previous season's competition.
Team performance
Though the starting line-up for the 1985 league was identical to the previous season, the finishing positions were considerably different. Wellington Diamond United, playing under that name for the final time, climbed from the previous season's mid-table position to finish top. It started the season poorly, but had an excellent run of results near the end of the season to climb into the leading position. The team was the most youthful to win the title to this point, with an average age of just 23. They edged out playing-through champions 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....
who were leading at the half-way stage but saw that followed by a slump featuring three home losses. 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:...
greatly improved on their 1984 form to finish third, having taken over the lead from Gisborne but being unable to hold onto it as the season drew to a close. Mount Wellington also improved on the previous season's efforts, but were draw-prone at home costing them a higher finishing position.
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...
continued to be entrenched in the middle of the table, its fifth placing being the fifth time in a row that it had not finished in the top or bottom four. Their position was the result of a late season rally after a 10-game winless run had left them close to the bottom of the table. Sixth-placed 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...
's season was rescued by its mid-season form. It had a poor start and end to the season, but between these won nine of eleven games. Nelson were followed by Auckland University. The previous season's bottom-placed side boasted a radically changed squad, with only three members playing in both seasons, and the team showed a steady, if not brilliant, improvement. 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...
rounded out the top eight with an inconsistent season. Towards the end of the come=petition they were in the top four, but they only won one of their last five games and slipped back down the table.
A dramatic mid-season slump saw 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:...
slip to an unlikely ninth place. An inability to find goals was compensated for by a sturdy defence, but that alone was not enough to see the team into the top half of the table. Below them came 1983 champions 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:...
, who suffered a crippling start to the season with just one win from its first eight matches, and never recovered. 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:...
's fall from grace was still more noteworthy. Two top three finishes in 1983 and 1984 were followed by an eleventh place showing in 1985. The team was unlucky, suffering a series of narrow losses, and actually scored more goals than in either of the previous two seasons, finishing with a goal difference of just -1. Last place went to 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....
, who remained rooted to the bottom of the table with a poor first half to the season. Even a late rally didn't save the club, though its position belied its abilities. It managed to achieve the unusual double of relegation from the national league and a win in the Chatham Cup
1985 Chatham Cup
The 1985 Chatham Cup was the 58th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.Early stages of the competition were run in three regions , with the National League teams receiving a bye into the Fourth Round of the competition. In all, 141 teams took part in the competition...
in the same season.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.