1987 Chatham Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1987 Chatham Cup was the 60th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand
.
Up to the last 16 of the competition, the cup was run in three regions (northern, central, and southern). National League
teams received a bye until the final 32 stage. In all, 143 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 final was held over two legs, one at the home ground of each finalist. In all, ten goals were scored in the two matches, a record for a finals competition (though not normally considered as a record for a final, due to the two-legged nature of the tie). The two teams involved, Gisborne City
and Christchurch United
, also finished first and second in the year's national league
, though in that competition Christchurch had the upper hand.
The first leg, held in Gisborne, was an exciting if one-sided affair, with a high standard of play. Gisborne City
's first goal came in just the third minute, through Fijian player Stan Morrell. Paul Nixon
was the second to get his name in the scorebook, and at the break it was 2-0. Morell got a second ten minutes after the interval, but the last 20 minutes of the match saw a flurry of goals, with Johan Verweij
reducing the deficit before two late strikes from Kevin Birch
and Steve Sumner
stretched the Gisborne tally to five.
Christchurch had their work cut out to pull back a four-goal deficit at their home ground, and though this was never likely, the game was an enjoyable one. The score seesawed, with Gisborne twice coming back to equalise after going a goal down to the hosts. Paul Nicholls put the southerners ahead, but Sean Byrne
's equaliser took the teams to the half-time break level. In the 75th minute Allan Carville
doubled the Christchurch total, but a late penalty strike from Brian Strutt
ensured that the second leg would finish 2–2.
The Jack Batty Memorial Trophy for player of the final was awarded to Gisborne City goalkeeper Dave Reynolds.
Christchurch United and Dunedin City both received byes to the Fifth Round
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...
.
Up to the last 16 of the competition, the cup was run in three regions (northern, central, and southern). 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 received a bye until the final 32 stage. In all, 143 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 1987 final
As with the 1986 competition1986 Chatham Cup
The 1986 Chatham Cup was the 59th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.Up to the last 16 of the competition, the cup was run in three regions . In a change to previous years, National League teams received a bye until Round Three of the competition, one round earlier than...
, the final was held over two legs, one at the home ground of each finalist. In all, ten goals were scored in the two matches, a record for a finals competition (though not normally considered as a record for a final, due to the two-legged nature of the tie). The two teams involved, 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....
and 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 finished first and second in the year's national league
1987 New Zealand National Soccer League
The 1987 New Zealand National Soccer League was the eighteenth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. It was the first season in which 14 teams competed in the league, up from 12 in the previous season, and was also the first season with new sponsors Air New...
, though in that competition Christchurch had the upper hand.
The first leg, held in Gisborne, was an exciting if one-sided affair, with a high standard of play. 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 first goal came in just the third minute, through Fijian player Stan Morrell. Paul Nixon
Paul Nixon (footballer)
Paul Nixon is a former professional footballer who played for Bristol Rovers and represented New Zealand at international level....
was the second to get his name in the scorebook, and at the break it was 2-0. Morell got a second ten minutes after the interval, but the last 20 minutes of the match saw a flurry of goals, with Johan Verweij
Johan Verweij
Johan Verweij is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Verweij made his full All Whites debut in a 1-0 win over Australia on 13 June 1979 and ended his international playing career with five A-international caps and one goal to his credit, his final cap a...
reducing the deficit before two late strikes from Kevin Birch
Kevin Birch
Kevin Birch is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Birch made his full All Whites debut in a 6-1 win over Malaysia on 3 April 1984 and ended his international playing career with 9 A-international caps to his credit, his final cap a substitute...
and 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:...
stretched the Gisborne tally to five.
Christchurch had their work cut out to pull back a four-goal deficit at their home ground, and though this was never likely, the game was an enjoyable one. The score seesawed, with Gisborne twice coming back to equalise after going a goal down to the hosts. Paul Nicholls put the southerners ahead, but Sean Byrne
Sean Byrne (New Zealand footballer)
Sean Patrick Byrne is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Byrne made his full All Whites debut in a 2-1 win over Fiji on 18 October 1984 and ended his international playing career with five A-international caps to his credit, his final cap an...
's equaliser took the teams to the half-time break level. In the 75th minute Allan Carville
Allan Carville
Allan Carville is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Carville made his full All Whites debut in a 1-1 draw with Fiji on 14 November 1988 and ended his international playing career with four A-international caps to his credit, his final cap an...
doubled the Christchurch total, but a late penalty strike from Brian Strutt
Brian Strutt
Brian Strutt is a Maltese former professional footballer who played as a striker.-Career:Strutt made two appearances in the Football League for Sheffield Wednesday in the 1979-80 season....
ensured that the second leg would finish 2–2.
The Jack Batty Memorial Trophy for player of the final was awarded to Gisborne City goalkeeper Dave Reynolds.
Third Round
* Won on penalties by New Plymouth (5-4)Fourth Round
* Won on penalties by Manukau City (4-1)Christchurch United and Dunedin City both received byes to the Fifth Round