1990 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1990 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 21st season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football. Waitakere City won the league for the first time, by two points over Auckland neighbours Mount Wellington.
were relegated at the end of the 1989 season. Their place was taken by New Plymouth Old Boys, the winners of the Central League. the winners of the noirthern and Southern Leagues were Mount Roskill and Burndale United respectively.
Waterside Karori
were relegated at the end of the 1990 season.
. The Wharfies held on to draw, and the West Auckland side had its first title. Mount Wellington fell away late in the season as they had done in 1988
, throwing away what at times seemed a certain victorious campaign.
Christchurch United
finished a distant third, its campaign ruined by its inability to beat any of the Auckland-based sides. It was pursued all the way by Waikato United, the tussle for third and fourth being as separate from the rest of the table as that for first and second. A further nine points separated these two teams from Manurewa
, who were engaged in their own private tussle with Napier City Rovers
. Manurewa only finished on top by goal difference after an astonishing 7–1 win over Hutt Valley United
in their last game of the season, having been held 1–1 at half time. Napier paid for its inability to finish games off. Though they were a tough team to beat, they also found winning a problem, and finished the season with eleven draws from their 26 games.
Beyond these two teams was a further gap of six points to a group of five teams who made up the lower-middle of the table. Coaching upheaval cost both Mount Maunganui and North Shore United
any chance of finishing further up the table, and in the case of Shore things could have been much worse. At the halfway stage of the season they were firmly in last place with just eight points. The second half of the season saw a marked improvement and the relative safety of the middle of the table.
Wellington teams suffered badly in 1990, with all four of the region's sides finishing in the lower reaches of the table. Best-placed of these was Miramar Rangers
, who came no higher than ninth. Their season was marked by rebuilding; six players, plus the coach and assistant coach, had been with Wellington United
in 1989, and it was to take some time for the new side to settle down. Hutt Valley United
finished next, their position the result of an inability to score goals and a dramatic late-season slump which saw them drop from fourth at the halfway point. Wellington United's form was greatly impaired by the loss of squad members. Not only had Miramar picked up half a dozen of United's 1989 side, but a further four squad members had also left through retirement or transfer. The youthful team performed adequately, but inexperience accounted for the league's worst defensive record of the season.
A further gap separated the bottom three clubs from mid-table safety. Gisborne City
were in danger of relegation all season, notably after a disastrous mid-season spell with eight losses in nine games. Gisborne finally rallied, notably in their final thrilling encounter with Miramar Rangers which saw them recover from a 1–3 deficit to win 5–4. An inexperienced New Plymouth Old Boys side looked to be heading straight back to the regional leagues, but finally managed to pull themselves off the bottom spot two-thirds of the way through the season. It was Waterside Karori
who suffered the fate of relegation. Dismal away form which saw them win just once away from Karori Park, and their main contribution to the season was probably their final day draw to deny Mount Wellington the title.
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. Waitakere City won the league for the first time, by two points over Auckland neighbours Mount Wellington.
Promotion and relegation
PapatoetoePapatoetoe (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:...
were relegated at the end of the 1989 season. Their place was taken by New Plymouth Old Boys, the winners of the Central League. the winners of the noirthern and Southern Leagues were Mount Roskill and Burndale United respectively.
Waterside Karori
Waterside Karori
Waterside Karori AFC is an association football club in Karori, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand.Waterside Karori was formed in 19881 when Karori Swifts merged with Waterside. These two clubs had contrasting origins: Swifts were founded in 1894 from a Sunday School, and Waterside were founded...
were relegated at the end of the 1990 season.
Team performance
The 1990 league saw Waitakere City triumph in only their second league season. Mount Wellington led the league for much of the season, stringing together an undefeated 12-match run at the start of the season. Waitakere's consistency and determination paid off, however. They started the season with two losses, but strung together an excellent series of seventeen wins from nineteen games to climb the table, finally overhauling the Mount three games from the finish. They completed their season three points clear, then had to wait for a week for Mount Wellington's final game against relegation-bound Waterside KaroriWaterside Karori
Waterside Karori AFC is an association football club in Karori, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand.Waterside Karori was formed in 19881 when Karori Swifts merged with Waterside. These two clubs had contrasting origins: Swifts were founded in 1894 from a Sunday School, and Waterside were founded...
. The Wharfies held on to draw, and the West Auckland side had its first title. Mount Wellington fell away late in the season as they had done in 1988
1988 New Zealand National Soccer League
The 1988 New Zealand National Soccer League was the nineteenth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Christchurch United finished as champions for the second season running, three points clear of traditional rivals Mount Wellington.-Promotion and...
, throwing away what at times seemed a certain victorious campaign.
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:...
finished a distant third, its campaign ruined by its inability to beat any of the Auckland-based sides. It was pursued all the way by Waikato United, the tussle for third and fourth being as separate from the rest of the table as that for first and second. A further nine points separated these two teams from 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 were engaged in their own private tussle with 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....
. Manurewa only finished on top by goal difference after an astonishing 7–1 win over Hutt Valley United
Hutt Valley United
Hutt Valley United was a short-lived association football club from New Zealand. A composite team, the club was founded in 1987 ostensibly to represent the interests of several senior teams from the Hutt Valley area just north of Wellington in the New Zealand National Soccer League.Hutt Valley...
in their last game of the season, having been held 1–1 at half time. Napier paid for its inability to finish games off. Though they were a tough team to beat, they also found winning a problem, and finished the season with eleven draws from their 26 games.
Beyond these two teams was a further gap of six points to a group of five teams who made up the lower-middle of the table. Coaching upheaval cost both Mount Maunganui and 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:...
any chance of finishing further up the table, and in the case of Shore things could have been much worse. At the halfway stage of the season they were firmly in last place with just eight points. The second half of the season saw a marked improvement and the relative safety of the middle of the table.
Wellington teams suffered badly in 1990, with all four of the region's sides finishing in the lower reaches of the table. Best-placed of these was 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...
, who came no higher than ninth. Their season was marked by rebuilding; six players, plus the coach and assistant coach, had been with Wellington United
Wellington United
Wellington United AFC is an association football club in Wellington, New Zealand competing in the Capital Premier League.-Wellington Diamond United:Wellington Diamond United was the result of the merger of Diamond and Zealandia/Wellington United in 1968....
in 1989, and it was to take some time for the new side to settle down. Hutt Valley United
Hutt Valley United
Hutt Valley United was a short-lived association football club from New Zealand. A composite team, the club was founded in 1987 ostensibly to represent the interests of several senior teams from the Hutt Valley area just north of Wellington in the New Zealand National Soccer League.Hutt Valley...
finished next, their position the result of an inability to score goals and a dramatic late-season slump which saw them drop from fourth at the halfway point. Wellington United's form was greatly impaired by the loss of squad members. Not only had Miramar picked up half a dozen of United's 1989 side, but a further four squad members had also left through retirement or transfer. The youthful team performed adequately, but inexperience accounted for the league's worst defensive record of the season.
A further gap separated the bottom three clubs from mid-table safety. 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....
were in danger of relegation all season, notably after a disastrous mid-season spell with eight losses in nine games. Gisborne finally rallied, notably in their final thrilling encounter with Miramar Rangers which saw them recover from a 1–3 deficit to win 5–4. An inexperienced New Plymouth Old Boys side looked to be heading straight back to the regional leagues, but finally managed to pull themselves off the bottom spot two-thirds of the way through the season. It was Waterside Karori
Waterside Karori
Waterside Karori AFC is an association football club in Karori, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand.Waterside Karori was formed in 19881 when Karori Swifts merged with Waterside. These two clubs had contrasting origins: Swifts were founded in 1894 from a Sunday School, and Waterside were founded...
who suffered the fate of relegation. Dismal away form which saw them win just once away from Karori Park, and their main contribution to the season was probably their final day draw to deny Mount Wellington the title.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.