1996 National Summer Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1996 National Summer Soccer League was the inaugural season of a short-lived nationwide association football club competition in New Zealand
. The competition replaced the Superclub competition
, which operated until 1995. The 1996 series was won by Waitakere City.
league, with each team playing every other team home and away.
The top four teams from this stage progressed to a play-off series. This involved the top two teams from the league phase playing each other, and third and fourth place also playing each other. The winner of the match between first and second progressed through to the final; the loser of that match met the winner of the other match to decide the other finalist.
A unique system of awarding points was used for this competition. Teams were awarded four points for a win and one for a draw. In drawn matches, a penalty shoot-out (minimum of three shots per side) would then take place, with the winning side awarded a bonus point.
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Biggest winning margin
Highest aggregate score
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...
. The competition replaced the Superclub competition
Superclub competition
The Superclub competition was a national association football league competition which ran in New Zealand from 1993 to 1995. It replaced the first incarnation of the New Zealand National Soccer League and was itself replaced by the National Summer Soccer League....
, which operated until 1995. The 1996 series was won by Waitakere City.
Structure
The league was an invitation-only competition, with no promotion or relegation taking place. Matches took place between January and May 1996. The competition was divided into two stages. In the first phase the ten teams took part in a round-robinRound-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...
league, with each team playing every other team home and away.
The top four teams from this stage progressed to a play-off series. This involved the top two teams from the league phase playing each other, and third and fourth place also playing each other. The winner of the match between first and second progressed through to the final; the loser of that match met the winner of the other match to decide the other finalist.
A unique system of awarding points was used for this competition. Teams were awarded four points for a win and one for a draw. In drawn matches, a penalty shoot-out (minimum of three shots per side) would then take place, with the winning side awarded a bonus point.
League table
Playoffs
*North Shore United won 9-8 on penalties----
Final
Records and statistics
Top scorers- Martin AkersMartin AkersMartin Akers is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Akers made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand in a 0-5 loss to Indonesia on 21 September 1997.-External links:...
(Napier City Rovers), 18 goals - Darren McClennanDarren McClennanDarren McClennan was a successful New Zealand soccer player who frequently represented his country in the 1980s and 90s....
(Waitakere City), 14 goals - D Brown (Waikato United), 13 goals
- Batram SuriBatram SuriBatram Suri is a Solomon Islands footballer who plays as either a striker or a midfielder and is currently playing for Amicalin the Matson's Premier Football League....
(Nelson Suburbs), 13 goals - Thomas EdgeThomas Edge (footballer)Thomas Edge is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Edge made his full All Whites debut as a substitute in a 0-1 loss to Australia on 12 May 1991 and ended his international playing career with seven A-international caps to his credit, his final...
(Waitakere City), 11 goals
Biggest winning margin
- Central United 8, Nelson Suburbs 1
Highest aggregate score
- Central United 8, Nelson Suburbs 1
- North Shore United 7, Woolston WMC 2