Chatham Cup

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The Chatham Cup is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football (soccer). This competition is not currently sponsored.

Held annually since 1923 (with the exception of 1937 and 1941-44), the cup is contested by teams from throughout the country. Typically between 120 and 150 teams take part, with extra time and penalty shoot-outs used to decide matches which end in ties (in the past, replays were used). Many of the early winners of the competition no longer exist, as soccer was not effectively organised in New Zealand until the advent of a national league in 1970, and still remains largely amateur. Prior to 1970, the final was held between the winners of separate North Island and South Island tournaments.

The cup itself was gifted to the then NZ Football Association in 1922 by the crew of the HMS Chatham as a token of appreciation for the hospitality they had encountered on a visit to New Zealand. The actual trophy is modelled on the F.A. Cup.

Recent tournaments have been organised in a preliminary round, first round, second round, third round, fourth round, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. Competition begins in April, and the final is normally played in September. Early rounds (up to round four) are held on a regional basis, between teams within the country's three soccer regions (northern North Island, southern North Island, South Island).

The New Zealand Football Championship is contested between franchise teams, rather than traditional clubs, and these franchise teams do not compete in the Chatham Cup. There is no formal system of byes to later rounds (as there is, for example, in the F.A. Cup). Several top sides do, however, gain byes through to the second round.

From 1986-1988, the final was contested on a two-match home and away series, but in other years the final has been a single match. In 1952, the final finished 1-1, and the title was shared. A replay was used to decide the 1970, 1972 and 1983 finals, and penalty shoot-outs decided the 1990 and 2001 finals.

The most successful teams in the Chatham Cup have been Mount Wellington (seven wins, two of them since amalgamation with Auckland University), North Shore United (six wins), and Christchurch United (five wins).

[edit] This year's competition

The 2006 Chatham Cup final was played on September 2. It was contested by Eastern Suburbs (Auckland) and Western Suburbs (Wellington). Western Suburbs won 3-0 in a penalty shootout after both teams were scoreless in normal and extra times. In the semi-finals, Eastern Suburbs defeated defending champions Central United of Auckland 5-3 on penalties after scores were level at 3-3 after extra time, and Western Suburbs comprehensively beat Dunedin-based side Caversham 4-0.

[edit] Past winners

[edit] External links

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