| Season | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Eastern Suburbs |
| Relegated | Western Suburbs |
← 1970 1972 → | |
The 1971 New Zealand National Soccer League was the second season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. The league was expanded at the end of the inaugural season, so there was no relegation from the 1970 league season. Hungaria, who had competed in the inaugural season, combined with Miramar Rangers to form a new composite league team, Wellington City. Though Miramar withdrew from the team after the 1971 season, the team continued to use the new name. [1]
At the end of the 1970 season, the winners of the Northern, Central, and Southern leagues — Mount Albert-Ponsonby (Auckland), Waterside (Wellington), and Caversham (Dunedin) respectively — took part in a play-off series to decide the two teams which would be granted entry to the national league. the results were as follows:
| Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Albert-Ponsonby | 1 – 1 | Waterside |
| Waterside | 0 – 0 | Caversham |
| Mount Albert-Ponsonby | 2 – 0 | Caversham |
| Caversham | 4 – 1 | Waterside |
| Waterside | 0 – 3 | Mount Albert-Ponsonby |
| Caversham | 1 – 1 | Mount Albert-Ponsonby |
As a result of these matches, Mount Albert-Ponsonby and Caversham gained entry to the national league. In order to mount a stronger southern challenge, Caversham amalgamated with several other Dunedin-based sides to form Dunedin Suburbs; the team lasted for one season in this form before reverting to Caversham. [2]
The same four teams dominated the league as in the inaugural season, but this time it was Eastern Suburbs who finished on top. An unbeaten run of twelve matches by Mount Wellington saw them move into second place, followed by Christchurch United and Blockhouse Bay. The league title came down to the last round of matches and a controversial yet thrilling between the top two sides. In front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 at Newmarket Park, the Mount had three goals disallowed yet still managed to draw against Suburbs 2-2. Despite still having one game in hand, the Mount needed a win to hang onto its title chances, and Suburbs were crowned champions. A personal milestone occurred for Eastern Suburbs' John Wrathall, who scored his 1000th goal in 26 years of senior football during Suburbs' 3-1 win against Mount Albert-Ponsonby. [1]
The gap between the top four and the rest closed considerably over the debut season for Gisborne City, who finished comfortably fifth. below that was a major gap, however, with Dunedin Suburbs, Mount Albert-Ponsonby, Stop Out, Wellington City, and Western Suburbs FC all battling to avoid relegation. Wellington's teams struggled in the league for a second season, filling all three bottom places, and it was Porirua-based Western Suburbs which finished last on goal average. If goal difference had been employed — a system which was to be introduced for the 1978 league — they would have survived and it would have been City who went down. [1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Suburbs (C) | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 23 | +28 | 28 |
| 2 | Mount Wellington | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 51 | 22 | +29 | 25 |
| 3 | Christchurch United | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 43 | 20 | +23 | 23 |
| 4 | Bay Olympic | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 45 | 25 | +20 | 22 |
| 5 | Gisborne City | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 33 | +2 | 21 |
| 6 | Caversham | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 44 | −19 | 15 |
| 7 | Mount Albert-Ponsonby | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 32 | −12 | 12 |
| 8 | Stop Out | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 45 | −20 | 12 |
| 9 | Wellington City | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 50 | −29 | 11 |
| 10 | Western Suburbs (R) | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 43 | −25 | 11 |
The 1970 Chatham Cup was the 43rd annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1972 New Zealand National Soccer League was the third season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football.
The 1973 New Zealand National Soccer League was the fourth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football.
The 1974 New Zealand National Soccer League was the fifth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football.
The 1975 New Zealand National Soccer League was the sixth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football.
The 1976 New Zealand National Soccer League was the seventh season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football.
The 1977 New Zealand National Soccer League was the eighth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. An expansion by two teams meant that it was the first year in which twelve teams took part. Prize money was significantly increased for the top three clubs, and the number of teams relegated increased from one to three, these being automatically replaced by the winners of the three regional leagues.
The 1978 New Zealand National Soccer League was the ninth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. A change was made from previous years, with the replacement of goal average by goal difference as a means for ranking teams equal on points.
The 1979 New Zealand National Soccer League was the tenth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. It produced the biggest winning margin in the league's history, with Mount Wellington never being in serious danger of finishing anywhere but first.
The 1981 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 12th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Wellington Diamond United won the league for a second time, having previously been champions in 1976. The league was the closest until this point, with only four points separating the top five teams.
The 1983 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 14th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Manurewa comfortably won the league for the first time, finishing eight points clear of second-placed Hanimex North Shore United. This was the first season in which a win scored three points; prior to this they were worth only two.
The 1984 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 15th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Gisborne City finally wrestled the trophy away from the major centres, taking it to a provincial city for the first time.
The 1986 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 17th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Mount Wellington finished as champions, one point ahead of Miramar Rangers.
The 1987 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 18th 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 Zealand, leading to it being called the Air New Zealand Soccer League. Christchurch United finished as champions, seven points clear of Gisborne City.
The 1988 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 19th 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.
The 1989 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 20th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Napier City Rovers had their debut championship win over Mount Maunganui, in doing so taking the title away from the main centres for only the second time.
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.
In 1999, two New Zealand island soccer leagues were run to replace the National Summer Soccer League which had finished at the end of the 1998 season. The two leagues, one for the North Island and one for the South Island were followed by a play-off between the two champion sides to determine the national champions. The games were mainly played during winter, in direct contrast to the previous summer league.
The 2016 Chatham Cup was New Zealand's 89th annual knockout football competition.
The 2019 Chatham Cup is New Zealand's 92nd annual knockout football competition.