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.
Promotion was automatic, with the three lowest placed sides in the 1977 league (New Brighton, Dunedin City, and Caversham) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Courier Rangers, Waterside, and Woolston WMC respectively). [1]
The 1978 league saw a return of the traditional top-of-the-table rivalry between Trans Tours Christchurch United and Mount Wellington, with the Christchurch side narrowly finishing top. The Mount led the league for long periods of the season, but this was largely due to Christchurch having played less games. The outstanding matches saw results go in the southerners' favour, and they became the first side to record a third league title. Nelson United were the Mount's bogey team again, holding on for a draw in the last game of the season to leave the Aucklanders in second place. They had previously upset the odds by beating Mount Wellington in the 1977 Chatham Cup final. [2]
Both Blockhouse Bay and Eastern Suburbs greatly improved on their 1977 league performance to finish in the top four. In the case of Suburbs this was largely through the importation of English players Bryn Gunn and Steve Elliot from Nottingham Forest. Elliot made the most of his stint with Suburbs, scoring 17 times in just 12 matches. [2]
Newly promoted Courier Rangers from Otahuhu in Auckland finished fifth, followed by North Shore United. Rangers played excellently at home, but had difficulty finding the net away, leaving them with a mid-table finish. Loss of squad members from the previous season weighed against Shore, who were unable to mount any substantial bid to retain their title. Nelson United finished seventh for the second year in a row, hampered by a seeming inability to score goals. Stop Out trailed them in eighth, largely a result of a dreadful away season which saw them win just one from eleven games on the road. [3]
Just two years after being crowned champions, Wellington Diamond United only narrowly avoided the drop. A poor run of two wins in their final twelve games was a substantial indication of their peril. Hamilton returned to the regional leagues, despite having the league's top scorer, and they were joined in relegation by newly promoted Waterside and Woolston WMC. The Wharfies seemed to make a habit of losing matches where they seemed comfortably in control, losing six matches they had led and missing several penalties during the season. Woolston were outclassed throughout the season and never looked likely to avoid the drop. [4]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christchurch United (C) | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 45 | 16 | +29 | 32 |
| 2 | Mount Wellington | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 26 | +14 | 32 |
| 3 | Bay Olympic | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 38 | 28 | +10 | 28 |
| 4 | Eastern Suburbs | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 46 | 24 | +22 | 27 |
| 5 | Courier Rangers | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 19 | +6 | 23 |
| 6 | North Shore United | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 39 | 36 | +3 | 22 |
| 7 | Nelson United | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 34 | −11 | 22 |
| 8 | Stop Out | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 19 |
| 9 | Wellington United | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 27 | 45 | −18 | 17 |
| 10 | Melville United (R) | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 33 | 43 | −10 | 16 |
| 11 | Waterside Karori (R) | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 44 | −20 | 14 |
| 12 | Woolston WMC (R) | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 38 | −20 | 12 |
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.
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 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 1980 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 11th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Mount Wellington became the first club to win back-to-back titles and also the first club to win the league four times, though their winning margin was significantly smaller than in 1979.
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 1982 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 13th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Mount Wellington comfortably won the league for a fifth time, finishing seven points clear of second-placed Hanimex North Shore United. This was the last season in which a win scored two points; from 1983 wins were worth three points.
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 1985 New Zealand National Soccer League was the 16th season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. Wellington Diamond United finished as champions, three points clear of 1984 title-holders Gisborne City.
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 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 2000 New Zealand National Club Championship, also known, due to naming-rights sponsorship, as the Ansett National Club Championship was the inaugural season of a nationwide club competition in New Zealand football. It replaced the 1999 New Zealand island soccer leagues and was a re-formed version of the national soccer league which had been run from 1970 to 1992. The competition was won by Napier City Rovers.