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.
Auckland University finished last in the 1984 league, and took part in a play-off with the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Hamilton, Stop Out, and Rangers respectively). [1] Auckland University were victorious, becoming the first relegated side to instantly regain their place. The 1985 league was thus the first one to contain an identical starting line-up to the previous season's competition. [2]
Though the starting line-up for the 1985 league was identical to the previous season, the finishing positions were considerably different. Wellington Diamond United, playing under that name for the final time, climbed from the previous season's mid-table position to finish top. It started the season poorly, but had an excellent run of results near the end of the season to climb into the leading position. The team was the most youthful to win the title to this point, with an average age of just 23. They edged out playing-through champions Gisborne City who were leading at the half-way stage but saw that followed by a slump featuring three home losses. Hanimex North Shore United greatly improved on their 1984 form to finish third, having taken over the lead from Gisborne but being unable to hold on to it as the season drew to a close. Mount Wellington also improved on the previous season's efforts, but were draw-prone at home costing them a higher finishing position. [3]
Miramar Rangers continued to be entrenched in the middle of the table, its fifth placing being the fifth time in a row that it had not finished in the top or bottom four. Their position was the result of a late season rally after a 10-game winless run had left them close to the bottom of the table. Sixth-placed Nelson United's season was rescued by its mid-season form. It had a poor start and end to the season, but between these won nine of eleven games. Nelson were followed by Auckland University. The previous season's bottom-placed side boasted a radically changed squad, with only three members playing in both seasons, and the team showed a steady, if not brilliant, improvement. Dunedin City rounded out the top eight with an inconsistent season. Towards the end of the come=petition they were in the top four, but they only won one of their last five games and slipped back down the table. [4]
A dramatic mid-season slump saw Christchurch United slip to an unlikely ninth place. An inability to find goals was compensated for by a sturdy defence, but that alone was not enough to see the team into the top half of the table. Below them came 1983 champions Manurewa, who suffered a crippling start to the season with just one win from its first eight matches, and never recovered. Papatoetoe's fall from grace was still more noteworthy. Two top three finishes in 1983 and 1984 were followed by an eleventh place showing in 1985. The team was unlucky, suffering a series of narrow losses, and actually scored more goals than in either of the previous two seasons, finishing with a goal difference of just -1. Last place went to Napier City Rovers, who remained rooted to the bottom of the table with a poor first half to the season. Even a late rally didn't save the club, though its position belied its abilities. It managed to achieve the unusual double of relegation from the national league and a win in the Chatham Cup in the same season. [4]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington United (C) | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 50 | 33 | +17 | 41 |
| 2 | Gisborne City | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 38 |
| 3 | North Shore United | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 37 |
| 4 | Mount Wellington | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 40 | 30 | +10 | 32 |
| 5 | Miramar Rangers | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 33 | +2 | 30 |
| 6 | Nelson United | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 30 |
| 7 | Auckland University | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 30 |
| 8 | Dunedin City | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 34 | 38 | −4 | 29 |
| 9 | Christchurch United | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 28 |
| 10 | Manurewa | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 49 | −19 | 27 |
| 11 | Papatoetoe | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 26 |
| 12 | Napier City Rovers (R) | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 36 | 43 | −7 | 20 |
The 1970 New Zealand National Soccer League was the inaugural season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. The league's initial sponsors were Rothmans (NZ) Ltd, and the league was thus commonly known as the Rothmans National League. Rothmans retained naming sponsorship rights until 1987 when Air New Zealand took over as principal sponsor.
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 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 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 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.