| Dates | first leg: 22 October 1988 second leg: 24 October 1988 |
|---|---|
| Championship venue | first leg: Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch second leg: Muir Park, Hamilton |
| Champions | Waikato United (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Christchurch United |
| Championship match score | 3–3 (aggregate; Waikato United won on away goals) |
| Jack Batty Memorial Cup | Steve Tate, Waikato United |
← 1987 1989 → | |
The 1988 Chatham Cup was the 61st annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
Up to the last 16 of the competition, the cup was run in three regions (northern, central, and southern). National League teams received a bye until the final 64 stage. In all, 147 teams took part in the competition, a new record for the time.
The final was the third and last to be held over home and away legs. The format was abandoned for the 1989 Chatham Cup as it proved unpopular. The 1988 final was the only one to be decided on the away goals rule, with Waikato United winning after scoring more goals in the first leg in Christchurch, despite both matches ending in draws.
The Christchurch team included Steve Sumner, returning to the city after a spell with Gisborne, and playing for the team he had played against in the 1987 final.
The first leg was held in Christchurch. Waikato took the lead through Steve Tate, and Lance Bauerfeind doubled their advantage. Christchurch scored twice in the last 20 minutes through John Hanson and Johan Verweij.
The two goals scored by Waikato in the first match were to prove invaluable. The second tie, in Hamilton, was evenly balanced. Waikato's Steve Tate again opened the scoring, with a goal after 17 minutes. The away goals rule meant that Christchurch would then need two goals — a 1–1 draw would not be enough. They received only one goal, via a Keith Braithwaite penalty a quarter of an hour before the final whistle. [1]
The Jack Batty Memorial Trophy for player of the final was awarded to double goalscorer Steve Tate of Waikato United. [2]
| Cashmere Wanderers | 0 – 4 | Burndale United (Christchurch) |
|---|---|---|
| Christchurch HSOB | 2 – 1 | Riccarton |
|---|---|---|
| Dunedin City | 1 – 5 | Mosgiel |
|---|---|---|
| Lynndale (Auckland) | 0 – 1 | Mount Roskill |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Wellington | 2 – 1 | Ellerslie |
|---|---|---|
| Napier City Rovers | 5 – 0 | Red Sox (Palmerston North) |
|---|---|---|
| Old Boys (Invercargill) | 3 – 3 (aet)* | Queens Park (Invercargill) |
|---|---|---|
| Oratia United | 2 – 3 | Manurewa |
|---|---|---|
| Papatoetoe | 0 – 3 | Blockhouse Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Petone | 1 – 4 | Porirua Viard United |
|---|---|---|
| Roslyn-Wakari | 1 – 2 | North End United (Dunedin) |
|---|---|---|
| Rotorua Suburbs | 0 – 4 | Metro (Auckland) |
|---|---|---|
| South Auckland Rangers | 2 – 2 (aet)* | Ngaruawahia United |
|---|---|---|
| Taupo | 2 – 1 | Waikato Unicol |
|---|---|---|
| Tawa | 0 – 3 | Lower Hutt City |
|---|---|---|
| Waikato United | 6 – 0 | Clendon United |
|---|---|---|
| Wainuiomata | 2 – 3 | Manawatu |
|---|---|---|
| Wellington United | 3 – 1 | Waterside |
|---|---|---|
| West Auckland | 3 – 0 | Manukau City |
|---|---|---|
* won on penalties by Queens Park (5-4) and South Auckland (4-3)
| Blockhouse Bay | 3 – 0 | Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Burndale United | 3 – 0 | Queens Park |
|---|---|---|
| Manawatu | 2 – 3 | Gisborne City |
|---|---|---|
| Mosgiel | 0 – 1 | Christchurch United |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Albert-Ponsonby | 2 – 0 | Taupo |
|---|---|---|
| Stokes Valley | 3 – 2 | Miramar Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Taradale | 2 – 1 | Victoria University |
|---|---|---|
| Waikato United | 3 – 0 | Central |
|---|---|---|
| Blockhouse Bay | 1 – 0 | West Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Burndale United (Christchurch) | 3 – 2 | North End United (Dunedin) |
|---|---|---|
| Gisborne City | 2 – 0 | Stokes Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Waikato United (Hamilton) | 3 – 1 | Manurewa |
|---|---|---|
| Wellington United | 0 – 0 (aet)* | Waikato United |
|---|---|---|
* won on penalties by Waikato United (3-0)
| Christchurch United | 2 – 2 | Waikato United |
|---|---|---|
| Hanson, Verweij | Tate, Bauerfeind |
| Waikato United | 1 – 1 | Christchurch United |
|---|---|---|
| Tate | Braithwaite (pen.) |
Aggregate score 3-3. Waikato United won on away goals.
The 1934 Chatham Cup was the 12th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1945 Chatham Cup was the 18th nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand, and the first such competition after a four-year gap caused by World War II.
The 1949 Chatham Cup was the 22nd annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1952 Chatham Cup was the 25th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1955 Chatham Cup was the 28th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1956 Chatham Cup was the 29th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1958 Chatham Cup was the 31st annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1960 Chatham Cup was the 33rd annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1962 Chatham Cup was the 35th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1967 Chatham Cup was the 40th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1970 Chatham Cup was the 43rd annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1972 Chatham Cup was the 45th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1975 Chatham Cup was the 48th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1976 Chatham Cup was the 49th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1977 Chatham Cup was the 50th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1983 Chatham Cup was the 56th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1986 Chatham Cup was the 59th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1987 Chatham Cup was the 60th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1989 Chatham Cup was the 62nd annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.
The 1990 Chatham Cup was the 63rd annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.