The 1961 Chatham Cup was the 34th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.

1961 Chatham Cup
Tournament details
Venue(s)Basin Reserve, Wellington
Dates6 May –
26 August 1961
Final positions
ChampionsNorthern (2nd title)
Runner-upNorth Shore United
← 1960
1962 →

The competition was run on a regional basis, with regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds.

Other teams known to have taken part in the final rounds included Otangarei United (Whangarei), Hamilton Technical Old Boys, Kahukura (Rotorua), Eastern Union (Gisborne), Moturoa (New Plymouth), Napier Rovers, Wanganui United, Kiwi United (Manawatu), Nelson Thistle[1] and Timaru Thistle.

The 1961 final edit

Northern won the cup for a second time, having previously been champions in 1959; North Shore United made their third consecutive finals appearance, having won the cup in 1960. The match was thus both a match between the two previous winners and also a rematch of the 1959 final, with the same team winning on both occasions. Seven Northern players and six North Shore players played in both finals, these six latter players - among them England and New Zealand international Ken Armstrong - also having played in the winning side of 1960. The final was a free flowing affair, but no goals came until the half hour mark, when Northern took the lead through George Little. The score remained 1-0 until two minutes from the end of the match, when Bruce Campbell doubled Northern's lead.[2]

Results edit

Second round edit

Saint Kilda7 – 3Mosgiel
Durst 3, Van Schraa 2 (1 pen.), Smolders, Stoove [3] Downie 2 (1 pen.), Thompson
Referee: D. Welham

Third round edit

Caversham3 – 2Green Island
Hornby 3 [4] Hay 2
Ellis Park, Dunedin
Referee: M. Laing
King Edward TCOB2 – 1Saint Kilda
Paul 2 [4] Van Schraa
Referee: A. Williams
Maori Hill1 – 5Northern
Roberts [4] G. Little 3, Rae, P. Little
Culling Park, Dunedin
Referee: R. McDonald
Roslyn-Wakari5 – 3Dunedin HSOB
Walker 2, Smillie, Imman, Sanctuary [4] Morris (pen.), Cross, Hilliker
Tonga Park, Dunedin
Referee: D. Welham

Fourth round edit

King Edward TCOB1 – 0Caversham
Cunningham [5]
Referee: R.E. McDonald
Northern3 – 0Roslyn-Wakari
Berry 2, G. Little [5]
Referee: W. Bamberry
Invercargill Thistle1 – 0Waihopai
Report
Invercargill United0–0 (a.e.t.)
Rovers won on corners
Rovers
Report
Nelson Athletic3-0Nelson Rangers
?, Nelson
Western3-1Nomads
English Park, Christchurch
Napier Rovers3-2Kiwi United
Nelson Park, Napier
Wanganui Settlers2-3Moturoa
Wembley Park, Wanganui
Western Suburbs5-4Northern (Wellington)
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Miramar Rangers4-0Wellington Marist
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Otangarei United1-8Hamilton Technical Old Boys
Otangarei, Northland
Eastern Union6-4Kahukura
Childers Road Reserve, Gisborne
Mount Wellington2-1Mount Roskill
Blandford Park, Auckland
North Shore United6-2Eastern Suburbs
Blandford Park, Auckland
  • both Timaru Thistle (South Canterbury qualifiers) and Nelson Thistle (one of three Nelson clubs) effectively had byes to the next round

Fifth round edit

Invercargill Thistle4 – 0Rovers (Invercargill)
Surrey Park, Invercargill
Northern1 - 0King Edward TCOB
Caledonian Ground, South Dunedin
Miramar Rangers4-2Western Suburbs
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Napier Rovers4-0Moturoa
Nelson Park, Napier
Hamilton Technical Old Boys2-3Eastern Union
Seddon Park, Hamilton
North Shore United2-1Mt. Wellington
Epsom Showgrounds, Auckland
Timaru Thistle0-6Western
Report
Caledonian Ground, Timaru
Nelson Thistle1-0Nelson Athletic
Report
?, Nelson

Quarter-finals edit

Invercargill Thistle3 – 5Northern
Steel 2, Frost [6] G. Little 2, McVey, Rae (pen.), Berry
Surrey Park, Invercargill
North Shore United3 – 2Eastern Union
Blandford Park, Auckland
Miramar Rangers3 – 2Napier Rovers
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Western6 – 2Nelson Thistle
Newsome, Rodger, McKenna, Frost, Torkington, Durant (pen.) Report D. Watson 2
Referee: Mr. W. Bamberry

Semi-finals ("Island finals") edit

Northern3 – 1Western
G. Little 2, J. Little [7] Newsome
Referee: T. Griggs
North Shore United6 – 1Miramar Rangers
Blandford Park, Auckland

Final edit

Northern2 – 0North Shore United
G. Little, Campbell Report
Attendance: 7000
Referee: Mr. C. Anderson

References edit

  1. ^ "The Nelson Thistle Soccer Team". Papers Past. 23 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021.
  2. ^ Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X. p.73
  3. ^ Otago Daily Times, 8 May 1961, p. 8
  4. ^ a b c d Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1961, p. 12
  5. ^ a b Otago Daily Times, 19 June 1961, p. 6
  6. ^ Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1961, p. 11
  7. ^ Otago Daily Times, 7 August 1961, p. 6