The 1926 Chatham Cup was the fourth annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.

1926 Chatham Cup
Tournament details
Venue(s)Basin Reserve, Wellington
Dates5 June – 4 September 1926
Defending championsWellington YMCA
Final positions
ChampionsSunnyside (1st title)
Runner-upNorth Shore
← 1925
1927 →

The competition was run on a regional basis, with eight regional associations (Northland, Auckland, Wellington, Waikato, Wanganui, Manawatu, Canterbury and Otago) each holding separate qualifying rounds. In all, 36 teams entered the 1926 competition,[1] with the overwhelming majority being from the North Island.

In the South Auckland District there were four entries from Pukemiro, Huntly, Huntly Thistle and Frankton Railways.[2] According to Huntly Thistle's club website, the club beat Pukemiro 6-0 and Hikurangi 4-0 before losing to the eventual finalists North Shore United 3–1.[3]

The Manawatu Football Association initially recorded four entries. St. Andrew's, Palmerston North Returned Services Association, Palmerston North Athletic and Palmerston North Rangers.[4] Rangers later withdrew from the competition without partaking.[5]

One unusual feature of the 1926 competition was that three of the four semi-finalist sides were composed largely of staff from three of the country's largest mental hospitals, at Sunnyside, Porirua, and Seacliff.[6]

Seacliff was the single entry from Otago, and at an early stage there was discussion in regard to including the Dunedin side competing in the Wellington FA provincial rounds.[7] This did not eventuate, and Seacliff were directly through to the South Island Final against Sunnyside.

There were four entries from North Auckland. Hikurangi, Waro Wanderers, Waro Corinthians and Whangārei YMCA.[8]

The 1926 final

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The final was played at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, a change of venue from the previous finals which had been at Newtown Park or Athletic Park. The following year the final briefly returned to Newtown Park, before making its permanent home at the Basin Reserve, a venue which was used regularly until the 1970s.

In the final, played in front of some 4000 spectators, Sunnyside's Archie Trotter became the first player to complete a Chatham Cup final hat-trick. The match was high scoring, but contemporary reports suggest that many opportunities were missed by both teams. H. Pickering put Sunnyside in front after just seven minutes. Archie Trotter doubled the lead for Sunnyside before L. Hipkins scored for North Shore. After the half-time interval Trotter scored two further goals before John Woolley scored a late consolation for North Shore.[9]: 67–68 

Other notable features of the final included the appearance in the North Shore team of Reg Baxter, Dan Jones, and Ces Dacre. Baxter and Jones were the first players to play for two different sides in Chatham Cup finals, having been part of the successful 1923 Seacliff and 1924 Auckland Harbour Board teams respectively. Dacre, while a fine player and New Zealand representative at football, is best remembered as one of New Zealand's foremost early cricketers.

Post-final at the weekly meeting of the Auckland Football Association in early September, the secretary, Mr. Dawson reported to the committee. The treatment by the New Zealand Council was praised, though the Wellington Football Association, in Dawson's opinion, had profiteered by insisting the payment of £20 over and above the rent due to the Wellington City Council for use of the Basin Reserve.[10]

Results

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Auckland Qualifiers

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Ponsonby2 – 5Northcote
Hunter, W. Knott, Report Hall 2, Burford, Bell, Tremain
Blandford Park, Auckland
Referee: Mr. R. H. Parfitt
Tramways2 – 3Auckland YMCA
Davis, Spencer Report Mellor 2, own goal
Blandford Park, Auckland
Referee: Mr. E. Parkinson
North Shore5 – 0Chelsea 2nds
Hipkins, Palmer, Woolley, Dacre, Baxter Report
Devonport Domain, Auckland
Referee: Mr. J. Ball
Onehunga Athletic Club2 – 11Auckland Thistle
Onehunga No.1, Manukau, Auckland
Referee: Mr. A. E. Brownlie
North Shore3 - 2 (a.e.t.)Northcote
Woolley, Palmer, Bradshaw Report Bell 2
Blandford Park, Auckland
Auckland final
North Shore3 – 1Auckland Thistle
Woolley, Bird 2 Report Kernick
Blandford Park, Auckland
Referee: Mr. L.C.H. Dawson

North Auckland Qualifiers

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Hikurangi? – ?
*
Whangarei YMCA
Hora Hora Park, Whangārei
Referee: Mr. F. Mogford
Waro Wanderers? – ?
*
Waro Corinthians
Hotel Park, Hikurangi
Referee: Mr. J. Donnelly
* Both results from Hikurangi v Y.M.C.A and Waro Corinthians v Waro Wanderers fixture's scheduled by the North Auckland Association for June 19 are yet to be found.[11] Waro Wanderers played Hikurangi in the North Auckland District Final on July 17.
North Auckland District Final
Hikurangi2 – 2 (a.e.t.)
Replayed 22 July
Waro Wanderers
Ackers 2. Report Turtington (goal-keeper) og, Jty. Platt.
Recreation Park, Hikurangi
Referee: Mr. F. Mogford
North Auckland District Final Replay
Hikurangi4 – 0
*
Waro Wanderers
J. Ackers  x4
  • Hikurangi  
Report
  • Waro  
Recreation Park, Hikurangi
Referee: Mr. F. Mogford

* Two players sent from field.[12][13]

South Auckland Qualifiers

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Huntly Thistle6 – 1Pukemiro
Longstaff 3, McLuckie, Johnson 2 Report Garrick
Huntly Domain, Huntly
South Auckland District Final
Huntly1 – 6
*
Huntly Thistle
Emerson Report White 3, Longstaff 2, Patrick.
Huntly Recreation Ground, Huntly
Referee: Mr. Jas Baillie

* Frankton Railways defaulted to Huntly. Huntly played v Huntly Thistle with 10 men.[14]

North Auckland - South Auckland Final
Hikurangi0 – 4Huntly Thistle
Report T. Gavin, H. Johnson, R. Longstaff 2.
Recreation Park, Hikurangi
Referee: Mr. R. Nesbitt
Auckland District Final
Huntly Thistle1 – 3North Shore
Johnstone Report Jay 2, Dacre
Huntly Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2000+
Referee: Mr. Jas Baillie (Hamilton)

Wellington Qualifiers

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Petone3 – 3
Extra time not played due to fading light
Johnsonville
Hamilton 2, Paterson Report Johnstone 2, ?
Kelburn Park, Wellington
Referee: Mr. G. Goffin
Replay
Petone4 – 0Johnsonville
Brislee 3, Paterson Report
Basin Reserve No. 2, Wellington
Referee: Mr. E. Watts
Hospital6 – 0Waterside
Newman 4, Ferguson, Lambert Report
Referee: Mr. C. Kelly
Wellington Marist3 - 2 (a.e.t.)Petone
Thomas, McElligott, Marshment Report Paterson, Pincock
Kelburn Park, Wellington
Referee: Mr. F. Hall
Wellington Thistle3 – 1Institute Old Boys
Jeffrey, Logan 2 Report Maddocks
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Referee: Mr. G. Jackson
Wellington YMCA7 – 2Seatoun
McGirr, Worth 2, Dempster 2, Orr 2 Report Telford, Murie
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Referee: Mr. G. Wilson
Hospital1 – 0Wellington Thistle
Ferguson Report
Porirua Hospital Ground, Porirua
Referee: Mr. G. Jackson
Wellington YMCA2 – 0Wellington Marist
Wilkins 2 Report
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Referee: Mr. E. Goffin
Wellington final
Hospital3 – 2Wellington YMCA
Newman 3 [15] Wilkins, Worth
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Referee: Mr. L.F.C. Cooper

Manawatu Qualifiers

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Palmerston North Returned Services Association2 – 1St. Andrews
Baigent, Contaur Report Hart
North Street Park, Palmerston North
Referee: Mr. J. Davidson
Manawatu District Final
Palmerston North Athletic1 – 0Palmerston North Returned Services Association
Whitehouse. Report
North Street Park, Palmerston North
Referee: Mr. H. Crouch

Wanganui Qualifier

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Wanganui District Final
Wanganui Woollen Mills4 – 3Eastown Workshops
MacDonald 4 Report Smith 2, Mackley
Referee: Mr. F. Phillips
Manawatu - Wanganui District Final
Palmerston North Athletic4 – 3Wanganui Woollen Mills
Whitehouse 2, Salmon 2 Report MacDonald 3
North Street Park, Palmerston North
Referee: Mr. H. Crouch
Wellington - Manawatu Final
Palmerston North Athletic2 – 7Hospital
Whitehouse 2 Report Newman 3, Ferguson 2, White, Anderson
North Street Park, Palmerston North
Referee: Rev. Duncombe

Canterbury Qualifiers

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Canterbury semi-final
Western1 – 1Nomads
Barwell Report Ives
English Park, Christchurch
Referee: Mr. Stout
Western2 – 0
Replay
Nomads
Colville, Nelson Report
English Park, Christchurch
Referee: Mr. H. Mayo
Canterbury semi-final
Sunnyside4 – 1Christchurch Thistle
Trotter 2, Pickering, Robson Report Thomas.
English Park, Christchurch
Referee: Mr. H. Smyth
Canterbury Final
Sunnyside3 – 0Western
Trotter 2, Robson. Report
English Park, Christchurch
Referee: Mr. H. Smyth

Semi-finals

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North Island Final
North Shore4 – 3 (aet)Hospital
Jay 2,Dacre, Baxter Report Lambert, Anderson, Newman
Referee: Mr. H.W. Riddalls
South Island Final
Seacliff3 – 4Sunnyside
Hooper,, McDougall, Anderson (pen.) Report Trotter 2, Sutherland, Wales
Culling Park, Dunedin
Referee: Mr. W. P. Smith

1926 Final

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Teams

Sunnyside: Jim Callaghan, J. Simpson, H. Thompson, Archie Trotter, W. Robson, W. Bond, R. Purdie, H. Pickering, D. Sutherland, Bob McLachlan, Jim Wales[16]

North Shore: Stewart Lipscombe, Len Colebourne, Peter Gerrard, Reg Baxter, Dick Bird, Dan Jones, L. Hipkins, Ces Dacre, George Jay, John Woolley, Jock Bradshaw.

1926 Chatham Cup Final
Sunnyside4 – 2North Shore
Trotter 3, Pickering report Hipkins, Woolley
Referee: Mr. G. Kelly

References

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  1. ^ "Chatham Cup Final to-morrow". Evening Post. 3 September 1926. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Association Football - South Auckland Executive". Papers Past. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021.
  3. ^ http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/huntlythistleafc/history.pl[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Association Football - Management Committee meets". Papers Past. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Soccer (By "GOALIE")". Manawatu Times. 30 June 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Will local men redeem themselves?". Evening Post. 7 August 1926. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  7. ^ "Soccer". Papers Past. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Soccer Football - North Auckland Association Management Committee". 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
  9. ^ Hilton, Tony; Smith, Barry (1991). An Association with Soccer: The NZFA Celebrates Its First 100 Years. New Zealand Football. ISBN 978-0473012915.
  10. ^ "Association Code - Meeting of the Committee". Papers Past. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Soccer Football - North Auckland Management Committee". Papers Past. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Association Football - Management Committee". Papers Past. 13 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Association Football - Management Committee". Northern Advocate. 30 July 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Football Association". Papers Past. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Against Otago: Wellington's second game in English trophy series". Evening Post. 17 July 1926. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  16. ^ Houston, J., (1952) Association football in New Zealand. Wellington: A.H. & A. W. Reed. p. 34.