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Chatham Cup 2026

214 replies · 18,001 views

22 days ago

AllWhites82 wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
Chatham Cup day!

Cashmere are going in as pretty heavy favourites against Fencibles (Can't find the odds for the women) and I would have to agree. Would be absolutely insane if Cashmere did a double and won both cups on the same day
If they do, will be first time one club has held both Cups at the same time.

Welp...

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22 days ago

Good crowd over 11,000. The NZ Football page posted that and a good picture of the crowd, and tagged A League men, A League women hinting about a Canterbury A League club.

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22 days ago

11,000 fans witness Chatham Cup drama as Fencibles United snatch historic win

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22 days ago

LT01 wrote:
This has been a grim look for the Southern League so far to be honest. Cashmere have been outplayed for much of this game, now deservedly behind.

yup and it'll be even more exposed if a 3rd mens a-league team comes in. NZ Football isn't ready.

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22 days ago

Well about that Observer, 5 foreign players, salary cap exception and lure a few from Aus, Bul Juach, Rahmat Akbari. & David Yoo.

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22 days ago

observerfromuh wrote:
LT01 wrote:
This has been a grim look for the Southern League so far to be honest. Cashmere have been outplayed for much of this game, now deservedly behind.
yup and it'll be even more exposed if a 3rd mens a-league team comes in. NZ Football isn't ready.

I do agree there probably is some growth in the player pool that needs to happen before a 3rd NZ team is likely successful (and I suspect any new sides won't get off to a flying start, more a slow build).

BUT I don't see how this this would hurt Southern League. Firstly because they're unlikely to sign a massive deal of players from the Southern League (maybe a few) and secondly because the academy will produce players that never make the first team and others that don't kick on who will stay in the area. Possibly also might encourage other players to stick around in Christchurch longer as somewhere you could get a trial.

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21 days ago · edited 21 days ago · History

observerfromuh wrote:
LT01 wrote:
This has been a grim look for the Southern League so far to be honest. Cashmere have been outplayed for much of this game, now deservedly behind.
yup and it'll be even more exposed if a 3rd mens a-league team comes in. NZ Football isn't ready.

Has an Auckland A League club after existing 2 years now, hurt the Northern League? Seems to have had no effect at all. A positive if anything. Helps that AFC Reserves lose as much as they win!

I'd imagine a Christchurch A League club would bring a large amount of excitement to the local football scene. Football mad youngsters seeing a real proper local pathway to professional football.

Yes there will be concerns over the NZ football talent pool being big enough to accommodate 3 A League clubs, but I don't think that's reason enough not to launch a 3rd team. Got a great new stadium (best in NZ), in a city that seems on the up, with the 2nd biggest population in NZ. Plus the 2nd best rectangular stadium in NZ, down the road in Dunners for a game or two as well. Just make sure the Scarfies are in town for that. Rookie error Nix from the past!

The OFC Pro League is helping deepen the domestic player base, functioning as a bridge between 3 nights per week amateur winter football training, and full time daily pro football.

Also the Nix (eg Riley Bidois or even OVH) and now even Auckland (eg potentially Liam Gillion, Finn McKenlay) do release players every year who may still become A League footballers. At the moment as a Kiwi castoff from the Nix or AFC it's tough and you have to look at places like the NPL, USL, Canada, Ireland or wherever.

A 3rd NZ team could pick up some of those better prospect guys, just like many young Aussie players move around their 11 ALM clubs looking to crack it.

You also now have annual U17 mens World Cups. So annually now there is a cohort of talented young Kiwi boys getting scouted and exposed to top youth international football, ie the scouting of young NZ talent is more frequent and deepening. It's beginning to more match the strong, deep pathways that many European nations have with their age group setups. A bigger number of talented youngsters coming through exposed to quality coaching, Academy setups, international tourneys etc. Christchurch United has two guys in the current NZU19s.

Sure entry was free, and going to Te Kaha is still an exitement in itself (that will fade), but over 11K to the Chatham Cup final is a great effort. And great to hear that even with a half full ground, the atmosphere was really good, and it was a fun day out. That's important.

Be interesting to see what crowd the AWs draw in November, and the Nix on Waitangi Day.

Could a South Island A Leage club happen as soon as season 2027/28?
Pragnell is hosting the APL big wigs at Te Kaha for AWs v India. But one of the ex APL staffers (a guy who's job was to investigate potential expansion markets) has already said Christchurch just makes sense as an expansion destination.

Whenever it does launch, hopefully it has the financial muscle to have a ALW side also from the get go. Canterbury (and even Otago to a degree) have been strong in women's football for a long time now.

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21 days ago

coochiee wrote:
observerfromuh wrote:
LT01 wrote:
This has been a grim look for the Southern League so far to be honest. Cashmere have been outplayed for much of this game, now deservedly behind.
yup and it'll be even more exposed if a 3rd mens a-league team comes in. NZ Football isn't ready.
Has an Auckland A League club after existing 2 years now, hurt the Northern League? Seems to have had no effect at all. A positive if anything. Helps that AFC Reserves lose as much as they win!

I'd imagine a Christchurch A League club would bring a large amount of excitement to the local football scene. Football mad youngsters seeing a real proper local pathway to professional football.

Yes there will be concerns over the NZ football talent pool being big enough to accommodate 3 A League clubs, but I don't think that's a reason not to launch a 3rd team. Got a great new stadium, in a city that seems on the up, with the 2nd biggest population in NZ.

The OFC Pro League is helping deepen the domestic player base, functioning as a bridge between 3 nights per week amateur winter football training, and full time daily pro football.

Also the Nix (eg Riley Bidois or even OVH) and now even Auckland (eg potentially Liam Gillion, Finn McKenlay) do release players every year who may still become A League footballers. At the moment as a Kiwi castoff from the Nix or AFC it's tough and you have to look at places like the NPL, USL, Canada, Ireland or wherever.

A 3rd NZ team could pick up some of those guys, just like many young Aussie players move around their 11 ALM clubs looking to crack it.

You also now have annual U17 mens World Cups. So annually now there is a cohort of talented young Kiwi boys getting scouted and exposed to top youth international football, ie the scouting of young NZ talent is more frequent and deepening. It's beginning to more match the strong, deep pathways that many European nations have with their age group setups. A bigger number of talented youngsters coming through exposed to quality coaching, Academy setups, international tourneys etc. Christchurch United has two guys in the current NZU19s.

Sure entry was free, and going to Te Kaha is still an exitement in itself (that will fade), but over 11K to the Chatham Cup final is a great effort. Be interesting to see what crowd the AWs draw in November, and the Nix on Waitangi Day.

Could a South Island A Leage club happen as soon as season 2027/28?
Pragnell is hosting the APL big wigs at Te Kaha for AWs v India. But one of the ex APL staffers has already said ChCh makes sense as an expansion destination.

Whenever it does launch, hopefully it has the financial muscle to have a ALW side also from the get go. Canterbury (and even Otago to a degree) have been strong in women's football for a long time now.

Agree with you that we'd have the player base, but won't happen in 2027-28 pretty certain of that. The financial state of the APL and its clubs means they won't be letting in another high-travel NZ club in so soon, especially one that is not guaranteed to succeed off-field (which Auckland basically was).

I reckon 2029/2030 is the time to target.

Anyway, how was that Chatham Cup final this thread is all about 😂

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21 days ago

https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2096112767224906167

https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2096112767224906167

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21 days ago

Fantastic crowd for the final. Only 2016 would come anywhere near that in the past ten years and that would still trail yesterday by a fair bit.

Three for me, and two for them.

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PK+1

21 days ago

Simon B wrote:
11,000 fans witness Chatham Cup drama as Fencibles United snatch historic win

Great crowd, almost broke the record for a Chatham Cup Final crowd, but that goes to the 1949 final at the Basin Reserve when Petone beat Northern (Dunedin) 1-0,where 12000 turned up

https://thejourneyfan.blogspot.co.nz/

New Zealand Football Media Association Website of the year 2015 & 2016

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biUn

20 days ago

If anyone has a subscription to The Press, would be nice to read the whole article behind the Paywall.

https://www.thepress.co.nz/sport/361075299/new-zealand-football-confident-all-whites-sell-out-new-christchurch-stadium-after-record-cup-final

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20 days ago

New Zealand Football confident of All Whites sell-out at new Christchurch stadium after record cup final crowds

New Zealand Football officials expect to sell out the All Whites’ game against India in Christchurch in November after a“modern-day record” crowds for Saturday’s cup finals doubleheader.

The free-entry initiative at One New Zealand Stadium proved a hit with 5802 fans present for the Kate Sheppard Cup women’s final and 11,267 for the Chatham Cup men’s final.

NZF chief executive Andrew Pragnell said the Kate Sheppard Cup attendance was “definitely a record” and the Chatham Cup crowd figure was “a modern-day record, certainly the biggest we’ve had for many years.

“It was a fantastic occasion; the atmosphere was outstanding.”

The first-ever football games at Te Kaha did not go entirely to script for home fans - Cashmere Technical lost the women’s final 3-1 to Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs and the men’s team were defeated 2-1 by first-time champions Fencibles United from Auckland.

But Pragnell said the public response showed “how strong football is in Christchurch” and predicted One New Zealand Stadium would host “many more football games in future”.

“It was a great tribute to Mainland Football and obviously the clubs of Christchurch who all really rallied around the game in general.”

NZF has already sold 70% of tickets for the All Whites-India game on November 15. Pragnell said the rate of interest had been “much faster than anticipated and faster than for the game in Auckland” and he is now “expecting a sell out” at the 25,000-seat Christchurch venue.

Pragnell admitted free entry had boosted Saturday’s attendances, but said the crowd figures showed “there’s a real demand” for quality football events in Christchurch.

NZF wants to see a third A-League club in New Zealand and Pragnell said he felt Christchurch could “absolutely support” one. He has already sent “some of the photos and imagery” from the cup finals to Football Federation Australia.

Cashmere Technical had hoped to become the first New Zealand clubs to win both cup finals on the same day, but club officials still thanked the Christchurch public for their backing. “While today wasn’t our day,’’ the club said in a social media post, “we are overwhelmed by the incredible support shown from our football community. This is what football is all about. Thank you for showing, backing us & making today one to remember”.

Pragnell praised Cashmere Tech for “scoring two great goals” and noted “the results could have gone either way’.

Tech forward Anya Stephan scored from a sensational 20m shot in the women’s final and fullback Nick Murphy struck home a half-volley from 30m out in the second half of the Chatham Cup decider.

The University of Canterbury East stand was full for the men’s final and adjacent bays were opened to accommodate late-arriving fans.

The cup final attendances followed the success of July’s Christchurch club rugby finals, which drew between 6000 and 7000 fans to Te Kaha.

Pragnell said the venue was “one of the best” in New Zealand and he hailed Venues Ōtautahi’s policy of allowing community sports events to be staged there.

He said NZF would “definitely look at” bringing more cup finals to Christchurch as well as All Whites and Football Ferns internationals.

National knockout cup football finals results at Te Kaha

Kate Sheppard Cup women
Eastern Suburbs 3 (TJ Anderson 19min, Anna McPhie 48min, Erika Skindlov 51min) Cashmere Technical 1 (Anya Stephan 36min) HT: 1-1. Attendance: 5802.

Chatham Cup men
Fencibles United 2 (Ronaldo Lopez 33min, Kodie Nicol 80min)) Cashmere Technical 1 (Nick Murphy 62min ). HT: 1-0. Attendance: 11,267.

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20 days ago

Cheers.
NZF take note, not every AWs game should be in Auckland. And lets remember there is a big Indian expat popn in the 09.

NZF has already sold 70% of tickets for the All Whites-India game on November 15.
Pragnell said the rate of interest had been “much faster than anticipated and faster than for the game in Auckland” and he is now “expecting a sell out” at the 25,000-seat Christchurch venue.

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20 days ago

Can confirm One NZ Stadium was a brilliant call for Saturday's finals. Brilliant crowd for men + women who went berserk for Cashmere's goals - helped by the fact they were two of the best cup final goals you'll see. Eastern Suburbs and Fencibles also brought a few fans down who showed out.

Would love to see more football played there. I sat close to the ground for the first game and high up for the second and both views were fantastic, one close to the action and one able to see the entire field.

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