chatham cup final

I know that Matt Parkin made it to the chatham cup final with Melville a few year back.... not too sure where he has gone? Is Campbell "Sheep Dog" Parkin related to him? If so, has he got the chance to be the first chance to win it in the family or has his old man won it with Napier back in the day?

At 22, Chisholm is younger than many of his team-mates.

He was not even born when the All Whites had their World Cup adventure in 1982, and he was only 13 when Tech won the Chatham Cup in 1999.

But wily Tech coach Mike Fridge saw leadership qualities in the central defender that made him the obvious choice as skipper.

Chisholm smiled when asked if 22 was rather young to be captain of a side on the verge of being crowned New Zealand club champion.

"It is, I guess. But I've been around the club a long time, since I played Fletcher Cup for Caversham. It's been a great experience being captain of this team but it took a while to get used to.

"I just try to be as vocal as I can. That's something Mike has tried to instil in me as much as possible. It's important to keep up communication on the field.

"All the play's in front of me. I can see what's going on, so it's a good position to be captain."

Chisholm has developed a sound partnership at the back with veteran Blair Scoullar, a former attacking midfielder.

"I've learned so much from Blair. It's really good playing with him and I think we've formed a good partnership."

Reaching the Chatham Cup final has been a chance for Chisholm and a handful of his Technical team-mates to flush out the memory of last summer's disappointing Otago United campaign.

He has been busy with lectures at the University of Otago this week but thoughts of lifting the trophy at North Harbour Stadium against East Coast Bays tomorrow night are never far from his mind.

"I'm really excited right now. The final's been on my mind all week and now I just want to get up there and play. Obviously there will be a few nerves because it's a big occasion.

"But these are the games you want to play in."

This will be the last game for Chisholm in a Technical strip - at least for a while.

He's completing a degree in economics and finance and has accepted a job in Auckland. He will continue to play but does not know what club he will join.

The John McGlashan College old boy has had his share of international experience.

He trialled for several clubs in the United Kingdom before spending a year at the University of New Mexico, following in the footsteps of former Otago defender and All White Andy Boyens.

"That was really good but it would have taken me five years to finish my degree. I decided to come back and finish my degree here.

"Possibly it would have been good for me to keep playing at college. But the national league back here is a good standard, and it just made sense to come back and get a better degree quicker."

Many rated Chisholm the best back in the New Zealand Football Championship last season and he was named Otago United player of the year.

His father, former Caversham defender Bill Chisholm, will be in Auckland tomorrow hoping to see Dunedin Technical win the Chatham Cup for the second time.

Dunedin Technical captain John Chisholm hopes to lead his side to victory in the Chatham Cup final tomorrow. Photo by Craig Baxter.

Wow what a photo!

 question : where is it being played?north harbour?