1929 Chatham Cup

Electric Soccer

Blandford Park held Auckland's first Chatham Cup match under electric lighting in 1929. The first round fixture between Auckland Thistle and YMCA (Auckland) in extra time, was completed under floodlighting. On 12 June, in a second round fixture, Northcote were scheduled for an evening kick off against Thistle at Blandford Park at 7:30pm, though due to bad weather the match was rescheduled to take place on 19 June, and again was postponed due to the weather.

On 26 June the match was again postponed due to the state of Blandford Park. Finally on the evening of 3 July the match took place, with Thistle defeating Northcote 3–2.

After the succession of postponements the Auckland FA petitioned the NZ council for an extension to their qualification scheduling. After being given the date of the 27th of July for the North Auckland FA decider, the Auckland FA then put the question to the remaining five clubs who decided through committee that Tramways should be awarded the position of Auckland contender.

Teams

Otago

Seacliff

Canterbury

Christchurch Thistle, Nomads, Rangers, Western, St. Albans, New Brighton A.F.C.

Wellington

Hospital, Institute Old Boys'

Hawkes Bay

Manawatu

St Andrew's, Palmerston North Returned Services Association (R.S.A.)

Poverty Bay

Gisborne Thistle

Auckland

Auckland F.A: Tramways, YMCA (Auckland), Celtic (Auckland), Auckland Thistle, Ponsonby, Onehunga, Bon Accord, Auckland Corinthians, Manurewa, Belmont, Rangers (Auckland)

South Auckland F.A: Huntly Thistle (withdrew)

North Auckland F.A: Waro Wanderers (withdrew)

The 1929 final

Seacliff's George Anderson, Bill Rogers, Bill Murray, and Bill Hooper were each playing in their fourth final, at that time record. Unfortunately for them, Tramways totally dominated the final. The only goal of the first half came from Clem Bell, though Seacliff came close to equalising before the break. In the second half, though, Seacliff were outclassed. Early on in the half Seacliff keeper T. Jackson managed to get a hand to a shot from F. Lewis but was unable to keep the ball for entering the goal (some sources name Evan Williams was the scorer of this goal). Harry Spencer added two more goals for the Aucklanders, but there was controversy when no penalty was awarded for a clear handball by a defender in front of the Tramways goal late in the match.

Results

Auckland Qualifiers

Note: Tramways declared winner of Auckland section by remaining clubs and A.F.A. after postponements delayed the competition

North Auckland/Auckland Qualifier

Poverty Bay/South Auckland (Waikato) Qualifier

Canterbury Qualifiers

Wellington Qualifiers

Manawatu Qualifiers

Quarter-finals

''note:'' Seacliff was the only entrant from the lower South Island and entered the competition as South Island finalists.

Semi-finals ("Island finals")

Stretton

Final

Teams

Tramways: Jack Batty, J. McElligott, Ernie Simpson, Jack Tinkler, Jim Christie, Joe Fyvie, A. Spong, Clem Bell, Harry Spencer, Evan Williams, F. Lewis.

Seacliff: T. Jackson, George Anderson, Bill Rogers, Bill Murray, Hugh Munsie, A. Maxwell, J. McLaughlan, W. Simmons, Bill Hooper, Tom McCormack, Rab McLean.

References

• Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation New Zealand 1929 page

References

1. (12 June 1929). "Electric Soccer - Cup Tie Tonight - Thistle v Northcote.". [[Auckland Sun.
2. (13 June 1929). "Association Football - Evening Match Postponed". [[New Zealand Herald]].
3. (19 June 1929). "Floodlight Match Off - Tonights Game Postponed". [[Auckland Star]].
4. (26 June 1929). "Chatham Cup Competition - No Match Tonight". [[Auckland Sun.
5. (4 July 1929). "Knock Out Soccer - Chatham Cup Tie - Northcote's Good Fight". [[Auckland Sun.
6. (17 July 1929). "Auckland Affairs". Auckland Star.
7. (1991). "An Association with Soccer: The NZFA Celebrates Its First 100 Years". [[New Zealand Football]].