1971 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1971 New Zealand National Soccer League was the second season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football. The league was expanded at the end of the inaugural season, so there was no relegation from the 1970 league season. Hungaria, who had competed in the inaugural season, combined with Miramar Rangers
to form a new composite league team, Wellington City. Though Miramar withdrew from the team after the 1971 season, the team continued to use the new name.
(Auckland), Waterside (Wellington), and Caversham
(Dunedin) respectively — took part in a play-off series to decide the two teams which would be granted entry to the national league. the results were as follows:
As a result of therse matches, Mount Albert-Ponsonby
and Caversham
gained entry to the national league. In order to mount a stronger southern challenge, Caversham amalgamated with several other Dunedin-based sides to form Dunedin Suburbs
; the team lasted for one season in this form before reverting to Caversham.
and Blockhouse Bay. The league title came down to the last round of matches and a controversial yet thrilling between the top two sides. In front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 at Newmarket Park, the Mount had three goals disallowed yet still managed to draw against Suburbs 2-2. Despite still having one game in hand, the Mount needed a win to hang onto its title chances, and Suburbs were crowned champions. A personal milestone occurred for Eastern Suburbs' John Wrathall
, who scored his 1000th goal in 26 years of senior football during Suburbs' 3-1 win against Mount Albert-Ponsonby
.
The gap between the top four and the rest closed considerably over the debut season for Gisborne City
, who finished comfortably fifth. below that was a major gap, however, with Dunedin Suburbs, Mount Albert-Ponsonby
, Stop Out
, Wellington City, and Western Suburbs
all battling to avoid relegation. Wellington's teams struggled in the league for a second season, filling all three bottom places, and it was Porirua-based Western Suburbs which finished last on goal average. If goal average had been employed — a system which was to be introduced for the 1978 league
— they would have survived and it would have been City who went down.
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
club competition in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
football. The league was expanded at the end of the inaugural season, so there was no relegation from the 1970 league season. Hungaria, who had competed in the inaugural season, combined with Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers AFC is a semi-professional New Zealand association football club in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. They are current holders of the Chatham Cup, the fourth time they have won the trophy...
to form a new composite league team, Wellington City. Though Miramar withdrew from the team after the 1971 season, the team continued to use the new name.
Promotion to the national league
At the end of the 1970 season, the winners of the Northern, Central, and Southern leagues — Mount Albert-PonsonbyMount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
(Auckland), Waterside (Wellington), and Caversham
Caversham (soccer)
Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook...
(Dunedin) respectively — took part in a play-off series to decide the two teams which would be granted entry to the national league. the results were as follows:
| Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:... |
1 – 1 | Waterside |
| Waterside | 0 – 0 | Caversham Caversham (soccer) Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook... |
| Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:... |
2 – 0 | Caversham Caversham (soccer) Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook... |
| Caversham Caversham (soccer) Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook... |
4 – 1 | Waterside |
| Waterside | 0 – 3 | Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:... |
| Caversham Caversham (soccer) Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook... |
1 – 1 | Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:... |
As a result of therse matches, Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
and Caversham
Caversham (soccer)
Caversham is an illustrious association Football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are competing in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.They are named for the suburb of Caversham to the southwest of Dunedin's city centre, best known for its former international sports venue Carisbrook...
gained entry to the national league. In order to mount a stronger southern challenge, Caversham amalgamated with several other Dunedin-based sides to form Dunedin Suburbs
Dunedin Suburbs
Dunedin Suburbs was a former parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand from to 1893.The electorate was represented by one Member of Parliament, William Dawson, representing the Liberal Party.-Election results:-References:...
; the team lasted for one season in this form before reverting to Caversham.
Team performance
The same four teams dominated the league as in the inaugural season, but this time it was Eastern Suburbs who finished on top. An unbeaten run of twelve matches by Mount Wellington saw them move into second place, followed by Christchurch UnitedChristchurch United
Christchurch United is a semi-professional association football club in Christchurch, New Zealand. They compete in the Robbie's Premier Football League.-Club history:...
and Blockhouse Bay. The league title came down to the last round of matches and a controversial yet thrilling between the top two sides. In front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 at Newmarket Park, the Mount had three goals disallowed yet still managed to draw against Suburbs 2-2. Despite still having one game in hand, the Mount needed a win to hang onto its title chances, and Suburbs were crowned champions. A personal milestone occurred for Eastern Suburbs' John Wrathall
John Wrathall (footballer)
John Wrathall is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Wrathall played two official A-international matches for the New Zealand in 1960, both against Pacific minnows Tahiti, the first a 5-1 win on 5 September, the second a 2-1 win on 12 September 1960.Wrathall...
, who scored his 1000th goal in 26 years of senior football during Suburbs' 3-1 win against Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
.
The gap between the top four and the rest closed considerably over the debut season for Gisborne City
Gisborne City
Gisborne City FC is a soccer club in Gisborne, New Zealand who play in the eastern league 1st division. Their home ground is Childers Road. They have won the National League, Air New Zealand cup, and the Chatham Cup....
, who finished comfortably fifth. below that was a major gap, however, with Dunedin Suburbs, Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.-History:...
, Stop Out
Stop Out
Stop Out is an association football club in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. They are based at Hutt Park, Gracefield in Lower Hutt.The Stop Out organisation was founded in 1919 with the aim of providing recreation to Te Aro Flat children associated with the wellington city missionso as to prevent them...
, Wellington City, and Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs is an association football club in Porirua, New Zealand. They play their home matches at Endeavour Park in the Porirua suburb of Whitby and compete in the Central Premier League....
all battling to avoid relegation. Wellington's teams struggled in the league for a second season, filling all three bottom places, and it was Porirua-based Western Suburbs which finished last on goal average. If goal average had been employed — a system which was to be introduced for the 1978 league
1978 New Zealand National Soccer League
The 1978 New Zealand National Soccer League was the ninth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. A change was made from previous years, with the replacement of goal average by goal difference as a means for ranking teams equal on points.-Promotion and...
— they would have survived and it would have been City who went down.