1976 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1976 New Zealand National Soccer League was the seventh season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football.
, Wellington Diamond United, and Christchurch Rangers respectively). The series was primarily a clash of the two Wellington teams, with Rangers and Manurewa only managing one win each. W.D.U. proved to be too strong for the rest of the teams, remaining undefeated through the series to return to the league after a one-year gap.
were pacesetters for much of the season, but faded badly from a seemingly unbeatable position with only one win in their last eight games. Despite this, Cavvy recorded the best final standing up until that time for any Dunedin side by finishing third. New Brighton bounced back from their 1975 relegation scare to secure fourth, mainly on the basis of a greatly improved away record.
Blockhouse Bay and Eastern Suburbs comfortably filled the table's middle two spots, but seventh-placed North Shore United
's season was far less comfortable. A questionable change of coach proved costly as the 1975 runners-up found themselves close to the relegation zone mid-season, but recovered to finish close to the middle of the table. Christchurch United
's new sponsorship deal meant a change of name to Trans Tours Christchurch United, but this change was accompanied by a change in fortune in the club's results. The club failed to finish in the top three for the first time, slumping to eighth — though safely above the relegation zone. Stop Out
had a difficult season, despite the arrival of promising new players such as Grant Turner
. It was only in the season's last round of matches that they were assured of league survival. It was the East Coast North Island side Gisborne City
which claimed the unenviable position of tenth; the side never recovered from an eight-game run of defeats and spent most of the season propping up the foot of the table.
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.
Promotion and relegation
Wellington City (soccer) finished last in the 1975 league and so contested a round-robin home and away play-off series with the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (ManurewaManurewa (soccer)
Manurewa AFC is a semi-professional football club in Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1-History:...
, Wellington Diamond United, and Christchurch Rangers respectively). The series was primarily a clash of the two Wellington teams, with Rangers and Manurewa only managing one win each. W.D.U. proved to be too strong for the rest of the teams, remaining undefeated through the series to return to the league after a one-year gap.
Team performance
For the first time the league was won by the team promoted from the regions. It was also the first time that the league title went to a team from outside the two powerhouse cities of Auckland and Christchurch. Wellington Diamond United had an unconventional season in claiming the title — their away record boasted eight wins and just one loss, but the goal tally from these games was 16 for and 13 against. Mount Wellington, usually one of the league's strongest teams, had a dreadful start with no wins in their first five games, but an unbeaten streak in the later part of the season saw them rise to second. CavershamCaversham (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...
were pacesetters for much of the season, but faded badly from a seemingly unbeatable position with only one win in their last eight games. Despite this, Cavvy recorded the best final standing up until that time for any Dunedin side by finishing third. New Brighton bounced back from their 1975 relegation scare to secure fourth, mainly on the basis of a greatly improved away record.
Blockhouse Bay and Eastern Suburbs comfortably filled the table's middle two spots, but seventh-placed North Shore United
North Shore United
North Shore United is a semi-professional football club based in North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.Their home ground, Allen Hill Stadium, is located in the suburb of Devonport.-History:...
's season was far less comfortable. A questionable change of coach proved costly as the 1975 runners-up found themselves close to the relegation zone mid-season, but recovered to finish close to the middle of the table. Christchurch United
Christchurch 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:...
's new sponsorship deal meant a change of name to Trans Tours Christchurch United, but this change was accompanied by a change in fortune in the club's results. The club failed to finish in the top three for the first time, slumping to eighth — though safely above the relegation zone. 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...
had a difficult season, despite the arrival of promising new players such as Grant Turner
Grant Turner
Grant Lawton Turner was an association football player who represented New Zealand 42 times in A-internationals from 1980 to 1988,...
. It was only in the season's last round of matches that they were assured of league survival. It was the East Coast North Island side 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....
which claimed the unenviable position of tenth; the side never recovered from an eight-game run of defeats and spent most of the season propping up the foot of the table.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.