1978 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
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.
, and Caversham
) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Courier Rangers
, Waterside, and Woolston WMC respectively).
and Mount Wellington, with the Christchurch side narrowly finishing top. The Mount led the league for long periods of the season, but this was largely due to Christchurch having played less games. The outstanding matches saw results go in the southerners' favour, and they became the first side to record a third league title. Nelson United were the Mount's bogey team again, holding on for a draw in the last game of the season to leave the Aucklanders in second place. They had previously upset the odds by beating Mount Wellington in the 1977 Chatham Cup
final.
Both Blockhouse Bay and Eastern Suburbs
greatly improved on their 1977 league performance to finish in the top four. In the case of Suburbs this was largely through the imporation of English players Bryn Gunn
and Steve Elliot from Nottingham Forest
. Elliot mader the most of his stint with Suburbs, scoring 17 times in just 12 matches.
Newly promoted Courier Rangers
from Otahuhu
in Auckland finished fifth, followed by North Shore United
. Rangers played excellently at home, but had difficulty finding the net away, leaving them with a mid-table finish. Loss of squad members from the previous season weighed against Shore, who were unable to mount any substantial bid to retain their title. Nelson United
finished sevent for the second year in a row, hampered by a seeming inability to score goals. Stop Out
trailed them in eighth, largely a result of a dreadful away season which saw them win just one from eleven games on the road.
Just two years after being crowned champions, Wellington Diamond United only narrowly avoided the drop. A poor run of two wins in their final twelve games was a substantial indication of their peril. Hamilton returned to the regional leagues, despite having the league's top scorer, and they were joined in relegation by newly-promoted Waterside and Woolston WMC. The Wharfies seemed to make a habit of losing matches where they seemed comfortably in control, losing six matches they had led and missing several penalties during the season. Woolston were outclassed throughout the season and never looked likely to avoid the drop.
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. 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 relegation
Promotion was automatic, with the three lowest placed sides in the 1977 league (New Brighton, Dunedin CityDunedin City
Dunedin City is a former New Zealand football club based in the South Island city of Dunedin. The team won the Chatham Cup in 1981, and was a member of the National League in 1977 and 1979-87, before withdrawing from the league for financial reasons...
, 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...
) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Courier Rangers
Courier Rangers
Courier Rangers, known prior to 1968 as Otahuhu Rangers, is a former New Zealand football club based in the suburb of Otahuhu, Auckland. The team was a member of the New Zealand National Soccer League in 1978 and 1979, finishing fifth on their first season but being relegated after finishing 11th...
, Waterside, and Woolston WMC respectively).
Team performance
The 1978 league saw a return of the traditional top-of-the-table rivalry between Trans Tours 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 Mount Wellington, with the Christchurch side narrowly finishing top. The Mount led the league for long periods of the season, but this was largely due to Christchurch having played less games. The outstanding matches saw results go in the southerners' favour, and they became the first side to record a third league title. Nelson United were the Mount's bogey team again, holding on for a draw in the last game of the season to leave the Aucklanders in second place. They had previously upset the odds by beating Mount Wellington in the 1977 Chatham Cup
1977 Chatham Cup
The 1977 Chatham Cup was the 50th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.Early stages of the competition were run in three regions , with the National League teams receiving a bye until the Fourth Round of the competition. In all, 142 teams took part in the competition...
final.
Both Blockhouse Bay and Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs AFC
Eastern Suburbs is a semi-professional association football club in Kohimarama, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1.-Club history:...
greatly improved on their 1977 league performance to finish in the top four. In the case of Suburbs this was largely through the imporation of English players Bryn Gunn
Bryn Gunn
Bryn Gunn is a former footballer who played as a full-back for a number of clubs between 1975 and 1996. He is best remembered for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he won the European Cup in 1980, coming on as a substitute in the final...
and Steve Elliot from Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. Elliot mader the most of his stint with Suburbs, scoring 17 times in just 12 matches.
Newly promoted Courier Rangers
Courier Rangers
Courier Rangers, known prior to 1968 as Otahuhu Rangers, is a former New Zealand football club based in the suburb of Otahuhu, Auckland. The team was a member of the New Zealand National Soccer League in 1978 and 1979, finishing fifth on their first season but being relegated after finishing 11th...
from Otahuhu
Otahuhu
Otahuhu is a suburb of Auckland. It is located to the southeast of the city centre, on a narrow isthmus between an arm of the Manukau Harbour to the west and the Tamaki River estuary to the east...
in Auckland finished fifth, followed by 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:...
. Rangers played excellently at home, but had difficulty finding the net away, leaving them with a mid-table finish. Loss of squad members from the previous season weighed against Shore, who were unable to mount any substantial bid to retain their title. Nelson United
Nelson United
Nelson United is a New Zealand soccer club, based in the South Island city of Nelson. Their home ground is Guppy Park. The team was founded in 1968 through the amalgamation of Nelson Rangers and Nelson Thistle...
finished sevent for the second year in a row, hampered by a seeming inability to score goals. 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...
trailed them in eighth, largely a result of a dreadful away season which saw them win just one from eleven games on the road.
Just two years after being crowned champions, Wellington Diamond United only narrowly avoided the drop. A poor run of two wins in their final twelve games was a substantial indication of their peril. Hamilton returned to the regional leagues, despite having the league's top scorer, and they were joined in relegation by newly-promoted Waterside and Woolston WMC. The Wharfies seemed to make a habit of losing matches where they seemed comfortably in control, losing six matches they had led and missing several penalties during the season. Woolston were outclassed throughout the season and never looked likely to avoid the drop.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.