1980 New Zealand National Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The 1980 New Zealand National Soccer League was the eleventh season of a nationwide round-robin
club competition in New Zealand
football. Mount Wellington became the first club to win back-to-back titles and also the first club to win the league four times, though their winning margin was significantly smaller than in 1979.
, and Eastern Suburbs
) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Hamilton, Gisborne City
, and Rangers respectively).
), but it was still a heavy victory. No other team looked like serious contenders. The Mount set several league records, notably a 9–1 win over Stop Out
in Lower Hutt which was the leagues biggest winning margin to that time, and also an unbeaten run of 13 matches which beat the league's previous record. Gisborne City
's first season in the top flight since 1976 was successful, and an undefeated season at home enabled them to finish second overall. Manurewa
finished third, and could have finished higher if its home record had been as good as its form on the road.WDU improved from a poor start to the season which saw them briefly at the foot of the table, and they managed to pull themselves up to fourth.
Hanimex North Shore United
and the newly promoted Dunedin City
rounded out the top half of the table. A poor start to the season by Shore and a mid-season slump from the southerners hindered the two sides from finishing higher up the table. Christchurch United
had a poor season by their high standards, finishing in seventh. Their season started strongly with five wins on the trot, but their luck changed dramatically and they only won one of their last 14 games. Hamilton's second spell as a national league side started with them finishing in a comfortable if not brilliant position in eighth. Their home form was good, but they were let down by their away record, and the defence which had only let in four goals in their 1979 regional season found the national league an entirely different proposition.
Rangers' debut season was forgettable, though they did finish above the drop zone. They never fully recovered from losing five of their first seven games, and it was only a good spell in the middle of the season which enabled them to retain their league status. The three teams which did go down included two founding members of the league, Stop Out
and Blockhouse Bay. Stop Out's season was poor but they did have one thing for which it was memorable — the debut of a young Wynton Rufer
, later to make his mark both in New Zealand and overseas. Blockhouse Bay had been inaugural champions of the league in 1970
, but a decade on their team was not of the same standard, and they never recovered from 10 defeats in their first 12 matches. Last-placed Nelson United
also had a horror start to the season, though a mid-season revival did raise supporters' hopes of survival. It was not to be, however, and the Nelson side slumped to four losses in their last four games.
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. Mount Wellington became the first club to win back-to-back titles and also the first club to win the league four times, though their winning margin was significantly smaller than in 1979.
Promotion and relegation
Promotion was automatic, with the three lowest placed sides in the 1979 league (Manawatu United, Courier RangersCourier 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...
, 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:...
) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Hamilton, 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....
, and Rangers respectively).
Team performance
Mount Wellington's win may have been only bo four points (down from the 14 points in 19791979 New Zealand National Soccer League
The 1979 New Zealand National Soccer League was the tenth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. It produced the biggest winning margin in the league's history, with Mount Wellington never being in serious danger of finishing anywhere but first.-Promotion and...
), but it was still a heavy victory. No other team looked like serious contenders. The Mount set several league records, notably a 9–1 win over 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...
in Lower Hutt which was the leagues biggest winning margin to that time, and also an unbeaten run of 13 matches which beat the league's previous record. 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....
's first season in the top flight since 1976 was successful, and an undefeated season at home enabled them to finish second overall. Manurewa
Manurewa (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:...
finished third, and could have finished higher if its home record had been as good as its form on the road.WDU improved from a poor start to the season which saw them briefly at the foot of the table, and they managed to pull themselves up to fourth.
Hanimex 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:...
and the newly promoted Dunedin City
Dunedin 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...
rounded out the top half of the table. A poor start to the season by Shore and a mid-season slump from the southerners hindered the two sides from finishing higher up 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:...
had a poor season by their high standards, finishing in seventh. Their season started strongly with five wins on the trot, but their luck changed dramatically and they only won one of their last 14 games. Hamilton's second spell as a national league side started with them finishing in a comfortable if not brilliant position in eighth. Their home form was good, but they were let down by their away record, and the defence which had only let in four goals in their 1979 regional season found the national league an entirely different proposition.
Rangers' debut season was forgettable, though they did finish above the drop zone. They never fully recovered from losing five of their first seven games, and it was only a good spell in the middle of the season which enabled them to retain their league status. The three teams which did go down included two founding members of the league, 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...
and Blockhouse Bay. Stop Out's season was poor but they did have one thing for which it was memorable — the debut of a young Wynton Rufer
Wynton Rufer
Wynton Alan Whai Rufer, CNZM, , is a retired New Zealand footballer, who played as a striker. He spent most of his professional career in Germany with Werder Bremen, winning a total of six titles. He also appeared for the New Zealand national team in its first FIFA World Cup participation, in 1982...
, later to make his mark both in New Zealand and overseas. Blockhouse Bay had been inaugural champions of the league in 1970
1970 New Zealand National Soccer League
The 1970 New Zealand National Soccer League was the inaugural season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. The league's initial sponsors were Rothmans Ltd, and the league was thus commonly known as the Rothmans National League...
, but a decade on their team was not of the same standard, and they never recovered from 10 defeats in their first 12 matches. Last-placed 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...
also had a horror start to the season, though a mid-season revival did raise supporters' hopes of survival. It was not to be, however, and the Nelson side slumped to four losses in their last four games.
League table
Sources
- Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN 0-473-01291-X.