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 (Manurewa, 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.[1]
Team performanceedit
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. Caversham 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.[2]
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.[3]
Hilton, T. (1991) An association with soccer. Auckland: The New Zealand Football Association. ISBN0-473-01291-X.
April 11, 2024
1976, zealand, national, soccer, league, seventh, season, nationwide, round, robin, club, competition, zealand, football, contents, promotion, relegation, team, performance, league, table, records, statistics, references, sourcespromotion, relegation, editwell. The 1976 New Zealand National Soccer League was the seventh season of a nationwide round robin club competition in New Zealand football Contents 1 Promotion and relegation 2 Team performance 3 League table 4 Records and statistics 5 References 6 SourcesPromotion and relegation editWellington 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 Manurewa 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 1 Team performance editFor 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 Caversham 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 2 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 3 League table editPos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts1 Wellington United C 18 13 1 4 31 29 1 069 272 Mount Wellington 18 10 3 5 33 17 1 941 233 Caversham 18 8 6 4 40 26 1 538 224 New Brighton 18 10 1 7 31 27 1 148 215 Bay Olympic 18 6 5 7 24 22 1 091 176 Eastern Suburbs 18 6 5 7 31 32 0 969 177 North Shore United 18 6 4 8 28 29 0 966 168 Christchurch United 18 7 2 9 21 23 0 913 169 Stop Out 18 4 4 10 25 41 0 610 1210 Gisborne City R 18 3 3 12 21 39 0 538 9Source 1 Rules for classification 1 points 2 goal ratio C Champions R RelegatedRecords and statistics editTop ScorerMichael Glubb New Brighton 11 goals 4 References edit New Zealand 1975 Hilton 1991 pp 92 93 Hilton 1991 pp 93 94 Hilton 1991 p 93Sources editHilton T 1991 An association with soccer Auckland The New Zealand Football Association ISBN 0 473 01291 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1976 New Zealand National Soccer League amp oldid 1137606678, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
