New Zealand soccer is based
on a large number of juniors playing (120000), with higher numbers than
even our 'national sport' rugby. However with the small population base
(N.Z. 4 million) the senior sides struggle, at times, to foot it with
many other countries. Women's and girls' soccer have grown rapidly over
the last few years and are developing good quality.
New Zealand has been in our second Confederations
Cup as Oceania champions. In November 1999, N.Z. hosted the Under
17 World Champs, gaining better than expected public interest and crowd
support. N.Z.'s first full time professional side, the Football Kingz played five seasons in the Australian domestic
competition (NSL). The first coach of the Kingz was N.Z.'s best known
player Wynton Rufer, who made his name playing for Werder Bremen. In 2005
the Kingz were rebranded New Zealand Knights for the new Hyundai
A League in Aussie.
New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen is currently
the best performed Kiwi overseas. He is doing well for Blackburn Rovers
in the English premier League, Simon Elliot is on Fulham's roster and
Chris Killen plays for Celtic.
Highlights:
1982 After the longest road of any team, N.Z. got to the World
Cup finals in Spain... Scoring twice against Scotland
1999 N.Z. played in the Confederations Cup tournament
1999 hosted the Under 17 World
tournament here in November, Junior All Whites beat Poland
2 - 1 to finish 3rd in their group. N.Z.'s first ever win in a major FIFA
tournament. Over 22000 people watch Australia lose 8 - 7 on penalties
to Brazil in the final.
1999 N.Z. awarded FIFA's 1999 Fair Play Award "to the entire New
Zealand football community". Press release.
2002 N.Z. won the Oceania Nations Cup to secure another berth in
the Confederations Cup. NZ shot up to its highest ever World ranking -
47th. Oceania granted automatic entry to FIFA World Cup (later with drawn).
2003 NZ played in the Confederations Cup tournament in France.
2004 NZ Sec Schools beats England 1 - 0, away. NZFC begins as NZ's
national league.
2005 The NZ Knights are one of eight teams in the inaugural Australian
A League
2006 Auckland City, as Oceania champs, compete in World Club Champs
in Japan. Knights finish 8th in A League.
2007 Knights licence withdrawn as they, despite a strong late rally,
finish 8th again, a point behind Perth. Wellington Phoenix eventually
awarded the franchise after Terry Serepisos puts his money in. Phoenix
finish last but have good crowds, ave 11000, and hit headlines playing
David Beckham's LA Galaxy in front of 32000 in Wellington.
Structure - History
Oldest competition is the Chatham Cup, a knock out
similar to F.A. Cup.
Various National Leagues have been run, both the traditional
winter and also, recently, in the summer. Cost difficulties have prevented
these leagues from continuing consistently. The latest version the NZ
Football Championship started late in 2004. Franchises from the various
federations won the right to be included in an 8 team league.
The winners of the first NZFC were Auckland City.
NZ Soccer History Time-line
Click here to follow soccer in Aotearoa from its beginnings to today.
Present Structure - from highest
to lowest
NZ Football Championship
( 8 teams in a
league and finals format )
Northern / Central / Southern Leagues
( e.g. Northern
has Premier, 1st and 2nd divisions)
Federation Leagues
Local Leagues.
(e.g. Bay of Plenty
has 3 divisions)
Hence Plains Rangers AFC is playing 6 divisions below
the top football in New Zealand. So we are seven grades below the NZ Phoenix!
The closest National League club geographically to Plains Rangers, is
now Waikato FC, based in Hamilton.
Click below to view results and highlights
of the Wellington Phoenix in the Aussie A League
in the 2007-2008 season
before them, the NZ Knights in the
A League
in the 2006 - 2007 season
in the 2005 - 2006 season
and before them, the Football Kingz in the Australian NSL
in the 2003 - 2004 season
in the 2002 - 2003 season
in the 2001 - 2002 season
in the 2000 - 2001 season
in the 1999 - 2000 season
Click here to find out more about Wynton Rufer.
Confederations Cup
Click here to see the
2003 Confederation Cup results. New Zealand were in Pool A with France,
Japan and Columbia
July
24 1999
New Zealand 1, U.S.A. 2
Captain Chris Zorocich scored with a magnificent
free kick. Keeper Michael Utting in outstanding form.
July 29 1999
New Zealand 0, Germany
2
About equal possession with the Germans. Lines should
have had a penalty, but denied.
July 31 1999
New Zealand 0, Brasil 2
Utting brilliant again. Che Bunce has powerful header
saved. Aaran Lines shaves the post.
Click here for the 1999 Under 17 World Champs details
