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Chatham Cup final confirmed for North Harbour
2009-09-02
The road to the 82nd Chatham Cup final will still end at North
Harbour Stadium after New Zealand Football today confirmed the winter
football showpiece will stay in Auckland and be televised for the first
time in three seasons.Auckland’s Three Kings United and
Wellington Olympic are the last two clubs standing after eight rounds
of knockout football, and will now square off at 12.30pm on Sunday 20
September. Hamilton’s Claudelands Rovers and Lynn-Avon from
Auckland will contest the final of the Women’s Knockout Cup at 3pm at
the same venue. New Zealand Football’s Competitions Manager Glyn
Taylor said the lunchtime Chatham Cup kick-off allowed Sky to create a
televised double header with the Wellington Phoenix hosting North
Queensland Fury in the A-League at Westpac Stadium at 3pm. “We’ve
worked hard with Sky to ensure the final of a competition that has
meant so much to football clubs of all sizes over the past 86 years is
viewable by fans all over the country,” Taylor said. “The number
of entries, the size of crowds supporting their neighbourhood team and
the passion with which the games are played shows that the drama and
history of the Chatham Cup still inspires players and fans alike.” With
an all-Wellington final a possibility until Sunday, New Zealand
Football had previously explored playing the Chatham Cup’s climax at
Westpac Stadium after the Phoenix match, an idea that had the support
of the A-League club. But Three Kings’ semi final victory over
Miramar Rangers had automatically confirmed that North Harbour would
host its tenth final. Since 1998, the Chatham Cup final has been
hosted at North Harbour with the exception of 2002’s Auckland-free
final – Napier City Rovers hosted Tauranga City – and the 2007 final,
which was moved to Central United’s Kiwitea Street ground because of
scheduling conflict. “With an Auckland team in the final we
were committed to play the match at North Harbour, where it has been
for nine of the last 11 years,” Taylor said. “It’s been a
successful host for many big football matches and will make fitting
venue for what is shaping up as a classic final.” Meanwhile, a
drawing of lots has handed Three Kings and Claudelands Rovers home team
designation for their respective finals, giving them the right to wear
their home colours and prepare in the home dressing room. 82nd Chatham Cup Final
Three Kings United v Olympic
North Harbour Stadium
Sunday 20 September, 12.30pm
Live on Sky Sports 3 and RadioSport
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