Since 1923, the first year of the Chatham Cup competition, footballers around Aotearoa New Zealand have played for the chance to lift one of the country’s oldest trophies.

To celebrate the milestone, every round we’ll be publishing your stories of the Chatham Cup over the decades.

For Round 1 we’ve focused on the magic of the Cup over the decades. The pride at being a part of a national competition, the family legacies, the moments that stick in the mind long after the final whistle. This is what the Chatham Cup means to our football whānau.

A legacy of sorts left to me by my late father

“Cup football is vital, big dog vs little dog, where any dog can have their day! I hope there is never a time where we don't have this wonderful competition or the football friendship under which the trophy was gifted to us.

“For as long as I can remember, I've always been fascinated by this competition, a legacy of sorts left to me by my late father, Tom Henderson who won it in 1962 with Hamilton Tech Old Boys. His father-in-law to be, Mick Toal was the selector.

“Tech Old Boys were by my Dad’s account an eclectic bunch, with Immigrant players dominating the line up: Scots, Danes, Irish, English, Chinese to my recollection of the tale, led by the magical Arthur Leong, from central midfield. It would be 28 years until another Waikato team lifted the Cup, Waikato Utd and I recall my pride as my Dad, my Grandad, with Arthur, and two or three others from the ‘62 team paraded on field at half time, recognition of the length of time between drinks for the region.

As a player, the closest I got was a semi-final seat on the bench with Roslyn-Wakari in the 90s. And yet as each year passes, my current club Queenstown AFC or the Rovers as known locally here, my excitement for genuine cup football, a competition on a national scale never dulls.”

It was definitely a David vs Goliath affair

“I still clearly remember feeling super proud lining up for Eastbourne F.C one year (around 2009/10) at home in front of the biggest crowd we had seen at our little beachside field (Bishop Park). This was my first Chatham Cup match ever and my father and uncles had played many in their times for clubs like Upper Hutt, Wests, Miramar and others.

"We were up against a very strong Wellington United who at the time had a young lad they had 'recruited' from South America. It was definitely a David vs Goliath affair. The game started pretty well for us and remained that way for all of 5 minutes before the floodgates opened. By half time the score was nearing double figures to nil, and it got so bad in the second half that the ref actually called the game 5 minutes before time. Despite the terrible result the memory has stuck in my mind as a great game of footy. The lads never stopped playing their hearts out throughout the match and all in all United were gracious in their victory, joining us back at the RSA for the after-match 'wake'.

"I've since played a number of Chatham cup games for other clubs, but none of them have stuck in the brain as much as that one.”

“For a club with little resources and a small reach of players it was a big achievement for us.”

In 2021 Otago University AFC had its best ever Chatham Cup run. Credit: Photosport

“Otago University 2021 cup run.  Losing to North Shore on penalties in the quarterfinals was an incredible run for a University side and a bunch of students just playing for the love of the game.  It was the furthest Otago Uni had ever made it in the cup and first time playing a North Island team in a competitive fixture.

“Scoring 12 and conceding just 5 en route to the national stage of the competition, for a club with little resources and a small reach of players it was a big achievement for us."

Raw emotion

"I played only 1 full game in the Chatham Cup (at age 46 years & 8 months) at Alex Moore Park, Johnsonville, Wellington on Saturday 12 May 2012 as goalkeeper for North Wellington (Capital One) against Miramar Rangers (Central League).

A memorable debut at that age with the team losing 2-0 (1-0 halftime, their second goal was a penalty close to the 90th minute) against an opponent that was two leagues above North Wellington. I remember that my first touch in the game was from a pass back towards goal that I cleared away. In the final 10 minutes I was hoping that we would get a corner as I was keen to go forward for it, but we never did. After the game [I remember] the raw emotion of shedding a few tears sideline as it achieved a long-held ambition to play in the Chatham Cup.

I have only played football with North Wellington mostly for their 2nd and 3rd teams in the senior men grades and made just 27 first team league appearances (first one in 1987 and the last one in 2012) during that entire senior playing period of 1984-2023."

Many players from the UK can now brag about playing in the NZ version of the FA Cup.

The oldest team ever to play in the Chatham Cup? Credit: Supplied

“On May 5 2022 Grants Braes Teckle (an over 35s team) took an immensely enjoyable road trip to play Queens Park AFC in Invercargill. 14 out of the 15 players [...] were making their debuts with an average age of 42 years old.

“Many players from the UK can now brag about playing in the NZ version of the FA Cup.

“The day was made even better by father and son duo Jason and Josh Childs making their debuts together (at 19 Josh brought the average age down a wee bit too!). We have never had it verified but we believe we are the oldest team to have played and have the oldest player debut in the Chatham Cup.

Yeah we lost 7-0 but they were young and keen - and we definitely didn't let it dampen our journey home.”

Got a Chatham Cup story you’re keen to share? Let us know

Article added: Friday 12 May 2023