New Zealand Football is pleased to announce that entries for the 2018 ISPS Handa Chatham Cup are now open to member clubs from 1 March.

Steeped in history and tradition, the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup is one of New Zealand sport’s oldest and most coveted trophies and has been contested annually since 1923 by over 120 affiliated New Zealand Football clubs, schools and other teams; all vying for the right to be named Chatham Cup champions.

“The ISPS Handa Chatham Cup has been the centrepiece of the domestic winter football schedule for over 90 years,” said NZ Football’s Director of Competition and Events Daniel Farrow.

“That storied history and tradition is built on every season with a raft of dramatic twists and turns and I’m sure this year’s competition will be no different.”

First contested in 1923, the cup was gifted to the then New Zealand Football Association (NZFA) in 1922 by the crew of the British naval vessel HMS Chatham as a token of appreciation for the hospitality they had encountered on a visit to New Zealand.

The 2018 ISPS Handa Chatham Cup is the 91st running of the competition and University-Mt Wellington are the most successful club in the competition’s history; having won the trophy a record seven times.

Last year, Onehunga Sports secured their first ISPS Handa Chatham Cup title, claiming a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Central United, after the scores were still level 3-3 after extra-time at QBE Stadium in Albany, Auckland. 

Onehunga Sports coach Hiroshi Miyazawa was lost for words in the aftermath of completing a perfect season as they completed a rare league – cup double.

“There are no words for how I am feeling right now,” he said. “We couldn’t control the game at all. Our boys did an unbelievable job. I didn’t do anything from the sidelines. The boys did it. Day by day from day one this team has been about hard work and every opportunity they gave it 100 percent and that came through today.”

The ISPS Handa Chatham Cup will begin with the preliminary round on 25 April or the weekend of 28 – 29 April opening round on 12 – 13 May. The ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Final will be contested on 9 September at QBE Stadium in Auckland. 

NZ Football invites all Federation member clubs, secondary schools and clubs from the Armed Services of the New Zealand Defence Force to enter the 2018 ISPS Handa Chatham Cup competition.

Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, 29 March 2018.

To enter click here