Story: Football

Rothmans National League match, 1973

Two men in a football game tussle for a ball at their feet, playing in front of a large crowd seated in a stadium.

Gisborne City's Eddie Simpson tackles Christchurch United midfielder Brian Hardman during a national league match at Childers Road in Gisborne in August 1973. The national league existed between 1970 and 1992, and Gisborne City was a surprisingly successful team. Although Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch teams tended to dominate, Gisborne City put together a very creditable side which won the league in 1983. As this image shows, crowds of over 3,000 were regularly attracted to watch the team which, under the leadership of player/coach Steve Sumner, also won the 1987 Chatham Cup.

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Tairawhiti Museum, Te Whare Taonga O Te Tairawhiti
Reference: Gisborne Photo News, 15 August 1973, p. 3

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How to cite this page:

Neill Atkinson, Steve Watters and Alida Shanks, 'Football - Men’s club and provincial football', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40924/rothmans-national-league-match-1973 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Neill Atkinson, Steve Watters and Alida Shanks, published 5 Sep 2013, reviewed & revised 7 Jun 2023 with assistance from Alida Shanks