Timaru Boys High 1st XI in contest for Chatham Cup

The preliminary draw of the Chatham Cup in 2016 has been made with exciting contests across the country to begin one of the oldest competitions in New Zealand sport. 
 
The draw was made on Tuesday at the New Zealand Football offices at QBE Stadium in Auckland, with supervision from Terry Hobin, the Competitions Manager at the Northern Football Federation. 
 
Daniel Farrow, the New Zealand Football Head of National Competitions, said there was always huge anticipation leading into the draw for the Chatham Cup which has been contested since 1923.
 
“It is day that football clubs all around New Zealand look forward to,” said Farrow.
 
“The Chatham Cup is a tournament that is steeped in history and tradition, and we are really pleased to announce that we have had greater interest in 2016 with 130 teams registering. Every club wants to get their hands on the trophy at the final on September 11, and that journey for many clubs begins today with the draw for the preliminary rounds now completed.” 
 
The preliminary round, which will be contested from April 23-25 around the country, sees a local derbies between Waikato - Bay of Plenty Federation rivals Taupo AFC and Rotorua Premier Men’s and Waitemata City AFC hosting South Auckland Rangers, while Thistle from Invercargill will make the long journey north to face the Timaru Boys High First XI. 
 
The first round of the Chatham Cup will be contested over the weekend of 14-15 May. 
 
For all rounds up to and including the quarterfinals, the team that is drawn first shall be deemed as the home side for the contest. 
 
The Chatham Cup is contested by teams from throughout New Zealand, and has been held annually in all but five of the past 93 years. All matches which end in a draw will be decided by extra time and penalty shoot-outs. 
 
The cup itself was gifted to the then New Zealand Football Association in 1922 by the crew of HMS Chatham as a token of appreciation for the hospitality they had encountered on a visit to New Zealand. The actual trophy is modelled on the FA Cup.
 
The most successful teams in the history of the Chatham Cup have been Mount Wellington (seven wins, two of them since amalgamation with Auckland University), ahead of Christchurch United and North Shore United, and Eastern Suburbs AFC who claimed the title in 2015 (six wins each).
 
Last year, Eastern Suburbs AFC secured the Chatham Cup when they defeated Napier City Rovers 2-1 in extra-time at The Trusts Arena in Henderson.
 
A 105th minute goal to Damien Mosquera broke a 1-1 deadlock between the two sides in sudden death, paving the way for the Kohimarama-based club to secure their first national knockout cup crown since 1969 and complete a league and cup double in the process.
 
Chatham Cup 2016 - Preliminary Draw
Northern Region:
Northern Wairoa FC v University of Auckland, Colo Boys Football Club v Cambridge FC, Waitemata City AFC v South Auckland Rangers, Internationale FC v Tokoroa FC, Lynn-Avon United v Kerikeri FC, Waiheke United AFC v West Hamilton United FC, Central Brown AFC v Auckland Volcanoes FC, Waikato Unicol AFC v Auckland Wanderers, Bohemian Celtic ASFA v Warkworth, Mt Wellington Unimount Bohemian Celtic CL v Northern United FC, Ngongotaha v Old Blues FC, Taupo AFC v Rotorua Premier Men’s, Matamata Swifts AFC v Otumoetai FC, Papatoetoe United FC v Rainui Swanson FC, Kamo v Zamantix Rovers FC,
Norwest United v Bucklands Beach AFC, Glen Eden United v Drury UFC
Southern Region:
West End AFC v Waihopai AFC, Melchester Rovers v Gore Wanderers AFC, Timaru Boys’ High First XI v Thistle AFC
 
BYES:
Northern:  Albany United Football Club, Bay Olympic, Birkenhead United FC, Central United FC, Claudelands Rovers, East Coast Bays AFC, Eastern Suburbs AFC, Ellerslie AFC, Forrest Hill Milford AFC, Franklin United, Fencibles United AFC, Glenfield Rovers, Hamilton Wanderers FC, Hibiscus Coast AFC, Mangere United Soccer Club, Manukau City AFC, Manurewa AFC, Melville United AFC, Metro FC, Mt Albert Ponsonby, North Shore United AFC, Onehunga Mangere United, Ngaruawahia United AFC, Onehunga Sports, Oratia United, Papakura City FC, Papatoetoe AFC, Royal NZ Navy, Takapuna AFC, Tauranga City United FC, Te Atatu AFC, Three Kings United, Waitakere City AFC, Western Springs AFC
 
Southern: Caversham AFC, Dunedin Technical AFC, Grant Braes, Green Island AFC, Kelvin Hotel Queens Park AFC, Northern AFC, Northern Hearts AFC, Old Boys AFC, Otago University, Mornington AFC, Mosgiel AFC, Roslyn Wakari AFC, Queenstown Rovers, Burwood AFC, Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit FC, FC Nelson, FC Twenty 11, Ferrymead Bays, Halswell United AFC, Nomads United, Parklands United, Selwyn United FC, Richmond Athletic AFC, Wakefield FC, Western AFC Inc, Waimak United FC, Universities.
 
Capital: Brooklyn Northern United, Eastbourne AFC, Island Bay United AFC, Lower Hutt City AFC, Kapiti Coast United, Marist AFC, Miramar Rangers AFC, North Wellington Association Football Club, Petone, Seatoun AFC, Stop Out Sports Club, Stokes Valley Football Club, Tawa AFC, Victoria university of Wellington, AFC Wairarapa United, Wainuiomata AFC, Wellington United, Wellington Olympic, Western Suburbs, Upper Hutt City, Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic, Gisborne Thistle, Havelock North Wanderers AFC, Massey University FC, Moturoa AFC, Napier City Rovers, New Plymouth Rangers AFC, Palmerston North Marist.

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