2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship

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ISPS Handa Men's Premiership
Season2020–21
ChampionsTeam Wellington
PremiersAuckland City
Matches played56
Goals scored186 (3.32 per match)
Best PlayerAlex Paulsen (Wellington Phoenix)
Top goalscorerHamish Watson (12) (Team Wellington)
Biggest home winEastern Suburbs 8–0 Wellington Phoenix (31 January 2021)
Biggest away winCanterbury United 0–4 Waitakere United (14 November 2020)
Wellington Phoenix 0–4 Eastern Suburbs (28 November 2020)
Hamilton Wanderers 0–4 Auckland City (31 January 2021)
Highest scoringEastern Suburbs 8–0 Wellington Phoenix (31 January 2021)
All statistics correct as of 21 March 2021.
Steve Sumner Trophy - Andy Bevin (Team Wellington)

The 2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship season (currently known as the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the seventeenth and final season of the NZFC since its establishment in 2004. Eight teams compete in the competition with Auckland City and Team Wellington representing the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership in the 2021 OFC Champions League after Auckland City finished Premiers, with Team Wellington finishing regular season runners-up in the 2019–20 competition, after the remainder of the competition was cancelled mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.[1] The change from ten teams to eight teams was due to Tasman United and Southern United joining Canterbury United to form a united South Island team, playing under the Canterbury United name.[2] Auckland City won the league with a game in hand, taking top spot for their 12th premiership.[3]

Clubs[edit]

Team Location Stadium Capacity Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Auckland City Auckland Kiwitea Street 3,250 England José Figueira[4] Dynasty Sport[5] Vuksich & Borich, Trillian Trust Inc
Canterbury United Christchurch English Park 9,000 England Lee Padmore[6] Nike McDonald's
Eastern Suburbs Auckland Madills Farm 1,000 England Tony Readings[7][8] Lilywhites Winger Motors
Hamilton Wanderers Hamilton Porritt Stadium 5,000 New Zealand Kale Herbert[9] Dynasty Sport[10] The Soccer Shop
Hawke's Bay United Napier Bluewater Stadium 5,000 England Chris Greatholder
England Bill Robertson[11]
Adidas Thirsty Whale
Team Wellington Wellington David Farrington Park 2,250 New Zealand Scott Hales[12] Nike Stonewood Homes
Waitakere United Auckland Seddon Fields 1,000 New Zealand Chris Milicich Lotto Sport Italia Triumph Motorcycles
Wellington Phoenix Lower Hutt Fraser Park 750 England Paul Temple[13] Adidas Huawei

Regular season[edit]

League table[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Auckland City 14 8 4 2 27 13 +14 28 Qualification to OFC Champions League group stage and Finals series
2 Team Wellington (C) 14 7 5 2 35 21 +14 26 Qualification to Finals series and disbanded at end of season
3 Hamilton Wanderers 14 5 5 4 23 21 +2 20 Qualification to Finals series
4 Eastern Suburbs 14 5 4 5 25 23 +2 19
5 Waitakere United 14 4 6 4 28 26 +2 18 Disbanded at end of season
6 Canterbury United 14 5 3 6 21 24 −3 18
7 Hawke's Bay United 14 4 1 9 17 29 −12 13
8 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 14 2 4 8 18 37 −19 10
Source: NZ Football
(C) Champions

Positions by round[edit]

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314
Auckland City36445411211111
Canterbury United88877765555566
Eastern Suburbs55333244334454
Hamilton Wanderers21111333443333
Hawke's Bay United77788888677777
Team Wellington42222122122222
Waitakere United14556677866645
Wellington Phoenix63664556788888
Source: NZ Football
  = Leader and qualification to OFC Champions League Group stage;   = Qualification to Finals series

Fixtures and results[edit]

The season was scheduled to be played on a home and away basis between 14 November 2020 and 28 February 2021, with the finals series being played in March 2021.[14] On 27 February 2021 it was announced that the game between Hawkes Bay United and Eastern Suburbs for Round 14 had been delayed because of a COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in the Auckland region moving to Level 3 and the rest of the country changing to Level 2.[15] New Zealand Football announced that the game was to be rescheduled to be played as a midweek fixture sometime between 8–12 March but is dependent on the Alert Levels coming down.[16] It was also announced that if the restrictions in Auckland remained, then the game would be cancelled and classed as a draw with both clubs sharing the points. If that was to happen, then the final top four teams for the semi-finals would be Auckland City, Team Wellington, Hamilton Wanderers and Waitakere United.[16] This potentially could cause more issues, as two of the teams (Auckland City and Waitakere United) are based in the Auckland region so was also advised that in the event that the restrictions where still in place when the semi-finals where due to be played, then the competition would proceed to a straight final to be played between the two clubs that where top of the league at the end of the season.[16] This would then see Auckland City and Team Wellington play the final, scheduled to be played on 21 March.[16] With the restrictions in Auckland being lowered, the game was rescheduled and played on Wednesday 10 March 2021. The result of the game decided on who finished fourth and faced Auckland City for the second Semi-final.[17]

Results table[edit]

Home \ Away AC CU ES HW HB TW WU WP
Auckland City 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 4–1
Canterbury United 1–0 1–0 2–3 2–1 0–2 0–4 5–1
Eastern Suburbs 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 8–0
Hamilton Wanderers 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–4 1–1 3–2 1–1
Hawke's Bay United 0–4 0–3 1–2 0–3 2–2 2–0 3–2
Team Wellington 2–2 3–1 7–0 3–2 2–1 3–4 5–2
Waitakere United 0–3 3–3 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–4
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–2 3–0 0–1 1–1
Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
All times are in New Zealand Time.

Round 1[edit]

14 November 2020 Canterbury United 0–4 Waitakere United Christchurch
14:00 Report
Stadium: English Park
Referee: Chris Bennett
14 November 2020 Wellington Phoenix 0–1 Team Wellington Lower Hutt
14:00 Report Stadium: Fraser Park
Referee: Calvin-Kei Berg
15 November 2020 Hawke's Bay United 0–3 Hamilton Wanderers Napier
14:00 Report
Stadium: Bluewater Stadium
Referee: John Rowbury

Round 2[edit]

21 November 2020 Waitakere United 1–4 Wellington Phoenix Auckland
13:30
Report
Stadium: Seddon Fields
Referee: Ben O'Connell
22 November 2020 Hamilton Wanderers 2–0 Auckland City Hamilton
14:00
Report Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: Luke Gardner
22 November 2020 Eastern Suburbs 3–1 Canterbury United Auckland
16:00
Report Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: John Rowbury

Round 3[edit]

28 November 2020 Wellington Phoenix 0–4 Eastern Suburbs Lower Hutt
13:00 Report
Stadium: Fraser Park
Referee: Chris Bennett
28 November 2020 Waitakere United 2–2 Team Wellington Auckland
13:00
Report
Stadium: Seddon Fields
Referee: John Rowbury
29 November 2020 Auckland City 2–1 Hawke's Bay United Auckland
14:00
Report
Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Referee: Ben O'Connell

Round 4[edit]

6 December 2020 Hamilton Wanderers 1–1 Wellington Phoenix Hamilton
13:00
Report
Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: Nick Waldron
6 December 2020 Hawke's Bay United 0–3 Canterbury United Napier
13:30 Report
Stadium: Bluewater Stadium
Referee: Chris Bennett
6 December 2020 Eastern Suburbs 2–2 Waitakere United Auckland
16:00
Report
Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: Calvin Berg
6 December 2020 Team Wellington 2–2 Auckland City Wellington
16:00
Report
Stadium: David Farrington Park
Referee: John Rowbury

Round 5[edit]

12 December 2020 Wellington Phoenix 3–0 Hawke's Bay United Lower Hutt
14:00
Report Stadium: Fraser Park
Referee: Ben O'Connell
13 December 2020 Eastern Suburbs 1–1 Team Wellington Auckland
15:00
Report
Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: Nick Waldron
13 December 2020 Canterbury United 1–0 Auckland City Christchurch
16:00 Report Stadium: English Park
Referee: Calvin Berg

Round 6[edit]

19 December 2020 Auckland City 4–1 Wellington Phoenix Auckland
13:30
Report
Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Referee: John Rowbury
20 December 2020 Hawke's Bay United 2–0 Waitakere United Napier
13:00
Report Stadium: Bluewater Stadium
Referee: Nick Waldron
20 December 2020 Hamilton Wanderers 1–2 Eastern Suburbs Hamilton
16:00
Report
Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: Calvin Berg

Round 7[edit]

10 January 2021 Hamilton Wanderers 1–1 Team Wellington Hamilton
14:00
Report
Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: Nick Waldron
10 January 2021 Eastern Suburbs 1–2 Hawke's Bay United Auckland
15:00
Report
Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: John Rowbury

Round 8[edit]

16 January 2021 Auckland City 2–1 Hamilton Wanderers Auckland
14:00
Report
Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Referee: Calvin Berg
16 January 2021 Canterbury United 1–0 Eastern Suburbs Christchurch
15:30 Report Stadium: English Park
Referee: Nick Waldron
17 January 2021 Wellington Phoenix 1–1 Waitakere United Lower Hutt
16:00
Report
Stadium: Fraser Park
Referee: John Rowbury

Round 9[edit]

24 January 2021 Hamilton Wanderers 1–4 Hawke's Bay United Hamilton
14:00
Report
Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: Nick Waldron
24 January 2021 Eastern Suburbs 1–1 Auckland City Auckland
16:00
Report Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: Calvin Berg
24 January 2021 Team Wellington 5–2 Wellington Phoenix Wellington
16:00
Report
Stadium: David Farrington Park
Referee: Ben O'Connell

Round 10[edit]

30 January 2021 Team Wellington 3–4 Waitakere United Wellington
13:00
Report
Stadium: David Farrington Park
Referee: Ben O'Connell
31 January 2021 Hamilton Wanderers 1–1 Canterbury United Hamilton
13:00
Report
Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: John Rowbury
31 January 2021 Hawke's Bay United 0–4 Auckland City Napier
14:00 Report Stadium: Bluewater Stadium
Referee: Calvin Berg
31 January 2021 Eastern Suburbs 8–0 Wellington Phoenix Auckland
16:00
Report Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: Nick Waldron

Round 11[edit]

6 February 2021 Wellington Phoenix 1–2 Hamilton Wanderers Lower Hutt
11:30
Report
Stadium: Fraser Park
Referee: Chris Bennett
6 February 2021 Waitakere United 4–0 Eastern Suburbs Auckland
14:00 Report Stadium: Seddon Fields
Referee: Calvin Berg

Round 12[edit]

13 February 2021 Team Wellington 7–0 Eastern Suburbs Wellington
13:00
Report Stadium: David Farrington Park
Referee: Ben O'Connell
14 February 2021 Hawke's Bay United 3–2 Wellington Phoenix Napier
13:00
Report
Stadium: Bluewater Stadium
Referee: Luke Gardner
14 February 2021 Auckland City 2–0 Canterbury United Auckland
14:00
Report Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Referee: John Rowbury
14 February 2021 Hamilton Wanderers 3–2 Waitakere United Hamilton
16:00
Report
Stadium: Porritt Stadium
Referee: Nick Waldron

Round 13[edit]

20 February 2021 Canterbury United 0–2 Team Wellington Christchurch
14:00 Report
Stadium: English Park
Referee: Calvin Berg
20 February 2021 Wellington Phoenix 1–1 Auckland City Lower Hutt
14:00
Report Stadium: Fraser Park
Referee: Ben O'Connell
21 February 2021 Eastern Suburbs 1–1 Hamilton Wanderers Auckland
16:00
Report Stadium: Madills Farm
Referee: Nick Waldron
21 February 2021 Waitakere United 2–0 Hawke's Bay United Auckland
16:00 Report Stadium: Seddon Fields
Referee: Chris Bennett

Round 14[edit]

27 February 2021 Canterbury United 5-1 Wellington Phoenix Christchurch
14:00
Report
Stadium: English Park
Referee: Nick Waldron
27 February 2021 Auckland City 2-2 Waitakere United Auckland
15:00
Report
Gibert 90+2'
Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Referee: Calvin Berg
10 March 2021 Hawke's Bay United 1–2 Eastern Suburbs Napier
16:15
Report
Stadium: Bluewater Stadium
Referee: John Rowbury

Finals series[edit]

Semi-finals[edit]

13 March 2021 Team Wellington 4–1 Hamilton Wanderers Wellington
14:05
Report
Stadium: David Farrington Park
Referee: Calvin Berg
14 March 2021 Auckland City 2–1 Eastern Suburbs Auckland
14:05
Gray 51' (o.g.)
Report
Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Referee: Nick Waldron

Grand final[edit]

Auckland City2–4Team Wellington
Report
Auckland
City
Team Wellington
GK 24 Cameron Brown
DF 14 Jordan Vale downward-facing red arrow 74'
DF 3 Adam Mitchell Yellow card 90+4'
DF 6 Brian Kaltak
DF 23 Alfie Rogers
MF 2 Mario Ilich downward-facing red arrow 89'
MF 7 Cameron Howieson (c) Yellow card 51'
MF 16 Yousif Al-Kalisy downward-facing red arrow 71'
FW 10 Dylan Manickum
FW 20 Emiliano Tade
FW 22 Mohamed Awad
Substitutes:
GK 18 Conor Tracey
DF 17 Andrew Blake upward-facing green arrow 74'
DF 4 Mario Bilen
DF 12 Sam Brotherton
MF 8 Albert Riera
FW 11 Kayne Vincent upward-facing green arrow 89'
FW 13 Deandre Vollenhoven upward-facing green arrow 71'
Manager:
José Figueira
GK 22 Zac Jones
DF 14 Jack-Henry Sinclair downward-facing red arrow 82'
DF 2 Justin Gulley
DF 4 Taylor Schrijvers
DF 6 Scott Midgley
DF 23 Rory McKeown
MF 5 Ollie Whyte
MF 11 Mario Barcia (c) Yellow card 71' downward-facing red arrow 88'
MF 12 Andy Bevin
FW 8 Sam Mason-Smith downward-facing red arrow 68'
FW 9 Hamish Watson
Substitutes:
GK 1 Scott Basalaj
DF 15 Jake Williams
MF 13 Sam Dewar
MF 19 Haris Zeb upward-facing green arrow 82'
MF 20 Wan Gatkek upward-facing green arrow 88'
FW 7 João Moreira upward-facing green arrow 68'
FW 10 Nathanael Hailemariam
Manager:
Scott Hales

Steve Sumner Trophy:

  • Andy Bevin

Statistics[edit]

As of 28 February 2021

Top scorers[edit]

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Derek Tieku Hamilton Wanderers 12
Hamish Watson Team Wellington
3 Logan Rogerson Auckland City 8
Sam Mason-Smith Team Wellington
5 Riley Bidois Wellington Phoenix Reserves 6
Garbhan Coughlan Canterbury United
Ryan Feutz Eastern Suburbs
Alex Grieve Waitakere United
9 Jorge Akers Hawke's Bay United 5
Andy Bevin Team Wellington
Gerard Garriga Waitakere United
Dylan Manickum Auckland City
Adam Thurston Eastern Suburbs

Due to reaching 12 goals in less games, Hamish Watson was awarded the Golden Boot at the Grand finals.[18]

Hat-tricks[edit]

Round Player For Against Result Date
10[19] Hamish Watson Team Wellington Waitakere United 3–4 30 January 2021
10[20] Ryan Feutz Eastern Suburbs Wellington Phoenix Reserves 8–0 31 January 2021
12[21] Hamish Watson Team Wellington Eastern Suburbs 7–0 13 February 2021
12[22] Derek Tieku Hamilton Wanderers Waitakere United 3–2 14 February 2021
14[23] Sam Mason-Smith Team Wellington Hamilton Wanderers 3–2 27 February 2021
14[23] Garbhan Coughlan Canterbury United Wellington Phoenix Reserves 5–1 27 February 2021

Own goals[edit]

Round Player Club Against
2[24] Shuiab Khan Waitakere United Wellington Phoenix Reserves
7[25] Finn Surman Wellington Phoenix Reserves Canterbury United
8[26] Joseph Harris Hamilton Wanderers Auckland City
9[27] Adam Mitchell Auckland City Eastern Suburbs
9[27] Finn Surman Wellington Phoenix Reserves Team Wellington

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Premiership concluded, Auckland City champions". New Zealand Football. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ^ Saltori, Rafael (29 July 2020). "Tasman and Southern to merge with Canterbury for 2020/21 New Zealand's national league". Oceania Football Center.
  3. ^ "Rogerson equaliser confirms title, home playoff". Auckland City. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Jose Figueira named Auckland City FC coach". Auckland City. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Dynasty Sport join forces with Auckland City FC".
  6. ^ "Canterbury United Dragons". Canterbury United. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  7. ^ AFC, Eastern Suburbs (10 October 2019). "| Lilywhites Announce Director of Football and National League Coach | Tony Readings, former Football Ferns coach, talks to us about his new appointment with Eastern Suburbs. The full video is available on ESAFC TV pic.twitter.com/Vart5sIQRG". @esafc. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Eastern Suburbs AFC - Football". easternsuburbs.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Hamilton Wanderers FC - Blue Army". Facebook. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. ^ Zealand, Dynasty Sport | New. "Dynasty Sport kicking goals with the Hamilton Wanderers". Dynasty Sport | New Zealand. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. ^ Singh, Anendra (8 June 2019). "Football: Recently appointed Hawke's Bay United co-coaches seeking togetherness". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Team Wellington appoint Scott Hales as head coach". Team Wellington. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Academy Staff". Wellington Phoenix FC. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Fixtures confirmed for the 2020/2021 season of the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership". New Zealand Football. 12 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Hawke's Bay United v Eastern Suburbs postponed". New Zealand Football. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d "ISPS Handa Men's Premiership games rescheduled". New Zealand Football. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Date set for rescheduled Hawke's Bay United v Eastern Suburbs game". New Zealand Football. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  18. ^ "REPORT Team Wellington crowned 2020/21 ISPS Handa Men's Premiership champions". New Zealand Football. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Team Wellington vs Waitakere Utd". SoccerSTATS.com. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Eastern Suburbs vs Wellington P. B". SoccerSTATS.com. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Team Wellington vs Eastern Suburbs". SoccerSTATS.com. 13 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Hamilton vs Waitakere Utd". SoccerSTATS.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021.
  23. ^ a b "From the Dugout - ISPS Handa Men's Premiership Matchweek 14". New Zealand Football. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Waitakere Utd vs Wellington P. B". SoccerSTATS.com. 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021.
  25. ^ "From the Dugout – Matchweek 7, ISPS Handa Men's Premiership". New Zealand Football. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021.
  26. ^ "From the Dugout - ISPS Handa Men's Premiership Matchweek 8". New Zealand Football. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021.
  27. ^ a b "From the Dugout - ISPS Handa Men's Premiership Matchweek 9". New Zealand Football. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021.

External links[edit]