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2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship

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ISPS Handa Men's Premiership
Season2020–21
ChampionsTeam Wellington
PremiersAuckland City
Matches56
Goals186 (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

TeamLocationStadiumCapacityManagerKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Auckland CityAucklandKiwitea Street3,250England José Figueira[4]Dynasty Sport[5]Vuksich & Borich, Trillian Trust Inc
Canterbury UnitedChristchurchEnglish Park9,000England Lee Padmore[6]NikeMcDonald's
Eastern SuburbsAucklandMadills Farm1,000England Tony Readings[7][8]LilywhitesWinger Motors
Hamilton WanderersHamiltonPorritt Stadium5,000New Zealand Kale Herbert[9]Dynasty Sport[10]The Soccer Shop
Hawke's Bay UnitedNapierBluewater Stadium5,000England Chris Greatholder
England Bill Robertson[11]
AdidasThirsty Whale
Team WellingtonWellingtonDavid Farrington Park2,250New Zealand Scott Hales[12]NikeStonewood Homes
Waitakere UnitedAucklandSeddon Fields1,000New Zealand Chris MilicichLotto Sport ItaliaTriumph Motorcycles
Wellington PhoenixLower HuttFraser Park750England Paul Temple[13]AdidasHuawei

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Auckland City 14 8 4 2 27 13 +14 28 Qualification to Champions League group stage and Finals series
2 Team Wellington (C) 14 7 5 2 35 21 +14 26
Qualification to Finals series
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

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

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 812 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

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

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

Round 2

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

Round 3

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

Round 4

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

Round 5

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

Round 6

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

Round 7

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

Round 8

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

Round 9

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

Round 10

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

Round 11

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

Round 12

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

Round 13

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

Round 14

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

Finals series

Semi-finals

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

Grand final

Auckland City2–4Team Wellington
Report
Auckland
City
Team Wellington
GK24Cameron Brown
DF14Jordan Valedownward-facing red arrow 74'
DF3Adam MitchellYellow card 90+4'
DF6Brian Kaltak
DF23Alfie Rogers
MF2Mario Ilichdownward-facing red arrow 89'
MF7Cameron Howieson (c)Yellow card 51'
MF16Yousif Al-Kalisydownward-facing red arrow 71'
FW10Dylan Manickum
FW20Emiliano Tade
FW22Mohamed Awad
Substitutes:
GK18Conor Tracey
DF17Andrew Blakeupward-facing green arrow 74'
DF4Mario Bilen
DF12Sam Brotherton
MF8Albert Riera
FW11Kayne Vincentupward-facing green arrow 89'
FW13Deandre Vollenhovenupward-facing green arrow 71'
Manager:
José Figueira
GK22Zac Jones
DF14Jack-Henry Sinclairdownward-facing red arrow 82'
DF2Justin Gulley
DF4Taylor Schrijvers
DF6Scott Midgley
DF23Rory McKeown
MF5Ollie Whyte
MF11Mario Barcia (c)Yellow card 71'downward-facing red arrow 88'
MF12Andy Bevin
FW8Sam Mason-Smithdownward-facing red arrow 68'
FW9Hamish Watson
Substitutes:
GK1Scott Basalaj
DF15Jake Williams
MF13Sam Dewar
MF19Haris Zebupward-facing green arrow 82'
MF20Wan Gatkekupward-facing green arrow 88'
FW7João Moreiraupward-facing green arrow 68'
FW10Nathanael Hailemariam
Manager:
Scott Hales

Steve Sumner Trophy:

  • Andy Bevin

Statistics

As of 28 February 2021

Top scorers

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 Greive 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

RoundPlayerForAgainstResultDate
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

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

  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. "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. "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. "From the Dugout - ISPS Handa Men's Premiership Matchweek 9". New Zealand Football. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021.