1929 Chatham Cup

The 1929 Chatham Cup was the seventh annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.

The competition was run on a regional basis, with six regional associations (Auckland, Wellington, Poverty Bay, Manawatu, Canterbury, and Otago) each holding separate qualifying rounds.

Electric Soccer
Blandford Park held Auckland's first Chatham Cup match under electric lighting in 1929. The first round fixture between Auckland Thistle and YMCA (Auckland) in extra time, was completed under floodlighting. On 12 June, in a second round fixture, Northcote were scheduled for an evening kick off against Thistle at Blandford Park at 7:30pm, though due to bad weather the match was rescheduled to take place on 19 June, and again was postponed due to the weather.

On 26 June the match was again postponed due to the state of Blandford Park. Finally on the evening of 3 July the match took place, with Thistle defeating Northcote 3–2.

After the succession of postponements the Auckland FA petitoned the NZ council for an extension to their qualification scheduling. After being given the date of the 27th of July for the North Auckland FA decider, the Auckland FA then put the question to the remaining five clubs who decided through committee that Tramways should be awarded the position of Auckland contender.

Otago
Seacliff

Canterbury
Christchurch Thistle, Nomads, Rangers, Western, St. Albans, New Brighton A.F.C.

Wellington
Hospital, Institute Old Boys'

Manawatu
St Andrew's, Palmerston North Returned Services Association (R.S.A.)

Poverty Bay
Gisborne Thistle

Auckland
Auckland F.A: Tramways, YMCA (Auckland), Celtic (Auckland), Auckland Thistle, Ponsonby, Onehunga, Bon Accord, Auckland Corinthians, Manurewa, Belmont, Rangers (Auckland)

South Auckland F.A: Huntly Thistle (withdrew)

North Auckland F.A: Waro Wanderers (withdrew)

The 1929 final
Seacliff's George Anderson, Bill Rogers, Bill Murray, and Bill Hooper were each playing in their fourth final, at that time record. Unfortunately for them, Tramways totally dominated the final. The only goal of the first half came from Clem Bell, though Seacliff came close to equalising before the break. In the second half, though, Seacliff were outclassed. Early on in the half Seacliff keeper T. Jackson managed to get a hand to a shot from F. Lewis but was unable to keep the ball for entering the goal (some sources name Evan Williams was the scorer of this goal). Harry Spencer added two more goals for the Aucklanders, but there was controversy when no penalty was awarded for a clear handball by a defender in front of the Tramways goal late in the match.

Final
Teams

Tramways: Jack Batty, J. McElligott, Ernie Simpson, Jack Tinkler, Jim Christie, Joe Fyvie, A. Spong, Clem Bell, Harry Spencer, Evan Williams, F. Lewis.

Seacliff: T. Jackson, George Anderson, Bill Rogers, Bill Murray, Hugh Munsie, A. Maxwell, J. McLaughlan, W. Simmons, Bill Hooper, Tom McCormack, Rab McLean.