The 1996 National Summer Soccer League was the inaugural season of a short-lived nationwide association football club competition in New Zealand. The competition replaced the Superclub competition, which operated until 1995. The 1996 series was won by Waitakere City.

Structure

The league was an invitation-only competition, with no promotion or relegation taking place. Matches took place between January and May 1996. The competition was divided into two stages. In the first phase the ten teams took part in a round-robin league, with each team playing every other team home and away.

The top four teams from this stage progressed to a play-off series. This involved the top two teams from the league phase playing each other, and third and fourth place also playing each other. The winner of the match between first and second progressed through to the final; the loser of that match met the winner of the other match to decide the other finalist.[1]

A unique system of awarding points was used for this competition. Teams were awarded four points for a win and one for a draw. In drawn matches, a penalty shoot-out (minimum of three shots per side) would then take place, with the winning side awarded a bonus point.

League stage

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD BP Pts Qualification
1 Miramar Rangers 18 11 2 5 45 29 +16 0 46 1996 National Soccer League Finals
2 Waitakere City (C) 18 10 3 5 48 32 +16 2 45 1996 National Soccer League Champions
3 North Shore United 18 9 5 4 37 28 +9 3 44 1996 National Soccer League Finals
4 Wellington United 18 9 4 5 38 27 +11 3 43
5 Napier City Rovers 18 9 4 5 45 28 +17 2 42
6 Central United 18 8 5 5 33 23 +10 4 41
7 Nelson Suburbs 18 8 2 8 35 46 −11 0 34
8 Waikato United 18 5 1 12 30 44 −14 0 21
9 Mount Maunganui 18 3 2 13 21 45 −24 1 15
10 Woolston WMC 18 3 2 13 25 55 −30 0 14
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Finals

Playoffs

Miramar Rangers0 – 1Waitakere City
Gray
Wellington
North Shore United0 – 0 (aet)*Wellington United
Auckland

*North Shore United won 9–8 on penalties

Miramar Rangers2 – 0North Shore United
Elliott, McGarry
Wellington

Final

Waitakere City5 – 2Miramar Rangers
McClennan 2, Jorgensen, N Harlock, Elrick McGarry 2
Bill McKinlay Park, Auckland

Records and statistics

Top scorers
Biggest winning margin
  • Central United 8, Nelson Suburbs 1[1]
Highest aggregate score
  • Central United 8, Nelson Suburbs 1
  • North Shore United 7, Woolston WMC 2[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "New Zealand 1996 (Transitional season)".
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