From Kerikeri to Waihopai, with all the Rovers, Rangers and Uniteds in between, 120 clubs covering length and breadth of the country have entered the 88-year-old knockout competition all dreaming of holding one of New Zealand’s oldest trophies aloft on the last weekend in August.
While the Southern region cools its heels until the first round proper in mid May, the Northern and Central regions both roar into life on Easter Monday with 23 fixtures.
Two of the three entrants from the Auckland Sunday League, Bohemian Celtic and Internationale, will square off preventing at least one from emulating previous runs into the last 32, while perennial giant killers Mt Albert Grammar will travel to meet Old Blues in Tauranga.
In the capital, Wellington College, who beat Porirua City 7-1 on March 26 in a preliminary match, have been drawn away to Waterside-Karori while fifth division Eastbourne will entertain two time winners Wellington United.
The Chatham Cup played along regional lines in early rounds, although this season the draw becomes national one round earlier than previous seasons with the final 16 teams entering an open fourth round draw.
ASB Chatham Cup Draw 2011
Qualification Round (April 25)
Home team listed first, check local federation websites for venue details
Northern Region (Northern, Auckland and Waikato-BOP Football Federations)
Ngongotaha v Rotorua United
Bohemian Celtic v Internationale
Western Springs v Kerikeri
Waikato Unicol v Beachlands Maraetai
Claudelands Rovers v Hamilton North
Taupo v Cambridge
Zamantix Rovers v Otumoetai
Pukekohe v Tauranga Boys College
Oratia United v Westlake Boys High School
Clevedon v West Hamilton United
Norwest United v FOSS United
Old Blues v Mt. Albert Grammar
Waitemata v Te Awamutu
Byes to Round One: Albany United, Birkenhead United, Eastern Suburbs, Ellerslie, Fencibles United, Glenfield Rovers, Hibiscus Coast, Lynn Avon United, Mangere United, Manurewa, Matamata Swifts, Mt Albert Ponsonby, Ngaruawahia United, North Shore United, Onehunga Mangere United, Papakura City, Papatoetoe, Takapuna, Tauranga City United, Waiuku, Warkworth
Seeded to Round Two: Bay Olympic, Central United, East Coast Bays, Forrest Hill Milford United, Hamilton Wanderers, Melville United, Metro, Onehunga Sports, Three Kings United, Waitakere City.
Central Region (Central and Capital Football Federations)
Greytown v Waikanae
Wainuiomata v Seatoun
Naenae v Stop Out
Island Bay v Marist
Paekakariki v Kapiti Coast United
Eastbourne v Wellington United
Waterside Karori v Wellington College
Levin v North Wellington
Douglas Villa v Stokes Valley
University v Upper Hutt
Seeded to round one (Central League clubs): Lower Hutt City, Olympic, Petone, Tawa, Wairarapa United, Western Suburbs.
Byes to Round two (Central Federation clubs): Inglewood, Napier City Rovers, New Plymouth Rangers, Palmerston North End, Palmerston North Marist, Red Sox Manawatu, Taradale.
Seeded to Round two (Chatham Cup champion): Miramar Rangers.
Southern Region (Mainland Football and Football South)
Mainland Football
Teams starting in round one: Christchurch United, FC TWENTY 11, FC Nelson, Ferrymead Bays, Halswell United, Mid Canterbury, Nelson Suburbs, Nomads United, Rangers, Richmond Athletic Waimak United, Western
Seeded to round two: Coastal Spirit, Woolston Technical
Football South
Teams starting in round one: Grant Braes, Green Island, Mornington, Northern, Northern Hearts, Old Boys, Pleasant Point, Queens Park, Roslyn Wakari, Southend United, University, Waihopai
Seeded to round two: Caversham, Dunedin Technical.
Chatham Cup Round Dates
Qualification Round – April 25
Round One – May 14/15
Round Two – June 6
Round Three – June 18/19
Round Four – July 2/3
Quarterfinals – July 23/24
Semi-finals – August 13/14
Final – August 27/28
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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