Eastern Suburbs expect to face a passionate home crowd as well as one of New Zealand’s best teams when they step out against Wellington Olympic in Saturday’s Chatham Cup quarter-final.
Suburbs forward Stephen Hoyle (30) says the trip to Wellington would be fun because the game was likely to bring out the passion in supporters, and the Greek-based support for Olympic would create loud backing for the home side.
“We need more of that in this country,” he told NewstalkZB‘s D’Arcy Waldegrave.
“These are the games you want to play in. It’s really exciting for me.”
Hoyle, who played in the Central League against Olympic when he was with Napier City Rovers, said Suburbs expected a big challenge.
“I think with the squad they’ve got, the players they’ve got, they are one of the benchmarks for New Zealand.
“We know we’ve got a good task against one of the best teams in the country and we really look forward to playing against them.”
Suburbs are trying to reach back-to-back Chatham Cup finals, after losing last year’s final to Auckland City.
Main photo: Stephen Hoyle … looking forward to the cup quarter-final. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Phototek.
Listen to Stephen Hoyle’s interview
Match programme
READ: Wellington Olympic’s programme for Eastern Suburbs Chatham Cup tie >>>>
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday July 29, 2023
Chatham Cup
Quarter-finals
Roslyn Wakari v Waterside Karori
Ellis Park, Dunedin, 2pm
READ MORE: Otago side hope home advantage can help them into Chatham Cup semi-finals >>>>
Hamilton Wanderers v Christchurch United
John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge, 2pm
Wellington Olympic v Eastern Suburbs
Wakefield Park, Island Bay, Wellington, 2pm
Melville United v Western Springs
Gower Park, Hamilton, 5.30pm
Chatham Cup’s 100th year
To celebrate the birthday of football’s oldest cup competition, Friends of Football have been publishing special features about the cup and its past. Here’s a selection …
The greatest final ever?
Two replays needed in 1972
The unlikely underdogs
An improbable campaign in 2003
A happy birthday
The Royal Navy’s role in the cup
A gruelling schedule
The team that refused to quit in 2023
Final in Gisborne
Controversy and a classic final in 1983
Away from Wellington
How the final moved from the capital
All the past winners — Chatham Cup
1923 – Seacliff (Otago)
1924 – Harbour Board (Auckland)
1925 – YMCA (Wellington)
1926 – Sunnyside (Christchurch)
1927 – Ponsonby
1928 – Petone
1929 – Tramways (Auckland)
1930 – Petone
1931 – Tramurewa (Auckland)
1932 – Wellington Marist
1933 – Ponsonby
1934 – Thistle (Auckland)
1935 – Hospital (Wellington)
1936 – Western (Christchurch)
1937 – competition cancelled due to lack of entries
1938 – Waterside (Wellington)
1939 – Waterside (Wellington)
1940 – Waterside (Wellington)
1941-44 – no competition due to World War II
1945 – Western (Christchurch)
1946 – Wellington Marist
1947 – Waterside (Wellington)
1948 – Christchurch Technical Old Boys
1949 – Petone
1950 – Eden (Auckland)
1951 – Eastern Suburbs (Auckland)
1952 – North Shore United and Western (Christchurch) (shared)
1953 – Eastern Suburbs (Auckland)
1954 – Onehunga
1955 – Western (Christchurch)
1956 – Stop Out (Wellington)
1957 – Seatoun
1958 – Seatoun
1959 – Northern (Dunedin)
1960 – North Shore United
1961 – Northern (Dunedin)
1962 – Hamilton Technical Old Boys
1963 – North Shore United
1964 – Mount Roskill
1965 – Eastern Suburbs (Auckland)
1966 – Miramar Rangers
1967 – North Shore United
1968 – Eastern Suburbs (Auckland)
1969 – Eastern Suburbs (Auckland)
1970 – Blockhouse Bay
1971 – Western Suburbs (Wellington)
1972 – Christchurch United
1973 – Mount Wellington (Auckland)
1974 – Christchurch United
1975 – Christchurch United
1976 – Christchurch United
1977 – Nelson United
1978 – Manurewa
1979 – North Shore United
1980 – Mount Wellington (Auckland)
1981 – Dunedin City
1982 – Mount Wellington (Auckland)
1983 – Mount Wellington (Auckland)
1984 – Manurewa
1985 – Napier City Rovers
1986 – North Shore United
1987 – Gisborne City
1988 – Waikato United
1989 – Christchurch United
1990 – Mount Wellington (Auckland)
1991 – Christchurch United
1992 – Miramar Rangers
1993 – Napier City Rovers
1994 – Waitakere City
1995 – Waitakere City
1996 – Waitakere City
1997 – Central United (Auckland)
1998 – Central United (Auckland)
1999 – Dunedin Technical
2000 – Napier City Rovers
2001 – University-Mount Wellington (Auckland)
2002 – Napier City Rovers
2003 – University-Mount Wellington (Auckland)
2004 – Miramar Rangers
2005 – Central United (Auckland)
2006 – Western Suburbs (Wellington)
2007 – Central United (Auckland)
2008 – East Coast Bays
2009 – Wellington Olympic
2010 – Miramar Rangers
2011 – Wairarapa United (Masterton)
2012 – Central United
2013 – Cashmere Technical (Christchurch)
2014 – Cashmere Technical (Christchurch)
2015 – Eastern Suburbs (Auckland)
2016 – Birkenhead United (Auckland)
2017 – Onehunga Sports (Auckland)
2018 – Birkenhead United (Auckland)
2019 – Napier City Rovers
2020 – competition cancelled due COVID-19
2021 – Cashmere Technical (Christchurch)
2022 – Auckland City
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