Long-time Melville United captain Aaron Scott will get one more chance at lifting the Chatham Cup after leading the Waikato side into this year’s final against seven-time winners Christchurch United.
Scott (37) is close to ending his playing career and made his last appearance at home ground Gower Park in Melville’s 3-1 semi-final win against Waterside Karori on Saturday night.
At the final whistle, the former All Whites defender led his team and their supporters in a celebratory rendition of club chants in the centre of the floodlit pitch.
Main photo: A jubilant Aaron Scott leads the singing at Hamilton’s Gower Park. Photo: Melville United.
Christchurch United beat Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs 2-1 to book their place in the final, expected to be at Albany’s North Harbour Stadium on Sunday September 10 (this date and venue has been shared on social media by both finalists, though NZ Football have yet to confirm details).
The final, in the cup’s 100th year, gives Scott the chance to finish his playing career on a high, after making more than 300 first-team appearances for Melville.
Melville have never won the Chatham Cup, despite finals appearances in 2003 and 2019.
Four years ago, Scott was the captain of a Melville side that lost 3-2 to Napier City Rovers after playing the final half-hour with 10 men.
In 2003, Melville lost to University-Mount Wellington.
Christchurch United’s victory against Eastern Suburbs was their first appearance in a semi-final for 32 years, and the club now has the chance to become the sole holder of the record number of cup wins.
United currently share the record of seven Chatham Cup wins with University-Mount Wellington after wins in 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1989 and 1991.
Results
Games played on Saturday August 19, 2023
Semi-finals
Christchurch United 2 (Matt Todd-Smith 13′, Sam Philip 24′)
Eastern Suburbs 1 (own goal 82′)
Melville United 3 (Jerson Giraldo 64′, 82′, Jack McGovern 70′)
Waterside Karori 1 (Leonardo Villa 5′)
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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