For 46 teams, the dream of a giant-killing Chatham Cup run starts on ANZAC Day when the competition’s preliminary round gets underway.
The round takes place over five days, with a floodlit game between Canterbury’s High School Old Boys and Halswell United completing the fixtures on Monday.
Most of the ties kick off at 2pm, allowing for extra time and penalties, if needed, before the loss of natural light.
Here are the preliminary round ties:
Fixtures
Games to be played on Thursday April 25, 2024
AFC Bohemian Celtic v West Hamilton United
Michaels Ave Reserve, Ellerslie, 2pm
Northern United v Uni-Mount Bohemian AFC
Korikori Park, Hamilton, 2pm
Pukekohe v Matamata Swifts
Bleidsloe Park, Pukekohe, 2pm
Otorohanga v Colo Boys
Otorohanga Domain, Otorohanga, 2pm
Mangere United v South Auckland Rangers
Mangere Centre Park, Mangere, 4pm
Upper Hutt City v Lower Hutt City
MaidstonePark, Upper Hutt, 2pm
Paekakariki v Wainuiomata
Campbell Park, Paekakariki, 2pm
Stokes Valley v Carterton
Fraser Park, Lower Hutt, 3pm
Greytown v Naenae
Soldiers Memorial Park, Greytown, 2pm
Victoria University v Douglas Villa
Boyd Wilson Park, Wellington, 2pm
Wellington Marist v Seatoun
Kilbirnie Park, Wellington, 2pm
Te Kotahitanga v Tawa
Mazengarb Park, Paraparaumu, 2pm
Wellington United v Brooklyn Northern United
Newtown Park, Wellington, 2pm
Games to be played on Saturday April 27, 2024
Tikipunga v Papatoetoe
Tikipunga Park, Tikipunga, 2pm
Whanganui Athletic v Palmerston North United
Wembley Park, Whanganui, 2pm
New Plymouth Rangers v Havelock North Wanderers
Merrilands Domain, New Plymouth, 3pm
FC Nelson v Motueka
Guppy Park, Nelson, 2.45pm
Mapua Rangers v Richmond
Mapua Domain, Mapua, 2pm
Western v St Albans Shirley
Walter Park, Mairehau, Christchurch, 2pm
Parklands United v Burwood
Parklands Reserve, Parklands, Christchurch, 2pm
Games to be played on Sunday April 28, 2024
Sperm Whales v University of Auckland
Seymour Park, Royal Oak, 2pm
Waimakariki United v Oxford
Kendall Park, Kaiapoi, 2.30pm
Game to be played on Monday April 29, 2024
High School Old Boys v Halswell United
Kakaha Park, Prebbleton, 7pm
Key dates
First round
Weekend of May 10-13, 2024
Second round
Weekend of May 31-June 2, 2024
Third round
Weekend of June 14-16, 2024
Fourth round
Weekend of July 5-7, 2024
Quarter-finals
Weekend of July 26-28, 2024
Semi-finals
Weekend of August 16-18, 2024
Final
Sunday September 8, 2024
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