The South Island will be the place to be on semi-final weekend in the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup after both clubs from the Mainland Football Federation were drawn at home as their quest to lift the prestigious trophy, among the oldest and most coveted in New Zealand sport, continues.

The official draw for the Chatham Cup semi-finals was conducted this morning at New Zealand Football headquarters in Auckland with assistance from the governing body’s newly-appointed Interim CEO Andrew Pragnell, who drew the teams out of the hat personally.

“The Chatham Cup is one of the iconic fixtures in the New Zealand sporting landscape and I believe it dates back to 1923,” he said.

“It plays a significant role in New Zealand’s sporting history and generates huge interest every year for our clubs and members. So I’m really looking forward to a big attendance at both semi-finals.”

Pragnell pulled out a pair of intriguing encounters and football fans in the south would have been delighted with the outcome.

Nelson Suburbs will play host to Auckland’s Birkenhead United, who claimed a maiden Chatham Cup title in 2016, while Cashmere Technical will welcome Western Suburbs to Christchurch.

Cashmere Technical are chasing a three-peat of sorts in this season’s edition of the Chatham Cup, having claimed back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.

Nelson Suburbs are looking to make history this year after never previously winning the competition while Western Suburbs have done so twice, in 1971 and 2006.

It is the first time since 2008 that two South Island teams have made the semi-finals of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup.

Both semi-finals will take place on the weekend of August 25-26, the kick-off times and venues will be confirmed by the clubs and federations and released shortly.

ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Semi-Finals

Nelson Suburbs vs Birkenhead United
Cashmere Technical vs Western Suburbs

Article added: Tuesday 07 August 2018