NZHistory, New Zealand history online - soccer

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1982 Football World Cup

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Steve Sumner at the 1982 Soccer World Cup

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Images of the New Zealand All Whites captain Steve Sumner in action at the finals of the 1982 Soccer World Cup.

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1982 Football World Cup

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All Whites beat Australia on road to Spain

The New Zealand football team’s 2–0 victory in Sydney was a defining moment in an epic qualifying campaign for the 1982 World Cup finals. The team was the first from this country to make it to the finals of the sport’s premier international tournament. Local football fans had to wait 27 long years before another New Zealand team reached the finals by defeating Bahrain 1–0 in a two-legged qualification play-off in 2009.

The ‘All Whites’, as the team became known, had begun their campaign with a 3–3 draw against Australia in Auckland on 25 April, followed by wins in Fiji and Indonesia and a draw in Taiwan. The rematch between the trans-Tasman rivals at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground would effectively decide which team progressed to the second qualifying round against the three Asian group winners. A first-half strike from Steve Wooddin and a thunderous long-range header from combative midfielder Grant Turner sealed a comprehensive win, and convinced many New Zealand soccer fans that we finally had a team capable of competing on the world stage.

The All Whites would have to play a further 10 games, culminating with a heart-stopping play-off victory over China in Singapore, to clinch qualification. At the World Cup finals in Spain in June 1982, the New Zealanders earned respect for their competitive displays, despite losing their three group matches against Brazil, the Soviet Union and Scotland.

Image: the All Whites squad in April 1981

New Zealand and the 1982 Football World Cup book

New Zealand soccer: the impossible dream, by Ian Garner and Ian Walter, was released in 1982 to capitalise on the surging popularity of soccer in New Zealand. The book’s cover image, taken during the All Whites’ clash with Brazil in Spain, showed goalkeeper Frank van Hattum diving to gather the ball at the feet of the Brazilian star Socrates, with defender Ricki Herbert close by.

Paul Hamer private collection

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New Zealand's World Cup book, 1982

New Zealand’s World Cup: the inside story, by the coaching duo John Adshead and Kevin Fallon ('as told to Armin Lindenberg'), was one of several books published in 1982 to celebrate the All Whites’ epic qualifying campaign and finals’ appearance. The cover featured a young Ricki Herbert – himself now the national team coach – celebrating his match-winning goal against China at Mount Smart Stadium.

Paul Hamer private collection

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1982 Football World Cup game

The All Whites’ achievement in reaching the 1982 World Cup finals even inspired a children’s board game, the ‘Ball-O World Cup soccer game’ - marketed as ‘exciting new family sporting entertainment’. The cover image shows the ball flying past Indonesia’s goalkeeper during New Zealand’s 5-0 qualifying win at Mount Smart Stadium.

Paul Hamer private collection

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All Whites souvenir biscuit tin

A range of commemorative items and souvenirs were produced to celebrate the All Whites’ appearance at the 1982 World Cup finals, including this ‘NZ World Cup Soccer Team’ biscuit tin.

Those featured are: back row (left to right): Glenn Dods, Billy McClure, Brian Turner, Sam Malcolmson, Peter Simonsen, Dave Bright; middle row: John Adshead (coach), Keith Mackay, Grant Turner, Richard Wilson, Frank van Hattum, Ricki Herbert, John Hill, Kevin Fallon (assistant coach); front row: Duncan Cole, Allan Boath, Steve Sumner (captain), Bobby Almond, Adrian Elrick, Steve Wooddin; insets: Barry Pickering (top), Wynton Rufer.

Paul Hamer private collection

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1924 football programme

The 1981–2 World Cup campaign is undoubtedly the high point of New Zealand's football history, but the game has a long pedigree in this country. The New Zealand Football Association was formed in 1891 (a year before the Rugby Union), and New Zealand played its first international matches in 1904 against New South Wales.

In 1922 and 1923 New Zealand won home and away test series against Australia, recording four wins, a draw and a loss. During that decade matches against touring sides such as the Chinese Universities – who played 22 games in 1924, including four tests – drew crowds of more than 10,000 in the main centres. But the sport struggled to maintain its profile over the following decades.

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: Eph-A-SOCCER-1924-01
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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All Whites' game against China, 1981

Chinese players defend their goal against New Zealand at Mount Smart Stadium on 3 October 1981. The All Whites won 1–0 with defender Ricki Herbert heading in a corner just before half-time. Three months later the two sides met again in the decisive playoff in Singapore.

Eric Jelly photograph

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