Wellington United
Encyclopedia
Wellington United AFC is an association football club in Wellington
, New Zealand
competing in the Capital Premier League.
Diamond was founded as a junior football club in 1893 by members of the Star Rugby Club, who wished to play football. It became a senior team in 1895.
Zealandia was founded in 1954 by Dutch immigrants, changing its name to Wellington United in 1964.
In 1968 the club played in the Central Region's Division One, finishing fourth out ten. The club made it to the National League for the 1973 season but at the end of the following season they found themselves back in Division One.
Wellington Diamond United won the National League
in 1976, 1981 and 1985.
in 1970. The team finished seventh out of eight that season, winning just three games. It was the club's only season in the National League as they forfeited their place to form a composite entry with Miramar Rangers
, to be known as Wellington City, for the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Miramar withdrew after the 1971 season.
In 1973 the club went solo again, this time in Division Two of the Central League (finishing second) with Wellington City as an independent entity. The following season the club topped the table, winning promotion to Division One. The club remained there until the end of the 1977 season when they finished bottom of the ten-team division to be relegated back to Division Two. The club had two unsuccessful seasons in Division Two before merging with Wellington City permanently in 1979.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
competing in the Capital Premier League.
Wellington Diamond United
Wellington Diamond United was the result of the merger of Diamond and Zealandia/Wellington United in 1968.Diamond was founded as a junior football club in 1893 by members of the Star Rugby Club, who wished to play football. It became a senior team in 1895.
Zealandia was founded in 1954 by Dutch immigrants, changing its name to Wellington United in 1964.
In 1968 the club played in the Central Region's Division One, finishing fourth out ten. The club made it to the National League for the 1973 season but at the end of the following season they found themselves back in Division One.
Wellington Diamond United won the National League
New Zealand National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...
in 1976, 1981 and 1985.
Hungaria and Wellington City
Hungaria was formed in 1962 by Hungarian immigrants. The club played in the Central Region league before being invited to join the first New Zealand National Soccer LeagueNew Zealand National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...
in 1970. The team finished seventh out of eight that season, winning just three games. It was the club's only season in the National League as they forfeited their place to form a composite entry with Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers
Miramar Rangers AFC is a semi-professional New Zealand association football club in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. They are current holders of the Chatham Cup, the fourth time they have won the trophy...
, to be known as Wellington City, for the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Miramar withdrew after the 1971 season.
In 1973 the club went solo again, this time in Division Two of the Central League (finishing second) with Wellington City as an independent entity. The following season the club topped the table, winning promotion to Division One. The club remained there until the end of the 1977 season when they finished bottom of the ten-team division to be relegated back to Division Two. The club had two unsuccessful seasons in Division Two before merging with Wellington City permanently in 1979.
Wellington United
Wellington Diamond United and Wellington City merged in 1986 to form Wellington City Diamond United, which soon shortened its name to Wellington United.New Zealand Representatives
- Julius BeckJulius BeckJulius Beck is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Beck made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand in a 0-4 loss to New Caledonia on 8 November 1967.-External links:...
(Hungaria) - Grahame BilbyGrahame BilbyGrahame Paul Bilby is a former cricketer and association football player who represented both the Black Caps and the All Whites.-Cricket career:...
(Wellington City) - Paul CameronPaul Cameron (footballer)Paul Cameron is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Cameron played two official A-international matches for the New Zealand in 1972, both against New Caledonia, the first as a substitute in a 4-1 win on 17 September, the second starting in a 1-3...
(Wellington City) - Malcolm DunfordMalcolm DunfordMalcolm Dunford is a former successful New Zealand association football player who frequently represented his country in the 1980s and 90s...
(Wellington Diamond United) - Don FinlaysonDon FinlaysonDonald Finlayson is a former association football goalkeeper who represented New Zealand at international level.Finlayson made a solitary official A-international appearance for New Zealand, coming on as a second half substitute in a 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia on 23 June 1988...
(Wellington Diamond United) - Bill Harris (Wellington Diamond United)
- Imre Kiss (Hungaria)
- Eric LesbirelEric LesbirelEric Lesbirel is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Lesbirel played two official A-international matches for the New Zealand in 1977, both against New Caledonia, the first a 3-0 win on 5 March, the second three days later a 4-0 win on 8 March...
(Wellington Diamond United) - Istvan NemetIstvan NemetIstvan Nemet is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Nemet played four official A-international matches for New Zealand in 1967, the first three of which were at the Vietnam National Day Soccer Tournament...
(Hungaria) - Garry PaddisonGarry PaddisonGarry Paddison is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Paddison made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand in a 1-1 draw with Macao on 5 November 1975.-External links:...
(Wellington Diamond United) - John RaatJohn RaatJohn Raat is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Raat played two official A-international matches for the New Zealand in 1960, both against Pacific minnows Tahiti, the first a 5-1 win on 5 September, the second a 2-1 win on 12 September 1960...
(Diamond) - Wynton RuferWynton RuferWynton Alan Whai Rufer, CNZM, , is a retired New Zealand footballer, who played as a striker. He spent most of his professional career in Germany with Werder Bremen, winning a total of six titles. He also appeared for the New Zealand national team in its first FIFA World Cup participation, in 1982...
(Wellington Diamond United) - Jeff StromJeff StromJeff Strom is a football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Strom made his full All Whites debut in a 5-1 win over Kuwait on 16 October 1980 and ended his international playing career with 14 A-international caps to his credit, his final cap an appearance in a 1-1 draw with...
(Wellington Diamond United) - Grant TurnerGrant TurnerGrant Lawton Turner was an association football player who represented New Zealand 42 times in A-internationals from 1980 to 1988,...
- Garry WelchGarry WelchGarry Welch is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Welch played three official full internationals for New Zealand in February 1980, all against Pacific neighbours Fiji, drawing 1-1 in his debut match on 19 February before a 4-0 win and a 0-2 loss on 21 and...
(Wellington Diamond United)