Soccer: Chatham Cup final to be played in Wellington

Newtown Park will host the Chatham Cup final.

The Chatham Cup final will return to one of its earliest venues with Lower Hutt City and Central United set to contest the 85th edition at Newtown Park in Wellington on Sunday, August 26.

The venue of the 1925, 1927 and 1989 finals will also host the 19th final of the women's knockout cup in another bumper day of football in the capital.

The final of each competition sees a first-time finalist taking on a multiple winner with Lower Hutt City tackling four-time winners Central United from Auckland in the Chatham Cup and three-time women's knockout cup winners Three Kings United from Auckland facing Palmerston North's Massey University.

Recent tradition has seen the finals played at North Harbour Stadium; but with the venue for 11 of the last 14 Chatham Cup finals due to host provincial rugby that weekend an alternate venue was sought.

Wellington has a long association with the Chatham Cup final. The first two in 1923 and 1924 were held at Wellington's Athletic Park while the Basin Reserve has hosted the most finals with 52.

Lower Hutt secured their passage to the final with a 4-0 win over Caversham at Dunedin's Caledonian Ground, while Central United thrashed Miramar Rangers 6-0 at David Farrington Park in Wellington.

Massey University upset Claudelands Rovers 4-1 in Hamilton to book their knockout cup final berth and they were joined by Three Kings who dispatched last year's runners up Coastal Spirit from Christchurch 2-0.

Three Kings United and Central United were drawn as the respective home teams in a ballot yesterday giving them the right to wear their home kit in case of a colour clash.

The women's final will start at 11am, with the Chatham Cup Final to be played at 2.30pm.