The 1961 Chatham Cup was the 34th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.

The competition was run on a regional basis, with regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds.

Other teams known to have taken part in the final rounds included Otangarei United (Whangarei), Hamilton Technical Old Boys, Kahukura (Rotorua), Eastern Union (Gisborne), Moturoa (New Plymouth), Napier Rovers, Wanganui United, Kiwi United (Manawatu), Nelson Thistle and Timaru Thistle.

The 1961 final

Northern won the cup for a second time, having previously been champions in 1959; North Shore United made their third consecutive finals appearance, having won the cup in 1960. The match was thus both a match between the two previous winners and also a rematch of the 1959 final, with the same team winning on both occasions. Seven Northern players and six North Shore players played in both finals, these six latter players - among them England and New Zealand international Ken Armstrong - also having played in the winning side of 1960. The final was a free flowing affair, but no goals came until the half hour mark, when Northern took the lead through George Little. The score remained 1-0 until two minutes from the end of the match, when Bruce Campbell doubled Northern's lead.

Results

Second round

Saint Kilda7 – 3Mosgiel
Durst 3, Van Schraa 2 (1 pen.), Smolders, StooveDownie 2 (1 pen.), Thompson

Third round

Caversham3 – 2Green Island
Hornby 3Hay 2
King Edward TCOB2 – 1Saint Kilda
Paul 2Van Schraa
Maori Hill1 – 5Northern
RobertsG. Little 3, Rae, P. Little
Roslyn-Wakari5 – 3Dunedin HSOB
Walker 2, Smillie, Imman, SanctuaryMorris (pen.), Cross, Hilliker

Fourth round

King Edward TCOB1 – 0Caversham
Cunningham
Northern3 – 0Roslyn-Wakari
Berry 2, G. Little
Invercargill Thistle1 – 0Waihopai
Invercargill United0–0 (a.e.t.) Rovers won on cornersRovers
Nelson Athletic3-0Nelson Rangers
Western3-1Nomads
Napier Rovers3-2Kiwi United
Wanganui Settlers2-3Moturoa
Western Suburbs5-4Northern (Wellington)
Miramar Rangers4-0Wellington Marist
Otangarei United1-8Hamilton Technical Old Boys
Eastern Union6-4Kahukura
Mount Wellington2-1Mount Roskill
North Shore United6-2Eastern Suburbs
  • both Timaru Thistle (South Canterbury qualifiers) and Nelson Thistle (one of three Nelson clubs) effectively had byes to the next round

Fifth round

Invercargill Thistle4 – 0Rovers (Invercargill)
Northern1 - 0King Edward TCOB
Miramar Rangers4-2Western Suburbs
Napier Rovers4-0Moturoa
Henderson 3, Wood
Hamilton Technical Old Boys2-3Eastern Union
North Shore United2-1Mt. Wellington
Timaru Thistle0-6Western
Nelson Thistle1-0Nelson Athletic

Quarter-finals

Invercargill Thistle3 – 5Northern
Steel 2, FrostG. Little 2, McVey, Rae (pen.), Berry
North Shore United3 – 2Eastern Union
Miramar Rangers3 – 2Napier Rovers
Western6 – 2Nelson Thistle
Newsome, Rodger, McKenna, Frost, Torkington, Durant (pen.)D. Watson 2

Semi-finals ("Island finals")

Northern3 – 1Western
G. Little 2, J. LittleNewsome
North Shore United6 – 1Miramar Rangers

Final

Northern2 – 0North Shore United
G. Little, Campbell