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Story: Football

South Island interprovincial association football trophy

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Silver trophy with engraved names set against green field and blue sky.

The Peter Dawson Cup was contested by South Island provincial football associations, under a challenge system, between 1922 and 1994. Like the Brown Shield, it reflected footballing connections between New Zealand and Scotland and the prevalence of alcohol sponsorship in sport – Peter Dawson Ltd was a well-known manufacturer of Scotch Whisky. Otago were the first holders and defended the trophy for several years, but in the late 1920s and 1930s the competition was dominated by the Westland and Buller associations. Nelson, who first won the cup in 1953, held it for five years in the 1980s and were the final holders in 1994. After being mislaid for some time the trophy was rediscovered by the Nelson Suburbs club and restored to pristine condition.

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Nelson Suburbs Football Club

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How to cite this page

Neill Atkinson, Steve Watters and Alida Shanks, Football – Men’s club and provincial football, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/47939/south-island-interprovincial-association-football-trophy (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Neill Atkinson, Steve Watters and Alida Shanks, published 21 February 2025, reviewed and revised 7 June 2023 with assistance from Alida Shanks.