The New Zealand Football Championship reaches its thrilling climax this weekend when Waitakere United and Canterbury United meet in the competitions sixth grand final on Saturday.
Waitakere are no strangers to grand final football with four previous appearances in the NZFC showpiece and one title.
Meanwhile Canterbury United have a golden opportunity to become the first team from outside of Auckland to lift the NZFC trophy with the form of attacking midfielder Aaron Clapham catching the eye of All Whites coach Ricki Herbert.
Waitakere have stuttered in recent weeks with defeats to Team Wellington and Papua New Guinea champions Hekari United, but an NZFC and O-League double is still within their grasp.
Canterbury are on a high and boast wins over both Waitakere (4-0) and Auckland City (3-0) this season and victory in their second ever NZFC grand final appearance would not only hand the Dragons their first title, but a qualification berth in the 2011 O-League alongside minor premiers Auckland City next season.
Previous Grand Finals
2008-09 Grand Final
Auckland City 2 (Keryn Jordan 78’, Paul Urlovic 89’)
Waitakere United 1 (Allan Pearce 15’)
2007-08 Grand Final
Waitakere United 2 (Karl Whalen o.g. 45’, Allan Pearce 66’)
Team Wellington 0
2006-07 Grand Final
Waitakere United 2 (Commins Menapi 21’, Jeff Campbell 93’)
Auckland City 3 (Liam Mulrooney 16’, Paul Urlovic 51’, Neil Sykes 78’)
2005-06 Grand Final
Auckland City 3* (Grant Young 45’+2, Keryn Jordan 63’, Chad Coombes 78’)
Canterbury United 3 (Stu Kelly 59’, 85’, Ross Nicholson o.g. 75’)
*Auckland City won 4-3 on penalties
2004-05 Grand Final
Auckland City 3 (Grant Young 48’, 90’, Liam Mulrooney 81’)
Waitakere United 2 (Daniel Ellensohn 31’, Keryn Jordan 70’)---nzfc.
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