
A long time NRF team member has discovered a special family connection with the Chatham Cup, in his family and hiding in a corner of the office.
NRF finance manager Colin Margison found a cup awarded to his grandfather Herbert for playing and scoring in the winning 1924 Chatham Cup team, alongside the legendary Jack Batty, not long after emigrating to New Zealand.
Herbert Margison arrived in New Zealand on the HMS Chatham itself after playing for Preston North End in the UK in 1918-20. He returned to serve in WWII in the Royal Navy.
Colin found this connection while working at New Zealand Football, where he worked with Jack Batty's daughter in law, and getting in touch with Barry Smith the football historian, who confirmed it was all true.
Jack Batty won the Cup three times, including for Auckland Harbour Board alongside Herbert Margison, and has the Jack Batty Memorial Cup named after him, for the player making the most positive impact in the final.
Colin never got the chance to know his grandfather, as he died before he was born, but his family have done a lot of research into his life, with a lot of pride in this football history, including playing in the winning Chatham Cup team. Not only that, but there was a very special piece of memorabilia sitting in the AFF office waiting to be found.
"I found the cup when I was working at the AFF Penrose office - I was looking for some photocopying paper and saw this trophy there, up top almost out of sight. It sounded really familiar and I thought that was the year my grandfather won the Chatham Cup - it turned out to be his winner's cup! It was strange that it was there for me to find, I basically claimed it and put it into my office, thinking I'd enjoy a cup I was never likely to win myself but my grandfather had!"
Colin has been involved in football as a player, finance team member and referee for many years, and he was awarded the NRF Futsal Referee of the Year in 2024.
"My dad was more of a Rugby League man and was involved with Ellerslie Eagles, but I started playing football at seven and basically never stopped. I still get out there despite various aches and pains, and end up refereeing more than playing, but I still like the chance to run around for 15 minutes and see if I can knock in a goal or two."
"I worked at NZF from 2008 through til 2011, around the time the All Whites made the 2010 World Cup. Then my good friend the late Bob Patterson asked if I'd like to come work at Auckland Football in 2018 -and I thought it would be great to be back in football, and I've been here ever since."
The Harbour Board 1924 Chatham Cup winning team.
Article added: Friday 09 May 2025