Sumner honoured
The man of the match in the national men’s football league final will be awarded the Steve Sumner Trophy.
For the third year in a row, Auckland City will play Team Wellington in the final of the ISPS Premiership on Sunday at QBE Stadium, with a new trophy for the game’s best player given out, named after one of New Zealand’s legends of the game.
Sumner, who is famous for being the first All Whites captain to take New Zealand to the World Cup in 1982, won the national league five times (and a record six Chatham Cups) during his illustrious career at Christchurch United.
He passed away last year at the age of 61 from prostate cancer.
Daniel Farrow, the competitions and events director at New Zealand Football, said Sumner’s name is synonymous with excellence in football.
‘‘With the success Steve had in the national league, it is only fitting that his legend lives on in the ISPS Handa Premiership,’’ Farrow said.
‘‘Steve is well-known for being one of the greats of New Zealand Football, he achieved everything in the game during his career, so it is a huge honour to have his name aligned with the Player of the Final award.
‘‘I am sure this is something that all players in our national league would love to win, starting with the final this Sunday in Auckland.’’
The English-born Sumner was one of the most influential figures in New Zealand football.
He was the first Oceania player to score a World Cup finals goal, netting in the 5-2 loss to Scotland.
In 1991, Sumner’s feats for the All Whites were recognised when he was inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association’s Hall of Fame.
He received Fifa’s highest honour – the Order of Merit award – in 2010 for services to football, on the back of the Fifa centennial merit award in 2004.
Sumner was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016 for services to football.