Moturoa AFC

Since the inception of organised association football in New Plymouth in 1904 there has been a steady turn over of clubs. Omata Football Club, Carrington Road and the New Plymouth AFC, with rugby clubs Star and Tukapa among the original teams from Taranaki's largest town.[14]

The New Plymouth AFC was started with the promotion of the game by new arrival to New Plymouth, Mr. Sidney Clark. Recorded as the founder of Association Football in New Plymouth, Clark arrived from Auckland in March 1904 after playing for the Tabernacle and YMCA clubs and had been an Auckland representative for the past three years. The third son of the Rev. Joseph Clark of the Auckland Tabernacle, Sidney Clark was born in London, England, in 1877. He was educated in Nottingham and came to New Zealand in 1898, landing in Auckland. For two years he conducted a business in Symonds Street. In 1903 Sidney Clark took over the furnishing business established by Mr. George Brown in 1885 on Devon Street, New Plymouth as Clark & Co. He was a founding member of the New Plymouth AFC, the Taranaki Association Football Union and would form and captain the first Taranaki Representative Association team in 1904, touring to Auckland and Wellington in 1905. In 1908 Sidney Clark became a founding member of the Stratford AFC.[15]

Meanwhile, in mid-April 1904, a meeting governed by Mr. L. Frost took place in the Omata hall to consider forming an association football club at Omata. The meeting resulted in a committee being assembled including elected members Frost, Glynes, Coates, Ridland and Thomas. Mr. A. Bayly was elected president, other committee members were; Honeyfield, Barrett, George, Smith, McAllum, Knowles, Turton, Clamo and Mills. The club colours were chosen as a white shirt and blue pants, subscription set at 2s 6d, and arrangements made to purchase the necessary playing equipment. Mr. R. C. Clemow gave the new Omata club usage of some land to call a home ground. The ground, merely a sloping mown paddock, was situated on the western side of the Herekawe Stream, in between Te Ngahoro pā and the Beach Road. [16]

Across the Herekawe Stream in 1903 to the east, the Spotswood Settlement was mapped and sub-divided. Block IV of the Paritutu Survey District bordered the Herekawe, spreading east across to the Town of Port Moturoa to the upper Hongi Hongi Stream, north to Mt. Moturoa and the Port View block and extending south to Omata Road, included within the No.60 block lay the Maramatumai pā which bordered the No.62 block that would, over 70 years later, become the Onuku Taipari Domain.

In the New Plymouth Daily News in early 1904 it was announced in "Notes by Centre-Half" that a movement was on foot to start an association football club in New Plymouth. A group of "soccer" enthusiasts had met resulting with a meeting being called at the town hall for those interested in joining. Sid Clark presided the meeting and the New Plymouth Association Football Club was formed, agreeing to play under the New Zealand Association rules. The New Plymouth Mayor, Mr. Richard Cock was elected as club President and a committee including; vice-president, J. Paul with, O. Samuel, C. M. Smith, Alexander, Ahier and Collins. Mr. A. Pope was elected as secretary/treasurer. A team selection committee of club-captain Clark, Colebeck and Smith was chosen. The club colours were decided as blue pants with maroon shirts, and member subscriptions set at 5s. The secretary was instructed to arrange a match with Omata in New Plymouth at the Western Park Ground for opening day.[17] Arrangements were also to be made to play the crew of the HMS Psyche during her stay.[18] In early May the club reported membership of around 25 men, with several players seen practising hard at the Recreation Ground early every morning.[19]

The first match between New Plymouth and Omata was played at the Recreation Grounds on 12 May 1904. The town paper printed the team-lists the day before the match including for the New Plymouth team, an undisclosed goalkeeper, full-backs S. Clark, W. Bullock, halves, G. Hartley, T. Kay, R. Reid, forwards, Prosser, A. Reid, A. Ambury, W. Lintz, W. Thomas. emergencies, Colbeck, R. Ambury, Newton, Brown and for the Omata club in goal, H. Mace, backs, Coates, R. Ridland half-backs, P. Mace, Allwood, Hall, forwards. L. Frost, S. Glynes, R. Thomas, McAllum and Mills.[20] New Plymouth won the match 3–0. New Plymouth AFC's second match was against the Star club at the Racecourse Ground which had been gradually improved by the Star Club with the construction of a "commodious dressing house" along with fencing off the playing ground with a top rail and other minor improvements.[21] New Plymouth now had goalkeeper R. Ambury in the side. Clark scored a penalty early on in a reported "fast and even game from start to finish". With ten minutes until halftime 'the Stars' equalised. After half-time 'the Maroons' missed a penalty awarded after a corner, then scored the winning goal after a fine piece of forward work. 2–1 the final result.[22] Near the conclusion of the rugby season in New Plymouth there was a determined effort to fill the gap in football for the remainder of the winter. Mr. Henry John Julian from the Taranaki Hotel proposed to donate a cup to be competed for by the new association teams.[23] The Julian Cup survives in the divisions of Taranaki football to the current day. The Taranaki Association Football Union (TAFU) was formed on 13 June at Clark and Co's rooms in New Plymouth. W. W. Murton, A. Humphries, L. Frost, S. Glynes, A. Pope were present. Mr. S. Clark was elected secretary. It was decided that the challenge cup presented to the union by Mr. H. Julian be played for by clubs having paid 5s to the union as an affiliation fee. Tukapa, Star, Carrington Road, Omata and New Plymouth entered teams. The first matches were scheduled to take place on Thursday 23 June, with Tukapa to play Star at the Racecourse Ground and Omata to face New Plymouth at Omata.

The Waitara Mail states "a Socker (sic) team is being organised in Urenui with a view to trying conclusions with a New Plymouth team", reported the Daily News on June 16, 1904.

Omata were "fortunate to win the toss and elected to play down-hill with a strong wind in their favour which gave the Maroons a great deal of trouble," the match reporter noted. In the second half the wind dropped and a light rain set in making the ball heavy, captain Clark scored from a free-kick midway through the half, the final result 1–0 to New Plymouth. Seamark, Weir, Glynes and Frost were said to be prominent for Omata with New Plymouth well supported by Clark, Ambury, Kay and Pope. A return match was played at the Tukapa Ground between the village team and the New Plymouth club a week later.

The New Plymouth clubs relied heavily on the port and its visiting ships for outside competition.

The Corinthians, current champions representing Auckland, visited New Plymouth in 1904.[24] The visit was organised in part through the football connections of Sid Clark. The Corinthian Club was composed mostly of "renegades" from the Y.M.C.A. football club. A story of its origins was published in The Daily News on the 1st of September explaining, "Their desertion of tire old colours happened in this wise. Six years ago a challenge cup was presented for competition amongst senior clubs, the donors being a wellknown firm of distillers in the Old Country. The Y.M.C.A. entered for the competition, and after being runners up for two years, annexed the cup in 1903. The Y.M.C.A. authorities, however, although they had allowed the team to compete, refused to have the cup placed in their rooms, as the inscription on it betrayed its origin. The players took this as an affront, resigned from the association as a body, and started the Corinthian Club, which this year annexed the trophy, and had no scruples about receiving it." The visiting Corinthians included Cowan well-known player both in Dunedin and Auckland, and Dugmore, the goal-keeper, said to be the finest player in New Zealand. The New Plymouth Mayor kicked off the first ever representative association football match at the Recreation Ground. The Daily News published, regarding the involvement of the Mayor, "A wag asks how he is to get out of the road of the players, but that should be an easy matter."

The Original Taranaki Association Football Representative Team 1904

The Taranaki side was assembled from the best of the Omata FC and New Plymouth AFC players. Frost in goal, captain Clark, Bullock, Reid, Coates, Ridland, Dyne, the McAllum boys', Ambury and Truman.[25] Taranaki won the match 3–2.[26] A return match was played on the following Saturday afternoon at the High School ground, the Aucklanders' winning 1–0. The Taranaki Herald reporting after the games proclaimed, "The awakened interest in the soccer game deserves cultivating, the matches have proved that there is ample material for a really good team here."[27]

The 1904 Julian Cup final was played at Omata on the 15th of September. A 1–0 win for the New Plymouth side, gave the club the first ever Taranaki championship. New players, Curry, Heartly, N. Johnson and Lints played in the side. Dyne, who also played rugby for the Tukapa club scoring the winning goal in the final.[28]

At the first meeting of the AFC of New Plymouth in 1905, Sid Clark was elected captain, Mr Reid, secretary and treasurer, and Bullock, Kay, and Newton as the management committee. It was agreed that the cup presented last year by Mr Julian be inscribed with the name of the winning team, and placed on exhibition. It was also agreed to present a set of medals to the junior team who proved the 1905 champions. It was decided to call a general meeting for to be held at the Council Chambers. The first practice match was fixed for Thursday, 6 April on the Western Park ground, with all members and intending members being asked to roll up. Arrangements were made for a match on Easter Saturday with a visiting team from the Wellington Diamond Club, the 1904 Wellington champions. The Diamond Club telegraphed definitely that the team would come up to New Plymouth.[29] Diamonds arrived in New Plymouth by the mail train on the 21st before the match at the Racecourse Ground the next day. The side including Wellington reps; Fitzgerald, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the country, Roberts and Barnett, captain W. J. Taylor, considered the best centre-half in the country, with Reddy and Cunningham who had both played against New South Wales during its 1904 tour.[30] The New Plymouth team selected, other than new acquisition H. Stanborough, were unchanged from the prior season. A high wind marred the match and the Diamonds were on the whole too good for the New Plymouth team taking a 2–0 lead into half-time. Diamonds showed superior combination in the second half scoring again, the match finishing 3–0.[31] The evening after the match the Diamond club was entertained at the Trocadero on Egmont Street by the local players at a smoke social, catching the express back to Wellington on the Monday.

The first match in the competition for the Julian Cup was held at the Western Ground between New Plymouth East and New Plymouth West in the first week of May. East included players; Broome, Bullock, Clark, Colbeck, Hartley, Stanborough, Kay, Newton, Morey, Murton and Porter; and the West End side selecting A. Ambury, R. Ambury and J. Ambury, Lister, Corrighan, Brownie, Trueman, Saunders, George, Reid and Andrews. The Eastenders won the match 3–1. Sid Clark, shifting from his defensive role of 1904 to centre-forward, scored a hat-trick. A. Ambury scored for New Plymouth West with new goal-keeper M. Andrews standing out, and later said to be a "promising young player."[32]

The Auckland Association in 1905 contemplated severing ties with the New Zealand Football Association to join with Taranaki and start a new Association, in reaction to the alleged treatment and management of the first ever overseas team to tour New Zealand, Australia's New South Wales.[33]

On 5 May 1905, the Waitara Association FC was formed with sixteen members enrolled. President Mr. Vaughan, with vice-presidents Dent and Dooly were elected along with a committee including, Dugdale, Prosser, Hawkins and Hunter. Subscriptions were set at 2s 6d for active members and 5s for honorary members.[34][35] The new Waitara clubs' first match was against New Plymouth at Waitara's old Recreation Ground with Sid Clark the holding the whistle. The Waitara side including; in goal, Dent; fullbacks, Ewing and Callaghan; halves, Mabin, Prosser and Hunter; forwards, Wilson, Scholefield, Thomas, Dugdale and Sprosen, against Andrews, Bullock, Saunders, Lister, Hartley, Stanborough, Newton, Corrighan, Colbeck, Porter and R. Ambury for New Plymouth. Scholefield scored first for the home team who would eventually go down 3–1 to goals from New Plymouth's Newton and R. Ambury (2). Scholefield and Wilson, both Englishmen, now living in the Urenui area, were said to have played, "a splendid game".[36] New Plymouth East hosted Waitara at New Plymouth, the Eastenders with new players Binnington and Woodley in the team. The New Plymouth West side was sent to Inglewood in late June to raise awareness of the code by having a match with the players from the town. In early July the New Plymouth teams, East and West faced off again. The top Omata FC players from 1904 were now joining the New Plymouth West side, with Frost taking the young Andrews' place in goal, along with Coates recruited in the backs and later in July Glynes for the forwards. With a larger number of spectators than usual, due to having no other football matches in town, the match between Easts and Wests on 20 July at the Western Ground would see Glynes open the scoring for the Wests, in a 1–1 draw. Newton equalised for the Eastenders. The Daily News reported after the game, "The match was not played under the most favourable conditions, but still the exhibition was interesting, and evidenced that the season now drawing to a close has effected a good deal of improvement in the play. Some good talent has been unearthed, and those who may be classed as novices have shown wonderful aptitude for the game, which, among a section of the community at least, is bound to increase in popularity, in spite of the present drawback of lack of playing grounds." Bullock, in defence, was mentioned as having the best game on the Easts side, while Frost had a solid game in goal for his new team. The points table in July for the 1905 Julian Cup had Waitara in front by a point ahead of the West End, with the Eastenders behind by a point and Inglewood in last place.[37] At the end of July the TAFU met with a good attendance of delegates from Inglewood, New Plymouth and Waitara. Mr. Cock was again elected President of TAFU, following on from his recent appointment of President of the new Australian Rules club 'the Victorians' of New Plymouth. Resolutions carried at the TAFU meeting included; each club to have two delegates, to play under the N.Z.A. rules; to affiliate with the parent Union next season; that the headquarters be fixed at New Plymouth; and to action the selection committee of Scholefield, Clark and Bowen for the upcoming representative fixtures. The last resolution was to declare the Waitara club winners of the Julian Cup owing to, "the rep. matches coming on and lateness of the season." A match against Waitara was scheduled for the Thursday on the Recreation Ground with Mr. Riddles as the referee.[38] The match report praised the Waitara forwards as being 'far superior' excepting the Maroons' new acquisition, Aklom, said to be, "a welcome addition to the local soccer fraternity," playing, "a dashing game forward, scoring a couple of goals." Glynes scored a goal for New Plymouth and Frost in goal and Bullock and Clark put in "excellent work". Scholefield, Wilson and Dugdale the scorer for Waitara, were reported to have played, "a rattling good forward game" with Dring prominent in the backs. The score after the half was 2–1 with one of the goals attributed to the inexperience of new Waitara goalkeeper Sangster. The final result was 4–1 to the Maroons.[39] Waitara formed a combined XI with the new association club at Urenui in early September, playing a match against the visiting Auckland Corinthians at Waitara losing narrowly 6–4. A match scheduled between the Auckland Corinthians and Inglewood was abandoned. The Auckland Star received the opinion of an Auckland enthusiast who was at the Waitara-Corinthian contest who had a "few interesting notes on the game" written in a letter to which the reporter referred, "He says the game was very fast, and inclined to be heavy. The Waitara men are heavy, and use their weight to advantage, Jack Clark being laid out through colliding with one of the forwards. The belief is expressed the Auckland side will have a hard nut to crack against Taranaki today. Waitara possess two English forwards who, the writer declares, are miles ahead of anything in the present touring team."[40] Taranaki played the Auckland side at the Recreation Ground losing 2–0. The Taranaki Herald reporting on the match elucidating, "The result was contrary to local anticipations, it being recognised that the touring team was weak in the back division, and would not be able to hold up against the opponents' tactics. However, the Taranaki combination made a bad showing, and on the whole the game was of a very medium standard, hardly up to that played at Waitara on the Saturday previous." A feature of the match was the combined play of the visitors, the Herald correspondent reported of forwards Foreshaw, Harvey, L. and J. Clarke and Olliver, "They played in concert and showed creditable work." The paper would say of the Taranaki sides' effort, "the home players Scholefield and Aklom were the best in the forwards, while in the backs Clark was by far the best, Bullock and Lister also playing well." Mr Broome was the referee.[41]

Taranaki accompanied the Auckland side on its trip north for a return fixture. The Evening Posts' 'Vanguard' commented on the 9th, "The Corinthian team, which carried off the championship at Auckland this season, has this week been touring in the Taranaki district. The Taranaki representatives intended journeying to Auckland with the Corinthians and playing against the Auckland representatives on the Kingsland ground today". Prior to the Taranaki sides first away game, the Auckland papers remarked regarding the two sides, "The (Auckland) team is strongest in the half line which could hardly be improved upon, but the full backs will, in all probability, be unable to withstand the attacks of the burly Taranaki men who play a heavy game." The New Zealand Herald in its football column on the eve of the match explained, "It is several years since an interprovincial "soccer" match was played in Auckland and judging by the interest with which today's game is looked forward to, there should be a large attendance at the Kingsland Ground, home of the Eden Cricket Club. The game is stated to have made great progress in the Taranaki district, and if this be the case a good and evenly contested match may confidently be anticipated." The columnist followed with, "the returned players are of the opinion that they were somewhat lucky in winning the latter game (at New Plymouth) and state that the Auckland representatives will find Taranaki a stiff nut to crack in the match at Kingsland this afternoon." Concluding with acknowledgement of ex-Tabernacle player, Sid Clark, captain of the Taranaki team and the sides centre forward Harry Scholefield, said to be "held by the visitors to be the best forward in New Zealand at the present time."[42] In the Auckland Star on the 11th the match reported, "Auckland V. Taranaki. A Drawn Game. Over a thousand spectators watched this match at Kingsland on Saturday. The weather was fine, and the ground In fair condition! Taranaki played against the sun. The opening movements were of a scrambling nature, both sides taking turns at attacking. Scholefield and Aklom put in one good bit of passing, but it came to nothing. Ambury, one of-the visiting forwards, wrenched an ankle soon after the game commenced, and in consequence Taranaki played a man short for a few minutes until Dugdale took his place. It was half an hour before the scoring opened, Foreshaw being given a good opportunity, through Dimery and Clarke's excellent dribbling. He shot from close quarters straight in securing the first goal against Taranaki. Auckland though occasionally having to repulse an attack, had the better of the succeeding play, and twice within a few minutes Frost had to save. Dimery succeeded in getting the ball past the Taranaki goal-keeper, but "off-side" nullified the score. Audinwood tried with a long pot, but the ball went wide. Then the 'dairyites' made themselves felt. A good deal of long, kicking kept the visitors from gaining close quarters for a time, but at last Taranaki obtained a corner. An attempt at heading a goal off the kick failed, and Audinwood relieved momentarily. A prompt return was made by the Taranaki forwards, and Scholefield, seeming a pass from Aklom, sent in a hot shot, which equalised the scores. The second spell opened with a hot attack on the part of the horne team. T. Clark almost scored with a clever backheader, and Foreshaw followed this up with a hot shot, which was slightly wide. Frost, the Taranaki goal-keeper, was deservedly applauded for his cool effective defence, which prevented more than one score. The most exciting part of the game followed. One of the Taranaki backs relieved with a long kick and the visiting forwards were ready to carry on the movement. Meldrum however got possession, and one of his powerful kicks put his side again on the attack. Some effective kicking by the Taranaki players soon took the game to the Auckland quarter, whence a shot went in, but was too high. Relief came for Auckland in the shape of a grand run by Dimery, who when he had passed nearly all the opposition centred to Foreshaw. The kick, however, was too hard, and a fine opportunity was lost. The Taranaki custodian again earned the hearty plandits of the spectators by splendid defensive work, in which he was well backed up by Clark and Bullock. Auckland secured a splendid opportunity to score, the visitors being penalised for handball. Meldrum, who took the kick right in front of the Taranaki goal, was ironically cheered when it was seen that his shot went over instead of just under the bar, as he had intended. For the last few minutes of the game Auckland consistently attacked, but the shooting was not very efficient, and the excellent defence of the Taranaki backs was demonstrated time after time." The final score 1 - 1 goal. The teams were; Taranaki: Goal, L. Frost; full backs, S. Clark (right), W. Bullock (left); halves, G. Hartley (right), K. Reid (centre). Lister (left); forwards, Ambury, Aklom. Scholefield, Wilson, Prosser. Auckland; Goal, Bayly; full-backs. Ritchie and Webster; halves, Yates, Audinwood, Meldrum; forwards, Dimery, J. Clark, Foreshaw, Fleming and Harvey. Referee: Mr Cash.[43] A week later in the New Zealand Herald further commentary was reported in regards to the recent match reading, "The interprovincial match played at Kingsland last Saturday was fast and interesting from start to finish, but the combination on both sides was poor, and more particularly on the part of the visitors. The game ended in a draw but the local men certainly outplayed their opponents and should have won. The Taranaki goalkeeper Frost played a great game for his side, as did also the two fullbacks Bullock and Sid Clark. Scholefield, whom the visitors claim to be the best forward in New Zealand, played the best forward game on the ground, but I certainly do not regard him as a better player than Sale of Auckland. For Auckland, Audinwood was the pick of the backs, and proved a stumbling block to Scholefield."[44]

At the Taranaki Association AGM in 1906 it was announced a strong Urenui team had been formed apart from Waitara, and Inglewood would enter a team joining the New Plymouth East and West sides.[45] An advertisement was put in the newspaper for Julian Cup entries by Mr. Frost with an eye toward a possible match against a rumoured English side that may tour. In April 1906 the Hawera Association Football Club formed with the election of President, Rev. J. A. Jacob; Vice-Presidents, Dr. Deck and Dr. Westenra, and a committee of, C.E. Major M.H.R., H. C. Clark (Patea), A. B. Stewart (Normanby), E. H. Walters (Kakaramea) and F. Basham; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr J. Campbell and honorary auditor, Mr J. Turton. A letter was received from the New Plymouth AFC for an Easter Weekend match which after discussion was to be delayed until later in the season.[46] A meeting of delegates of the Taranaki Association Football Union was held at Inglewood on Thursday 10 May, delegates being present from Hawera, Eltham, Inglewood and New Plymouth. The Rev. J. A. Jacob, Hawera, was elected Chairman. Hawera, Eltham, and Kaponga clubs were affiliated to the Association. It was agreed that North and South sub-divisions should he formed. Each division will appoint its own selector for a North and South match, the two selectors to be present and select the representative team. A suggestion was made that each division appoint its own referees and submit names to the Union. When the draw for the North Division came out New Plymouth was drawn against Urenui at the Tukapa ground, new club Egmont were to host Inglewood at Egmont Village and Waitara the bye. Waitara would play Egmont the next week at Waitara and Inglewood would travel to Urenui. New Plymouth, at home, faced Inglewood while Waitara hosted Urenui in the third weekend of matches. New Plymouth then played Waitara at New Plymouth and Egmont traveled again, this time to Urenui in early June.[47]

At the meeting of the New Zealand Football Council in late July the secretary of the Taranaki Football Association advised that its district extended from New Plymouth to Hawera. The clubs affiliated to the association were New Plymouth, Urenui, Inglewood, Waitara, Kaponga, Eltham, and Hawera. The question of the Brown Shield Competition was discussed at some length and it was decided this year to hold the tournament in New Plymouth, 1907 in Auckland, and 1908 in Dunedin.

Taranaki, selected by Sid Clark, played Ruahine (Palmerston North) at Hawera in the Brown Shield semi-final winning 4–1. Taranaki, now dominated with players from the South Taranaki clubs, included only Bullock and Reid from New Plymouth and Sutherland from Inglewood in the side causing a stir in the north with a letter to the newspaper regarding the exclusion of prior Taranaki and Omata FC goal-keeper Frost.[48] Wellington defeated Auckland at the Recreation Ground, New Plymouth in the second semi-final. Wellington then played the final of the Brown Shield against Taranaki at Eltham a few days later, retaining the shield. Three days later Auckland would play a friendly at Kaponga, organised by the new club, against an invitation side winning 3–1.[49]

Eltham AFC won the 1906 Taranaki Championship beating New Plymouth AFC in the Julian Cup final.

The Taranaki Rugby Football Union from this year introduced a rule which prevented any rugby player that had played "soccer" from representing the Taranaki rugby side. The ruling put an end to the participation of the Tukapa and Star clubs in local association football and limited many players that moved between the codes.

Harry Scholefield, THE FREE LANCE, 17 JULY 1909

Harry Scholefield became the first significant transfer for the fledgling Taranaki Association, moving to the Wellington Swifts club in 1906 from the Waitara AFC. In The New Zealand Herald it was stated he was "fast, unselfish and an acquisition to local football",[50] scoring five goals in one of his first matches for the Swifts against Rovers. Swifts were building a formidable side with another addition, Fletcher from Woolwich Arsenal F.C. a centre-half with "eye opening centering and long shots", also joining Scholefield at the club in early 1906. In the Freelance on the 7th of July, high praise was written in regard to Scholefield with, "A player who gave me a great impression of his play was Scholefield, who played as centre-forward. He is a fast, dashing forward and passed and dribbled well. He is also a deadly shot and scored no less than five of the goals. I am inclined to think that on his play in this match he is the best forward that I have seen for a long time and if a New Zealand team was wanted he would be a certainty for it on his present form."[51][52] While in Wellington, Scholefield was selected for the Britain team, made up from players born in "the old country", to play a New Zealand XI in mid-August.[53] In the 1906 Brown Shield final at Eltham in early September, Scholefield, now representing Wellington, would score both first-half goals in a 4–2 victory over Taranaki.[54] The game would be played under protest by the Taranaki and Auckland teams with both objecting to Scholefield being in the Wellington side.[55] In 1907 prior to the Brown Shield match between Wellington and Taranaki, Scholefield, now back with Taranaki, was proclaimed by The Evening Post to be "the best centre-forward in the colony".[56] Scholefield would also play rugby union on his return to Taranaki for the Clifton club, continuing to play cricket for Urenui, gaining selection to the Taranaki Representative XI.[57] In 1909 Scholefield left the Clifton rugby club and moved to the Eltham AFC before again shifting clubs, playing for the Stratford AFC in 1911.[58][59]

The New Plymouth Association Football club opened its 1907 season with a match against Rarawa at the Tukapa Ground. The crew of the ferry took the match 2 - 0. "A strong wind hampered the players considerably. There was not much to choose between the respective elevens, and neither side showed good combination. The game opened in a rather sensational manner, Rarawa getting away from the kick-off and scoring an easy goal. This was the only obtained in the first half. Play afterwards was chiefly in the Rarawa goalmouth but the New Plymouth forwards could not penetrate owing to erratic shooting. They missed many grand opportunities in this way. In the second half play was on much the same lines, and Rarawa again scored, shortly afterwards failing to convert a penalty. New Plymouth have a good team if the players will only combine better together and exercise more judgment front of goal. They gave a good display in midfield," reported the Taranaki Herald on May 25. The Rarawa and her crew were regular visitors to the port at Moturoa from around 1904 to 1916, taking passengers and cargo between Onehunga and New Plymouth.[60]

In 1908 Diamond travelled from Wellington for an Easter match at Kaponga. The Evening Post's Vanguard in 'Association Notes' said in reference to the visit of the soon to be Wellington champions, "The Diamond Club went to Kaponga, in the Taranaki district. The match against Kaponga, according to one of the Diamond men was played in a deluge of rain, but notwithstanding this, there was a good attendance. Only half-hour spells were played, and the game resulted in a win for the Diamonds by 3 goals to 1. Hathaway, Lowe, and Reddy being the scorers for the winners, and Scholefield (as a guest player) for the losers. Taking the game all-round, it was very even and fairly fast, considering the slippery state of the ground. Kaponga has some excellent material in its teams, Stapleton, Kelly and Scholefield being particularly good. It is surprising the keen interest taken in soccer in this district. A team has recently been formed at Auroa, a few miles out of Kaponga. A trip was arranged to Mount Egmont, but owing to the bad weather it had to be abandoned. However, all enjoyed a drive to Opunake. On Saturday night the team was entertained at a smoke concert. The most pleasing item of this was the presence of the president of the Rugby Club (Rev. Mr. Scott) who also takes a keen interest in soccer. In his speech, he referred to the jealousy of the Rugby Unions against the soccer game, but he considered there was plenty of room for the two games, and said he would like to see this ill feeling put an end to. On the whole, the team had a good trip, and the game should benefit with a few visits of this sort, as the enthusiasm shown by the inhabitants of Kaponga proves that the game is going ahead in the district."[61]

In 1908 Taranaki would play its first ever match in the South Island, in the Brown Shield tournament at Dunedin, opening with 3 - 0 win against Southland.

The Taranaki Daily News correspondent "Queen's Park" reported on July 22, 1911, on how New Plymouth had likely secured the services of William Shepherd, from Portsea Island in Hampshire, late goal-keeper of Portsmouth F.C. in England.[62] Shepherd joined the New Plymouth AFC and played for the clubs Saturday team, the Wanderers, out-field and in goal. After the war in 1922, Shepherd at 37 years old and in the twilight of his playing days, was selected for the Taranaki side as the reserve goal-keeper to play the Australia national soccer team at the Recreation Ground, New Plymouth. Shepherd became a founding member of the Fitzroy Rangers, representing the club on the TFA into the 1930s. Mr. William Shepherd would reside in New Plymouth through to passing in 1966.

'Queens Park' followed in the newspaper report with a plea, "What has become of Taranaki? They have the material to give the Brown Shield holders a good shaking, and it only needs looking after." All attempts at winning the shield would end in defeat, with 'Queens Park' none the wiser to the fact it would be 49 years until the 1960 Moturoa AFC team under the auspices of the Taranaki Football Association, achieved a clean sweep winning four matches against the 'minor provinces' to lift the shield. 'Queens Park', forecasting the years championship result claimed, "South Taranaki will likely find a resting place for the Championship Cup this year. They seem to be very strong at "soccer" down that way."[62] The statement proved prophetic. At the conclusion of the 1911 Julian Cup the New Plymouth AFC faced Manaia in the final. Manaia won the match 2–1, and with it the Taranaki Championship for the first time. The Rev. Stent a key driver in establishing a team in Manaia using the town's enthusiasts, with players from the Omata FC, New Plymouth AFC, the Auroa club and Hawera AFC. The Manaia club would not win the Taranaki Championship again until its final time in 1925, when it also won the Chinese Cup.

The New Plymouth AFC played eight matches in 1911, winning six and losing two. 16 goals were scored and 5 conceded. At the end of the season the New Plymouth AFC club took a team to Auckland, losing its match with the Auckland Association side by a goal to nothing.[63]

At the beginning of the 1912 season, the New Plymouth AFC advised the Hawera FC of its inability to travel to the scheduled Easter Weekend match at Hawera. Hawera then made the journey north instead to save the match with the NPAFC agreeing to a return fixture at Hawera in June. New Plymouth won the match in the north, with play said to be "very even" with Hawera's luck "deserting them at critical moments". New Plymouth brother's J & G Wylie scored a goal each, with Mr. Clark the match official.[64] In late April, Mr. E. Elliot presided over an attendance of about twenty at meeting of the NPAFC called to consider the proposal to inaugurate a Saturday competition. After some discussion it was agreed to. It was stated at the end of the meeting that, "the prospects of 'soccer' in New Plymouth were very bright, and with a view to encouraging it among the primary school boys the New Plymouth Club decided to present medals, balls and rule books to the teams first formed, and several seniors expressed a willingness to coach the lads".[65] The Taranaki Herald on the 27th of April discussed how there was a "movement on-foot" to get a Saturday competition going suggesting that, the United Services, Mangorei and a combined Waitara-Urenui team may form the nucleus of the proposed competition.[66] The opening Julian Cup game in the northern-division was played on the Tukapa Ground in May between two newly formed clubs, the Mangorei Swifts and the Albion FC. Later in the month owing to the majority of the members of the Mangorei team being unable to get to town a scratch match was played between Rovers and Wanderers in place of the Wanderers v Albion game which was to have taken place. Rovers won the scratch match five goals to three.[67] A selection team from the North to play the South at the Recreation Ground in a trial match for the Taranaki representative team was announced including, goal-keeper Shepherd, Plumb and Wylie from the Wanderers, Holmes, Charteris and Goddard from the Albion, Eliot and Gwillim from Mangorei, and the second Wylie from NPAFC.[68] The Rev. W. F. Stent of Manaia, the Chairman of the Taranaki Association, selected the Taranaki team for the scheduled match with Wanganui during June. The team selected included W. Shepperd in goal; backs, Bullock, one of the original members of the NPAFC and TAFU, now at the recent champion Manaia club, along with Stapleton; halves, James (Kaponga), Mitchell (Hawera), and Eliot (New Plymouth); forwards, Hazeltine and Spice from Hawera FC, The Wylie brothers and Gwillim from New Plymouth, Bowen from Kaponga, along with emergencies, Williams from the fledgling club at Okaiawa, Nicholls from Kaponga, Lamb and Chadwick from Hawera, and Holmes from the Albion. The team Manager was Mr. A. Melville, the Secretary of the TAFU.[69] The final for the Julian Cup was set to be played between New Plymouth and Kaponga at Eltham on the 22nd of August.[70] The match never took place with the Chairman of the TAFU deciding that New Plymouth had no right to a final match and declared Kaponga the 1912 Taranaki Champions. South of the mountain the newspaper began to publish a series of scathing letters from the supporters of the Hawera and Manaia clubs in regards to Kaponga's title. Throughout the season a contributor to the paper, under the pen name 'Sideline' had stirred up rivalry between the clubs. 'Sideline' in his last opinion piece of the season saying bluntly, "Anyone not living within a couple of miles of Kaponga would be aghast, as your correspondent was, to see Kagonga flaunting themselves in print as Taranaki's champions. In their last match they were beaten by Hawera by about eight or thereabouts to nil. Manaia forfeited, and I suppose North Taranaki does not think it worth contesting. That is how Kaponga holds the position if it is correct of being winners of Taranaki for 1912. But it would be more modest, and more in harmony with facts, if Kaponga left the praising to be done by others. This is not the modesty of the mountain town, however. Self-praise seems to be the chief recommendation of this season's champions. They are being publicly complimented and presentations showered upon them at the famous ball to be held on August 29th, and the ticket of admission bears the inscription "Taranaki's champions." Hawera had undoubtedly the best team by far in South Taranaki; Manaia an easy second. How then did Kaponga win? The solution is simple. They have, their half-holiday on Thursday, and every time they travelled to Manaia and Hawera they forced the men of these latter town to take two holidays in the week. Hawera managed to do it at their last match—no doubt by personal favor of employers, a thing which can be done very seldom. If my advice is worth anything, South Taranaki will confine themselves to the one day, and teams that cannot play Wednesday matches should have a league of Thursday teams, i.e., Kaponga, Eltham, Stratford, etc. and in the finals the teams would draw for the day to play it on." Sparing no-one 'Sideline' then raised the so-called 'Mitchell Incident'. "Mitchell, I hear, has gone to Wanganui, where, if rumor can be relied upon, his mind has been set for some time past. How he came to play for St. John's on June 29, and for Hawera later on against Kaponga perhaps the Union officials can explain. It certainly needs explanation. One wonders what would have happened had Manaia done as they ought to have done and made an effort in the interest of true sport and played Kaponga and beaten them. Would Kaponga have played Hawera again or protested on the score of Mitchell playing for Hawera whilst being a member of another club and union? In any case, Mitchell knew what he was doing, if no one else did."[71] The Chairman of the TAFU, Rev. Stent saying of 'Sideline', "The little spice has certainly given zest to the reading, and if not always fair he has been always suggestive". Manaia had defaulted their last match of the season against Kaponga with the TAFU awarding 3 points to Kaponga as compensation, putting them at the top of the Southern Division. The Hawera club pointed out it had a match yet to play, and with its seasons form and victory over Kaponga at Kaponga earlier in the season giving it reason to challenge the decision of the chairman of the TAFU. The Hawera AFC Secretary, Mr. Fred Stevens going so far as to say, "If they really do think they are champions and that theirs is the best team in the province they are quite welcome to do so! It pleases them and their supporters to think so and amuses the rest of Taranaki, should the 'champion' team, however care to give the public an exhibition of what they can do, our club is quite prepared to meet them on a day to be mutually arranged, and on a neutral ground, say Okaiawa. The public seldom see a first class team in operation, and this should prove a treat".[72] The conclusion of the 1912 season saw Rev. W. F. Stent resign from both the chairmanship and membership of the TAFU after his disputed decision of awarding the championship to Kaponga had rendered his position untenable.[73] The Kaponga club retained the Julian Cup and were recorded as 1912 Taranaki Champions with a photo of the team taken and presented at the celebration party. The Kaponga club still has the 1912 team photo today showing a proud team with the Julian Cup. 'Sideline' forever remained incognito.

In 1913 the New Plymouth clubs comprised the Wanderers who were the Saturday team of the New Plymouth AFC, The Watersiders who often drafted players from the crew of visiting ships to the port, the Albion FC, who would endure on and off from 1912 until dissolving the mid-1950s, Carrington Road, who as a club also played tennis and cricket, the Omata FC, who had been sporadic in existence for the prior nine years, and the Swifts from Mangorei. School football in New Plymouth had begun to gain traction. Teams from Central, Fitzroy and Waitara entering for the years competition.[74] At the annual meeting of the New Plymouth AFC it was resolved to abolish Sunday practices and to instruct the club delegates to the Taranaki Football Association, Mr. E.A. Eliot and club-captain Mr. G.E. Roper, to apply on behalf of the club for affiliation to the TFA. The delegates were also instructed to urge at the AGM in Eltham, that the Junior Cup be made available for competition by the norths teams for a nominal fee of affiliation, and to ask for permission to play a match proposed during June, between the club and the crew of the visiting HMS New Zealand, with Captain Halsey from the ship being sent a letter of invitation.[75]

At South Taranaki near the end of the 1913 season, the TFA Secretary Mr. J. East wrote to the editor of the Hawera and Normanby Star stating that there had been a "direct refusal" by the Kaponga club to return the Julian Cup until a general meeting had been called. A letter written to the paper by Kaponga's Mr. Carr complained of the TFA's ignorance of the Kaponga club's questioning of under whose authority had the decision been made to split the Taranaki league into north and south divisions, among many other points of argument including the handling of the publication of match results. In another letter to the press from Mr. W. Stent in response it was stated that the executive were quite conscious of the season's failures, but "could not honestly take the blame for them". There had been many difficulties chiefly on account of trying to run the competition as one league. "A number of journeys had been made to Eltham and many hours spent trying to arrange things for the good of the game, as hopeless as the task is, meriting the consideration of the clubs" said Mr. Stent, following with, "whether Kaponga's contentions are right or wrong does not in any way make their action in regard to the cup of any better complexion, whether they win or lose, the cup by agreement has to be handed in by July 1st, and will be handed over to the winning team by the officials in due course, they will only weaken their case by continuing to disregard this rule". The executive had to confess that the one-division system didn't work with it being "hard enough, witness the number of forfeits, to get the nearer clubs to keep their engagements, and to get Waitara or New Plymouth to Okaiawa and Kaponga and vice versa is impossible". Mr Stent then concluded, "We have done our best and spared not ourselves nor our pockets, and we shall all be glad to give someone else the job next year".[76] The issues were to be resolved at a special meeting of the FA organised for the end of September in Eltham.[77]

At the annual general meeting of the New Plymouth AFC in early 1914 it was reported that the past season had been fairly successful. Eight matches were played in 1913, and seven won. Waitara and Inglewood were beaten twice and Stratford once. Owing to the late start of the season, the final with the southern division champion Hawera for the Julian Cup was not decided. Central School 'A' had proved school champions and won the New Plymouth club's medals after a series of matches.[78]

Originally the Moturoa Football Club was a short-lived rugby club, started by the Breakwater Sports Committee in the kiosk at Ngāmotu Beach in early 1914, before amalgamating with the Star club. Moturoa FC's home ground was the prison reserve field at Otaka Street, Moturoa. The club retained one junior team for a short period after the amalgamation that played in the Moturoa club's colour white, with the addition of a star emblem on the shirt chest.

From 1915 to 1921 there was no official Taranaki Championship due to the war.

In 1917 the liner SS Waiwera docked in the harbour at Moturoa. The Waiwera crew would face a New Plymouth side in a friendly match. The Waiwera side included Mr. George Rendall as a member. Before leaving England he played four games for the West Ham Reserves in London. Residing in Moturoa he played for Albion FC and on occasion other New Plymouth sides. He was also selected for the Taranaki representative side, retiring from playing in 1933. Rendall represented Moturoa on the TFA from 1931. He coached the game from around 1938 at the High School. One player identified as talented early by Rendall at the High School was future New Zealand Universities and Moturoa player Ted Meuli with Rendall stating in 1975 from his Bayly Road address to the Taranaki Herald that Meuli was the "most promising player he ever saw" and "would go a long way in the right team".[79] Mr. Rendall's three step-sons Norm, Des (mascot for Albion FC around 1930) and Bob Quinlan would also play football in New Plymouth. Mr. Norm Quinlan was the captain of the Moturoa AFC after the second world war ended until the end of the decade.

Taranaki was slow in comparison to the other regions of New Zealand to recommence the game. Games were organised against visiting ships, most were unofficial one-off matches. A meeting of the New Plymouth Association Football Club was held at the club rooms on in late June 1919 to discuss prospects for the present season. There was a large attendance of playing and honorary members. It was decided to form a team and to get into communication with other centres with a view to arranging matches. A letter was received from the Eltham Football Club asking for a suitable date for a trial match. Most of the old players had now returned from the front any many enthusiasts were looking forward to a good competition being arranged in Taranaki. Any "young fellows desirous of joining up" were to call at the clubroom or communicate with Mr. E. A. Elliot on Currie Street. The secretary was instructed to write about a ground. A match between a town team and a team from the liner SS Whakatane was mooted for the Thursday but the proposal had to be abandoned owing to the men from the steamer not being able to get away from duty. It was said by the reporter, "had the match been played it would have made an interesting introductory chapter to the new volume of soccer, which, so it is hoped, is about to be compiled in New Plymouth."[80]

After the first world war many of the original New Plymouth clubs based in smaller rural communities, including the Swifts, Carrington, and Omata FC, were never brought out of recess.

The Taranaki Football Association in 1921 began to hold committee meetings again, based in Hawera. Hawera had affiliated with the Wanganui FA for the past season.

In 1922 the New Plymouth AFC played a well drilled Hawera at the Waiwhakaiho Showground. Hawera had played matches with teams from Wanganui along with the other resurgent South Taranaki clubs prior to the fixture and took the game at New Plymouth easily. There was confusion by some of the New Plymouth players the morning of the fixture, who had assembled at the Recreation Ground in central New Plymouth, before being advised that the match had been scheduled to take place across the river at the Waiwhakaiho Showground.

Wednesday June 28, 1922, The Australian national football team played Taranaki at the Recreation Ground in New Plymouth, coined the "Greatest match ever seen in Taranaki". The Australians arrived in Hāwera on the Tuesday then making the journey to New Plymouth on the evening's express. A trial match had been played at Hawera the prior Saturday between Taranaki v The Rest, resulting in a 3–0 win for the Taranaki side, Davis scoring a hat-trick. The Taranaki team selected for the provinces first official international fixture included, in goal, Johnston, backs; Jones, Barker, half-backs, Worthington, Howeth, Pooch, forwards; P. Thompson, Woodhead (right-wing), Fitzgerald (centre), Freakley, Davis (left-wing). Emergency players were, Shepherd, Butler, Belchin and Piper. Australia would play in light blue and maroon colours with Taranaki in black and white. An enthusiastic crowd of 4000 spectators watched the game, paying 2/- for general admission and 1/- for ladies. Jones' display at right back was commended in the Taranaki Herald newspaper. Taranaki won the toss, playing with the sun behind them and also with the slight breeze that was blowing. Australia kicked off and within five minutes led 1–0, the goal scored by J. Cumberford after a defensive misunderstanding. Brown would net Australia's second after receiving a cross from Dane, Dane then scored their third goal from a pot-shot, Brown would score his second right before half-time. In the second half the Australians continued to control the match, Brown would score his third and Australia's fifth. Eventually after a good piece of combined work by Woodhead, Fitzgerald and Freakley saw the latter score the best goal of the day. Australia's Brown would score his fourth making the final score 6–1. Mr. L. C. H. Dawson was the referee.

The New Plymouth team paid a visit to Hawera on August 12. The match was said by the Stratford Evening Post to have been, "a fast, keenly contested game."[81] Hawera won 2–0.

Hawera won the 1922 Julian Cup, retaining the title of Taranaki Champions again in 1923. Mr G.E. Jones from Hawera became the first player from Taranaki to be selected for a New Zealand representative side when included in the 1923 New Zealand XI tour of Australia. Keeping notes of the tour,[82] Jones would play a single match against the North Coast at Nambour, Queensland in a 2–0 win.[83]

The withdrawal of New Plymouth AFC from the 1923 Julian Cup and the inclusion of Kaponga necessitated a revision of the fixtures. Kaponga were not able to take the place of New Plymouth, as they traveled on Thursday, their weekly half-holiday, while New Plymouth were set to travel on Saturday. At season's end a column regarding the 1923 Julian Cup by "Kick Off" in the Hawera and Normanby Star began with, "Overheard on a Taranaki Soccer ground. Referee spinning coin, "Heads or tails.'' Visiting captain, ''Heads.'' Referee, "Heads it is, which way are you playing?" Visiting captain, "Oh we may as well play with the tide"." The Julian Cup was won by the Hawera Club. Their record in the competition was, Played 10, won 8, lost 2, goals for 38, against 11. In addition to competition games, they beat New Plymouth 4 to 2, Manaia 10 to 2, Stratford 5 to 3, Wanganui 1 to 0, making the respectable total of 14 wins to 2 losses, goals for 58, against 16. One of the most improved players in the season was Skjellerup, said, "if he continues next season as he has started this season rep. honours should come his way," by Kick Off. "If present form is indicative of next season's players, then Kaponga should be the hardest team to beat in 1924. They have a well-balanced team, and with old stagers like Boodle, Nicholls and Melville to help them along they must improve on this season's performance", the paper forecast. Until Manaia were defeated by Auroa they had a great chance of making things interesting as regards the final, as they were ahead on points, but Hawera and Auroa each had two matches in hand, whereas Manaia had played 10 games.

The Moturoa School opened in 1923 after years of deliberation. In one of the schools first sporting achievements, the Moturoa School rugby side made it to the semi-final of the 1924 McLeod Shield at Inglewood, where they played Wharehuia losing 15 to nil. Rugby would be the dominate sport at the school until near the end of the decade, when a soccer team was started after some thoughtful discussion.

Played on the showgrounds at Waiwhakaiho on the afternoon of the 17th May 1924, a team from the liner SS Rimutaka in port at Moturoa, and a New Plymouth side resulted in a win for the visitors by 2 - 3.[84]

The Chinese Universities toured New Zealand in 1924. The team was chosen from the Fudan, Jiaotong, Soochow, Lingnan, Southeast and Hong Kong Universities and played under the flag of the Chinese Republic. There was no shortage of publicity for the tour with every region of the country visited by the Chinese side. The Universities team played 22 games in New Zealand including 4 matches against the New Zealand XI. The Chinese Universities played Taranaki at the Showgrounds in Hawera with 3000 spectators witnessing a 1–1 draw. The Taranaki team selected was; goal, Hart (Hawera); backs, Betteridge (Manaia), Beare (Hawera); halfbacks, Pooch (Hawera), Nicholls (Kaponga); captain, W. Brown (Auroa); forwards, Ramsay, Galloway (Hawera); Freakley (Kaponga), Campbell (Hawera), H. Pollard (Kaponga); with reserves; W. Smart (Auroa), S. Pollard, A. Pollard and J. Campbell (Kaponga). The Hawera and Normanby Star reported regarding the local team with, "The local players showed up well at times, but there was a lack of combination. Freakley was weak at centre, and this hampered play. Pooch, had more than he could manage in Chang, and the centre forwards weakness made things extra hard. Nicholl and Ramsay stood out as the best of the local team, and were the chief sources of trouble to the visitors. Pollard dribbled fairly well, but his centres left a deal to be desired. Campbell and Galloway were very fair, and the former's goal was a good effort. The two full-backs had plenty to do, but their kicking was ill-directed. Beare was the better and was more precise. Hart gave a most promising display in goal, and made a couple of clever clearances. A great defect of the full-backs and goalie was their kicking towards the centre, instead of out to the wings."[85] The correspondent at the match earlier reported regarding the Chinese play, "On the visiting side, Pao, the-goal-keeper, had very little to do, but seemed deceived when Taranaki's goal was scored. The two full-backs were an experiment, and generally played well, but in the second spell Loh was hampered by the greasy ground. The halfbacks are the best part of the team, and all three are fine purveyors of the ball. Lok makes a great pivot, and distributed the play with rare nicety. The forwards did not seem together at times in the first half of the game, but improved greatly during the second. Wang, at outside right, showed plenty of skill, and gave his opposing hacks a good deal of trouble." Wang originally a centre forward, had led the Chinese team which toured Australia in 1923. A curtain raiser was played between a North Taranaki Xl picked from the New Plymouth, Eltham and Kaponga clubs and South Taranaki Xl from the Manaia, Auroa and Hawera clubs, the North XI won 1–0. The Chinese side then travelled north by train, playing Auckland next in a 5–1 loss in front of 28,000 paying spectators. A "handsome" silver cup was later donated to the Taranaki Football Association in August by the Chinese residents of Taranaki in commemoration of the University teams' visit.[86][87][88][89][90] It is inscribed: ‘‘Presented to the Taranaki Football Association by the Chinese residents of Hawera in commemoration of the visit of the Chinese University students’ team to Taranaki." It is one of two similar cups, the other being presented to the Chinese Association for competition amongst teams in China.

Kaponga won the 1924 Taranaki Championship and Julian Cup. The Hibernian Society Cup was introduced and an annual tournament held at the Manaia Domain was conducted throughout the 1920s.

Ideal weather conditions prevailed on September 22, when on the Saturday afternoon the public of New Plymouth were able to witness the first and only major match of the season to be played in the town. The game took place at Pukekura Park with an attendance of about 400 people. The contesting teams were the Taranaki representatives who drew with China at Hawera on August 6, and the New Plymouth team. The teams took the field as follow; Taranaki in chocolate and gold. In goal Renwick (Hawera), backs Bettridge (Manaia), Beare (Hawera), half-backs Barker (Eltham), Pooch (Hawera), Brown (Auroa), forwards Plant (Auroa), Galloway (Hawera), Pollard (Kaponga) and the Campbell's (Hawera). New Plymouth in black and white, in goal Royston, backs Holmes, Matthews, half-backs I. Thompson, Hughes, Herdson, forwards Bell, Shepherd, P. Thompson, Harlow and Harwell. At half-time Taranaki led 1–0, scoring two more goals in the second half to win 3–0.[91]

The Caledonian Football Club emerged in New Plymouth in 1925. The 'Callies' as they came to be known, would play in blue, embracing the Scottish heritage of many of the clubs members.

The 1925 annual general meeting of members of the Taranaki Football Association was held at Stratford. Mr Adams of Hawera presided. A letter was read from the New Plymouth centre stating its difficulties in connection with the '‘mixed" half-holiday system in Taranaki, and that this was affecting their progress at the northern end. However, with the regular visits of overseas ships in that port they would arrange a good number of friendly games, and would endeavor to meet Stratford and Eltham clubs. The recently donated cup is named, The Chinese Residents Challenge Cup, to be competed for by the senior teams in the province on the ‘‘knock-out" principle with the champion team to have the privilege of challenging for the much-coveted Chatham Cup, "the pride of all clubs in New Zealand."[87] Feeling reference to the death of Mr Wee On, a prominent citizen of Hawera, who was the prime mover in the presentation of the Chinese Cup from the Chinese residents of Taranaki, was made by the Chairman.[92] At the meeting of the executive of the Taranaki Football Association at Manaia in early July it was decided to open the Chinese Citizens' Cup competition to all "soccer" teams in Taranaki, whether affiliated or not. The competition will be conducted on the "knock-out" principle, each team retiring from the competition on its first defeat. It was decided that nominations must close with the secretary, Mr H. Kendall on July 18. In the first games for the Chinese Cup, New Plymouth beat the Hawera juniors 10–0, Auroa beat Hawera 4–0, and Manaia won by default against Auroa B.[93] The Manaia Soccer Club won the 1925 Taranaki Championship and with it the Julian Cup. Also winning the new Chinese Residents Challenge Cup in August beating Auroa 1–0 in the semi-final and a week later New Plymouth in the final 3–1.

There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Association Football Club in mid-May 1926, Mr G. Lawrence in the chair. The annual report recorded that the club's team at Hawera was defeated by Manaia, which won both Julian and Chinese Cups. The amount of £2 18s of the proceeds of the H.M.S. Dunedin match was devoted to the Boys'’ High School gymnasium fund, and £2 11s to the warship's hand fund. The balance sheet showed an improved position. In regard to grounds, which was the great problem to be faced, it was stated that the cost to the club would be about £1 for every match, arid this meant that as there were no prospects of gate takings every player would need to contribute in addition to paying his subscription. It would be a heavy tax on members, and would be, as was remarked by members, and serious drawback to the progress of the club. Dr. D. E. Brown was elected president and Mr G. H. Gorringe secretary of the club. It was decided that the Moturoa and New Plymouth Clubs' combine for the purpose of entering a team for the Julian Cup.[94]

The Julian Cup fixtures were revised following the late entry of the combined Moturoa and New Plymouth side. New Plymouth v Manaia; Hawera v New Plymouth; New Plymouth v Auroa; Stratford v New Plymouth; New Plymouth a bye. Manaia v New Plymouth; New Plymouth v Hawera; Auroa v New Plymouth; New Plymouth v Stratford. Commencing on 22 May and finishing on 24 July, the Julian Cup preceded the Chinese Cup competition.

At the annual general meeting of delegates of Taranaki Football was held in Stratford on 7 April. Mr W. A. D. Adams (Hawera) presided over an attendance of representatives from several clubs. During the season three trophies were competed for, Manaia winning the Chinese Citizens' Cup and also the Julian Cup. Kaponga, after winning the Hibernian Society's Cup for seven-a-side, unfortunately had to disband, principally onn account of the half-holiday question. The representative team only played two matches in 1925, home and home with Wanganui, being defeated on both occasions. Thanks were said to be "due to the Rugby Union, for use of the A and P ground on June 3 and to the City Football Club for their sporting offer to share proceeds for the day and also desire to thank members for travelling so many miles at their own expense to play." The election of officers resulted; Patron, Mr J. E. Campbell (Hawera), President, Mr W. A. D. Adams (Hawera), Vice-Presidents, Messrs T. Smith (Stratford), G Edwards (Manaia), J. Goodwin (Hawera), and Dr. Brown (New Plymouth). The appointment of a Secretary and a Treasurer was left in the hands of the Executive. The Auditor was Mr K. Mahoney (Hawera) and the Executive, Messrs R. G. Muggeridge, D. Bettridge (Manaia), G. Frickley and A. Brown (Auroa) "with power to add". The Manaia Club was granted permission to arrange with the Manaia Hibernian Sports Club to hold a seven-a-side tournament on Saturday, 21 April. After discussion it was decided that in the Julian Cup competition the travelling team shall have the choice on the day upon which a match shall take place. Auroa won the 1926 Julian Cup and Taranaki Championship. New Plymouth AFC won the 1926 Chinese Cup beating Caledonians, Auroa and then Hawera in the final, 2–1 at Victoria Park, Stratford. It would be the New Plymouth AFC's last trophy. In the south, new club 'Celtic' was formed, known colloquially as Hawera's All Blacks in the towns newspaper. The Pirates and the Fitzroy Rangers emerged in New Plymouth. The Rangers club broke away from New Plymouth AFC, setting up at the East End of the town. Starting as junior/intermediate teams and soon after joining senior football, both clubs often played at the Bellringer Estate, home of today's Peringa United Football Club.

New Plymouth & Moturoa combined- 1926 Chinese Cup winners

The 1927 annual meeting of the Taranaki Football Association was held at Smith's tea rooms. About 30 delegates were in attendance. Delegates were present from the Wanderers, Rangers, Caledonian, and Watersiders’ Clubs, and Hawera, Manaia, Stratford, and Auroa Clubs. Mr. Adams, the President occupied the chair. The 1926 Julian Cup competition had a late entry from North Taranaki necessitating a revised fixture list, which caused considerable misunderstanding among the clubs. The trophy was eventually won by Auroa. The Chinese Cup was lifted by New Plymouth and the handsome cup and gold medals presented by the Manaia citizens for the Hibernian seven-a-side tournament was won by Hawera. Rep. games were played with Wanganui, home and away, Wanganui being victorious on both occasions. It was decided to form northern and southern divisions, the northern division to consist of the New Plymouth clubs and the southern of the rest of the clubs. The Julian Cup competition scheduled to commence on April 2 and trial matches to be played on May 7 and 21 in preparation for the Canadian match on May 25. It was said to be, "essential that all players should get into early training as by reports from Wellington the Canadian team is the strongest combination to ever represent Canada."[95] The chairman reported that he was arranging a meeting of referees to form a Referees’ Association. A recommendation was made for the executive to have rules of the game printed.

In 1927 the Canadian All Stars arrived in New Zealand for a 10-week tour. There had been a small attendance at Victoria Park in Stratford watching the trial match between the North and South to select the Taranaki side in the week leading up to the "international". The South won the match 2–1, with goals from Roberts before half-time and Humphries just after the restart. The North side, in blue, scored with a late goal from Hill assisted off a cross from J. Spedding. The match referee was Mr. J. Mitchell. The North was represented by; Royce, Wiles, Davis, Spedding (2), Fairburn, Brown, Gardiner, Hill, Ibbotson and Bremner. The South side included; Plant, Betteridge, Beere, Freakley, Gilbert, Stewart, Postway, Ramsay, Galloway, Roberts and Humphries. The team selected to represent Taranaki against Canada included; in goal, Royston (New Plymouth); full-backs, Davis (NP), Beere (Hawera); half-backs, captain Freakley (Auroa), Brown (NP), Stewart (Stratford); forwards, Ramsey and Humphries (Hawera), Bremner, J. Spedding and Hill (NP). Reserves were, Gardiner and Fairburn (NP), Betteridge (Manaia), Plant, Gilbert and Galloway (Hawera).[96] The match played against Taranaki at Pukekura Park was the first of the All Stars tour. Reported as being the "Strongest Side Ever In Dominion", The Canadian team comprising 17 players reported as being, "well built and trained in a good school of football, with the advantage that they have had experience in playing against English and Scottish professional teams, from which games they have emerged with credit, if not with success." Several of the team were born in Scotland the said, "nursery of Association football" and had learned to play with teams of considerable reputation. Mr. Adam, the All Stars manager had previously led a Canadian side on a tour of Australia in 1925, with that team playing a match in transit at Auckland on the return journey to Canada. The 1927 Canadian team was touted as being," a far stronger one than that which visited Australia two seasons ago, and no side as good has hitherto visited New Zealand."[97] The Press Association called the match a "Brilliant Exhibition" in its report on May 25, following with, "The Canadian Soccer team opened their Dominion tour by defeating Taranaki in a brilliant exhibition of the code by ten goals to one. The game was played in fine weather before a crowd of about four thousand. From the blowing of the whistle the Canadians set a rattling pace that kept Taranaki defending strenuously, and within a quarter of an hour Canada had built up a formidable pile of points. From the start the public were treated to an exposition of brainwork and skill that was an education in itself. By half-time the score was nine goals to nil in favour of Canada, and in the second spell the tourists obviously eased up, being content to give Taranaki a chance and at the same time afford their own team good practice. The most impressive feature of the game was the accuracy of the Canadians’ head work and their dribbling made doubly effective by the remarkable manner in which each player was always in position to receive the pass from his teammate. The visitors specialised in short dribbling kicks, by means of which with a deft turn of foot they were able to beat an opponent time and again. To see them manoeuvre into position and then follow up a quick cross-kick from the side line with a sharp driving shot to the net that often found its mark was as much a lesson to the public as it was to the opposing side. The ten goals scored by Canada were rather the monopoly of a few players, Archibald gaining the honours with four, while Turner scored three, Frances two and Davidson one. Probably the best exhibition by any individual player was that of Turner, the versatile inside left, whose clever footwork and excellent foot control were a treat to see. Of the others the most impressive were the reliable goalie, S. Tait, who captained the team and Edmunds, left full-back, who specialised in accurate placing to the other members of the team through the medium of long kicking. Unfortunately he was injured and had to leave the field. Generally speaking, the Canadians complete understanding was best seen in the working of the "double triangle" strategy, by which an accurate system of connection between two separate systems of players, one on each side of the field, was maintained. It was in this respect that Taranaki suffered most in comparison, the home team's players being frequently caught out of position, especially when two or three of them raced for the ball together and met to no purpose. In spite of the big score against them Taranaki battled gamely, and at times inspired the spectators to great enthusiasm by their attacking work. The honour of shooting the only goal against the Canadians was gained by Bremner. He and Hill were the best of the home forwards, while Davis was outstanding amongst the backs." Before leaving New Plymouth to continue on, an autographed team portrait of the Canada Allstars side was presented to the TFA. The team then headed south to play the Wanganui representatives, and then "the Flock House" side in Bulls before a match with Manawatu at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, their fourth match in eight days.[98]

On Saturday 28th following the Canada match at New Plymouth, the Watersiders defeated the Fitzroy Rangers, 5–1 in the Julian Cup. The same weekend Auroa defeated Hawera 3 goals to 2 at Hawera. The Stratford club during the week, owing to numerous difficulties had decided to withdraw their team from the cup competition.

Caledonians won the 1927 Julian Cup on their first attempt with victory over champions Auroa 2–1 after extra time. The final played at Stratford saw no score in the first spell, and at the end of the second half the match was tied at a goal each. A further ten minutes each way was played. Three minutes before time of the next Harwell scored for the Caledonians. The Julian Cup was presented by the TFA president Mr Adams to Mr. Rae, the captain of the Caledonians. Mr Adams congratulated the members of the Caledonian team on their winning the cup at their first attempt, closing by saying he, "hoped that in the interest of the game it would be won by a southern team next year."[99] The Watersiders beat Hawera 1–0 in the semi-final of the 1927 Chinese Cup with Auroa and Caledonian playing out a 0–0 stalemate in the other semi-final. In the replay a week later the Calies beat the travelling Auroa team 4–3 at Western Park. In the final of the Chinese Cup, the Watersiders were beaten by the Caledonians 4–2.

The Duff Rose Bowl (Duff Cup) was donated to the TFA by the Watersiders in 1927. It would originally be played for in a knock-out format. The Watersiders won the first final in defeating Fitzroys' Rangers 2–0 at Western Park.[100] The match, refereed by Mr. R. L. Lowe, saw E. Spedding score both goals for the Wharfies to lift the Duff Rose Bowl for the very first time.

Both the Watersiders and Wanderers dissolved after the 1927 season. The 'Watersiders' team name in New Plymouth became associated with the rugby league code from the 1930s until a rekindled Watersiders association football team competed briefly again in the local divisions in the early 1960s.

Mr W. Adams presided at the 1928 annual meeting of the TFA held at Stratford. The annual report submitted by the president stated the game had made good progress in North Taranaki, while in the south two clubs had been unable to fulfill all their engagements chiefly owing to the "eternal" half-holiday question. The trophies of the association were the Manaia citizens (seven-a-side) held by Hawera; the Julian Cup, won by the Caledonians for the second time; the Chinese Cup, also won by the Caledonians; and the Duff Rose Bowl, won by the Watersiders. The Thompson Cup (junior) was won by the Pirates and Fitzroy Rangers. It was resolved to leave the Chinese Cup as a provincial competition. A notice of motion was received and carried that the Duff Cup competition be altered from the knock-out system to the league system.[101] Moturoa FC first affiliated with the TFA for the 1928 season with Mr. J. McKay as club delegate. The 1928 Julian Cup competition was split into north and south divisions with the winners of each qualifying for the final. Caledonian defeated Moturoa 4–0 in one of the first matches of the season.[102] Caledonian won the northern league, facing the southern winner Stratford in the final for the Taranaki Championship. The final was played in ideal weather at Western Park before a fair attendance. A hard game resulted in a win for Caledonians 4–1, but while being beaten Stratford were by no means disgraced having the hardest of luck on several occasions.[103] Stratford won the Chinese Cup beating Caledonian 1–0 in the final.[104] Caledonian beat Moturoa in the Duff Cup, a huge score-line of 10–0 recorded.[105] Playing for the Duff Cup in September, Caledonian defeated Albion 3–0, and Moturoa beat the Fitzroy Rangers 3–0.[106]

At an early season meeting of the TFA in May 1929, it was resolved to contact the clubs to remind them to have their grounds marked properly for all matches, Egmont United were affiliated to the association, reigning champions Caledonians were granted permission to play out of the province, with a game against a Wanganui side to be scheduled. Mr E. A. Walker was thanked for his donation of one guinea to the association. The Chinese Cup it was decided, was to be donated to the junior competition for one season. Referee, Mr. Cuff forwarded a statement reporting a player for allegedly using obscene language during the Stratford V Caledonian match, the player of Caledonian, was suspended for two matches.[107]

The Stratford Evening Post in early 1929 said, "it had been stated that next season there will be eight Association football teams in New Plymouth." And proclaiming, "the Stratford team will be just as strong, if not stronger as last year, and they will have a good chance of winning the premiership."

The Stratford side would follow through, crowned Taranaki Champions for the first time, winning the Julian Cup. Moturoa won the 1929 Chinese Cup. Moturoa's intermediate team, competing for the 1929 Plunket Cup, lost the final to Caledonian.[108] Moturoa also won the Plumb Cup for the Taranaki junior championship.[109]

On 9 September 1929, as the curtain raiser to the Duff Rose Bowl match between Fitzroy Rangers and New Plymouth Caledonian (1-6), the junior players of New Plymouth played in a trial representative game. Mr G. H. Gorringe, subsequently announced the following Moturoa players in the Taranaki junior team to meet the Wanganui juniors the following Saturday, with the match to be played during the new annual Priest Shield six-a-side tournament of New Plymouth; Johns, Bensiey, Roper, Smith (capt), R. Christensen and White. The match played at Western Park, would see the Taranaki juniors win 3 - 2.

The junior championship competition was keenly contested this year with many very promising players being found in the junior ranks, the game was said to have a very bright future in Taranaki at the 1930 TFA AGM.

In the 1930 pre-season, the Caledonians met a Wellington selection at Pukekura Park with an attendance of several hundred people. The Wellington side won the match 6–2. "The visitors’ combination and condition were too good for the New Plymouth side, who found it difficult to counter the nippy, concerted attacks by the forwards. Nevertheless, the match was a good one, and it was only well-organised defence by the Wellington backs that turned aside many scoring shots by the Caledonians," reported the Stratford Evening Post on the 21st April.[110]

The management of Julian Cup matches in Taranaki was discussed at a meeting at New Plymouth of the Northern sub-committee of the Taranaki Football Association in mid-April. It was unanimously decided not to travel and to ask that the position be reviewed at an early meeting of the TFA. Dr. R. J. R. McCredy presided and also present were Messrs R. Bell. A. Chapman. Leane. J. Sceats, Hill, A. Southern, F. C. Knight, and secretary C. Cuff. The chief reason for calling the meeting, said the president, was the result of last meeting of the Taranaki Football Association in Stratford. Much the same thing happened as had happened last year. The South only two definite clubs with a third in the process of formation. The Northern delegates thought that travelling would not benefit the southern clubs. "I should stress the fact that we in the North have built up the game here by splitting up our clubs, at the present time there are four clubs in New Plymouth with representatives in them of either the old New Plymouth Club or its descendant, the Rangers club. We were attacked at the meeting for pot-hunting. but I cannot see that any club which has split into four teams, as we have, can he accused of that." said the president. Soccer had grown in the North because the clubs had not been afraid to split. If the Stratford club had done the same and had split into two clubs when Egmont United was formed Stratford might still have had two clubs. The position was the same in Hawera. In 1929 the northern delegates had gone to the meeting with the intention of eliminating travelling, but they went on with it to give a chance to build the game in the south, now they still had only two teams. The northern division was paying to a club for its ground fees and it can not afford to travel. The president pointed out that the previous season had cost the south twice as much in travelling as it had cost the north but it was also stated they did not have to pay the council for ground fees. The main difficulty was that a club running a senior and a junior team found it very difficult to travel with a full strength team as it had no spare men to call on, if some members were not able to travel. There were five clubs in New Plymouth, leaving one odd team without a match each Saturday, the idea raised by the president was that the odd team might play an outside club either at home or away without difficulty. Mr. Knight suggested it might be of greater advantage to the South if the North decided not to travel, the southerners would be thrown on their own resources and would have to split. Mr Sceats then moved an amended motion: That in reviewing the past season, this meeting is of the opinion that travelling is detrimental to soccer in Taranaki, but suggests that North and South separately endeavour to foster junior clubs rather than field strong senior teams. The motion was carried unanimously and a further motion was passed suggesting to the Taranaki Football Association that a meeting: be called to reconsider the matter of the Julian Cup competition.

The TFA had a special meeting after receiving a letter from the New Plymouth clubs in the Northern Sub-Committee, with the Julian Cup lacking in entries. Only Stratford, Celtic (Hawera) and Albion had entered clubs. Moturoa, Caledonian, Rangers (Fitzroy) along with the club Pirates (New Plymouth) citing travel around Taranaki as detrimental to the progress of their junior competitions. A resolution was made by Mr. G.Littlejohn, that was met with approval by all the club representatives, except Rangers who had to consult their players. Moturoa's first game was scheduled for the 10th of May against Pirates,[111] the result being a 5–1 win.[112] By the 19th of May, Rangers had dropped out for the season. Moturoa played Hawera club Celtic away at King Edward Park in a fast game. Moturoa won the toss and Celtic kicked off against the sun. Moturoa immediately set up a hot attack and Wartles saved a hot one from McKay. Cockrell sent well down for G. Maloney to test Moturoa keeper Grey who cleared well. Midfield play followed for a spell and Cowie passed out to Smith, who centred well. Maloney put in a shot and Roper, in clearing, deflected into his own goal. Shortly afterwards Moturoa set up a snappy attack and from a scramble in front of the Celtic goal Bell headed the ball into his own goal, with Hartle well out. Hartle saved well from McKay, but had to concede a corner which was fruitless. Half time 1-1. The second spell started with a stinging attack by Moturoa. Reece cleared and from then on for 20 minutes Celtic dominated the game, Moturoa being confined to their own half. The Maloney Bros, were playing a sparkling game, and .T. Maloney made a solo effort and netted with a cross shot giving Grey no chance. Five minutes later G. Maloney scored after good combination amongst the whole Celtic forwards. Moturoa played up after this reverse and for some time it looked as if they would score, but the defence was too sound. In the gathering dusk it was hard to distinguish one player from another, and the game ended: Celtic 3, Moturoa 1. Mr. Swan refereed.[113] Early June, Moturoa defaulted to Albion. Celtic, Pirates, Caledonian and Stratford managing to field teams. The next weekend Moturoa beat Hawera 2–1 at New Plymouth.[114] In early July Moturoa was drawn to play Stratford away in the first round of the Chinese Cup.[115] A match day later, Stratford became the winners of the Chinese Cup for the season beating Hawera. Stratford AFC did not accept another challenge for the Chinese Cup until 1935, holding the trophy uncontested until a match with Hawera was played. From this point in time the Chinese Cup appears to vanish with no record of the trophy beyond the Second World War. Moturoa faced Caledonian in a 4–4 draw for the Duff Cup (Duff Rose Bowl) the same weekend as the Chinese Cup final.[116]

The second annual six-a-side association football tournament lor the Priest Shield was held at Western Park, New Plymouth in early August with the Telegraph Press Association reporting, "Rain fell intermittently throughout the afternoon and some of the games were played in heavy showers. The ground was sodden and the players found it very difficult to secure a foothold. Owing to the weather the attendance was poor. The winners throughout played fine football and thoroughly deserved their ultimate victory. Albion B also gave an excellent display. A feature of the tournament was the fine play of a Maori team. These lads gave the runners-up a. good, game and, indeed, Albion B were lucky to secure a victory -over them. Moturoa also played well throughout. Details of the play are: First round. Moturoa A 1 v. Pirates B 0. Pirates A 1 v. Moturoa B 1. Caledonians B 3 v. Albion A 0. Albion A won from Caledonian A by default. Maoris won from Celtic by default. Second round. Moturoa A 2 v. Pirates A 1. Albion B 1 and a corner v. Maoris 1. Caledonian B a bye. Semi-finals. Albion B a bye. Caledonians, who fielded one strong team, found a fairly stout opposition in Moturoa A who were level on the goals, one all, but had only one- corner to Caledonians’ deciding couple. Caledonians were always dangerous, and Johns, the Albion goalie, was bombarded -on several occasions. Crawford scored for Caledonians and Knight tor Moturoa. Final. Caledonians defeated Albion B by two goals to nil. Crawford scored and then Peter Gardner scored from close association with Hill. Harrold, the Albion goalie, was prone to run well out of goal, being caught on one occasion. Three times running, Caledonian attacks went astray. Brown and Bannister were unsuccessful in Albion attempts to score."[117][118]

Moturoa's Mr. F. Roper would be selected for the 1930 Taranaki Representative team, captained by W. H. Stewart and vice-captain A. Beare, making him the first Moturoa player to be selected for a senior Taranaki provincial side.

1931: In attendance at the TFA AGM were Moturoa club delegates, F. Roper and G. Rendell. The draw was made for the Julian Cup with Moturoa playing Albion in the first round.[119]

Moturoa 1931 Priest Shield 6-a-side winners

Moturoa won the annual six-a-side competition for the Priest Shield at New Plymouth in 1931. There were six teams in the competition which was conducted at Western Park. The players in the final for Moturoa were: goal-keeper Roy Johns, R. and F. Roper, Anderson, White, Smith. And for Stratford: Grierson, Thompson, Henderson, O’Shannessey, McGrory, Elgar. The final score was Moturoa - 3 Stratford - 1. White getting a hat-trick for Moturoa.[120]

Moturoa's Thompson and Anderson were members of the North Taranaki side selected by Mr. D. J. Wallace to play South Taranaki in the trial match for the Taranaki team at Eltham. Both players were selected as reserves for the Dr. R. J. R McCredy managed Taranaki side to play Wanganui at Wanganui on the 29th of August. The rest of the 1931 Taranaki team included; in goal, Neighbour (Albion); the backs, Henderson (Stratford) and Beare (Hawera); halves, Rendall, Parkinson and Berry (Albion); forwards, Miller, McGrory, Payne (Stratford), Young and James (Hawera), the other reserves were, Crawford and Gardner (Caledonian) and Ashton (Albion).

1932: In early July in the Duff Rose Bowl competition, Moturoa played Pirates with Harris scoring a hat-trick, along with goals from Shippey, Anderson and Christensen, the final score 6 - 1. [121]

The 1932 season concluded with the annual Priest Shield contest at Western Park. Moturoa exiting in the semi-finals to Albion 2–1.[122] 1932 Albion FC won the treble with the Julian Cup as Taranaki champions, the Duff Rose Bowl, and the Priest Shield tournament.

1933: At the TFA's annual meeting in late April, held at Smith's Tea Rooms in Stratford, Waitara, coming out of hibernation after 20 years, were accepted as an affiliated member of the association, giving further competition for Moturoa and the teams in the Northern sub-association. Albion were congratulated for winning all of the trophies in the prior season. A loan was made of £5 to the northern sub-committee. Moturoa's delegates at the meeting were G.E. Roper and R.J. Page. Times had changed in South Taranaki, with the Stratford and two Hawera clubs listed as inactive. The season start date was set for May the 6th.[123] Stratford turned this around and managed to field a team by May.[123] The Julian Cup became a one-round competition. In all competitions except the Duff Cup, it was decided that the home team retained all the collections taken up at the match. A life sentence handed down to a player from an undisclosed club by the executive for the "unfortunate breach of the rules of good conduct", was reduced by the New Zealand Football Association (NZFA) to a five-year suspension.[123] Moturoa played the newly affiliated Waitara for the first time in the middle of May. The match result being a draw.[124] The week after this significant fixture the club faced Caledonian losing 2–1.[125] Following that match another loss, this time to Albion 6–0.[126] Moturoa played Stratford, at Stratford, in June in their final Julian Cup game for the season. The game ended in a one all draw, both goals from the first half. The Moturoa team list read as follows; Thompson, Roper, Simpson, Anderson, Bensley, Johns, White, Kenny, Christensen, a second Thompson and Grey. The Julian Cup was won again by Albion.[127] The first round of the Duff Rose Bowl saw Moturoa defeat the recent Julian Cup winners Albion, 2–1.[128] In the second week of July the TFA suspended club football as the Taranaki representative team were travelling to Manawatu. An exhibition game of Probables v Possibles at Victoria Park used the remaining local players, with the hope of stimulating interest in the code again in South Taranaki. Moturoa's representatives scheduled to play in the fixture were, R. Kenny, R and F Roper, J. Thompson and A. Smith.[129] The executive of the TFA met on the 11th of July at New Plymouth, Mr. G. E Roper from Moturoa agreed to broadcast talks on the game from local radio station 2XP. His first subject said to be "The Organisation of Association Football in Schools". At this time there was a considerable effort to establish the game in the schools. Stratford reporting that Tokaora and Waingongoro schools had requested balls. The executive considered the report of the referee, Mr. R. Swan, in regards to J. Thompson from Moturoa, and his sending from the field in the match against Waitara at Fitzroy on July 1. Moturoa submitted a resolution and made representations in support, Thomson explained his view of the matter. It was decided to censure Thomson, but to take no further action as it was considered he had been sufficiently punished in being stood down from the Taranaki team that travelled to Manawatu the match day prior. It was also noted in the minutes that Moturoa was to be asked to explain in "counting out" the referee after a recent match.[130] In bad weather in late July, Moturoa played the Pirates in the Duff Rose Bowl. The score, unconfirmed, a probable 0–0 draw.[131]

In 1934 Moturoa defeated this years Taranaki Champion, Stratford, 2–0 in a friendly match at the end of the season at Stratford. This match would be the only loss suffered by Stratford who had won the championship undefeated. The Moturoa side were said to be more even in their play, combining well. W. Thompson scored early from a penalty, with the score remaining 1–0 at half-time. J. Thompson closed the game out late in the second half from a free-kick that "dropped neatly under the bar". Mr. Johns, a Moturoa supporter, stepped in after the absence of appointed referee Mr. E. H. Linnell of Stratford.[132] Moturoa were runners up this year in the Julian Cup. The team included; goalkeeper Atkinson, J. Thompson, Jackson, Anderson, W. Thompson, F. Roper, Christensen, R. Roper, H. Johns and T. White.

Moturoa Football Club (Moturoa School) 1934 Malayan Shield Winners

The Moturoa School team won the Malayan Shield in 1934 with Mr. P. Gardner and Mr. E. Kenny as coaches, and D. Kendall as captain.

Mr P. Gardner and Mr. E. Kenny were the Moturoa club delegates at the Taranaki FA in 1935.[133] Caledonian and the Pirates dissolved with its players mostly joining new club New Plymouth Thistle, including some players from the Stratford AFC. Stratford AFC and New Plymouth Thistle would hold first and second place on the table in 1935, with Hawera, Albion, and Moturoa next, ahead of a resurgent Manaia association football club.

On 29 August 1935, the Auckland Association team played a New Plymouth selection at Western Park. The score at half-time was one goal each, in the second spell the Auckland side scored three more goals for a 4–1 victory. The Aucklanders headed south after the match to play at Wanganui the next day, and at Wellington on the Saturday.[134]

At the conclusion of the 1935 season Stratford again proved successful in retaining the Julian Cup and were runners-up in the Duff Rose Bowl competition, There were six senior and three junior teams playing during the season, including the newly formed Hawera and Manaia teams. Thistle won the Duff Rose Bowl and were runners-up in the Julian Cup. Hawera won the Chinese Residents Cup. The junior grade competition was won by Waitara. Manawatu withdrew from the Lawrence Trophy triangular contest, leaving it to be decided between Taranaki and Wanganui. Wanganui won the contest on goal average over two matches played.[135]

The Taranaki championship was once again split into north and south divisions in 1936 with Moturoa, Albion, Thistle and Stratford in the north and Auroa, Manaia and two teams from the Hawera club south of the mountain. The remaining rounds of the Julian Cup had Moturoa drawn on the 9th to play Albion at the New Plymouth Racecourse ground but the game was forfeited with Moturoa unable to field a team on the Saturday. The same match-day Stratford suffered defeat in the Julian Cup for the first time in two years losing 5–2 to Thistle at Stratford. Late May in the Northern Division, bottom placed Moturoa and second placed Stratford fought out a one-all draw in a Julian Cup game at Stratford. The Stratford press reported, "Fast, keen football was provided, Moturoa had the territorial advantage in the first spell and obtained the first goal. Their backs proved reliable and their halves fed the forwards effectively. Stratford's forward movements lacked finish and the ball was kicked behind or out when it should have been sent to the centre and inside forwards. In the second half Stratford, through better play by the backs and halves, were pressing all the time and undoubtedly should have won the match. Dan Clarke's long grass kicks were a feature of the match, and Les Jones, Jackson and Clements played well. Although Henderson, centre forward, had numerous opportunities, he was well marked and never found the goal. Stratford's only score came from a dribbling rush by Jones. In the Moturoa ranks, P. Gardner was outstanding on attack and defence and both Anderson and Roper, the full-backs, played a solid game. Their kicking and placing was particularly good." Moturoa and Midhirst primary schools played the curtain-raiser. After a keen- closely fought game, Moturoa were victorious by 2 goals to 1. Mr. J. Thomas was referee for both matches.[136] A return match was played when Midhurst travelled to New Plymouth to play Moturoa on the 30th of May. The same weekend Moturoa would play out a 3–3 draw with Albion at the Racecourse no.2 pitch in a strong southerly wind. The Racecourse no.1 pitch hosted Thistle and Stratford with Thistle winning 4–1. The win put Thistle five points clear at the top of the Northern Division. In the final for the Julian Cup Thistle defeated Southern Division winner Hawera B by three goals to nil. The match was played at the Regan Street ground in Stratford. Thistle for the first time all season were well matched and up to half time there was no indication as to which team was likely to win. Hawera had the advantage of a following wind and allowed superiority in the half back line. Hawera faded after half time however the scores 1–1. Thistle quickly added another goal. From then on Plant, the Hawera goalie, was kept constantly busy. Thistle's scorers were Henderson, Hill and Murphy, Stewart scored for Hawera. The teams were: Thistle: J. Rae, Crawford, McKay, Black, Henderson, Scott; Hill, R. Rae, Murdoch, Ryan, Collingwood. Hawera B: Plant, Putts, Cockerill, Kilson, Barker, Olliver; Hart, Langlands, Stewart, Fink, Matheson. Mr J. Thompson was referee. During the season New Plymouth Thistle also used reserve goal-keeper, Pranklie.[137]

Australia toured New Zealand in the winter of 1936,[138][139][140] playing a match against Taranaki on July 15. Australia had amassed 50 goals and conceded only 7 in the two tests and five regional matches played already on the tour before arriving in Taranaki. The second test against New Zealand was won 10–0 by the Australians less than a week before the fixture at the Hawera Showgrounds. The Taranaki squad chosen by Messrs. N. Bremner, J. Thompson & F. Starling would include a front line dominated with players from the New Plymouth Thistle club with Hill, Beckitt, L. Henderson and Collingwood and Hawera's Bowen selected. The halves would include Stratford's Jackson, with Hawera's Starling as captain and Parkinson from the Albion FC. In the backs Crawford from Thistle and C. Henderson from Stratford AFC in front of Hawera's goalkeeper Plant. Moturoa's Peter Gardner was selected as reserve with Cockerill from Hawera.[141] Taranaki's Starling would score from a penalty with Collingwood and Beckitt adding two more goals in a 9–3 defeat to the "Brilliant Australians".[142] The Australian team then left Taranaki and headed to Auckland for the third test on the 18th.

Miss Margaret Way became "the only women secretary of a football association in New Zealand" reported the Thames Star on the 19th of August, recently resuming the responsibility of looking after the affairs of the Taranaki Football Association. Appreciation of Miss Way's keenness was expressed by members of the Council of the New Zealand Football Association when at its meeting a letter was received from her advising the council of her new position.

The 1936 Duff Rose Bowl was won by Hawera in late August after New Plymouth Thistle defaulted the final.[143]

Taranaki played the recently crowned 1936 Wellington champions, Hospital FC of Porirua at Pukekura Park in September. Messrs. T. Murdoch, James and Barker joined the squad from the match against Australia. In fine weather and dry conditions Taranaki took an early two goal lead before Hospital scored twice. In the second spell Hospital score twice more to win the game 4–2. Hill's dangerous curving shots, Moturoa's Peter Gardner and Beckitt combining as a central distributing role to the outside, and the defensive effort of Crawford, Wood and keeper Plant receiving praise in the Taranaki Herald. The referee was Mr. J. Thompson. Midhurst School and a New Plymouth Combined side played out a draw in the curtain-raiser. The Sturmey Shield was presented to West End School jointly with Midhurst School for the years schools competition.

At the annual general of the NZFA on March 19, 1937, a new rule was made in favour of replacements to be adopted throughout New Zealand after a remit from the Otago FA. The rule was made by 17 votes to 3. "We are affiliated to the English FA and we play, under their rules," said Mr. W. G. Bryce, "I don't think we should be loyal to them if we allowed replacements." Other members considered that replacements "would speed up and improve the game" being "better for the public, which paid to see fast football" The Taranaki, Wairarapa, and Wanganui associations delegates opposed the change. One member thought it should apply to the first spell only and be left to the associations or captains to agree upon in interprovincial games suggesting that a special dispensation for the change be sought from the E.F.A. Mr. F. Campbell did not think England would worry anything about a change if New Zealand made it. Earlier in the meeting it was suggested that the association should get permission from the English Football Association to make replacements in the matches to be played with the English amateur team on its tour of New Zealand later in the season. It was stated in regard by Mr. Campbell that there would be "no need except for the test matches as the NZFA was the controller of the game in New Zealand." Stressing the need for replacements Mr. Campbell recalled the farcical situations that arose during the Australian tour of 1936, when ten and sometimes nine men tried to play eleven, no replacements being allowed.[144] FIFA first permitted substitutes in 1958 with the English Football League not allowing a substitute player until 1965/66.

In the pre-season of 1937 Taranaki played Wellington Waterside at New Plymouth. Taranaki won the match 5–2.[145] Waterside would continue on and win the 1937 Wellington championship, and the 1938 Chatham Cup.

Playing at Pukekura Park on 23 May, in a return match for the 1937 Lawrence Trophy, the Taranaki representative team drew with the Wanganui representatives each team scoring 3 goals. Having won the previous match by 3 goals to 1 Taranaki secured the trophy by the margin of 6 goals to 4 on aggregate.[146]

The English Amateur XI toured New Zealand in 1937 accompanied by the seventy year old Charles Wreford-Brown arriving in Auckland on the SS Tamaroa.[147][148] The English were proclaimed, "the Greatest Exponents of Football." and player Ted Collins, "the Fastest Man on a Football Field. He owns Greyhounds and trains with them. Terry Huddle, goalkeeper, 6ft 3in of muscle, can throw the ball as far as the average kick. Every player a star attraction," in an advertisement before the game against Wellington. Arthur Stollery, the future Notts County F.C. manager would be the trainer for the English Amateurs.[149] The Taranaki region would not see a visit from the international English team though a few players were invited to join a Wanganui/Taranaki team that played the English XI on the 17th of June at Cooks Gardens in Wanganui. 2000+ spectators watch a 12 - 0 lesson handed out by the English on a sodden ground in steady rain. The match report from Wanganui in the New Zealand Herald started under the headline "Goalkeeper's Holiday" with the report further explicating, "The Englishmen led 5-nil at halftime, their positional play, and short, snappy passing repeatedly undoing everything that their opponents accomplished. It was a treat to watch the cross-field tactics of the visitors and to note how carefully each kick placed the ball to a waiting team mate. But for the Wanganui goalkeeper, Alex Healey, the score would have been well in the twenties. His performance was remarkable considering that 90 per cent, of the play hovered around his goal. In contrast the English goalkeeper had time to sign autograph books while play was in progress." Apart from Healey, Whiting, left-half, and Proudfoot, left-back, were outstanding in the Wanganui-Taranaki team, which was never anything but a side of individuals. The paper then followed, "The outstanding player on the English side was Bernard Joy, centre-half, who was never extended throughout the match but gave glimpses of what he would be capable of if pressed. The English team never passed the ball to disadvantage, whereas the home players would attempt combination only to find an Englishman ready to accept a pass not intended for him. Roy Matthews scored six goals, Bernard Joy two, William Parr two, and Fred Davies and Tommy Leek one each.[150] Roy Matthews the English forward from Walthamstow Avenue F.C. reached an incredible 26 goals in the nine games of the New Zealand leg of the tour before the side left for Sydney. 1937 tour members, Lester Finch, Frederick Riley, John Sutcliffe, Louis Terry Huddle, Bernard Joy and Corporal Stan Eastham had all been members of the Great Britain Olympic team at the 1936 games in Berlin, Germany.

In 1938 the Moturoa Football Club is constituted.

Waitara AFC won its first title since 1905 by winning the 1938 Taranaki Championship and Julian Cup.

There was no official competition for Taranaki clubs in 1939.

By 1939 the New Plymouth Boys High School had formed a strong following for the code at the school. The Hutton brothers, Simpson and Meuli to note amongst a vast group of above-average sportsmen who played for the High School during the 1940s. Simpson joined Moturoa winning the Duff Rose Bowl in 1946 and 1947 before joining the new City club in 1948. Meuli, already an age-group Taranaki representative, then played for the Victoria University side with Bal Reddy of the Student Association stating in the Salient in 1949, "...add to these (players) Ted Meuli, sharp shooting bombshell from Taranaki, who seems rather out of place in a motley of hacks."[151] Meuli joined Old Boys' after returning to New Plymouth, then switched to Moturoa in the mid 1950s, remaining at the club until 1975. Herb Hutton played for the 1945 Old Boys' side joining Moturoa in 1946.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force team from the airbase in the New Plymouth Airport at Bell Block won the Taranaki Championship in 1940.

There was no official competition until 1943 due to the war.

The RNZAF won the Taranaki Championship once again in 1943.

In 1944 the A.T.C. No.8 Squadron won the Taranaki Junior Competition. The Air Force team was captained by Mr. K. Whittle who would join Moturoa FC in 1945. Mr. H. Hall was the teams' coach, Watson the deputy-captain, Frost, Ryan, Kingstone, Eustace, Mace, Spence, Kirkland, Crow and future Old Boys' life-member Mr. Ces Riches.

Old Boys' won the Taranaki championship in 1944 and 1945.

Moturoa A.F.C - 1946 Duff Rose Bowl and Priest Shield winners

In 1946 Albion FC won the Taranaki Championship, its first since 1933. Moturoa won the Duff Rose Bowl and Priest Shield. The team had W. Connett, W. Ramsdale and captain Norm Quinlan from the 1934 Moturoa School Malayan Shield winning team in its ranks, joined by K. Whittle, A. Fowles, K. Lovell, W. Smith, R. Wilmhurst, R. Simpson (v-capt.), H. Hutton, P. Lawlor and G. Dutton.

The Albion FC won the 1947 Taranaki Championship. It would be the club's fifth and final time to be crowned Taranaki champions.

The 1947 Duff Rose Bowl was won by Moturoa.

At a meeting of the TFA in June 1947, "bitter complaints" on the subject of national selection were heard. The executive of the Taranaki Football Association decided to protest to the New Zealand Football Association because the minor associations had not been given an opportunity to be represented in the New Zealand team to play the visiting Springboks. The New Zealand association was to be asked if the Taranaki and Wanganui senior elevens could play their first match for the Lawrence Trophy as a curtain-raiser to the first of the two matches against the Springboks to be played at Wellington. The request arose from criticism by Mr J. Hill of the method of the New Zealand selection. He said the method was unfair with the exception of Kidd from Wanganui who was in "because he played for Wanganui against Wellington the previous season". All players in the New Zealand trial were from the four main centres.[152] The Springboks side won the four tests against New Zealand. The second match in Wellington, the third test of the tour, was won 8–3 by South Africa.[153] In the curtain-raiser Wanganui beat Taranaki by 4 goals to nil, the scorers being Scott (3) and J. Kidd.[154]

The City club was constituted in 1948 giving New Plymouth a fourth football club joining Albion, Old Boys' and Moturoa. These clubs were then joined by the Overseas FC and the New Plymouth Boys' High School XI at the start of the new decade.

Former President of the Taranaki Football Association and Labour MP Harry Duynhoven.[155]

Moturoa Football Club has competed for the Chatham Cup since 1949.[177]

Moturoa were beaten 6–1 at New Plymouth's Western Park by the Manawatu's Ohakea in 1949. Ohakea would then be knocked out by Wellington second division side Petone FC. The Press Association in Wellington, under the headline "Imported Talent In Chatham Cup Competition", said of the North Island semi-final between Petone and Ohakea, "it will to some extent be a match between Association football home teams away from home. The Ohakea team will comprise five Englishmen, four Scotsmen, two Irishmen and one Welshman. The match will probably provide a precedent insofar as both teams will take the field without a single New Zealand-born player."[178] Petone went on to win the cup final.

In the 1950 Chatham Cup, Moturoa were once again drawn against the Ohakea side, this time away in the Manawatu. Moturoa went down by one goal in a high scoring match 5–4.

The Moturoa club shirt colour from this time was dark blue and white quarters with white/black shorts and black socks, resembling that of the 1940s Bristol Rovers F.C. kit style.[179]

The Moturoa club secretary in 1949/50/51 was goal-keeper Mr. W. Ramsdale who lived at Young Street, New Plymouth. The Overseas Football Club emerged in New Plymouth this year, with Mr. R. Wilmhurst from the mid 1940s Moturoa team as its secretary. Overseas would play in all orange. Other clubs existing in Taranaki from this time would be City who played in green and white stripes, Old Boys in white, Stratford in red and black stripes, Inglewood in maroon, Hawera in dark blue, the New Plymouth Boys High School in black and white stripes, and Albion in red and white quarters.

In 1951 the Moturoa AFC went into recess. Partially triggered from the effects of the waterfront dispute of this year felt on the Moturoa community. Mr. W. Ramsdale joined Old Boys.

The Albion Football Club would play its last few games. Formed in 1912 in New Plymouth the club won every trophy in Taranaki but the Chinese Cup, with its best season in 1932 when it won the treble; the Julian Cup, the Duff Rose Bowl, and the Priest Shield.

Old Boys' won the Taranaki championship, with City as runners-up. Stratford AFC won the B-division with the High School first XI runners-up.[180]

1952: Overseas FC won the Taranaki Championship lifting the Julian Cup and enter the Chatham Cup. Drawn against the Settlers from Wanganui, the tie was replayed after the first match at Western Park was abandoned after the 75' with the Settlers ahead 2–0. The second game at Cooks Garden ended 3–3 with the match then decided on a coin toss won by the New Settlers.

1953: Overseas play in the Taranaki final of the Chatham Cup against City losing 5–2 at Western Park. City play Wanganui Settlers in the next round at Cooks Garden resulting in a 4–4 draw being decided 3–2 on corners with the Settlers once again going through. Overseas FC disbanded at the end of this season and its players join Moturoa.

In 1954 Moturoa AFC comes out of recess with a new shirt colour of red, with white shorts and red and black/red and white hooped socks. Life member Mr. Hans Halder began his first of 25 years as MAFC President. Mr. Herbert Hutton, life-member and first team player from 1945 to 1965, would resume the role of MAFC Secretary continuing until stepping down in 1972. The Moturoa FC goal-keeper at the time was George "Hollywood" Thompson.

In the 1954 Chatham Cup Moturoa defeated Wanganui New Settlers 1–0, followed by a 4–2 victory against Palmerston North End. The next match was a home draw at Western Park, the North Island Quarter Final, in which Moturoa were soundly beaten 3–0 by the current Wellington champion Stop Out. Stop Out, one of the countries top sides of the time, would win the 1956 Chatham Cup

In 1955 Kiwi United knock Taranaki qualifiers, Old Boys' out in early August 5–2.

Moturoa won the 1956 Taranaki Championship lifting the Julian Cup for the first time.

In the 1956 Chatham Cup, Moturoa beat the Wanganui New Settlers at Western Park 5–3, after being drawn 2 goals each at full-time, with goals from Theo Verbeet (2), J. Gardiner (2), and Hans Speck.[181] In the next round Moturoa travelled to South Park, Masterton. Masterton Athletic had knocked out Kiwi United at Palmerston North and Napier Athletic at home to reach the cup tie. Moturoa scored twice late but went down 3 - 6 to a Masterton Athletic side that would draw Stop Out in the next round, losing 3 - 7 at Masterton. Stop Out would then beat Eastern Suburbs in the Island final and Shamrock in the final to become champions.[182]

Ted Meuli[183] begins to play for the club throughout this time after spending his prior years with New Plymouth rivals, Old Boys' and the Victoria University side.[184]

1957: An away game for Moturoa at Cooks Garden against the Wanganui Settlers was lost 4–2.

1958: Stratford AFC qualified as Taranaki preliminary winners, and then were knocked out by Kiwi United 3–2 at Western Park, New Plymouth.

Taranaki V Australia August 19th 1958 Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

On 19 August 1958, a Taranaki Combined side played Australia B at Pukekura Park in front of 7000 spectators. Australia, managed by Mr. Harold Barwick, were on a ten-game tour of New Zealand, coming off a five match series with Blackpool F.C.earlier in the year. "The visitors dribbled and swerved their way to a well-deserved 8 - 1 win. Both teams played good football but the Australians had far more understanding and cohesion. The Taranaki defence worked hard during the game and came out well at the end. Had it not been for them the score might of reached astronomical proportions. As a match it was a little one-sided, but as an exhibition of football it was worth watching," were the words of the Photo News reporter at the match. In the Taranaki side were; B. Vennik, J. Half, W. Pye, D. Evans, I. McMillan, J. Hurn, G. Nicholson, W. Beech, R. Griffin, G. Bellchambers and E. Meuli. The Australian side included; William Firkins, Harry Murdoch, Kevin O'Neill, Gordon Nunn, Bob Wemyss, Jack Mather, Norm Rule, Emmanuel Vella, Spencer Kitching, Frank Loughran and Bruce Morrow. Griffin for Taranaki scored in the 13', then Australia settled with Loughran scoring a hat-trick including a penalty. Kitching scored in the 44', Nunn the 49', and Morrow in the 88'. The referee was Mr. A.V. Cooper.

1959: Moturoa beat Stratford at Western Park 4–1, starting one of the best cup runs in the club's history. In the next round Wanganui Athletic were beaten 3–1 at Cooks Gardens. In the next round Napier Athletic travelled across to New Plymouth, Moturoa the only Taranaki team to have reached the North Island semi-finals of the Chatham Cup repeated their success by winning 6–0 at Western Park. The team comprised Les Humphries, Herbie Hutton, captain Alun Evans, goalkeeper Gerald Gregory, David Mayhead, Attila Varga, Gavin Collett, Ted Meuli, Les Woolcott, Hans Speck, Theo Verbeet, Ray Hutton and Johnnie Marshall. Moturoa would travel next to the North Island semi-final at the Basin Reserve in Wellington to play Miramar Rangers, going down 3–2.

The 1960 season is one of most successful in the club's history. Starting with the Kawerau Town pre-season tournament and ending with the club representing Taranaki and bringing home the Brown Shield for the first and only time[185] by defeating Poverty Bay in the final of the tournament.

Moturoa "completely dominated" the first round of the Chatham Cup 6–0 against the Settlers at Wanganui. The match was watched by one of the New Zealand national team selectors, Mr. A. Kidd. At half-time the score was 4–0. Lázsló Varga scored two "fine goals", right wing Rex Holmes scored twice, along with Attila Varga and Ted Meuli bagging one each. After the contest, Mr. Kidd was reported saying "there was indeed some promising material in the Moturoa side". The match report went on to state, "It was the first time this term Moturoa has really adopted itself to playing a full 90 minutes of football and for the first time too, movements which have failed to materialise in competition matches in the province were successful". Ken MacDonald, fresh off a hat-trick for the reserves at Waitara two days prior was said to have, "acquitted himself well at centre forward in the second spell".[186]

In the 1960 Chatham Cup North Island quarter-final, Manawatu's champion Kiwi United were beaten on their home patch at the Sportsground, Palmerston North. Kiwi United, the Manawatu FA's champion for the third consecutive year, had beaten Napier Athletic 6–0 in the previous round. Moturoa won by a single goal in a high scoring 4–3 result. In the North Island semi-final a crowd of more than a thousand saw a hard-fought tussle between two evenly balanced champion teams at Western Park. Northern the current Wellington champion, and soon to be Venus Shield winner, had beaten Railways 5–2 at the Basin Reserve before winning a two-leg Wellington Final against Seatoun 4–2 to advance to the away match in New Plymouth. Moturoa took a 2–0 lead into half-time, having to play hard in the second spell before scoring again. Northern scored their solitary goal in the dying minutes, the match ending 3–1. In the North Island Final, Moturoa travelled to Auckland to play North Shore United at Blandford Park. Many of the team travelled by bus to Auckland the day before the match, staying at a boarding hostel, the few remaining players, left in New Plymouth due to work commitments, flew to Auckland in the evening. The match at the legendary home of Auckland football ended in disaster, the score 10–2, Moturoa crashing out of the cup in one of the heaviest losses in the club's history. North Shore's captain was Ken Armstrong who had won the English first division with Chelsea in 1955. The roughly fifty year-old Blandford Park would be erased in the mid 1960s in the construction of a new motor-way leaving the fixture as the only time the Moturoa Football Club would play at the famous ground.

Taranaki F.A.1960 Brown Shield winners

The 1960 Brown Shield results for Taranaki were; round one v Wanganui 6–1, round two v Manawatu 4–3, semi-final v Bay of Plenty 3–1 and the final v Poverty Bay 2–1.[187] The Poverty Bay side beaten by Taranaki in the Brown Shield[188] final were the FA Trophy[189] holders at the time having beaten Auckland to win it. The Taranaki Brown Shield winning team of 1960 consisted of the players, Gavin Collett, Attila Varga, Gerald Gregory (GK), Herb Hutton, Mike Fugett, Johnnie Marshall (captain), Lázsló Varga, Alun Evans, Lotsy Polyanszky and Theo Verbeet all from Moturoa AFC, along with T. Hawley and coach, Mr C. Wells. 

In 1961 Moturoa competed in the Northern Association for the Sportlife Trophy. The trophy presented by A. D. Organ Esq. for inter-club competition was first played for on June 10 between Eastern Union, Moturoa AFC, Eastern Suburbs AFC and Blockhouse Bay, and won by the Lilywhites after a one all draw with Blockhouse Bay in the final was decided by the toss of a coin. The tournament would run twice in 1961, the second time in mid-October when Mt Wellington AFC hosted the tournament. Moturoa and Huntly Thistle AFC were invited with Eastern Suburbs reserving the right to play the winner after returning the trophy. On the evening of the 21st, Moturoa were special guests of the Mt. Wellington AFC at the Panmure R.S.A. Club Hall for a social and dance.

In the 1961 Chatham Cup, Moturoa played City winning 4–0 at Western Park. In June, Wanganui Settlers were defeated 3–2 at the Oval in Wanganui. Moturoa travelled across to Napier facing Napier Rovers in the next round losing 4–0.

The New Zealand Minor Provinces selection played the visiting England FA XI captained by Sir Tom Finney, on 7 June 1961 at McLean Park, Napier.[190] The English side included many recent Olympians. Laurie Brown & Michael Greenwood would play in the match. Finney and Bobby Brown both scored hat-tricks, Johnny Fantham and Jim Lewis bagged two each. Bobby Moore was in the touring side among Alan A'Court, Ray Charnley, Hugh Lindsay, Fred Else, Grenville Hair, Graham Shaw and Colin Appleton, George Hannah, Mike Pinner, Gerry Summers, Bryan Thurlow. Moturoa's Johnnie Marshall originally from Fulham, Manawatu's Hungarian striker Andre Polyanszky, Waikato's Arthur Leong from Guangzhou, China, with fellow New Zealand representative, Eastern Union' Bert Ormond, who had played over 50 matches for Falkirk F.C. in Scotland took the field, along with Northern Ireland's Linfield F.C. product, Northern player and New Zealand representative Jim Bell, Wanganui's Bellchambers, goalkeeper Ron Leaky from the great Poverty Bay side, Henderson, Eyles, McGhee, Bell, Stewart and reserves; Webber, McMillan and W. Clark. The Minor Provinces team would see a 4–0 halftime scoreline blow-out to a massive 13–0. Not one of the Minor Provinces players in the match was born in New Zealand. The match played in front of 6000 spectators was the third in five days for the English and their fourth in New Zealand.[191] Ray Charnley, Blackpool F.C. and both Graham and Joe Shaw from Sheffield United F.C. toured New Zealand again with their respective sides in 1965 to play for the B.O.A.C trophy.[192]

One of Moturoa AFC's best cup performances came in 1962, winning four home games at Western Park before travelling to the Waikato after reaching the North Island Chatham Cup final for the second time in three years. In the Taranaki preliminary final Moturoa had beaten New Plymouth Old Boys 1–0. In the first round Wanganui Athletic were defeated 1–0. In the second round St. Andrews were beaten 6–1. A quarter final with Seatoun AFC was won 3–1, leading to a semi-final against Hamilton Technical Old Boys. Technical Old Boys won 4–0 in a match played before about 2000 people at Seddon Park becoming the first North Island club outside of Auckland or Wellington to qualify for the final. Which spoke volumes for Moturoa, not only because they faced a Hamilton team with three New Zealand internationals, but Technical proceeded to beat Otago's Northern – who had won the 1961 cup, 4–1 in the final.[193]

The 1963 Chatham Cup for Moturoa concluded with St. Andrews being beaten 5–2 at Western Park before a trip to Wembley Park for the quarter-final against Wanganui United in a game full of incidents and minor injuries. The score was locked 3–3 at full-time, in the first spell of extra-time Wanganui struck three times. The fitness of the United side aided by the sound forward line, proved the trump card. Both teams had taken a long time to settle down, Laci Varga had tested the Wanganui goal-keeper Mick Remfrey with a fine shot early but Remfrey put the ball over the crossbar. Toyne opened the scoring for Wanganui before inside-left Ken McDonald capitalised on slow clearing to send in an equaliser. Moturoa then took the lead after Varga centred to J. McManus who hit a first-timer past Remfrey with the ball striking the cross-bar and hitting the ground, the referee Mr. Seddon awarding the goal. Moturoa began to dictate the play until Toyne beat Moturoa goal-keeper W. Gilliat with a corner shot to make it 2–2 at half-time. After the break Webber scored again for Wanganui, the score 3–2, until United's Ram thinking he had heard the whistle picked the ball up, from the resulting free-kick Moturoa gained a corner and from the resultant melee scored. In the closing stages of the second half Toyne hit the post three times for Wanganui. Olding and Webber scored the goals for United in extra-time, with an own goal to Moturoa's advantage. By this stage both teams were affected by injuries, Moturoa losing Varga with 10' to go. The final score 6–4. Wanganui United entered the semi-final against the winner of the Wellington section, Marist, that match at the Basin Reserve in July finishing 3–1 to Marist.[194]

In 1964 the club changes the playing kit colour to white shirts, red shorts and white socks. Mr. Les Woolcott becomes Moturoa AFC club chairman. Wanganui United were the opponent this time at Western Park. Almost the same thing happened as the season before only this time Moturoa started like champions and scored two goals within minutes, but after a change the Moturoa forward line were completely mastered by a virile and fast United defence. Playing far below their standard Moturoa held on to full-time though it was a case of how soon United could score the goals to win, it transpired that at full-time the two teams had scored two goals each. In extra-time United scored four more goals, the 6–2 defeat ended the cup for Moturoa. Goal-keeper Bob Dykes was said to have "played brilliantly" for Moturoa saving many almost certainties and Laci Varga "the tower of strength" for Moturoa saving the situation time and time again.[195]

In the 1965 Chatham Cup, Moturoa were beaten in the 3rd round in an upset 3–2 at Waitara. Waitara had beaten a tenacious Spotswood, while Moturoa had overcome Old Boys 3–1. Waitara scored three goals in the first quarter of an hour against Spotswood, taking the lead into half-time before Spotswood staging a come-back took the game to 4–4, in extra time Spotswood scored first before Waitara scored twice, running out winners 6–5.[196] Waitara would continue on and defeat Wanganui United 3–1 in the fourth round at Wanganui, before departing the competition in round five with a 2–0 loss at Western Park to Hawkes Bay's champion Napier Rovers. Rovers had beaten Shamrock, Napier HSOB, Hastings United and Palmerston North Thistle before meeting the Taranaki's northernmost club coined the "Giant Killers" in the September's New Plymouth Photo News. In the 1965 Queens Birthday 7-a-side tournament for the Borrie Skilton Cup, Moturoa B lost the final against Spotswood 4–0. Spotswood also won the Acheson Cup as 1965 TFA Division Two champions. Future Taranaki United striker Rod Grant played for the champion 1965 Spotswood side.[196]

In 1966 Moturoa AFC began wearing the full red playing kit for the first time. Long sleeve shirts, with modern cut shorts in the new synthetic fabrics of the time. In round two of the Chatham Cup, Waitara were beaten 6–3. In round three New Plymouth United were beaten 6–0. The next match was between Moturoa and Masterton Athletic. At the end of full-time the scores were 2–2, with fading light and in the final minutes of extra-time, Moturoa notched three more goals for a 5–2 victory, Masterton's keeper W. Welsh was Athletic's saviour in the game saving a penalty and a continuous barrage of shots, courtesy of the Moturoa forwards.[197] In round five Napier Rovers were beaten 4–2. In a replay of the 1959 Chatham Cup Quarter-Final, Moturoa were stopped by eventual winners of the 1966 Chatham Cup, Miramar Rangers.[198] Its side featuring the country's leading goalkeeper at the time Peter Whiting. Rangers on this occasion travelling to New Plymouth's Western Park winning the tie 3–0. The first half was said to be "one of the best games seen at Western Park in years", Moturoa's John Borrell, Fin McDonald and Dave Grady playing well. Moturoa's goal-keeper Ken Dalton was kept busy all afternoon with Miramar mounting one attack after another.[199]

1967 Taranaki Chatham Cup Final. Moturoa V United

1967: Old Boys were beaten 3–0 in round one, New Plymouth United who had beaten Waitara 3–0 in the first round were beaten 6–3 in round two. In round three, Moturoa took a drubbing from Napier Rovers[200] 6–2 at Napier.

1968: In round three Moturoa beat Old Boys 4–2. Round four becomes the first meeting between clubs Moturoa AFC and Western Suburbs FC. Wests won the match 4–2 at New Plymouth. Later in the season Taranaki played Fiji. The Taranaki team included Donald Harris, Mark Mana, Scotsman Jimmy Clark, Johnny Marshall, Ted Meuli and reserve Dave Grady from Moturoa, Inglewood's Bob Klouwens formerly from Stratford AFC & goal-keeper Richard Stephens, United's Ken McDonald & Jim Law along with reserves P. Springer and M. Berry, Hawera's Colin Burrows and Dave Marrison with reserve J. Gardiner from City. On the Fijian side was Satish Datta who had played for Moturoa in the Central Districts Premier Division in 1967. The Fijian team, its players from the Lautoka, Ba and Rewa clubs, won the game 5–4 in front of 1200 spectators at Pukekura Park.

1969: New Plymouth United are beaten 7–0. In round three Old Boys and Moturoa play out a 1 all draw. The match decided by corners and awarded to Moturoa. In round four Moturoa beat Wanganui Athletic 3–1 at Wanganui. Round five results in a 4–2 loss away to Palmerston City.

1970: A 2–0 loss to Old Boys ends this years Chatham Cup. Moturoa won the 1970 Duff Rose Bowl.

1971 Chatham Cup, round three, a 5–1 win versus NP United. In round four another drawn match against Old Boys, 1 all, won on corners by Moturoa. In round five 1970 finalists Western Suburbs FC knocked Moturoa out of the cup 7–1 at Western Park and go on to the Chatham Cup title. The match was the first visit of a National League club to the province since the league's inception. Five of the six Suburbs players selected in the Wellington squad to play Wales within the next fortnight travelled to New Plymouth. The Suburbs team included Andy Polyanszky, brother of Lotsy Polyanszky from the champion 1960 Moturoa team, and future Moturoa coach John Connor. Never afraid to attack, Moturoa lined up in a 2–5–3 formation with goal-keeper J.McCarthy, D. Harris, M. Mana and J.Hope the defensive line, J. Marshall and J. Collett as defensive midfielders and R. Paul, T. Horsman, E. Ted Meuli, K. Parkes and S. Brown leading the attack.

1972: Moturoa beat Spotswood United 8–0 in round two and Old Boys 4–1 in round three. The heavy loss inflicted by Western Suburbs the previous season was avenged in the 1972 Chatham Cup with Moturoa, captained by D. Harris, staging an upset by knocking out Suburbs, the holders out of the Chatham Cup, with a fourth round 1–0 win. An early goal from Moturoa's Archie Smith coupled with a tenacious defensive effort sealed the win. Gisborne City were drawn at home in round five, Western League club Moturoa failed to find the back of the net against the mid-table National League side with four goals the difference.

1973: Moturoa United lose 2–0 to Old Boys in the Chatham Cup, the resources spread on a travelling Western League team, Central League team.

1974: New Plymouth City were beaten 3–0 in round two. Stratford AFC were beaten 4–1 in round three. In round four Porirua United beat Moturoa 2–1 at New Plymouth.

1975: Moturoa United were beaten by Central City in round two of Chatham Cup. Moturoa B won the 1975 Duff Rose Bowl final against Central after extra-time with 10 men after striker Brian Dick was sent off mid-way through the second half. A goal by Central in the first period of extra time seemed to put the match beyond doubt until striker Jeff Collett capped a Moturoa fightback with the equaliser and then the winner. The newspaper's report stated regarding Collett, "whenever he was given the ball with room to move he was dangerous" followed by "It's a pity his class has not been utilised by Taranaki United in the Central League".[201]

1976: The formation of the Taranaki Football Company produces the composite team Taranaki United. The team would play in the Central League third division and also enter the Chatham Cup. In round one Moturoa AFC, a partner in the Taranaki Football Company, take a heavy 6–0 loss against the Taranaki United team.

1977: A round one fixture for Moturoa AFC against Opunake ends in a 2–2 stalemate. Penalties decide the tie with Opunake taking the honours in an upset, 3–1.

1978: 5–0 victories, versus Waitara in round one and over Central City in round two. Round three Taranaki United were drawn and the tie was lost 3–0.

1979: In a boil over, Moturoa defeated Taranaki United 4–2 in the first round, sending the local Central League side out of the competition. In round two, the first, and so far only Chatham Cup fixture between Eltham AFC and Moturoa results in a 2–3 upset result in favour of the 'Galaxy'. Eltham had returned to local football in 1974, reforming after a lengthy hiatus away from the code, with men's and women's sides assembling at the Tayler Street Ground. Eltham AFC won the 1906 Taranaki Championship and Julian Cup while playing at Taumata Park with the town the base for the Taranaki Football Association for a number of years prior to the First World War.

The Onuku Taipari Domain officially becomes new home for the Moturoa AFC with a new clubrooms built by volunteers and supporters next to the pre-existing Spotswood Residents Hall and Scout Club on Ngamotu Road.

1982: Moturoa AFC amalgamate with Spotswood AFC. At the annual general meeting of the Spotswood AFC in February 1982 at the college music suite the outgoing committee recommended the amalgamation to encompass the junior players from Devon Primary, Devon Intermediate School and Spotswood College under one flag. The Spotswood AFC provided a guiding brief through a controller to each school.

At the Opunake Annual 7-a-side tournament in 1982 Moturoa entered three teams. Moturoa C would win group IV ahead of Barnstoneworth United with Moturoa B in sixth, Moturoa A would come second to Stop Out in group V. The final was won by Old Boys with a single goal against New Plymouth United. The Central City Panthers won the women's final against Old Boys.[202]

AFC Bournemouth toured New Zealand and in early June played a Taranaki Invitation XI at Pukekura Park in front of 750 spectators in blustery weather and slippery conditions. At the time of the tour AFC Bournemouth had just won promotion to Football League Third Division. The AFC Bournemouth team included; Ian Leigh, John Impey, Brian Mundee, Chris Sulley, Milton Graham, Nigel Spackman, Keith Williams, Howard Goddard and Derek Dawkins. Injuries would see Bournemouth's coach Harry Redknapp and manager David Webb take the field for the English side playing its seventh game in fifteen days around the North Island. AFC Bournemouth, who scored 27 goals on the tour, had conceded only two before the match in New Plymouth, one against the Franklin County XI from Frank Verheyen and the other against Napier City Rovers scored by Graeme Hill. On Bournemouth's team list were also Brian O'Donnell, Andy Crawford, Richard Donovan, Tommy Heffernan, Phil Brignull and keeper Kenny Allen. Taranaki, playing in a gold coloured strip, won the match 2–1. It would be the only loss the Cherries would experience on their eight match national tour. Coached by Don Harris and assistant Chris MacIntosh, the Taranaki XI included captain Barry Cooper, Dan Hook and Wayne Gould from Moturoa-Spotswood AFC, keeper Hugh Davidson and Peter Burmester from Old Boys, Hawera's Peter Bodnar, City's Peter Dolan, Taranaki United's John Russell, Steve Lazarus, Schane Manley, Mick Mayhew and reserve keeper Wayne Martin with two guest players from Manurewa AFC, Kevin Birch and Mark Donaghue.

In the first half of the match in New Plymouth, Bournemouth had the better of the territory but the Taranaki side defended well and keeper Davidson dealt competently with the deep crosses that Bournemouth sent over. In the 27th minute Mayhew, playing as a left sided striker, won the ball and sent it through to Mark Donaghue who ran free of the Bournemouth defence, drew keeper Leigh and scored. Early in the second half, being a goal down, Bournemouth began to exert pressure on the Taranaki defence but its speed and ability to retain possession and switch play quickly had met its match against Lazarus, Hook, Cooper and Burmester. Redknapp was doing a great deal of probing down the right-flank and the visitors missed a good opportunity to level the scores when Goddard shot over the top with only Davidson to beat. In the 69th minute a Redknapp/Goddard move saw a through ball judged to perfection for Sulley to level the scores. There was now plenty of action for Davidson who impressed with his clean handling of the ball but had a slice of luck when he tipped a Mundee shot on to the bar which then rebounded between two Bournemouth forwards following up. Taranaki's second came in the 75th minute when a fine move out of defence saw Manley push the ball through to Birch. His shot was parried by the keeper, but Mark Donoghue following up, hit the winner home. Manley and Bodnar were replaced with John Russell and Wayne Gould not long after the goal. Russell and Gould had started playing as juniors at Moturoa in the 1970s. Later the press would excuse an AFC Bournemouth side looking tired at the end, "Possibly a hurried tour of New Zealand at the end of a demanding English season had taken its toll," in the Taranaki Herald. The Taranaki side's victory was said to be "attained through total concentration, some skill, honest guts and some good luck." by the Herald.

1980 to 1984: Moturoa did not enter the Chatham Cup.

1985: A 3–1 round one victory at home against Wanganui City. In round two Palmerton North End were drawn away and had the fortune to see Moturoa lose their keeper early on and yet only concede defeat after extra-time, the result 3–1.

1986: Moturoa play Woodleigh Cosmos in round two at Onuku Taipari with 7–0 the score. In round three Masterton were drawn away, the result a 2–0 loss.

1987: In round two Wanganui East Athletic were beaten 3–2. In round three Wellington's Stokes Valley were beaten at home in the capital with a comprehensive 3–0 victory for Moturoa AFC. In round five National League club Napier City Rovers hosted at Onuku Taipari Domain, the match resulting in a 5–1 loss for Moturoa.

1988: Levin United are well beaten in round two at Moturoa 4–1. In round three the Hawkes Bay's Taradale host Moturoa and win the match 3–0.

1989: Massey University travel to New Plymouth and snatch a 2–1 victory ending Moturoa City's challenge.

1990: Did not enter.

1991: Woodleigh Cosmos were beaten 1–0 at home. Lower Hutt City from a division higher in the Central League, were drawn in round two with a 5–1 loss ending the cup for Moturoa.

1992: Did not enter.

1993: Red Sox were played at Palmerston North in round two, the 2–1 result ending another spell competing for the Chatham Cup. Moturoa AFC would not enter again until 1999.

1999: Wellington United were beaten at Newtown Park in a 4–3 round two upset. In round three Paraparaumu United visited Onuku Taipari Domain and left as winners 4–2.

2000: Red Sox Riverside were destroyed 5–0 at home in round two, leading to a match with Wellington's Waterside Karori. The capital city team, third place in the Capital Premier League in 2000, were sent from the competition, a 2–1 win for Moturoa setting up a fourth round tie against Island Bay United in Wellington. After 120 minutes of play and no score the match went to penalties with Island Bay taking it 4–3.

2001: Wainuiomata made the trip to New Plymouth for the round two match with Moturoa winning the game 2–1. In the away fixture in round three Wellington Olympic narrowly took the game 3–2.

2002: In the first Chatham Cup meeting between the two Taranaki clubs, Hawera FC were beaten 7–1 at New Plymouth. A replay from the third round of 1988 was drawn next with Moturoa again travelling to Taradale but this time returning victorious 3–1. Manawatu were met in round four with the National League team handing out a 6–1 drubbing in Palmerston North.

2003–2007 Did not enter

2008: Round one loss versus Valeron Wanderers 2–1.

2009: Byes in rounds one and two. In round three Taradale win 4–0.

2010: 2015 Did not enter

2016: First Chatham Cup match between Moturoa and New Plymouth Rangers results in a round two loss 2–0.

Moturoa AFC was invited to join the provincial leagues in 1962 after the formation of the No.2 Central Districts League to compete for the Elwood Cup.

Moturoa AFC won the Central Districts League in 1964, as Taranaki's representative. The same year the club won the 1964 Taranaki Championship and Julian Cup for the sixth consecutive year, completing a treble by also winning the 1964 Duff Rose Bowl. The 1964 Champion team included players; Mark Mana, Fin McDonald, Laci Varga, Hugh McLaughlin, Alun Evans, Royle Hutton, goalkeeper D. Oliver, Herbert Hutton, Ken McDonald, Dave Grady, John Hope, L. Wilson and Edward Meuli. Mike Fugett was the sides Captain with deputy, 'the Sheriff' Johnnie Marshall. The team coached by K. Heaysman with Leslie Woolcott as the Manager.

Moturoa formed a strong reserve team and in 1965 the second XI won the Taranaki FA Acheson Cup playing in the local second division. Spotswood AFC, the preliminary Acheson cup winner, and City were promoted to the first division after 5 matches, carrying their points with them. The Moturoa first XI won the first division with 12 matches played, 11 were won with a single defeat, 85 goals were scored and 15 conceded. Moturoa as Taranaki champions entered the Central Districts League in 1965. It was open to regional representative teams but Moturoa, Diamond and Athletic AFC (Wairarapa) entered as clubs against the Hawkes Bay, Wanganui and Manawatu regional teams. Diamond, Wellington's Venus Shield winner, won the title undefeated with Moturoa finishing fourth.

In 1966 the Central Districts League split into a Western League and a Nelson-Manawatu league. Moturoa played in the Western League for the Pearce Cup finishing third behind Thistle and Kiwi United. In the first match of the season Moturoa hosted Thistle at Western Park and played out a draw. The Taranaki Photo News, praised the fine goalkeeping of Moturoa custodian Ken Dalton, and the "very attractive football" between the teams, suggesting, "with a little more punch on the right Moturoa would become a real force to be reckoned with this season". The decision to not compete for the Julian Cup this season marked the end of a still unbroken record of seven consecutive Taranaki championships.

1967 – The Wanganui clubs oppose the entry of Eastern Union from the Eastern League to the Western League. All other clubs withdraw from the Western League and create the Central Districts League with two divisions. Moturoa competed in the Premier Division with Eastern Union, Manawatu/Thistle, Kiwi United, Napier Rovers, and St. Andrews FC. Stratford AFC competed in the Central Districts League first division with clubs Masterton Athletic, Lansdowne United, Taradale, Winchester, Massey University and the Horowhenua regional team, along with the Kiwi United, Manawatu Thistle and St. Andrews B teams.[203] Moturoa also competed in Taranaki-Wanganui League in 1967 winning undefeated, with Wanganui Athletic, Western Suburbs (Wanganui), New Plymouth United, Waitara, New Plymouth Old Boys and Wanganui United finishing in that order.[203]

Moturoa recruited Fijian international forward Satish Datta for the Central Districts Premier Division in 1967. Datta won the 1967 Chatham Cup – Taranaki Final with the club. Renowned for his burning speed and goal scoring instincts he was a feared striker during his era. Datta started his career with Ba club, Lightning FC in Fiji, playing up through the grades until moving to Suva F.C. in 1959. He was then selected for the Fiji national side to tour Australia in 1961. Datta amassed roughly 28 goals before a knee injury limited his game time during the fifteen match tour. In 1963 he won a silver medal with the Fiji team at the South Pacific Games. After playing for Moturoa, Datta returned to Fiji to captain Rewa FC in 1968. He then returned to New Zealand on tour with the Fiji national side later that same year. The Fijian side visited Pukekura Park during the tour to face a Taranaki XI, Datta scoring a goal helping Fiji secure the win.[204][205]

1968: The first official Central League begins. No Taranaki clubs compete. Moturoa has two teams in the local Taranaki division one league. Moturoa A go unbeaten and win the Julian Cup and the MBTC Cup knock-out.

In 1969 Moturoa win the Julian Cup and enter the play-offs for the Central League, qualifying after the reconstruction of the league for 1970 with Upper Hutt United, Napier City and Wanganui Athletic. Moturoa though does not take part, its place taken by the Christian Youth Football Club (CYFC Wellington).

The Pearce Cup for travelling reasons and expense in 1970 was reduced to the Wanganui/Manawatu associations and Taranaki clubs weren't invited to play. This arrangement lasted until 1972.

In 1971 Moturoa became an Incorporated Society and Sports Club enabling the club to widen its scope and include summer sport in the name of Moturoa. The other aspect of becoming an Incorporated Society was to enable negotiations with the City Council over the use of Marfell Park. The negotiations for Marfell Park were delayed and then abandoned when the council began re-dumping which was unforeseen when the council were first approached with regards to the club leasing the ground. Marfell Park became the home ground of the Spotswood Old Boys Rugby Club during the seventies and eighties with the club building a clubrooms at the site. Moturoa placed first and second in the 1971 Taranaki First Division. Moturoa placed second to Douglas Villa in the Central League playoffs. Two wins and three drawn matches against Central League teams Wanganui City and Johnson-Villa, along with regional champions Wellington's Brooklyn United and the Hawkes Bay's Napier City not resulting in sufficient points for promotion, even with a fairly decent strike rate of 18 goals in 5 matches and finishing undefeated. A pair of Moturoa AFC junior sides administered by Joe Davies and Les Woolcott travelled to Auckland at the end of the 1971 season and beat two Courier Rangers AFC sides.

In the 1972 pre-season, Moturoa faced Wellington's Waterside in the first round of the Hilton-Petone Cup Competition at the Camp Reserve in Waitara. The ground was originally the Pukekohe pa site, then called Gore Browne redoubt and known by many today, as the Camp Reserve or Pukekohe Domain.[206] Once the home of the Clifton Rugby Club and Waitara AFC, the ground was developed by many other sports including cycling, athletics and cricket starting in the mid 1800s. The main field at Pukekohe Domain today lies dormant with lawn bowls, tennis and squash the only clubs remaining. The ground housed a large wooden grandstand, clubrooms and top railed, manicured pitch when Moturoa hosted Waterside at Waitara for the 1972 Hilton-Petone Cup. The Petone Football Club had originally introduced the Hilton-Petone Tournament with the original purpose of lengthening the football season in Wellington.

The headline in the Taranaki Herald referring to the match as, "Champagne Soccer" with Avalon Wine and Spirits set to award a bottle of wine for every goal scored. The Herald's correspondent, Graham Sheath, before the match gave the advantage to the Waterside club, which had played three qualifying rounds, while Moturoa had only a few games against ships' teams. At the prior season's end Waterside, the Central League division one champion, were denied a place in the 1972 National League by play-off winner New Brighton. The Moturoa squad for the cup match comprised goal-keepers John Crocker and former Wanganui Athletic keeper Paul Barrett, in the defence the experienced John Hope, Mark Mana, and Don Harris were to choose from, the linkmen would come from Selwyn Brown, Jeff Collett, Alan Burbidge and Peter Wisnewski who had transferred from Stratford AFC, strike-power to select from included Robbie Paul, Ken Parkes, Tony Bromfield, Ted Meuli and newcomer to the squad Brian Fletcher from the Bay of Plenty. Collett, Paul and Wisnewski were members of the very successful Taranaki under-18 team. New Zealand representative and National League champion, Eastern Suburbs Peter Eliadis, on loan to Moturoa, took the role of sweeper for the match. Eliadis, prior to arriving in New Plymouth had played for Ashford Town in the southern league in England, before moving to Waitara and playing for Old Boys in 1970. His sole international was a non-cap match in 1971 between Wales and New Zealand at Auckland. Eliadis' contract with the Lilywhites would see him flown from New Plymouth to Auckland to play for the club in the National League for the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Eliadis would join Moturoa United as player-coach in 1973. The match ended with Moturoa victorious. Tony Bromfield driving the first goal of the match into the back of the net from a Robbie Paul cross, followed by an equaliser five minutes later by Imre Kiss. Moturoa took the lead before half-time with a penalty by Peter Eliadis. The Reds kept Waterside pinned in its own half until the visitor's launched several attacks in the last quarter, a solid defence and the goalkeeping of Barrett kept the score at 2–1. The Herald reported Moturoa had "outplayed" Waterside, having the better of the highly favoured Central League division one champion. The quarter-final of the Hilton-Petone Cup saw Moturoa scheduled to face National League side Gisborne City the following Sunday at Wellington, with the East Coast side including past Moturoa striker Fin McDonald. Gisborne City would take the match on the 19th March 2 - 0, and face the National League side Wellington City in the semi-final, losing 4 - 1 to the eventual 1972 winners of the cup. 1972 remains the sole year Moturoa A.F.C entered the Hilton-Petone Cup.

Moturoa entered into the reformed 1972 Western League competition to play for the Presidents Cup. They finished top of the table with the same number of points as Kiwi United but lost on goal difference.

In mid-season 1972 a Moturoa XI played Wellington College in a friendly at the Webster Field with the match ending in draw. The match played a day after the New Plymouth Boys High v Wellington College traditional at the same ground.[207]

The first discussions about a Moturoa – Old Boys merger surfaced with talk in the media but amounted to nothing.

Moturoa qualified for the Central League play-offs, which began and finished with a said, "dark cloud" over them. Moturoa was drawn to face Hungaria in the first series of games at Wanganui, but it was the North Wellington United team that took the field. An 11th hour decision by the NZFA had stopped Hungaria from taking part. The NZFA had upheld an appeal by the North Wellington United club regarding Hungaria's eligibility in competing in the play-offs although it had the backing of the Wellington FA. There was confusion in the Wanganui FA as to both Wellington team's being allowed to compete which was not in-line with the play-off rules. The NZFA, Central League committee and Wellington FA met to resolve the dispute. In the meantime Moturoa beat North Wellington 3–1 with Archie Smith scoring a hat-trick, and Masterton United 4–0 with right-winger Robbie Paul, mid-fielders Jeff Collett, Peter Wisnewski and fullbacks Don Harris and Malcom Ward said to have been "outstanding" by the Taranaki Herald correspondent, Sheath.[208] The next round saw Hungaria join the play-offs in the quest for promotion after the dispute was settled, winning their first three matches. Moturoa faced Hungaria winning 3–1, a day later the Reds suffered their first loss at the hands of Eastern League champion Napier City, going down 3–2. Moturoa, at the top of the table, were then disqualified in the final weekend for playing an alleged unregistered player. Wanganui Athletic retained their place in the Central League for 1973. Hungaria were also promoted from the play-offs after Napier City, who won the other promotion place, merged with the Central League's Napier Rovers to become Napier City Rovers, using the relegated Rovers position in division two. Moturoa won a pre-season play-off giving the club inclusion to the 1973 Central League.

At the Moturoa Association Football and Sports Club annual general meeting in 1973 a board of directors to run the affairs of the league teams was agreed upon with New Plymouth United AFC. The board would be separate from the committees of both clubs and would arrange the finance and management of both Moturoa's Central League team and United's Western League team. On 7 April 1973 the first match, an away game, in the Central League Division Two against home town rivals New Plymouth Old Boys' was played at Western Park resulting in a 3–1 win for Moturoa United. Moturoa's team list for the club's inaugural Central League fixture: Paul Barratt, Don Harris, Ray Powell, Colin Selfe, Selwyn Brown, Peter Eliadis, Peter Wisnewski, Kevin Bussey, John Hunt, Geoff Collett, Robert Paul, Paul Brennan (sub for R. Paul).[209] The last time Old Boys had beaten Moturoa was early back in 1971, since then Moturoa had been undefeated by the local sides. Old Boys' went 1-0 up after five minutes in what was expected to be an uncompromising game. Old Boys', Haughton left keeper Barratt standing with a 15-yard header from a Rod Grant corner. Peter Eliadis equalised 10 minutes later with a harmless looking, curling left foot shot that bounced into the corner of the net after a mistake by keeper Martin. After half-time Moturoa immediately pressed the Old Boys' polished short passing game which began to show flaws. Old Boys were made to pay for midfield laxity and didn't get back into the game until 10 minutes before the end. The deciding goals came in quick succession shortly after the restart. Wisnewski scored a 30-yard free-kick. Then Jeff Collett ran onto a through ball down the right, hitting the ball past Martin.[210]

Moturoa United won the 1973 Central League Division Two.[211] The team's away record resulting in only a single loss to current rival Hungaria, 2–1.In that match an experienced Hungaria had capitalised on Moturoa's defensive lapses. Moturoa played into the wind and sun at the Basin Reserve for the first half and midfielders Peter Eliadis and Peter Wisnewski contained a Hungaria including Istvan Nemet, Frank Furges, Julius Beck and the Polyanszky brothers. Five minutes before halftime in a scramble in front of the Moturoa United goal, keeper George Yearbury was beaten and Eliadis kicked the ball off the line but a linesman ruled the ball had gone over, which gave Hungaria the lead. Moturoa pressed hard through the midfield, but lacked finish. Hungaria then scored again. 15 minutes from time, Glenn Dods scored from a long angled shot and from then on it was all Moturoa United but they could not score again. The home record at Western Park was equally admirable with two losses to C.Y.F.C and new club Napier City Rovers by only a goal in each match. The loss against C.Y.F.C saw Moturoa, at the top of the table, humbled at home by the bottom place side from Wellington. The game started well with Wisnewski slamming in a penalty until a Greg Robertson double for the Christian Youth and the work of Alex Milne and keeper Stuart Ramage closed the game out. During and after the match, captain Eliadis pleaded with the public for support with the Taranaki newspapers reporting, "Anyone would think Moturoa was the biggest group of villains in the league, judging by the crowd reaction. the boos and silent treatment have been far too common this year, its not surprising that the club's home record is worse than its away one." Following with, "Too many people have let their prejudices caused by the once bitter conflict between Moturoa and its fellow city club rival New Plymouth Old Boys' rule their appreciation of good football." Douglas Villa were thrashed 7–2, and Lower Hutt City dispatched 4–0 at New Plymouth. New Plymouth Old Boys were beaten 3–1 at home, and 1–0 away. Moturoa scored 52 goals and conceded 21 goals in the 18 league matches.[209] For winning the 1973 second division Moturoa received $250 in prize money from the Central League, with $4000 the figure reported by the club Chairman in the news to run the team.

Future New Zealand international Glenn Dods made 18 first team appearances for Moturoa United in 1973 scoring 10 goals.[212] Initially playing for Fitzroy in 1967, then later the New Plymouth Boys High School, Dods moved to New Plymouth United in 1972. He would leave Moturoa United at the conclusion of the 1973 season as top goal scorer, reported by the Taranaki Herald to be "headed for England, trialing with Burnley and Wrexham" before returning to New Zealand and playing for Mt Wellington AFC in the National League.

Later in the 1973 season, a Taranaki selection hosted the New Zealand under- 21's on the Gully Ground at the New Plymouth Boys High School on 3 October. Mr. Barrie Truman in April had called Taranaki a 'backwater' for NZ Football and this was Taranaki's chance to make him 'eat his words' Taranaki newspaper reporter Brian Thomas wrote prior to the match. "It will be no easy task against a side composed almost entirely of National League players with two wins in the first two matches of its five-match internal tour", Thomas followed with. In contrast the combination of players in the Taranaki side were well known to each other, but from clubs who at the time had a well documented rivalry. After what reporter Thomas called "tremendous form", schoolboy George Yearbury, who had claimed the Moturoa United (MU) goal-keepers position during the season, was given the job between the sticks. A defensive line of vice-captain Don Harris and Tony Bromfield from MU, with Chris Haughton and Phil Gerrard from Old Boys' behind a solid midfield of Old Boys' Jim Heyder, captain Peter Eliadis from MU and Old Boys' Mike Eakins. Three strikers completed the starting side with Lex Caspersen and Rod Grant from Old Boys' and John Hunt from MU. The reserves chosen included Glen Dods, Bruce Hollins and Colin Selfe from MU and goalkeeper Wayne Martin from Old Boys'.

Mr. Harry Dods, the Moturoa United AFC management committee chairman, said in a statement at the end of the 1973 season to the Taranaki Herald that all legal processes were completed to register a new club under the name of the New Plymouth Association Football Club, with the Companies Office approving the name. The full merger of Moturoa AFC and New Plymouth United to adopt the new club identity was agreed by the Moturoa committee, however New Plymouth United eventually decided to continue as a club in its own right, but leaving lines open for further co-operation in areas of mutual benefit. A delegation from the Moturoa United board then met the steering committee of the proposed New Plymouth City club, however a basic difference in concepts moving forward quickly evolved. The New Plymouth Association Football Club name, originally used in 1904 and last used in 1926 would be resigned to history. Dods was soon elected to the NZFA nine-man national executive at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association at Wellington in 1974 leaving the club to take up the position. A player and administrator in Wanganui for ten years before his eight years in Taranaki, Dods coached the 1967 Malayan Shield winning Fitzroy junior side, and also made a single first team appearance as a substitute for Moturoa United in the Central League in 1973,[209] leaving Taranaki football as a life-member of the New Plymouth United Football Club. After moving to Auckland he was employed by the Auckland FA. Dods became the CEO of New Zealand's successful 1982 World Cup campaign and later chairman of the Auckland FA and NZFA. Harry Dods was awarded life membership of the Auckland Football Federation, Auckland Football Association and Auckland Junior FA.[213]

In the pre-season in 1974 a scheme adopted by FC Utrecht in 1970 and dubbed the "Utrecht" plan at a special meeting at New Plymouth was proposed and accepted in principle by the Old Boys and Central clubs, a special invitation to attend was accepted by the Moturoa United executive with players from the club also at the meeting. The new club would use the Central League Division One position held by Moturoa United with the aim of quickly reaching National League status if an agreement between the three clubs was forthcoming. Moturoa United decided to opt out of the plan. In May, 1974 the New Plymouth City Association Football Club emerged. Other clubs could join the new club upon payment of an affiliation fee which entitled the participating club to full board representation. The team took the place of New Plymouth Old Boys in Division Two of the Central League, finishing last and being relegated to Division Three for the 1975 season.[214]

Moturoa United, with Mike Fugett as manager would begin to play at New Plymouths' Lynmouth Park and also the Omata Road grounds in 1974 as part of the city council's ground allocation.

1974 would be the first time Moturoa would play a match in the South Island. After holding Nelson United to 0–0 until the 52nd minute in the Central League match, Moturoa would succumb with Julius Beck scoring in the 75th and D. Wilson scoring in the 82nd and 85th minutes for Nelson. Moturoa's goal-keeper George Yearbury made the New Zealand under-20s team for the Oceania under-20 tournament in Tahiti in December 1974.[215]

After relegation from the first division in 1974, the Taranald Herald reported on a 'We Shall Return' Policy being put in place at the club. The club management had accepted that the efforts in 1974 suffered from a lack of playing strength and, to a degree, of dedication to the job at hand. "The club as a whole faces a total rethinking of its attitude, with a need to co-operate with other teams – to show the soccer world that Taranaki is not one of the game's backwaters" reported the Herald. The new club policy involved producing one of the strongest sides to be seen in the province for years. Practical work preparing for the 1975 Air New Zealand Cup entry began in January, with sessions being conducted by player John Thompson, who had arrived from the north of England in 1974 with a list of clubs prior to departing the UK to his name, Newcastle United, Gatehead AFC, Durham City and Ashington AFC among others. Thompson had played one match for the Moturoa first XI at the end of 1974, and was said to be 'impressive' by those that saw him in action soon after signing a semi-professional contract with the club. The club management, encouraged by the attendance at the sessions, reported to the Herald, "their hopes of producing a strong and dedicated side are well on the way to being realised."[216] Another recent arrival from Newcastle was David Aldman, an outside right who had played for the Ashington and West Orient clubs. New striker Allan Blakelock had been on the books at Sunderland, before choosing a career in teaching and playing in the amateur leagues in London in 73/74, and now teaching at the NP Boy's High School. Aldman would play only a handful of times for the club in the Central League. Blakelock registered one Central League match in 1975, as did Thompson relinguishing the coaching position after the Air New Zealand Cup matches. The influx of new and experienced players was an attraction for leading players from other Taranaki clubs and a number joined including; Lex Casperson, Brian Tuck, Peter McCartney, Peter de Man, Chris Haunton, and Mike Eakins. Moturoa players selected by Thompson to form the top squad included core members; Powell, Paul, J. Gooch, P. Ritchie, and J. Collett. Don Armstrong would end up transferring to New Brighton AFC in 1975, returning to play for Taranaki United in 1976 leading a lethal front line with Rod Grant. Missing from the team in 1975 was goalkeeper George Yearbury who with former player Glen Dods had joined Mt. Wellington AFC in Auckland. Both had been in the New Zealand under-21 team in 1974. "This is one of the problems our clubs face, when we develop top players the major leagues draw them off." Mr. Hogan explained to the Herald. The coaching role of the Moturoa team was awarded to Fred Judge for the 1975 season after the departure of Thompson. Judge had come from Diss, near Norwich, England with a wide experience in football, including refereeing. A key figure of the club's new drive was President Mr. Hans Halder, in his 22nd year as president. The Herald suggesting, "Mr. Halder has been with the club since its 'shoe-string' days and must find it very pleasing now to see his club obtaining its own grounds and finance from the Ministry of Sport." The Western league side was virtually the same players as the year before and it was hoped the problems of having players spirited away to boost the travelling first team squad would be overcome. The team and club, said farewell to long serving club member Ted Meuli, Meuli moving away to take up a new teaching position. His place as Western league coach taken by the popular and respected Norm Ritchie. Ted Shotbolt was the Western league team Manager. Hugh McLaughlin was appointed as manager of all teams in the local competitions. The local sides had been neglected in the past and the club resolved to see that it didn't happen again. Brian Russell from the south of England joined as the new junior coach, with the junior team's first fixture of the season a trip to Auckland in an attempt take the annual challenge trophy from the Courier Rangers. The Moturoa AFC committee for the 1975 season was; Patron D. Paul; president, H. Halder; chairman, A. Hogan; secretary-treasurer, T. Wisnewski with board members N. Ritchie, D. Harris, S. Johnson, E. Hawke, H. Collett, F. Judge, H. McLaughlin, T. Shotbolt and L. Woolcott.

Sheffield United played a Taranaki Invitation XI at Rugby Park, New Plymouth in 1975. The Blades winning 5–0 in their second match of a three-match New Zealand tour. The South Islanders in Otago from the previous match had told the Blades manager, "Taranaki would probably be one of the easiest games of the tour." On arrival to New Plymouth Sheffield United were met with a throng of media, "The Blades Will Be Sharp" was one headline in the many from the papers when Sheffield United prepared the day before the match. The South Yorkshire team included six-cap England international Tony Currie who "nonchalantly" told a New Plymouth Daily News reporter of his estimated £400,000 worth to the club and wage of around £10,000/year after signing in 1968 for £26,000, with the paper calling him Sheffield United's 'Golden Boy' in its headline.[217] "Our players earn between £5000 to £6000 a year with bonuses on top of that..." Currie told the paper, "I'm hitting top form and will be doing everything to get back into the England side for the 1978 World Cup." Disruptions and riots by fans were a big worry to all English soccer players, The Daily News quizzed with Currie commenting, "It gets a bit nerve-racking especially when you play away games. Several times we have had our bus pelted by bricks by rival fans,.." Sheffield United manager Mr. Ken Furphy would later slate the Rugby Park ground saying he had offered to mow the grass himself, it being knee-deep, "We found it difficult to run between the tractor marks and the grass was too long, we play touch football but we could not play it on that field. It might be all right for the All Blacks..." he told the Taranaki Herald on June 3. Despite the uneven surface, Sheffield scored five "sparkling" goals, three of them from outside the penalty area. "They never looked in the slightest of danger of being beaten and managed to string together some moves which showed signs of its acknowledged mastery," The Herald said of the Blades after the match. "Captain Peter McCartney, David Allman and Ray Powell performed to capacity, tackling tenaciously and running back to cover fast, Taranaki's goal-keeper Martin was in fine form and surprisingly the best defender was Lex Casperson, normally a striker, who showed that even professionals have a difficult time when tightly marked, also coming up field on two occasions," continued the match report. "If there was one fault in Taranaki's play it was that the Sheffield players were allowed too much reign just outside the penalty area, Peter Ritchie was the best of the Taranaki midfielders, distributing the ball well and looking for space. Hank Van Heckeren looked sharp until an unnecessarily late and aggressive tackle felled him only after 15 minutes." The player that was reported to have impressed Mr. Furphy the most was Wayne Huntley, the Taranaki forward stretching the Blades defence on several times with clever running. For Sheffield, Keith Eddy had the best game and his two goals were "as fine as you hope to see." The Dominion reported the match with Furphy calling it a farce and recorded as saying, "It's incredible really, here I was with over a million pounds worth of talent and I was being asked to put my players out in those conditions." The Taranaki invitation squad consisted of goal-keeper Wayne Martin, Ray Powell, Peter McCartney, David Allman, Robin Grey, Keith Capewell, Peter Ritchie, Hank Van Heckeren, Mike Johnston, Wayne Huntly, Rod Grant. Reserves; Phil Gerrard, Roger White, Lex Casperson, Robbie Paul, Mike Eakins, Barry Wilkinson, Brian Grieg and Alf Morley. Sheffield United put out a strong side in; Tom McAlister, Colin Franks, Terry Garbett, Keith Eddy, Steve Faulkner, Mick Speight, Alan Woodward, Keith Furphy, Chris Guthrie, Tony Currie, Tony Field, and David Bradford. Ken Furphy and Len Badger came on as substitutes. The scorers were; 15' Woodward, 35' Garbett, 75' Currie, 81' and 87' Eddy. An opportunity was missed by New Zealand football said Mr. Furphy on departure from the country, reported as being "disappointed that no effort had been made to match the team with Glasgow Rangers while the two clubs were in the country."

Future New Zealand international goalkeeper Frank van Hattum made 13 first team appearances for Moturoa in the Central League in 1975, also playing for the Moturoa U18 team in the National Cup after transferring to the Moturoa from Central City Football Club.[218]

Future club president Jim Donnelly joins Moturoa from Island Bay United in 1975.

The Moturoa 6th grade side, including J. Russell, T. Judge, M. Page, M. Hogan, T. McGreevy, T. Brons, D. Percy, R. Lyes, A. Percy, T. Katene, S. MacInnis, S. Molchanoff, coached by Les Woolcott, won the 1975 Taranaki Junior Football Championship undefeated. In fourteen games 96 goals were scored and 8 conceded.

The Moturoa under-18s side reached the semi-final of the 1975 Stars Travel National Cup. Life-member Ted Shotbolt's side had lost to 2–1 to Manurewa AFC in the 1974 quarter-final of the cup at Bell Block in atrocious conditions. Moturoa's 1975 U18's squad was virtually the same as 1974 team but more mature. Players included, captain Allan Beverwijk, John Judge from England who had played for Norfolk County and had been a West Ham trialist, Taranaki representatives, Frank van Hattum, Steven Davies, Bruce Hollins, John Krestschmar, Derek Shotbolt and Kevin Murphy with Paul Tooley, Kevin Brbich, Tony Brbich, Mark Collier, Peter Ritchie and reserve Paddy Mullin. Palmerston North Boys High School and Petone FC were beaten 4–1 in each case. Peter Ritchie would score the first goal against Petone in his farewell match. Ngongotaha AFC were then beaten 3–2 at Ngongotaha in the quarter-final with Moturoa's Brian Tuck (2), and Derek Shotbolt scoring the goals. The semi-final against Manurewa AFC was held at Western Park with Mr. Vennik the referee. A curtain raiser was played between the Combined (Stratford) and Moturoa Ladies. Manurewa chartered a plane flying in and out of New Plymouth on the match-day with around 60 supporters.[219] In the opposing semi-final Christchurch United slammed Rongotai College 5–1 at the Basin Reserve.

Mid-season in 1975 Moturoa changed its name to Taranaki United. The Moturoa club chairman Mr. A. M. Hogan, players and officials from Moturoa, United, City and Old Boys all agreeing to co-operate immediately to boost the provinces football standing. Both Moturoa and New Plymouth City, playing a division apart in the Central League changed to tangerine coloured kits for the remainder of 1975.

In the second half of the season Moturoa hosted North Wellington AFC at Lynmouth Park reversing a one nil loss earlier in the season. The return of Fin McDonald to the team proved of value. Moturoa played the type of football to suit the weather conditions, with long balls sent over half-way putting North Wellington under constant pressure. The visitors played a short-ball type of play. Peter Ritchie opened the scoring for Moturoa and the second goal came when Fin McDonald headed the ball back to Robbie Paul who scored to make the margin 2–0 at half-time. Fin McDonald followed up his earlier assist with a goal in the second half making the score 3–0. The season would only see three other wins for the Moturoa/Taranaki United side, all at home, beating Naenae, Wainuiomata and Wanganui. On the road, only a 1–1 draw at Lower Hutt City returned any points.

At the conclusion of the 1975 season Moturoa said farewell to mainstay Ray Powell who had made 50 Central League appearances for the club between 1973 and 1975.[209] Powell moved to Hamilton AFC winning the 1976 Northern League and Air NZ Cup,[220] before playing in the National League in 1977. He then moved to Waikato Unicol AFC as coach in 1978 winning the Northern League 4th division south.[221]

Both Moturoa United, set to be relegated from Central League Two and New Plymouth City, in the lower reaches of Central League Three, would withdraw from the Central League at the conclusion of 1975. New side, Taranaki United would take the place of the New Plymouth clubs' in the 1976 Central League.

In 1976 the newly established Taranaki Football Company entered into an arrangement with eight Taranaki clubs to provide their top players to a composite team. Fred Judge continued into the 1976 season as joint coach of Taranaki United.[218] After leaving Taranaki, Judge became a life-member of the Matamata Swifts.[222] Taranaki United[223] began playing in the new partitioned northern third division of the Central League in 1976 winning the title undefeated and promotion to the second division. In the 18 games the Taranaki United side played in 1976 Central League it only conceded 5 goals while scoring 88.[224] Taranaki United's prolific goal-scorer Rod Grant netted a record 33 goals for the 1976 season and collected a tally of 97 goals in 112 Central League appearances by 1978. In May 1978 Grant reached his "ton", only the second player to achieve the milestone at the time, Grant's feat has not since been equaled in Taranaki at this level of football.[218]

In 1976 the Western Tasman League consisted of; Moturoa, Old Boys', Wanganui City A and B, Hawera, Moutoa, Wanganui Athletic, Central City, Castlecliff, Inglewood, Stratford and Aramoho. Late season in the derby at Western Park, an early second half header from Don Harris, off a free kick just outside the penalty area secured a 1–0 win over Old Boys' denting their title hopes. The 1976 season was a mid-table finish for Moturoa, with Old Boys' challenging for the title. The match report stating in the sub-headline how Moturoa, "traditionally has the best of matches against arch-rival New Plymouth Old Boys."

In 1977 Moturoa AFC began an arrangement with the Puke Ariki Softball Club and later the Western Suburbs club, agreeing to share facilities at the Onuku Taipari Domain. Softball would continue at the ground sporadically for a further 13 years with the clubs maintaining their independence throughout.

Moturoa AFC were runner-up in the Western Tasman League and Duff Rosebowl in 1978. Captained by Jeff Gooch and coached by Paul Cunningham the team scored 75 goals with 24 against. Duncan Ritchie was the side's top scorer with 30 goals. The other members of the team; G. Collett, G. Urlich, P. Beveridge, GK P. Buchanan, M. Garvey, P. Hill, D. Harris, J & K Brbich and M. West.

In 1979 Moturoa were once again runner-up in the Western Tasman League. The title going to Old Boys.

The Western Tasman League (WTL) serviced the top clubs from Taranaki in 1980 with Taranaki United the sole club representing the province in the Central League. Moturoa's place in the WTL was managed by Tony Childs, along with teams in the TFA first division and second division, with the Moturoa Youth. The Moturoa ladies competed in the Taranaki Women's FA second division. The club youth continued to compete in the National under-18 competition, going out to Porirua Viard at Onuku Taipari Domain.

In 1981 Moturoa were runners up to Old Boys in the WTL. Over 18 matches, 11 were won, 5 drawn and 2 lost. 32 goals were scored and 17 were conceded. Three points separated the top two clubs with Central City one point behind Moturoa in third. Waitara, Wanganui Athletic, Athletic United, Wanganui City, Gonville, New Plymouth United and Inglewood finished behind in that order.[225]

Onuku Taipari Domain, New Plymouth. Boxing Day 1984

At the start of the 1982 season Moturoa had several defections, goalkeeper Kerry Wills and midfielder Bruce Reid both transferred to Havelock North. Bromfield, B. Smith, Urlich and Collett would join City. Through the recent amalgamation with Spotswood AFC, Moturoa gained promising players M. Winter, M. Honeyfield and D. Cudmore. Spotswood AFC players that didn't join the new club spread to New Plymouth United and new club Woodleigh Cosmos. Fitzroy, with ex-Moturoa United keeper George Yearbury recruited, would join the WTL three years after forming in the TFA leagues. Eltham AFC also joined the WTL with Wanganui East, Castlecliff and Hawera, increasing the WTL to a 26-game league. The league extended from April 3 to late September with Chatham Cup matches and other competitions entered played when possible.

The Taranaki Football Co. agreement lasted until 1982 when the New Plymouth Old Boys club bought out the Taranaki United identity and its position in the Central League as a limited company. In 1983 Central re-entered Central League Three under the New Plymouth City AFC name. Taranaki United existed until the end of the 1984 season when the team was relegated from Central League One starting 1985 in Central League Two as New Plymouth Old Boys.[211]

In 1985 Moturoa won the Western Tasman League, the City of New Plymouth Tournament, and the 1985 Duff Rose Bowl. Winning coach Mr. Terry Brady was awarded the Taranaki Football Association Sportsman of the Year in 1985.

After a ten-year absence, Moturoa AFC were promoted to the 1986 Central League to compete in the Third Division.

With a third of the 1986 season complete and top of the table Moturoa won the Nimmo Cup. The Nimmo Cup was originally set up as an end of season challenge match between the provinces top two teams determined on league status, with Old Boys the current holders. The cup had been delayed in 1985 with problems arranging a suitable date for the game, eventually, Old Boys decided not to contest the cup and a match was scheduled between Moturoa and City. In a mid-week game under-lights on the night of May 8, in what was reported to be a "magnificent Pukekura Park on a cold, crisp night with hardly a breath of wind".[226] Moturoa took an early lead through a powerful drive from Richard Anderson 25m out from the City goal after Moturoa was first to settle into a playing pattern under the parks floodlighting system, but conceded a penalty before half-time, scored by ex-Moturoa United player and now City player/coach Peter Ritchie. Due to the suspension of Moturoa's first choice strikers it was left to the replacement striking duo of Brian Gough and Jeff Strongman to combine to break the deadlock late in the second half with Strongman finding the goal giving Moturoa the victory and the 1986 Nimmo Cup. Moturoa's goal-keeper Mike Winter won the man of the match award.[227][226]

In the Central League, Moturoa showed that the recent resurgence of its goal-scoring form in beating Wanganui City 3–0 at home was no fluke by putting seven goals past a Napier Technical which had previously had a good defensive record. It took 20 minutes to score, when a free-kick outside of the penalty area was touched wide of the defensive wall by John Hogg and Jeff Gooch hit a tremendous left-foot drive. Brian Gough scored the second and thirty seconds before the half Darren Walsh made it 3–0. After the kick off it took Walsh 40 seconds to score without Napier having a constructive touch of the ball. Further goals from Gough, Gooch and one from Hogg completed the scoring, by this time Moturoa were having difficulties motivating and for the only time in the match Napier began to see better ball. The result, 7–0 is a club record for an away win in the Central League. In the same weekend of match-play at New Plymouth and in the same league, future Moturoa player/coach Dominico Squatriti scored a double for Levin United in a dual with the man of the match, New Plymouth City goalkeeper David Milne at Pukekura Park. The 2–0 win for Levin United leaving City just above the relegation/qualification places.

Moturoa finished the 1986 Central League in sixth. Home town rivals New Plymouth City finished tenth.[228]

The 1987 season concluded with the Third Division trophy being awarded to Wainuiomata's Ken Barclay in the Moturoa AFC clubrooms by Brian Phelan and Central League President Keith Ross after a 1–1 result been had played out between the two clubs. Sponsored by the New Plymouth Caravan Centre, N.P.C.C. Moturoa finished third in 1987 with 10 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses from 18 matches, scoring 43 goals and conceding 19. Rival club New Plymouth City finished ahead of Moturoa in second place winning promotion with Wainuiomata AFC to the second division for 1988.[229] Moturoa striker Darren Walsh left to join Nelson United for the 1988 National League.[230][231]

In 1988 Moturoa finished ninth from eleven teams with Port Hill United and Takaro AFC beneath the club on the ladder.[232]

In 1989 Moturoa and New Plymouth City[233] formed a composite first team in the Central League called Moturoa/NP City. Moturoa relinquished the third division position with the new team taking the second division position held by City.[211][233] The playing strip in 1989 mixed the colours of both clubs, with the Pony branded shirt in red with gold shoulders, trim and numbering and the main sponsor, the Ngamotu Tavern across the chest in white. 1971 Chatham Cup winner with Western Suburbs FC, John Connor (JC) was assigned the head coaching role. Many players were brought in for the 1989 season, Englishmen Russell Irving and Darren Fletcher along with New Zealand under 16 midfielder, Wellingtonian Karl Cherrie.[234] Darren Walsh would return from Nelson United to partner Irving up front. Irving would leave behind a Sudbury Town FC team due to play in the final of the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium[235] for an early April debut at a bumpy, hard and narrow pitch at Raumati Beach, providing an assist for Des Cronin to volley home an equaliser in a 1–1 draw with the Raumati Hearts.[236][237] Moturoa/NP City won promotion to Division One as runners up behind the Havelock North Wanderers. In the second to last game of the 1989 season at Wembley Park against Ken Dugdale's Wanganui Athletic, disaster struck when Darren Fletcher scored an astounding own goal. From nearly half-way, striking a ruthless back-pass after receiving a goal kick, leaving Moturoa/City goalkeeper Simon Eaddy stranded and the crowd shocked. Fletcher and Moturoa/City midfielder Warren Wisneski would then each be booked for an ensuing melee. With 15 minutes remaining Athletic latched on to a mistimed pass across the defence, with the attempt smothered but falling loose Wanganui slammed it home. Karl Cherrie set to put things straight with a knee-high volley crashing into the net from outside the area in the latter stages but it wasn't to be, and a match Moturoa shouldn't have lost, the precious three points needed to remain in first equal with the Wanderers on the table and push for the title, were dropped.

Wanganui Athletic, while only finishing mid-table in 1989, would continue building their side and through of promotion and the restructuring of the Central League divisions, would eventually win the Central Premier League in 1992 and promotion to the newly introduced 1993 New Zealand Superclub League to join the new Taranaki club New Plymouth Rangers.

Moturoa City had the best defence in the entire three divisions of the Central League in 1989 with only 16 goals conceded in 22 matches while scoring 42,[238] leading the table for three-quarters of the season. The team also had an admirable home record at the Onuku Taipari Domain, which saw the side undefeated in the league, conceding a mere three goals.[239] Irving and Fletcher left Moturoa City to join Old Boys in the National League for the 1990 season.

Back in the first division for the first time since 1974 Moturoa City sourced three imported players for the year with Englishmen Michael Bell from Seaton Delaval FC and recently of Old Boys' and Mark Walthew and David Turner joining the squad in mid-April. Turner returned to England before June.

The Moturoa City side had a feeder policy with Old Boys' who were in the National League with players moving between the two clubs. Mike Fugett, Moturoa player, coach and committee member throughout the 1960s and 70s, would be appointed the manager of Old Boys' National League side.

The 1990 Moturoa City squad included players; Mike Winter, Simon Eaddy, Grant Beatty, Shaun McElhannan, Warren Wisneski, Tony Reilly, John Hogg, Reece Kurta, Darren Walsh, Maarten Van Hattum, Craig Russell, John Perera, Glen Hooper, Steve Doorey, Craig Jessop, Robbie Hopkins, Ian Walker, Steve Cottam, Campbell Donaldson, Ross Wright, Steve Ebert, Karl Cherrie and Chris Andrews. John Connor and Dean Gower were the team management.

In mid-June Moturoa City players; Walsh, Walthew, Winter, and Wisneski were selected for the Taranaki representative side for the trip to Christchurch to play Canterbury for the Winfield Cup.

As part of their preparations for the 1990 Asian Games, China's national football team visited New Zealand, playing four matches. The visitors lost their two matches against the New Zealand national team. The local press described the visitors as an "exciting team". China arrived to New Plymouth from Dunedin, after beating Otago 2–0 a day earlier on a wet and heavy pitch at the Caledonian Ground. Taranaki faced the visiting Chinese in good weather conditions at Pukekura Park losing 3–0. The match kicked-off at 3:15 pm, on 21 August, a Tuesday. Despite this the crowd was decent due to the work of the New Plymouth media and co-operation from some schools.

At the conclusion of the 1990 season, executive distractions off the pitch, travelling pressures, including an away match in the South Island against Nelson United, along with significant changes in the squad, concluded in the failure of the two clubs to agree on the conditions of the proposed amalgamation. Moturoa City were relegated back to Central League Two on goal difference, tied with Wellington United on 22 points. Moturoa had beaten Diamond during the season 3–1 at the Onuku Taipari Domain, but lost the reverse fixture 2–0 in the capital. Havelock North Wanderers, beaten at Guthrie Park 2–0, and at New Plymouth 1–0, finished well back with only 13 points at the foot of the ladder joining Moturoa City in the drop.

Moturoa AFC independently retained the position in Division Two of the Central League from 1991. Changing back to wear all red, Terry Brady returned as Moturoa's head coach with Dennis Gooch as manager and a newly assembled squad of players. Captain Michael Winter would leave the goal-keeping duties to David Douglas from New Plymouth United, Tommy Campbell would join from Wellington, with Will Grieve, Chris Andrews, Grant McKenna, Steve Blakelock, Paul Dodds, Darren Walsh, Lee Radcliffe, Craig Russell, Simon Bance, Grant Beatty, Dave Burbidge, Luke Roborgh, Troy Goodridge and vice-captain Campbell Waugh. In the league, the first meetings since 1974 between Moturoa and the recently promoted and resurgent Seatoun AFC resulted in a 1–0 loss at home, and a 2–0 loss away at Seatoun Park. Heavy home losses to Island Bay United (5–0) and Havelock North (3–0) contributed to the side finishing eighth, and with a better away record than at the Onuku Taipari Domain. At home results varied, Wairarapa United were beaten 6–2, Stokes Valley 3–2, and Raumati Hearts 4–1. Drawn matches with Napier City Rovers B, Gisborne Thistle, both 0–0, and Manawatu 1–1, were points well earned, though a heavy 4–0 defeat at home to Wanganui City, who had been a rival side throughout the late 1970s and '80s within the leagues, and had given a point to Moturoa in a scoreless draw at Wanganui, highlighted the inconsistencies of the side's results. Solid away wins against Taradale 2–0 and Wairarapa United 3–0 combined with close wins against Stokes Valley and Manawatu, 1–0, added to a goal tally of 25 scored and 34 conceded in 22 games, with nine losses, seven wins and six matches finishing in a draw. Seatoun took the league honours at the completion of the season, promoted with second placed Napier City Rovers.

Hawera AFC joined the 1991 Central League Division Three, giving Taranaki two Central League sides, finishing ninth in the twelve-team league.

In 1992 the creation of the Central Premier League restructured the divisions. Moturoa competed in Central League One. Hawera moved up to Central League Two with New Plymouth United winning promotion to Central League Three from the Taranaki Premier League. Hawera would finish the season relegated from Central League Two crossing over with the promoted 1992 Central League Three champion New Plymouth United. New Plymouth City moved into Marfell Park after the ground and clubroom became available following the amalgamation of Star RFC and Spotswood Old Boys RFC remaining at the ground and climbing through the Central League until 1997 when the club, renamed Mt. Taranaki for its final year, were dissolved and the grounds and clubroom abandoned and eventually demolished.

In 1993, coached by Angus Livingstone, Moturoa won promotion to the Central Premier League as runners-up behind champions Stokes Valley. The acquisition of Stephen Douglas from Glentoran FC and fellow Northern Ireland countryman Tony Jones from East Belfast FC assisting the club's push for honours. Jones would later transfer to Napier City Rovers with Douglas returning to Europe to play for Bangor FC.[240]

1994 saw Moturoa finish at the foot of the ladder in the Central Premier League and a decision was made by the club committee to withdraw from regional football and return the focus of the club to local football for the 1995 season. There was talk in the air and media around this time of a merger between Woodleigh Cosmos and Moturoa, with the clubs already co-operating in the prior two seasons with composite ladies and youth teams. Both clubs remained independent with the reports amounting to nothing. Woodleigh also withdrew from a single season in the 1994 Central League.[241]

The decision proved beneficial to the club with a restructuring of the Taranaki Premier League in 1995 by the TFA and a new league sponsorship deal with Tyrrell Aviation providing prize-money, not seen of late, as an extra incentive to win the Taranaki title, something the Central League with all of the extra expense and hectic travelling schedule, failed to match. Club president Jimmy Seed secured past Moturoa AFC club captain John Winter as coach of the rebuild. Moturoa United ex-player, John Judge would lead the recently formed New Plymouth Rangers team in the new league, joined by Graeme Yuiles' Woodleigh side as the "big 3", with Inglewood, New Plymouth Boys High School, New Plymouth City and Fitzroy joined by southern teams Kaponga, Eltham and Hawera in the new league structure.[242]

The Taranaki Daily News on 24 November 1999 ran a story of the club doing its best to regain some prominence for the sport in Taranaki. Soccer Taranaki (ST), the administrative body with past Moturoa manager Angus Livingstone as its Chairman (which took the place of the Taranaki Football Association) had been treading water for most of the last five years. Talk of a long over-due united Taranaki side had come to nothing so Moturoa had taken up the challenge with the club's entry to the 2000 Central League being accepted. Club membership was 200 players across the grades, the club-room was now freehold after years of fundraising and committed membership and Moturoa had recently won the 1999 Taranaki Premier League, scoring 86 goals and conceding only 15 goals with just one match ending in defeat. The reserves had finished third in Division One and the Division Two side had won their league and trophies.[243]

Squad for the 2020 season[247] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NZL Carina Flannagan 2 DF  NZL Carla Hill 3 MF  NZL Jasmine Burnard- Leppinus 4 FW  NZL Evie Newman 5 DF  NZL Mckenzie Kawana-Waugh 6 MF  NZL Brooke Carter 7 MF  NZL Alexis Hintz 8 MF  NZL Zara Erol-Watt 9 FW  NZL Fernanda Toscani (Golden Boot) 10 MF  NZL Eve Barry

No. Pos. Nation Player 11 DF  NZL Anna Hinton (Captain) 12 MF  NZL Holly Kleinsman 13 MF  NZL Kate Phipps 14 MF  NZL Olivia Malthus 15 DF  NZL Julie Withers 16 DF  NZL Nikki Carmichael (née Wenzlick) 17 DF  NZL Sophie Bolton 18 MF  NZL Paige Hareb 19 MF  NZL Kathryn Newsome 20 DF  NZL Michelle Daldin

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NZL Zane Coleman 2 MF  NZL Kobi Hislop 3 DF  NZL Ethan Webber 4 FW  NZL Corbin Richardson 5 DF  NZL Dean Wilson 6 DF  NZL Jonny Kennedy 7 FW  NZL Tyler Buckland 8 FW  NZL Oliver Hill 9 FW  NZL Hayden Murray (Captain) 10 MF  NZL Aiden Smith 11 MF  NZL Kayi Erol-Watt 12 DF  NZL Taylor Lucinsky

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 MF  NZL Scott Manson 14 MF  NZL Zayed Rabbaney 15 FW  NZL Vincent Sharp 16 MF  NZL Sam Sutton 17 DF  NZL Sam Westlake 18 MF  NZL Nicholas Parthemore 19 DF  NZL Tyler Webber 20 DF  NZL Rueben Neilsen 21 GK  NZL Riley Peters 22 MF  NZL Jayden Taylor 23 MF  NZL Grant Miller