 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Venue(s) | QBE Stadium, Auckland |
| Dates | 24 April 2021 – 27 March 2022 |
| Teams | 57 |
| Defending champions | Eastern Suburbs |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Wellington United |
| Runner-up | Hamilton Wanderers |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 55 |
| Goals scored | 326 (5.93 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Britney-lee Nicholson (8 goals) |
| Maia Jackman Trophy | Lily Jervis |
The 2021 Kate Sheppard Cup is New Zealand's women's 27th annual knockout football competition after the competition was cancelled, for the first time in its history, last season due to COVID-19.[1] This is the fourth year that the competition is known by the Kate Sheppard Cup, or New Zealand Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup for sponsorship purposes, after previously been known as the Women's Knockout Cup since its establishment.[2] The cup has had twelve different winners lift the trophy over its 27-year history with Lynn-Avon United from Auckland being the most successful and Eastern Suburbs being the current holders from the 2019 season.[3]
The 2021 competition has four rounds before quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. Competition will run in four regions (northern, central/capital, mainland, southern) until the quarter-finals, from which stage the draw will be open. In all, a record 57 teams entered the competition this year which means the cup had a preliminary round added.[4]
- ^ "Chatham Cup a casualty as New Zealand Football cancel cup competitions in coronavirus crisis". Stuff. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ Hyslop, Liam (8 March 2018). "NZ Football rename Women's Knockout Cup after Kate Sheppard". Stuff. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Entries open for the 2021 Chatham Cup and Kate Sheppard Cup". NZ Football. 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ "National knockout cup comps return to set records". New Zealand Football. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.