Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 26, 2026

Steve Sumner Trophy

The Steve Sumner Trophy is a New Zealand National League award given to the player of the match in the New Zealand National League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 2018, previously the award was also given to the best player in the New Zealand Football Championship grand final. The medal is named after Steve Sumner, who played for New Zealand national football team in the 1970s and 1980s and was a member of the New Zealand squad that played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Last revised
Jun 26, 2026
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The Steve Sumner Trophy is a New Zealand National League award given to the player of the match in the New Zealand National League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 2018, previously the award was also given to the best player in the New Zealand Football Championship grand final.12 The medal is named after Steve Sumner, who played for New Zealand national football team in the 1970s and 1980s and was a member of the New Zealand squad that played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

List of winners

Season/Year Player Club Opponent Ref
NZFC
2018 New Zealand Callum McCowatt Auckland City Team Wellington 3
2019 New Zealand Callum McCowatt Eastern Suburbs Team Wellington 4
2020 Cancelled
2021 New Zealand Andy Bevin Team Wellington Auckland City 5
National League
2021 Cancelled
2022 Not awarded
2023 New Zealand Joel Stevens Wellington Olympic Auckland City 6
2024 New Zealand Mario Ilich Auckland City Birkenhead United 7
2025 Pakistan Haris Zeb Auckland City Wellington Olympic 8

Multiple winners

Trophies Player Team Seasons
2 New Zealand Callum McCowatt Auckland City / Eastern Suburbs 2018, 2019
References

References

  1. "ISPS Handa Premiership – Steve Sumner Trophy to be launched at Final". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  2. "New Zealand football great Steve Sumner to be recognised with special trophy for final". Stuff. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  3. "ISPS Handa Premiership – McCowatt stoked with Steve Sumner Trophy". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  4. Voerman, Andrew (31 March 2019). "Callum McCowatt stars as Eastern Suburbs win national men's football league final". Stuff. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  5. "REPORT | Team Wellington crowned 2020/21 ISPS Handa Men's Premiership champions". New Zealand Football. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  6. "Olympic's Joel Stevens wins Steve Sumner Trophy for Grand Final performance". friendsoffootballnz.com. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  7. "Congratulations to all the individual awards winners in the Men's National League Championship 2024 🎉". New Zealand Football Instagram. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  8. "Auckland City retain national title after drama-filled National League grand final". friendsoffootballnz.com. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
External links