The Central Federation League is an amateur status league competition run by Central Football for association football clubs located in the central region of the North Island , New Zealand . It is currently in the third level of the New Zealand football league system , below the Central League administered by Capital Football and is entered by clubs from the Taranaki , Manawatū-Whanganui , Hawke's Bay and Gisborne districts.
17-454: The league was launched in 2000 and began within the second tier of the New Zealand football league system as a replacement for the disbanded triple division Central League, which had run in various forms since 1966. As of the 2024 season. The 2024 season saw the league increase the number of clubs from five to nine. Whanganui Athletic, relegated from the 2023 Central League , joined
34-581: A professional level in their careers. The following list is from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021, the Northern League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League . The following records are from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021,
51-508: A trio of clubs from New Plymouth including; 2023 Taranaki Premiership champions Peringa United, FC Western (both new entrants to the league), and the returning New Plymouth Rangers. Havelock North Wanderers rejoined the league from the Pacific Premiership while Napier City Rovers reserves withdrew before the 2024 season commenced. Upper Hutt City win 4 - 2 on aggregate and promotion to the 2025 Central League Premier Division. Prior to
68-579: Is an amateur New Zealand association football competition. It is a top-tier competition during the winter season, and sits at step two overall. The Northern League includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island from the Northland , Auckland , Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. The competition was known as the NRFL Premier until 2021, when New Zealand's football league system
85-527: Is the structure of leagues nationally and regionally, newly updated for the 2021 season. The system previously had a path from grassroots to the top flight but that stopped in 2004 with the New Zealand Football Championship being created as a replacement to the former New Zealand National Soccer League . The current top flight of New Zealand Football is the National League , entering its inaugural season in 2021. The top 4 Divisions of
102-547: The 2023 season , Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs completed the season undefeated. This is the first time, since Eastern Suburbs did so in the inaugural 1965 season, and the first time two clubs have done so in the same season. The following list is of the official sponsors of the League, unless otherwise noted. As of the 2024 season. This list consists of past or present notable players that have either represented an international team, or made more than fifty appearances at
119-728: The FootballSouth Premier League ) would be formed into the Northern League, Central League, and the Southern League. These leagues would allow local clubs to qualify for the premiership season (now known as the National League Championship), with the top 4 teams from the Northern League, the top 3 teams from the Central League, and the top 2 teams from the Southern League making up the competition, alongside
136-486: The National Soccer League operated as an invitation-only summer league, the Northern League again became the highest level club competition available to the clubs from the northern provinces. With the demise of the club-based National Soccer League in 2004, the Northern League, now known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Men's Premier, became part of the highest level of football league competition in New Zealand for
153-621: The Wellington Phoenix Reserve side. All teams that qualify plus the Phoenix Reserves, would then play a single round-robin competition between September and December. The first few season were dominated by Auckland City after replacing sister club Central United at the dissolution of the New Zealand Football Championship. Auckland City won the league four consecutive times in their first four seasons. In
170-652: The 2017 Central League. The Lotto Central Federation Cup is the premier men's knock-out trophy of the Central Football Federation and is contested annually by clubs affiliated to the Central Football Federation. The cup competition in its current form began in 2009, with the exception of the COVID-19 affected 2020 season when the first round of matches was initially scheduled then subsequently cancelled. *(2) denotes club's second team New Zealand football league system The New Zealand league system
187-480: The 2022 Central League prior to the start of the season and were subsequently replaced by Wellington United. Aggregate score 12 - 6. Wainuiomata are promoted to the 2021 Central League. Petone won 6 - 5 on aggregate and promotion to the 2020 Central League. North Wellington won 12 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2019 Central League. Waterside Karori won promotion on away goal rule to 2018 Central League. Team Taranaki won on away goals rule and promotion to
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#1732883594862204-401: The 2024 Central League. Aggregate score 5–4. Stop Out promoted to the 2022 Central League. In late 2022 Whanganui Athletic were also promoted to the 2023 Central League after the withdrawal of Wellington United from the competition. Aggregate score 6–6. Havelock North Wanderers win tie on away goal rule and are promoted to the 2022 Central League. Note - Wairarapa United withdrew from
221-573: The Northern Region Football leagues for both men and women (Tiers 2–5) will be restructured for the 2023 season. The premier cup competition in New Zealand is the Chatham Cup which dates back to 1923. Regional cup competitions are also run within federations, allowing multiple teams from the same club to enter. Clubs at the top of the pyramid are only permitted to enter a single team in their confederation's higher levels. Other teams from
238-510: The commencement of the 2023 season, a merger of three Palmerston North clubs; Massey University FC, North End and Red Sox Manawatu created new entity, Palmerston North United. Palmerston North United replaced North End and Massey University in the league. Napier Marist FC and Levin AFC withdrew from the league before the 2023 competition began reducing the number of clubs participating to five. Island Bay United win 7 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to
255-3344: The same club are permitted to enter teams below this threshold, but have restrictions on promotion. Clevedon FC and Banks Peninsula AFC are currently the lowest ranked 1st team in the country, playing in NRF South Division 9 and Mainland Division 10 (Tier 14) respectively. Level League(s)/division(s) 1 New Zealand National League 10 clubs 2 Northern League 12 clubs – 4 qualifications, 2–3 relegations Central League 10 clubs – 3 qualifications, 1 relegation Southern League 10 clubs – 2 qualifications, 1 relegation 3 NRFL Championship 12 clubs – 1–2 promotions, 2 relegations Central Federation League 9 clubs – 0–1 promotions Capital Premier 10 clubs – 0–1 promotions Canterbury Premiership League 10 clubs – 0–1 promotions Southern Premiership 10 clubs – 0–1 promotions 4 NRFL Northern Conference 8 clubs – 0–1 promotions, 1–3 relegations NRFL Southern Conference 8 clubs – 0–1 promotions, 1–2 relegations Horizons Premiership – 8 clubs Pacific Premiership – 7 clubs Taranaki Premiership – 8 clubs Capital 1 10 clubs Canterbury Championship League 10 clubs South Canterbury Division 1 – 6 clubs Otago Division 1 – 8 clubs Southland Division 1 – 5 clubs 5 NRF League One 8 clubs – 1 promotion 10 clubs – 1 promotion Horizons Championship – 8 clubs Hawke's Bay Division 2 – 10 clubs Eastern League Division 1 – 12 clubs Taranaki Championship – 12 clubs Capital 2 10 clubs Mainland Division 1 – 10 clubs Marlborough Division 1 – 5 clubs Nelson Division 1 – 8 clubs South Canterbury Division 2 – 5 clubs Otago Division 2 – 7 clubs Southland Division 2 – 6 clubs 6 NRF Northland Division 1 – 8 clubs NRF Division 1 – 10 clubs Waikato Division 1 – 8 clubs Bay League Division 1 – 6 clubs Manawatu Division 1 – 9 clubs Whanganui Championship – 9 clubs Hawke's Bay Division 2 – 10 clubs Eastern League Division II – 12 clubs Taranaki Division 1 – 12 clubs Capital 3 10 clubs Mainland Division 2 – 10 clubs Marlborough Division 2 – 8 clubs Nelson Division 2 – 8 clubs South Canterbury Division 3 – 7 clubs Otago Division 3 – 8 clubs Southland Division 2 – 12 clubs 7 NRF Northland Division 2 – 6 clubs NRF Division 2 – 10 clubs Waikato Division 2 – 10 clubs Bay League Division 2 – 6 clubs Manawatu Division 2 – 10 clubs Hawke's Bay Division 3 – 10 clubs Capital 4 10 clubs Mainland Division 3 – 8 clubs Nelson Division 3 – 6 clubs Otago Division 4 – 11 clubs 8 NRF Northland Division 3 – 8 clubs NRF Division 3 – 10 clubs Waikato Division 3 – 10 clubs Bay League Division 2B – 6 clubs Manawatu Division 2 – 12 clubs Wellington 1 – 10 clubs Horowhenua/Kapiti Local League 1 – 9 clubs Wairarapa 1 – 6 clubs Mainland Division 4 – 8 clubs Nelson Division 4 – 8 clubs 9 NRF Northland Division 4 – 9 clubs NRF Division 4 – 10 clubs Waikato Division 4 – 10 clubs Bay League Division 3 – 7 clubs Northern League (New Zealand) The Northern League
272-489: The third time in its history. The league runs between the New Zealand autumn and winter months (April to September), while the New Zealand Football Championship runs between the New Zealand spring and summer months (October to March). In March 2021, New Zealand Football announced a change to the structure of both the premiership and the top regional leagues around the country. The four top regional leagues ( NRFL Premier , Central Premier League , Mainland Premier League and
289-472: Was restructured. Clubs compete each season to qualify for the New Zealand National League . In the years 1965–1969, before the launch of a National Soccer League , the Northern League was the highest level competition available to the clubs in the northern region. When the National Soccer League was created in 1970, the Northern League became one of its feeder leagues. In 1997 and 1998, when
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