The Central League is an amateur status league run by Capital Football for association football clubs located in the southern and central parts of the North Island. It is a New Zealand top-tier competition during the winter season, and sits at step two overall under the summer National League.
 | |
| Country |  New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Feeder to | National League |
| Relegation to | Central League 2 |
| Current champions | Wellington Olympic (6th title) (2024) |
| Most championships | Western Suburbs FC and Miramar Rangers (7 titles) |
| TV partners | FIFA+ (select games) |
| Website | Capital Football |
| Current: 2024 Central League | |
League history
editThe premier league was initially set up as one of the three feeder leagues to the New Zealand National Soccer League in 1992, and continued in this form until being disbanded at the end of the 1999 season. The league was reinstated in 2005 as the top club league for the central region of New Zealand football,[1] and the current strength of the league is demonstrated by it providing the past Chatham Cup winners in 2009 (Wellington Olympic), 2010 (Miramar Rangers), 2011 (Wairarapa United) and 2015 (Napier City Rovers).[2]
Renaming and restructuring of leagues in the country
editIn 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 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 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.[3]
League format
editThe league currently comprises 10 teams, who play each other twice in the season on a home-and-away basis. At the conclusion of the season the winner are crowned champions and with the next two sides proceed to the National League. The bottom side is relegated automatically to their regional league (either Capital Premier or the Federation League), with the top eligible sides from each of those leagues playing a two-legged playoff for promotion.
Current clubs
edit
As of the 2024 season.
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2023 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Bay United | Wakefield Park | Island Bay, Wellington | 2nd in Capital Premier (promoted via play-offs) |
| Miramar Rangers | David Farrington Park | Miramar | 7th |
| Napier City Rovers | Bluewater Stadium | Napier | 3rd |
| North Wellington | Alex Moore Park | Johnsonville | 9th |
| Petone | Memorial Park | Petone, Lower Hutt | 4th |
| Stop Out | Hutt Park | Lower Hutt | 8th |
| Waterside Karori | Karori Park | Karori | 6th |
| Wellington Olympic | Wakefield Park | Wellington | 1st |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Fraser Park | Lower Hutt | 2nd |
| Western Suburbs | Endeavour Park | Porirua | 5th |
Wellington Olympic, Wellington Phoenix Reserves, Napier City Rovers and Petone qualified for the 2023 New Zealand National League.
2022 Season
editAs of the 2022 season.[4] Wairarapa United was entered as one of the originally 10 teams to play the 2022 season but withdrew with just two weeks to go before the start of the season.[5] They were replaced by Wellington United who had originally missed out on promotion to Havelock North Wanderers.[6]
| Team | 2022 season |
|---|---|
| Havelock North Wanderers | 10th (relegated) |
| Miramar Rangers | 2nd |
| Napier City Rovers | 4th |
| North Wellington | 7th |
| Petone | 6th |
| Waterside Karori | 5th |
| Wellington Olympic | 1st |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 3rd |
| Wellington United | 8th |
| Western Suburbs | 9th |
Past clubs
edit- As of 8 September 2023
Top scorers
editThe following list is from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021, the Central League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League.
| Season | Top scorer(s) | Club(s) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | George Ott
|
Lower Hutt City | 21 |
| 2022 | Hamish Watson
|
Miramar Rangers | 20 |
| 2023 | Matthew Brazier
|
Petone | 18 |
| 2024[25] |  Oscar Faulds
|
Napier City Rovers | 21 |
Records
editThe following records are from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021, the Central League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League. The records are up to date as of the end of the 2024 season.
- Most wins in a season: 17 – Wellington Olympic (2024)
- Fewest defeats in a season: 1 – Wellington Olympic (2021, 2022 & 2024)
- Most goals scored in a season: 79 – Wellington Olympic (2023 & 2024)
- Fewest goals conceded in a season: 15 –Wellington Olympic (2022)
- Most points in a season: 51 – Wellington Olympic (2024)
- Fewest points in a season: 4 – Wainuiomata (2021)
- Highest goal difference: 63 – Wellington Olympic (2024)
- Biggest home win: – Lower Hutt City 12–1 Wainuiomata (26 June 2021)
- Biggest away win: – Western Suburbs FC 1 - 11 Wellington Olympic (14 August 2022)
- Highest scoring match: 13 goals – Lower Hutt City 12–1 Wainuiomata (26 June 2021)
- Biggest title-winning margin: – 11 points, 2024, Wellington Olympic (51 points) over Western Suburbs (40 points)
- Smallest title-winning margin: – 5 points
MVP Winners
edit| Season | Winner(s) | Club(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021[26] | Jonty Roubos
|
Wairarapa United |
| 2022[27] |  Jonathan McNamara
|
Napier City Rovers |
| 2023[28] | Matthew Brazier
|
Petone |
| 2024[29] |  Tomas Alvarado
|
Waterside Karori |
Past Champions
editSource:[1]
- 1992 – Wanganui East Athletic
- 1993 – Manawatu
- 1994 – Tawa
- 1995 – Wainuiomata
- 1996 – Western Suburbs
- 1997 – Miramar Rangers
- 1998 – Western Suburbs
- 1999 – Island Bay United
- 2000–2004 – no competition
- 2005 – Western Suburbs
- 2006 – Miramar Rangers
- 2007 – Western Suburbs
- 2008 – Miramar Rangers
- 2009 – Western Suburbs
- 2010 – Wellington Olympic
- 2011 – Miramar Rangers
- 2012 – Napier City Rovers
- 2013 – Miramar Rangers
- 2014 – Miramar Rangers
- 2015 – Napier City Rovers
- 2016 – Wellington Olympic
- 2017 – Western Suburbs
- 2018 – Napier City Rovers
- 2019 – Western Suburbs
- 2020 – Miramar Rangers
- 2021 – Wellington Olympic
- 2022 – Wellington Olympic
- 2023 – Wellington Olympic
- 2024 – Wellington Olympic
References
edit- ^ a b Ruane, Jeremy. "Honours Board". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ "Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ "New National League competition details confirmed". New Zealand Football. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "Fixtures released for Northern, Central and Southern League 2022". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Wairarapa United withdraw from Central League division for 2022" (PDF). Wairarapa United. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Update to the 2022 Central League". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ Tweed, Mike (7 September 2023). "Whanganui Athletic relegated from Central League following big loss to Waterside Karori". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Tweed, Mike (8 December 2022). "Whanganui Athletic given unexpected Central League promotion for 2023 season". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2021 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2017 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Pilott, Roy (2 March 2018). "Taranaki's premier football team hangs up its boot". Stuff. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2015 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2014 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2012 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2007 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "2006 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1999 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1999 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1998 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "1994 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "National League | Golden Boot 🥇". New Zealand Football. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Goal-filled final weekend in the South Central Series as Miramar Rangers (men) and Southern United (women) crowned winners". NZFootball.co.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Congratulations to the winners of the MVP awards in the Northern, Central and Southern Leagues #NZNationalLeague". New Zealand Football Instagram. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "National League MVPs and Golden Boot winners named". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Announcing the MVPs of the regional phase of the National League 2024 🌟". New Zealand Football. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via Instagram.