Central Federation League

Last updated

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.

Contents

Central Federation League
Central Federation League logo.png
Founded2000
Country New Zealand
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Number of teams9
Level on pyramid 3
Promotion to Central League 2
Relegation toTaranaki Premiership
Pacific Premiership
Horizon's Premiership
Domestic cup(s) Chatham Cup
League cup(s)Central Federation Cup
Central Federation League Cup
Current championsPalmerston North United (1st title)
(2024)
Most championships Havelock North Wanderers
Napier City Rovers
Palmerston North Marist
Team Taranaki
(3 titles each)
Website https://www.centralfootball.co.nz/

History

The league was launched in 2000 and began within the second tier of the New Zealand league system as a replacement for the disbanded triple division Central League, which had run in various forms since 1966. [1]

Current clubs

New Zealand (location map).svg
Red pog.svg
Gisborne Thistle
Red pog.svg
Palmerston North United
Red pog.svg
Taradale
Red pog.svg
FC Western
Red pog.svg
Peringa United
Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2024 Central Federation League season


As of the 2024 season. [2]

ClubLocationHome Ground(s)2023 season
FC Western New Plymouth Lynmouth Park2nd in Taranaki Premiership (new entry)
Gisborne Thistle Gisborne Childers Road Reserve 4th
Havelock North Wanderers Havelock North Guthrie Park2nd in Pacific Premiership (new entry)
New Plymouth Rangers New Plymouth Merrilands Domain3rd in Taranaki Premiership (new entry)
Palmerston North Marist Palmerston North Central Energy Trust Arena Turf1st
Palmerston North United Palmerston North Memorial Park 2nd
Peringa United New Plymouth Peringa Park1st in Taranaki Premiership (new entry)
Taradale Napier Taradale Park5th
Whanganui Athletic Wembley Park Whanganui 10th in Central League (relegated)

    Records

    Past Champions

    [3]

    2024 Federation League Table

    ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts
    Palmerston North United1611324036
    Palmerston North Marist1611052933
    FC Western161015331
    Taradale16916428
    Havelock North Wanderers16817125
    Gisborne Thistle16718-2022
    New Plymouth Rangers16619-619
    Whanganui Athletic163112-1810
    Peringa United162113-337

    The 2024 season saw the league increase the number of clubs from five to nine. Whanganui Athletic, relegated from the 2023 Central League, joined 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.

    2024 Central League Premier Division place play-off

    Central League Premier play-off
    First leg
    Palmerston North United12 Upper Hutt City FC
    • A. Jones Soccerball shade.svg66'
    • C. Webster Soccerball shade.svg14', 46'
    Memorial Park, Palmerston North
    Referee: M. Roil
    Central League Premier play-off
    Second leg
    Upper Hutt City FC 21Palmerston North United
    • C. Webster Soccerball shade.svg39', 90' (pen.)
    • N. Cooksley Soccerball shade.svg69'
    Maidstone Park, Wellington
    Referee: C. Bennett

    Upper Hutt City win 4 - 2 on aggregate and promotion to the 2025 Central League Premier Division.

    2024 Central League 2 play-offs

    Central League 2 play-off
    Taradale4 - 1Victoria University
    Massey University, Palmerston North
    Central League 2 play-off
    Te Kotahitanga1 - 0Gisborne Thistle
    Massey University, Palmerston North
    Central League 2 play-off
    Havelock North Wanderers3 - 4 (a.e.t.)Douglas Villa
    Massey University, Palmerston North
    Central League 2 play-off
    Seatoun2 - 1New Plymouth Rangers
    Massey University, Palmerston North

    2023 Federation League Table

    ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts
    Palmerston North Marist 161015
    Palmerston North United16907
    Napier City Rovers Reserves 16637
    Gisborne Thistle 16538
    Taradale16457

    Prior to 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.

    2023 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    Island Bay United 40 Palmerston North Marist
    Wakefield Park, Wellington
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Palmerston North Marist 03 Island Bay United
    Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

    Island Bay United win 7 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2024 Central League.

    2022 Federation League Table

    ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts
    Whanganui Athletic 141220487+4138
    Palmerston North Marist 1410223912+2732
    North End 149233714+2329
    Massey University 147162730-322
    Napier Marist 146172541-1619
    Napier City Rovers 145092736-915
    Levin 1411121243-314
    Gisborne Thistle 1411121244-324

    2022 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    Whanganui Athletic 2–2 Stop Out
    • Holden Soccerball shade.svg58' (pen.)
    • Smith Soccerball shade.svg82'
    • Patterson-Gunn Soccerball shade.svg19'
    • Prins Soccerball shade.svg78'
    Wembley Park, Whanganui
    Referee: Matthew Hastings
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Stop Out 3–2 (a.e.t.) Whanganui Athletic
    • Tuck Soccerball shade.svg85', 104'
    • Craven Soccerball shade.svg90+7'
    Report
    • Bell Soccerball shade.svg64'
    • Holden Soccerball shade.svg90+6'
    Hutt Park, Lower Hutt
    Referee: Aaron Clarke

    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. [4]

    2021 Federation League Table

    ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts
    Havelock North Wanderers 1613215516+3940
    Palmerston North Marist 1611146226+3634
    Whanganui Athletic 169343823+1530
    Gisborne Thistle 16100643321130
    Massey University 168444031928
    North End 167183536-122
    Napier Marist 1631122557-3210
    Levin 1622121545-308
    New Plymouth Rangers 1621131562-477

    2021 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    Wellington United 5–3 Havelock North Wanderers
    • I. Junca Soccerball shade.svg10'
    • A. Mandalawi Soccerball shade.svg33'
    • C. Stephen Soccerball shade.svg37'
    • W. Skinner Soccerball shade.svg59'
    • J. Kang Soccerball shade.svg75'
    • T. Frooms Soccerball shade.svg29'
    • L. Barclay Soccerball shade.svg46'
    • J. Groot Soccerball shade.svg90'
    Newtown Park , Wellington
    Referee: Chris Bennett
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Havelock North Wanderers 3–1 Wellington United
    • B. Christensen Soccerball shade.svg8', 68', 90'
    I. Junca Soccerball shade.svg49'
    Guthrie Park, Havelock North
    Referee: Matthew Conger

    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 the 2022 Central League prior to the start of the season and were subsequently replaced by Wellington United. [5]

    2020 Federation League Table

    2020 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    New Plymouth Rangers 3 - 5 Wainuiomata
    • D. Squatriti Soccerball shade.svg27'
    • M.McGrath Soccerball shade.svg75'
    • A. Olivier (o.g.)
    Report
    • T. E. Hser Soccerball shade.svg15'
    • K. Gould Soccerball shade.svg22'
    • J. Mitchell Soccerball shade.svg50'
    • G. King Soccerball shade.svg54', 68'
    Merrilands Domain, New Plymouth
    Referee: Mark Rule
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Wainuiomata 73 New Plymouth Rangers
    • A. Olivier Soccerball shade.svg4'
    • K. Gould Soccerball shade.svg8', 11', 14'
    • J. Smith Soccerball shade.svg26'
    • T. E. Hser Soccerball shade.svg32'
    • C. O'Reilly Soccerball shade.svg87'
    Report
    • L. Snellgrove Soccerball shade.svg57'
    • T. Warren Soccerball shade.svg75'
    • D. Squatriti Soccerball shade.svg82'
    Richard Prouse Park, Wainuiomata
    Referee: Mark Whitehead

    Aggregate score 12 - 6. Wainuiomata are promoted to the 2021 Central League.

    2019 Federation League Table

    2019 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    Havelock North Wanderers 42 Petone
    Guthrie Park, Havelock North
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Petone 41 Havelock North Wanderers
    Petone Memorial Park, Petone

    Petone won 6 - 5 on aggregate and promotion to the 2020 Central League.

    2018 Federation League Table

    2018 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    North Wellington 60 Palmerston North Marist
    Alex Moore Park, Wellington
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Palmerston North Marist 06 North Wellington
    Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

    North Wellington won 12 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2019 Central League.

    2017 Federation League Table

    2017 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    Havelock North Wanderers 12 Waterside Karori
    Guthrie Park, Havelock North
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Waterside Karori 01 Havelock North Wanderers

    Waterside Karori won promotion on away goal rule to 2018 Central League.

    2016 Central League place play-off

    Central League play-off
    First leg
    Team Taranaki 0 - 1 Waterside Karori
    Central League play-off
    Second leg
    Waterside Karori 1 - 2Team Taranaki
    Karori Park, Wellington

    Team Taranaki won on away goals rule and promotion to the 2017 Central League.


    Past Clubs

    ClubLocationHome Ground(s)Last Season
    Gisborne City Gisborne Childers Road Reserve 2003 - merged as Gisborne City Marist
    Moturoa AFC New Plymouth Onuku Taipari Domain2003 - league position given to Team Taranaki
    Gisborne City Marist Gisborne Childers Road Reserve 2004 - withdrew
    Manawatu AFC Palmerston North 2004 (amalgamated)
    Red Sox Riverside Palmerston North 2004 (amalgamated)
    Linton Area Defence FC Palmerston North Linton Military Camp 2005 - withdrew
    Napier City Rovers Napier Bluewater Stadium 2010 - withdrew to Pacific Premiership
    Feilding United Manawatu Timona Park2015 - withdrew
    Team Taranaki New Plymouth Yarrow Stadium 2016 - promoted to 2017 Central League
    Port Hill United Napier Marewa Park2016 - withdrew
    Wanganui City FC Whanganui Wembley Park2019 - withdrew
    Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North High School Ground2019 - relegated
    Hokowhitu FC Palmerston North Hokowhitu Park2019 - withdrew
    Red Sox Manawatu Palmerston North 2020 - withdrew
    Levin Levin Donnelly Park2022 - withdrew
    Napier Marist Napier Bluewater Stadium 2022 - withdrew
    North End Palmerston North Memorial Park 2022 - merged as Palmerston North United
    Massey University Palmerston North Massey University 2022 - merged as Palmerston North United

    Central Federation Cup

    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.

    Central Federation Cup Champions

    *(2) denotes club's second team

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    References

    1. "Central Football". ultimatenzsoccer. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
    2. "Central Football Federation League 2023". Central Football . Retrieved 20 March 2022.
    3. "Honours Board". ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
    4. "Whanganui Athletic to join Central League for 2023 season". New Zealand Football. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
    5. "Update to the 2022 Central League". NZ Football. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.