Central League (New Zealand)

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Central League
New Zealand Central League.png
Country Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Number of clubs10
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: 2025 Central League

The Central League, known as the Dettol Central League for sponsorship reasons, 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.

Contents

League history

The 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

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 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

The 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.

Sponsorship

On 31 January 2025, New Zealand Football agreed a multi-year sponsorship deal with cleaning brand Dettol for naming rights of the National League (including the regional leagues) from the start of the 2025 season. [4]

Current clubs

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Wellington
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Location of clubs in the North Island for the 2025 Central League season
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MR
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NW
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PT
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WK
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IB/WO
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WU
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SO
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Location of clubs in Wellington Region for the 2025 Central League season

As of the 2025 season.

TeamHome groundLocation2024 season
Island Bay United Wakefield Park Island Bay, Wellington 8th
Miramar Rangers David Farrington Park Miramar, Wellington 4th
Napier City Rovers Bluewater Stadium Napier 3rd
North Wellington Alex Moore Park Johnsonville, Wellington 9th
Petone Memorial Park Petone, Lower Hutt 7th
Upper Hutt City Maidstone Park Maidstone, Upper Hutt 1st in Capital Premier (promoted via play-offs)
Waterside Karori Karori Park Karori, Wellington 6th
Wellington Olympic Wakefield Park Island Bay, Wellington 1st
Wellington Phoenix Reserves Fraser Park Taitā, Lower Hutt 5th
Western Suburbs Endeavour Park Porirua 2nd

2022 Season

As of the 2022 season. [5] 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. [6] They were replaced by Wellington United who had originally missed out on promotion to Havelock North Wanderers. [7]

Team2022 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

As of 8 September 2023
ClubLocationHome Ground(s)Last PlayedPromoted Club
Whanganui Athletic Whanganui Wembley Park2023 [8]
Wellington United Wellington Newtown Park 2022Withdrew before the 2023 season and replaced by Whanganui Athletic [9]
Havelock North Wanderers Havelock North Guthrie Park2022 Stop Out
Wairarapa United Masterton Memorial Park 2021Withdrew before the 2022 season and replaced by Wellington United. [6] [7]
Lower Hutt City Lower Hutt Fraser Park 2021 Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Wainuiomata Wainuiomata Richard Prouse Park2021 [10] Havelock North
Palmerston North Marist Palmerston North Central Energy Trust Arena 2017 [11] Waterside Karori
Team Taranaki New Plymouth Yarrow Stadium 2017 [12] Havelock North
Tawa Tawa Redwood Park2015 [13] Wellington United
Upper Hutt City Upper Hutt Maidstone Park 2014 [14] Stop Out
Maycenvale United Hastings Hastings Sports Park2012 [15] Upper Hutt City
Gisborne City Gisborne Childers Road Reserve 2007 [16] Withdrew end of season 2007. Replaced by Team Taranaki
Red Sox Manawatu Palmerston North Central Energy Trust Arena 2006 [17] Team Taranaki
Raumati Hearts Raumati, Kāpiti Coast Weka Park1999 [18] League disbanded
Western Rangers FC Hastings St Leonard's Park1999 [19] League disbanded
Manawatu AFC Palmerston North Skoglund Park1998 [20] Promoted to the 1999 New Zealand island soccer leagues.
New Plymouth City New Plymouth Marfell Park1996 [21] NP City renames as Mt. Taranaki. Placed in Division One for 1997. Folded at season's end.
Seatoun Seatoun Seatoun Park1996 [22] Placed in Division One for 1997, withdrew from Central League in 1998.
Stokes Valley Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt Delaney Park1996 [23] Withdrew from Central League at end of season
Tararua United Upper Hutt Harcourt Park1996 [24] Placed in Division One for 1997, merged in 1998 to become Upper Hutt City Soccer
Moturoa New Plymouth Onuku Taipari Domain1994 [25] Napier City Rovers

Top scorers

The 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.

SeasonTop scorer(s)Club(s)Goals
2021 Flag of New Zealand.svg George Ott Lower Hutt City 21
2022 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hamish Watson Miramar Rangers 20
2023 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Brazier Petone 18
2024 [26] Flag of Sweden.svg Oscar Faulds Napier City Rovers 21

Records

The 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.

MVP Winners

SeasonWinner(s)Club(s)
2021 [27] Flag of New Zealand.svg Jonty Roubos Wairarapa United
2022 [28] Flag of England.svg Jonathan McNamara Napier City Rovers
2023 [29] Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Brazier Petone
2024 [30] Flag of Argentina.svg Tomas Alvarado Waterside Karori

Past Champions

Source: [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Ruane, Jeremy. "Honours Board". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Chatham Cup". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "New National League competition details confirmed". New Zealand Football . 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "Dettol Become Major Partner of New Zealand Football and Official Naming Partner of the Dettol National League". New Zealand Football. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Fixtures released for Northern, Central and Southern League 2022". New Zealand Football . Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Wairarapa United withdraw from Central League division for 2022" (PDF). Wairarapa United. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Update to the 2022 Central League". New Zealand Football . Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Tweed, Mike (7 September 2023). "Whanganui Athletic relegated from Central League following big loss to Waterside Karori". Whanganui Chronicle . Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Tweed, Mike (8 December 2022). "Whanganui Athletic given unexpected Central League promotion for 2023 season". Whanganui Chronicle . Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2021 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  11. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2017 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Pilott, Roy (2 March 2018). "Taranaki's premier football team hangs up its boot". Stuff . Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  13. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2015 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  14. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2014 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  15. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2012 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  16. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2007 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  17. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "2006 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1999 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  19. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1999 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  20. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1998 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  21. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  22. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  23. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  24. ↑ "1996 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  25. ↑ Ruane, Jeremy. "1994 Central League Fixtures and Results". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "National League | Golden Boot 🥇". New Zealand Football. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024– via Facebook.
  27. ↑ "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.
  28. ↑ "Congratulations to the winners of the MVP awards in the Northern, Central and Southern Leagues #NZNationalLeague". New Zealand Football Instagram. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "National League MVPs and Golden Boot winners named". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  30. ↑ "Announcing the MVPs of the regional phase of the National League 2024 🌟". New Zealand Football. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024– via Instagram.
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