Southern League (New Zealand)

Last updated

Southern League
New Zealand Southern League.png
Founded2021;4 years ago (2021)
Country Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Number of clubs10
Level on pyramid 2
Feeder to National League
Relegation to Canterbury Premiership
Nelson Bays Premiership
Southern Premiership
Domestic cup(s) Chatham Cup
Current champions Cashmere Technical (2nd title)
(2024)
Most championshipsCashmere Technical
Christchurch United
(2 titles each)
TV partners FIFA+ (select games)
Website Mainland Football
Current: 2025 Southern League

The Southern League is an amateur status league competition organized by New Zealand Football but run by Mainland Football and Southern Football for Association football clubs located in the South Island of New Zealand. It is at the second level of New Zealand Football behind the national association based New Zealand National League, and the highest level of club based football available to teams within the region.

Contents

History

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. [1] For the Southern League, the two existing competitions run in the South Island (Mainland Premier League and FootballSouth Premier League) play their original league seasons for the teams to then qualify for a place in the newly formed competition. [2] Five teams from Mainland Premiership, which covers the top of the South Island to Christchurch and three teams from FootballSouth Premier League, covering from below Christchurch to the bottom of the South Island, will qualify. [2] The competition will start on the 17 July 2021. [2]

Current clubs

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Christchurch
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Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2025 Southern League season
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Location of clubs in Christchurch District for the 2025 Southern League season

As of 2025 season [3]

TeamHome groundLocation2024 season
Cashmere Technical Garrick Memorial Park Woolston, Christchurch 1st
Christchurch United United Sports Centre Spreydon, Christchurch 3rd
Coastal Spirit Linfield Park Linwood, Christchurch 2nd
Dunedin City Royals Football Turf Dunedin North, Dunedin 7th
Ferrymead Bays Ferrymead Park Ferrymead, Christchurch 5th
Nelson Suburbs Saxton Field Stoke, Nelson 4th
Nomads United Tulett Park Casebrook, Christchurch 6th
Selwyn United Foster Park Rolleston 8th
University of Canterbury Ilam Fields Ilam, Christchurch 9th
Wanaka Wānaka Recreation Centre Wanaka 2nd in Southern Premier League (promoted via play-offs)

Promotion/Relegation

As of 2025 season

SeasonRelegated ClubHome GroundLocationPromoted Club (Next Season)
2021 Otago University Football Turf Dunedin North, Dunedin Ferrymead Bays
Mosgiel
Nomads United
2022 Mosgiel Memorial Park Ground Mosgiel FC Twenty 11
2023 Green Island Sunnyvale Park Green Island, Dunedin University of Canterbury
2024 FC Twenty 11 Avonhead Park Avonhead, Christchurch Wanaka

Awards

The following lists are each seasons Top Goalscorer and Most Valuable Player from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021, the Southern League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League.

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 Southern League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League. Any records form 2021 season are noted. The records are up to date as of the 2024 season.

Champions

Note: Number of times club placed in placement, (only for clubs with multiple placements)

Champions
Runners-up

Performance by Champions

ClubLocationTitlesRunners UpTitle SeasonsRunners Up Seasons
Cashmere Technical Woolston, Christchurch 222021, 20242022, 2023
Christchurch United Spreydon, Christchurch 2—2022, 2023—
Selwyn United Rolleston —1—2021
Coastal Spirit Linwood, Christchurch —1—2024

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 2021 season only had 8 teams and 7 games before it was expanded to 10 with 18 games.
  2. ↑ Dunedin City Royals were called South City Royals for the 2021 season.
  3. ↑ 2021 season had 4 teams with 0 draws, [a] Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit, South City Royals [b] and Otago University
  4. ↑ 2021 season had 1 team with only 1 loss, [a] Cashmere Technical
  5. ↑ 2021 season had 1 team with 7 goals conceded, [a] Cashmere Technical

References

  1. ↑ "New National League competition details confirmed". New Zealand Football . 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Who is in the running for Southern League qualification?". New Zealand Football . Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Southern League". www.mff.nz.
  4. 1 2 "National League MVPs and Golden Boot winners named". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "National League - Golden Boot 🥇 The regional phase has come to an end and here are the top scorers from each League 🔥". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 2 September 2024– via Instagram.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "Congratulations to the winners of the MVP awards in the Northern, Central and Southern Leagues #NZNationalLeague". New Zealand Football Instagram. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "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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