Southern League (New Zealand)

Last updated

Southern League
New Zealand Southern League.png
Founded2021;3 years ago (2021)
Country Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid 2
Feeder to National League
Relegation to Mainland Premier League
FootballSouth Premier League
Domestic cup(s) Chatham Cup
Current champions Christchurch United (2nd title)
(2023)
Most championshipsChristchurch United (2 titles)
TV partners FIFA+ (select games)
Website Mainland Football
Current: 2024 Southern League

The Southern League is an amateur status league competition run by Southern Football and Mainland 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

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

New Zealand (location map).svg
Blue pog.svg
Christchurch
Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2024 Southern League season
Christchurch, New Zealand district map.svg
Location of clubs in Christchurch District for the 2024 Southern League season

As of 2024 season [3]

TeamHome groundLocation2023 season
Cashmere Technical Garrick Memorial Park Woolston, Christchurch 2nd
Christchurch United United Sports Centre Spreydon, Christchurch 1st
Coastal Spirit Linfield Park Linwood, Christchurch 3rd
Dunedin City Royals Football Turf Dunedin North 4th
FC Twenty 11 Avonhead Park Avonhead, Christchurch 10th
Ferrymead Bays Ferrymead Park Ferrymead, Christchurch 5th
Nelson Suburbs Saxton Field Nelson 6th
Nomads United Tulett Park Casebrook, Christchurch 7th
Selwyn United Foster Park Rolleston 9th
Universities Ilam Fields Ilam, Christchurch 1st in Mainland Premier League (promoted via play-offs)

Past clubs

As of 2024 season

Key
Currently in the Southern League
Last season in the Southern League
ClubHome GroundLocationLast PlayedPromoted Club
Otago University Football Turf Dunedin North 2021 Ferrymead Bays
Mosgiel
Nomads United
Mosgiel Memorial Park Ground Mosgiel 2022 FC Twenty 11
Green Island Sunnyvale Park Green Island, Dunedin 2023 Universities

Awards

The following lists 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.

Top Scorers

SeasonTop scorer(s)Club(s)Goals
2021 Flag of Ireland.svg Garbhan Coughlan
Flag of New Zealand.svg Edward Wilkinson
Cashmere Technical
Christchurch United
7
2022 Flag of Ireland.svg Garbhan Coughlan Cashmere Technical 24
2023 [4] Flag of New Zealand.svg Samuel Philip Christchurch United 29

MVP Winners

SeasonWinner(s)Club(s)
2021 [5] Flag of New Zealand.svg Pieter-Taco Bierema Selwyn United
2022 [6] Flag of New Zealand.svg Cameron Anderson Green Island
2023 [4] Flag of Ireland.svg Garbhan Coughlan Cashmere Technical

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. The records are up to date as of the end of the 2023 season.

Champions

Performance by Champions

ClubLocationTitlesRunners UpTitle SeasonsRunners Up Seasons
Christchurch United Spreydon, Christchurch 22022, 2023
Cashmere Technical Woolston, Christchurch 1220212022, 2023
Selwyn United Rolleston 12021

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 2021 season only had 8 teams before it was expanded to 10.
  2. 2021 season had 2 teams with 1 win, Nelson Suburbs and Green Island [lower-alpha 1]
  3. Dunedin City Royals were called South City Royals for the 2021 season.
  4. 2021 season had 1 team with only 1 loss, Cashmere Technical [lower-alpha 1]
  5. 2021 season had 1 team with 7 goals conceded, Cashmere Technical [lower-alpha 1]
  6. 2021 season had 2 teams with 4 points, Nelson Suburbs and Green Island [lower-alpha 1]

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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. "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.
  6. "Congratulations to the winners of the MVP awards in the Northern, Central and Southern Leagues #NZNationalLeague". New Zealand Football Instagram. Retrieved 9 December 2022.