Central Federation League
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.
| Founded | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Central League |
| Relegation to | Taranaki Premiership Pacific Premiership Horizon's Premiership |
| Domestic cup(s) | Chatham Cup |
| League cup(s) | Central Federation Cup Central Federation League Cup |
| Current champions | Palmerston North Marist (3rd title) (2023) |
| 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
As of the 2024 season.[2]
| Club | Location | Home Ground(s) | 2023 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Western | New Plymouth | Lynmouth Park | 2nd in Taranaki Premiership (new entry) |
| Gisborne Thistle | Gisborne | Childers Road Reserve | 4th |
| Havelock North Wanderers | Havelock North | Guthrie Park | 2nd in Pacific Premiership (new entry) |
| New Plymouth Rangers | New Plymouth | Merrilands Domain | 3rd in Taranaki Premiership (new entry) |
| Palmerston North Marist | Palmerston North | Central Energy Trust Arena Turf | 1st |
| Palmerston North United | Palmerston North | Memorial Park | 2nd |
| Peringa United | New Plymouth | Peringa Park | 1st in Taranaki Premiership (new entry) |
| Taradale | Napier | Taradale Park | 5th |
| Whanganui Athletic | Wembley Park | Whanganui | 10th in Central League (relegated) |
2022 League Table
| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whanganui Athletic | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 7 | +41 | 38 |
| Palmerston North Marist | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 12 | +27 | 32 |
| North End | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 14 | +23 | 29 |
| Massey University | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 27 | 30 | -3 | 22 |
| Napier Marist | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 25 | 41 | -16 | 19 |
| Napier City Rovers | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 27 | 36 | -9 | 15 |
| Levin | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 43 | -31 | 4 |
| Gisborne Thistle | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 44 | -32 | 4 |
2022 Central League place play-off
| Whanganui Athletic | 2–2 | Stop Out |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Stop Out | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Whanganui Athletic |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
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.[3]
2021 League Table
| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havelock North Wanderers | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 16 | +39 | 40 |
| Palmerston North Marist | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 62 | 26 | +36 | 34 |
| Whanganui Athletic | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 23 | +15 | 30 |
| Gisborne Thistle | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 30 |
| Massey University | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 31 | 9 | 28 |
| North End | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 35 | 36 | -1 | 22 |
| Napier Marist | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 25 | 57 | -32 | 10 |
| Levin | 16 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 15 | 45 | -30 | 8 |
| New Plymouth Rangers | 16 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 15 | 62 | -47 | 7 |
2021 Central League place play-off
| Havelock North Wanderers | 3–1 | Wellington United |
|---|---|---|
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.[4]
Past Clubs
| Club | Location | Home Ground(s) | Last Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gisborne City | Gisborne | Childers Road Reserve | 2003 - merged as Gisborne City Marist |
| Moturoa AFC | New Plymouth | Onuku Taipari Domain | 2003 - 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 Park | 2015 - withdrew |
| Team Taranaki | New Plymouth | Yarrow Stadium | 2016 - promoted to 2017 Central League |
| Port Hill United | Napier | Marewa Park | 2016 - withdrew |
| Wanganui City FC | Whanganui | Wembley Park | 2019 - withdrew |
| Palmerston North Boys' High School | Palmerston North | High School Ground | 2019 - relegated |
| Hokowhitu FC | Palmerston North | Hokowhitu Park | 2019 - withdrew |
| Red Sox Manawatu | Palmerston North | 2020 - withdrew | |
| New Plymouth Rangers | New Plymouth | Merrilands Domain | 2021 - relegated |
| Havelock North Wanderers | Havelock North | Guthrie Park | 2021 - promoted to 2022 Central League |
| Levin | Levin | Donnelly Park | 2022 - 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 |
| Whanganui Athletic | Whanganui | Wembley Park | 2022 - promoted to as Champions to 2023 Central League |
Records
Past Champions
- 2000 – Manawatu
- 2001 – Napier City Rovers
- 2002 – Napier City Rovers
- 2003 – Manawatu
- 2004 – Napier City Rovers
- 2005 – Gisborne Thistle
- 2006 – Team Taranaki
- 2007–09 – not contested
- 2010 – Maycenvale United
- 2011–12 – not contested
- 2013 – Palmerston North Marist
- 2014 – Wanganui Athletic
- 2015 – Team Taranaki
- 2016 – Team Taranaki
- 2017 – Havelock North Wanderers
- 2018 – Palmerston North Marist
- 2019 – Havelock North Wanderers
- 2020 – New Plymouth Rangers
- 2021 – Havelock North Wanderers
- 2022 – Whanganui Athletic
- 2023 – Palmerston North Marist
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
- 2009 - Wanganui City AFC
- 2010 - Gisborne City AFC
- 2011 - Maycenvale United (2)
- 2012 - Napier City Rovers FC (2)
- 2013 - Havelock North Wanderers AFC
- 2014 - Gisborne United AFC
- 2015 - Hāwera FC
- 2016 - Napier City Rovers FC (2)
- 2017 - Massey University Football Club
- 2018 - Eltham AFC
- 2019 - Massey University Football Club
- 2020 - not contested
- 2021 - Massey University Football Club
- 2022 - Gisborne United AFC
- 2023 - Whanganui Athletic (2)
*(2) denotes club's second team
References
- "Central Football". ultimatenzsoccer. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
- "Central Football Federation League 2023". Central Football. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- "Whanganui Athletic to join Central League for 2023 season". New Zealand Football. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- "Update to the 2022 Central League". NZ Football. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- "Honours Board". ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.