Central League (New Zealand)

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,{{cite web|last1=Ruane|first1=Jeremy|url=https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id1557.htm|title=Honours Board|website=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|accessdate=6 June 2018|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206120724/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id1557.htm|url-status=dead}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/id152.htm|title=Chatham Cup|website=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|accessdate=6 June 2018}}

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.{{cite web |title=New National League competition details confirmed |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/100552 |website=New Zealand Football |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317013353/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/100552 |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=26 February 2021}}

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.

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.{{cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Dettol Become Major Partner of New Zealand Football and Official Naming Partner of the Dettol National League |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/149538?newsfeedId=1275538 |website=New Zealand Football |access-date=27 February 2025 }}

{{Location map+|New Zealand North Island|AlternativeMap=New Zealand North Island (location map).svg|width=400|caption=Location of clubs in the North Island for the 2025 Central League season|places=

{{location map~|New Zealand North Island|lat=-41.224680|long=174.802362|label_size=80|label=Wellington|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{location map~|New Zealand North Island|lat=-39.508197|long=176.856895|label_size=80|label={{nowrap|Napier City Rovers}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=top}}

{{location map~|New Zealand North Island|lat=-41.111268|long=174.904991|label_size=80|label={{nowrap|Western Suburbs}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=top}}

{{location map~|New Zealand North Island|lat=-41.185100|long=174.948394|label_size=80|label={{nowrap|Wellington Phoenix Reserves}}|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|New Zealand North Island|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png|marksize=1|lat=-37|long=172.5

|label_size=80|label=Wellington teams:

Island Bay United

Miramar Rangers

North Wellington

Petone

Upper City Hall

Waterside Karori

Wellington Olympic AFC

|position=right}}

}}

{{Location map+|New Zealand Wellington Region|width=300|caption=Location of clubs in Wellington Region for the 2025 Central League season|places=

{{location map~|New Zealand Wellington Region|lat=-41.302932|long=174.824562|label_size=60|label=MR|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}}

{{location map~|New Zealand Wellington Region|lat=-41.224680|long=174.802362|label_size=60|label=NW|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=top}}

{{location map~|New Zealand Wellington Region|lat=-41.223615|long=174.895652|label_size=60|label=PT|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=top}}

{{location map~|New Zealand Wellington Region|lat=-41.286724|long=174.723776|label_size=60|label=WK|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=left}}

{{location map~|New Zealand Wellington Region|lat=-41.325633|long=174.773845|label_size=60|label=IB/WO|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{location map~|New Zealand Wellington Region|lat=

-41.133333|long=175.05 |label_size=60|label=UH|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}}

}}

As of the 2025 season.

As of the 2022 season.{{cite web |title=Fixtures released for Northern, Central and Southern League 2022 |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/112930 |website=New Zealand Football |access-date=4 March 2022}} 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. They were replaced by Wellington United who had originally missed out on promotion to Havelock North Wanderers.

{{updated|8 September 2023}}

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.

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.

• Most wins in a season: 17 – Wellington Olympic (2024)
• Fewest defeats in a season: 1 – Wellington Olympic (2021, 2022 & 2024)
• Most goals scored in a season: 79 – Wellington Olympic (2023 & 2024)
• Fewest goals conceded in a season: 15 –Wellington Olympic (2022)
• Most points in a season: 51 – Wellington Olympic (2024)
• Fewest points in a season: 4 – Wainuiomata (2021)
• Highest goal difference: 63 – Wellington Olympic (2024)
• Biggest home win: – Lower Hutt City 12–1 Wainuiomata (26 June 2021)
• Biggest away win: – Western Suburbs FC 1 - 11 Wellington Olympic (14 August 2022)
• Highest scoring match: 13 goals – Lower Hutt City 12–1 Wainuiomata (26 June 2021)
• Biggest title-winning margin: – 11 points, 2024, Wellington Olympic (51 points) over Western Suburbs (40 points)
• Smallest title-winning margin: – 5 points
• 2021, Wellington Olympic (47 points) over Miramar Rangers (42 points)
• 2022, Wellington Olympic (45 points) over Miramar Rangers (40 points)

Source:

{{div col|colwidth=15em|small=yes}}

• 1992 – Wanganui East Athletic
• 1993 – Manawatu
• 1994 – Tawa
• 1995 – Wainuiomata
• 1996 – Western Suburbs
• 1997 – Miramar Rangers
• 1998 – Western Suburbs
• 1999 – Island Bay United
• 2000–2004 – no competition
• 2005 – Western Suburbs
• 2006 – Miramar Rangers
• 2007 – Western Suburbs
• 2008 – Miramar Rangers
• 2009 – Western Suburbs
• 2010 – Wellington Olympic
• 2011 – Miramar Rangers
• 2012 – Napier City Rovers
• 2013 – Miramar Rangers
• 2014 – Miramar Rangers
• 2015 – Napier City Rovers
• 2016 – Wellington Olympic
• 2017 – Western Suburbs
• 2018 – Napier City Rovers
• 2019 – Western Suburbs
• 2020 – Miramar Rangers
• 2021 – Wellington Olympic
• 2022 – Wellington Olympic
• 2023 – Wellington Olympic
• 2024 – Wellington Olympic{{div col end}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/COMPETITIONS/National-League National League official website]
• [http://www.capitalfootball.org.nz/ Capital/Central Region official website]

{{Central Premier League}}

{{New Zealand National League}}

{{New Zealand Women's National League}}

{{NZ fb general}}

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