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Central Federation League

The Central Federation League was 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 was ranked in the third level of the New Zealand football league system, below the Central League administered by Capital Football and was entered by clubs from the Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne districts.

In 2025, the league was replaced by two parallel leagues, the Eastern Premiership and the Western Premiership.

History

The league was launched in 2000 and began within the second tier of the New Zealand football league system as a replacement for the disbanded triple-division Central League, which had run in various forms since 1966.

Final season clubs

As of the 2024 season.

Records

Past Champions

2024 Federation League Table

The 2024 season saw the league increase the number of clubs from five to nine. Whanganui Athletic, relegated from the 2023 Central League, joined a trio of clubs from New Plymouth including; 2023 Taranaki Premiership champions Peringa United, FC Western (both new entrants to the league), and the returning New Plymouth Rangers. Havelock North Wanderers rejoined the league from the Pacific Premiership while Napier City Rovers reserves withdrew before the 2024 season commenced.

2024 Central League Premier Division place play-off

Upper Hutt City win 4 - 2 on aggregate and promotion to the 2025 Central League Premier Division.

2024 Central League 2 play-offs

2023 Federation League Table

Prior to the commencement of the 2023 season, a merger of three Palmerston North clubs; Massey University FC, North End and Red Sox Manawatu created new entity, Palmerston North United. Palmerston North United replaced North End and Massey University in the league.

Napier Marist FC and Levin AFC withdrew from the league before the 2023 competition began reducing the number of clubs participating to five.

2023 Central League place play-off

Island Bay United win 7 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2024 Central League.

2022 Federation League Table

2022 Central League place play-off

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.

2021 Federation League Table

2021 Central League place play-off

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.

2020 Federation League Table

2020 Central League place play-off

Aggregate score 12 - 6. Wainuiomata are promoted to the 2021 Central League.

2019 Federation League Table

2019 Central League place play-off

Petone won 6 - 5 on aggregate and promotion to the 2020 Central League.

2018 Federation League Table

2018 Central League place play-off

North Wellington won 12 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2019 Central League.

2017 Federation League Table

2017 Central League place play-off

Waterside Karori won promotion on away goal rule to 2018 Central League.

2016 Central League place play-off

Team Taranaki won on away goals rule and promotion to the 2017 Central League.

Past Clubs

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>(2) denotes club's second team

References