Northern Lights is a women's football team representing the Northern Football Federation in New Zealand. They currently play in the National Women's League, the top level of women's football in New Zealand. The team was previously known as Northern Football, until they were re-branded in 2018
Originally known as Northern Football, the team made their debut in the National Women's League in 2010-11, qualifying for the playoffs unbeaten, but losing 10âÂÂ1 to Waikato-Bay of Plenty in the semi-final. The team have won the New Zealand Championship three times, firstly in 2011-12, beating Waikato-Bay of Plenty in the play off final 3âÂÂ0, and then again the following season, this time going undefeated and beating Auckland Football 2âÂÂ0 in the final. They were unable to make it a hat trick of championships in 2013 however, losing 4âÂÂ2 to Mainland Pride in the final, despite topping the regular season table. In 2014 the team failed to make the playoffs, finishing sixth in the regular season, winning only two of their seven games. They then won their third title in the 2015, finishing second after the regular season, they went on to beat the NZ Development Squad 4âÂÂ3 in the semi-final before going on to beat first place Mainland Pride in the final 3âÂÂ4 away from home, denying their opponents a three-peat of competition titles.
On 28 August 2018, it was decided that the women's teams from Northern Football Federation would be re-branded as the Northern Lights to provide an identity for the teams, players, staff and supporters and to help build on the growth of the Female game within the region.
<small>*Home team for final.</small>