New Zealand Women's National League Explained

Pixels:200px
Country: New Zealand
Confed:OFC
Teams:8
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Kate Sheppard Cup
Confed Cup:OFC Women's Champions League
Champions:Auckland United (1st title)
Season:2023
Most Champs:Auckland Football (7 titles)
Website:Official website
Tv:FIFA+
Current:2024 season

The National League (previously known as the National Women's League) is the top-level women's football league in New Zealand. The teams were run by regional federations until 2021, when New Zealand Football started to move to club-based football.[1] [2]

History

The league was founded in 2002 and ran until the league went on hiatus at the end of 2007. The league resumed in 2009 with five federations participating, as well as the national women's under-19 team development squad. The league currently contains seven teams, one run by each federation.

The league ran in a pure round-robin format in 2002 and 2003. Playoffs started in 2004, with the second and third-placed teams competing in a one-legged semi-final. The winner of that and the first-place team then played in the Grand Final to decide the overall champion.

Following a hiatus in 2009, the league was divided into two divisions—a Northern Conference and a Southern Conference, each comprising four teams. At the end of the season, semi-finals were held, where the winner of each division played against the runner-up of the other division. The victorious teams then competed in the Grand Final. However, in 2013, the league reverted to its previous format.

From 2010 to 2014, the league was held in the summer, in contrast to previous seasons, which were held in the winter. During this period, the league was restricted to players under the age of 20, making it a national women's youth league. The restrictions were lifted in 2015, and since then, the league has been an unrestricted women's league.

New Zealand Football looked to move the National Women's League to a club-based competition (similar to the men's competition) by 2020. The governing body also hoped to expand the number of games each federation plays in 2018. [3]

Participants

Current

Former

This comprised the national under-19 team (2005), national under-18 team (2006, 2014–2016), and national under-17 team (2009). Although New Zealand Development competed from 2005, they were ineligible to take part in the semifinals and final until the 2009 season.

List of champions

The list of champions:[4]

YearChampion Runner upScoreVenue
2002[5] Auckland (1)Mainland SoccerSeason decided on league standings
2003[6] Auckland (2)Capital Soccer
2004[7] Capital Soccer (1)Auckland*2–1Unknown
2005[8] Auckland (3)Capital Soccer*4–2Newtown Park, Wellington
2006[9] Auckland* (4)Capital Soccer3–1Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
2007[10] Auckland* (5)3–1Newtown Park, Wellington
2008No competition
2009[11] [12] Auckland* (6)Capital Football5–1Bayer Growers Stadium, Pukekohe
2010–11[13] [14] Capital Football* (2)Waikato-Bay of Plenty2–1Memorial Park, Lower Hutt
2011–12[15] [16] Northern Football
  • (1)
Waikato-Bay of Plenty3–0Parrs Park, Auckland
2012–13[17] [18] Northern Football* (2)2–0Fred Taylor Park, Auckland
2013[19] [20] Mainland Pride (1) Northern Football*4–2North Harbour Stadium, North Shore
2014[21] [22] Mainland Pride* (2)New Zealand U-18 Development3–1ASB Football Park, Christchurch
2015[23] [24] Northern FootballMainland Pride*4–3ASB Football Park, Christchurch
2016[25] [26] Canterbury United Pride
  • (3)
Capital Football2–0English Park, Christchurch
2017[27] [28] Auckland Football (7)Canterbury United Pride*3–2English Park, Christchurch
2018[29] [30] Canterbury United Pride* (4)3–2English Park, Christchurch
2019[31] [32] Canterbury United Pride* (5)Northern Lights1–1
(4–3 pen.)		English Park, Christchurch
2020[33] Canterbury United Pride* (6)Capital Football4–0English Park, Christchurch
2021National League season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic;[34] South Central Series won by Southern United
2022Eastern SuburbsWestern Springs4–0Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
2023Auckland UnitedSouthern United2–0Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland

Media coverage

Sky Sport had the broadcasting rights for the first two seasons (including the South Central Series). One game a week was live on television with the remaining four games free to air on either the Sky Sport Next or New Zealand Football YouTube channels.[35] [36]

In September 2023, New Zealand signed a deal to have all National League games streamed for free on FIFA+ worldwide.[37] [38]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: National women's league retains youth focus. Stuff. 2012-09-20.
  2. Web site: Nothing Trivial . Sparc plays ball with women's football . TVNZ . 2008-12-15 . 2012-09-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090203152427/http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/sparc-plays-ball-womans-football-2420708 . 2009-02-03 .
  3. Web site: National Competitions Review . NZ Football . 2017-04-09 . 2017-04-09.
  4. Web site: Honours Board. ultimatenzsoccer.
  5. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2002 . . 13 August 2021.
  6. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2003 . . 13 August 2021.
  7. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2004 . . 13 August 2021.
  8. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2005 . . 13 August 2021.
  9. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2006 . . 13 August 2021.
  10. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2007 . . 13 August 2021.
  11. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2009 . . 13 August 2021.
  12. Web site: http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS=1259586000&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=246&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=835520fdde Green hat-trick fires Auckland to sixth Women's League title ]. . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130210010925/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS]=1259586000&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=246&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=835520fdde . 10 February 2013 . 20 December 2009 . dead.
  13. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2010/11 . . 13 August 2021.
  14. Web site: http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS=1298898000&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=5&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=937&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=44828562c4 Capital clinch ASB Women's League title ]. . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130212201748/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS]=1298898000&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=5&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=937&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=44828562c4 . 12 February 2013 . 12 March 2011 . dead.
  15. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2011/12 . . 13 August 2021.
  16. Web site: http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS=1322658000&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=4&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1344&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=e2161eea0d Northern lift ASB Women's League trophy ]. . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130212150707/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS]=1322658000&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=4&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1344&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=e2161eea0d . 12 February 2013 . 4 December 2011 . dead.
  17. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2012/13 . . 13 August 2021.
  18. Web site: http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS=1354280400&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=2&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1973&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=4274fb4485 Northern retain ASB Women's League title ]. . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130212055332/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[pS]=1354280400&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[pointer]=2&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1973&tx_ttnews[backPid]=195&cHash=4274fb4485 . 12 February 2013 . 16 December 2012 . dead.
  19. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2013 . . 13 August 2021.
  20. Web site: http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news=2657&tx_ttnews[backPid]=937&cHash=2d36155d47 Mainland secure maiden league title ]. . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140701180954/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=2657&tx_ttnews[backPid]=937&cHash=2d36155d47 . 1 July 2014 . dead.
  21. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2014 . . 13 August 2021.
  22. News: Mainland Pride retain ASB Women's League title . 13 August 2021 . . 7 December 2014 . en.
  23. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2015 . . 13 August 2021.
  24. News: Smith . Tony . Northern Football halt Mainland's dominance with national women's league final win . 13 August 2021 . . 6 December 2015 . en.
  25. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2016 . . 13 August 2021.
  26. Web site: Pride claim third title in four years . . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170113053335/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/pride-claim-third-title-in-four-years/ . 13 January 2017 . dead.
  27. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2017 . . 13 August 2021.
  28. News: Caldwell . Olivia . Two late goals help Auckland storm past Canterbury to claim national women's football title . 13 August 2021 . . 10 December 2017 . en.
  29. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2018 . . 13 August 2021.
  30. News: Voerman . Andrew . Canterbury United Pride win fourth National Women's Football League title . 13 August 2021 . . 16 December 2018 . en.
  31. Web site: New Zealand (Women) 2019 . . 13 August 2021.
  32. News: Voerman . Andrew . Canterbury United Pride win fifth national title in seven years after penalty shootout . 13 August 2021 . . 15 December 2019 . en.
  33. News: Rollo . Phillip . Canterbury United Pride win third straight national women's league final . 13 August 2021 . . 20 December 2020 . en.
  34. Web site: National League Championship cancelled, new interregional competition announced and Chatham Cup moved to 2022 . New Zealand Football.
  35. Web site: 7 October 2022 . Updated broadcast schedule released for National League Championship with 85 games free to air . New Zealand Football . 7 November 2023 .
  36. Web site: 7 October 2022 . Fixture List 2022 . New Zealand Football . 7 November 2023 .
  37. Web site: 22 September 2023 . New Zealand Football signs long-term partnership with FIFA+ to make international friendlies and domestic competitions free to watch . New Zealand Football . 7 November 2023 .
  38. Web site: 16 October 2023 . How to watch New Zealand football live on FIFA+ . . 7 November 2023 .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "New Zealand Women's National League".

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