NRFL Championship explained

NRFL Championship
Country: New Zealand
Confed:OFC (Oceania)
Founded:1965
Teams:12
Promotion:Northern League
Relegation:NRFL Northern Conference
NRFL Southern Conference
Domest Cup:Chatham Cup
Levels:3
Champions:Fencibles United (1st title)
Most Successful Club:Birkenhead United
Central United
East Coast Bays
Onehunga Sports
(3 titles each)
Season:2024

The Northern Regional Football League Championship, currently known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional New Zealand association football league competition. Up until 2022, the competition was known as NRFL Division 1.[1] [2] [3]

The league includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, with clubs from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty provinces. The league sits at step 3 of the New Zealand football pyramid.

Current clubs

Takapuna and Manukau United joined the league following their relegation the season prior from the Northern League. Franklin United were promoted as winners of NRFL Conference play-offs.

Tauranga City won the 2023 season and were promoted alongside East Coast Bays to the Northern League, while Waiheke United were relegated to NRFL Northern Conference.

TeamLocationStadium2023 season
EllerslieEllerslie, AucklandMichaels Avenue7th
Franklin UnitedDruryDrury Sports Grounds1st in Northern Conference (promoted via play-offs)
Fencibles UnitedPakuranga, AucklandRiverhills Domain8th
Hibiscus CoastWhangaparaoa, AucklandStanmore Bay Park6th
Manukau UnitedMāngere East, AucklandCentre Park12th in Northern League (relegated)
MetroMount Albert, AucklandPhyllis Street11th
Mount Albert-PonsonbyMount Albert, AucklandAnderson Park4th
Ngaruawahia UnitedNgāruawāhiaCentennial Park, Ngāruawāhia3rd
North Shore UnitedDevonport, AucklandAllen Hill Stadium5th
Northern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park9th
Onehunga-Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain10th
TakapunaTakapuna, AucklandTaharoto Park11th in Northern League (relegated)

Past winners

Numbers in parentheses indicate wins up to that date.

SeasonWinner[4] Promoted
1965[5] PonsonbyEden
1966[6] LynndaleHamilton
1967[7] Birkenhead UnitedRotorua City
1968[8] Courier RangersHamilton
1969[9] WhangareiBirkenhead United
1970[10] Takapuna CityPapatoetoe
East Coast Bays
Huntly Thistle
1971[11] Metro CollegeEllerslie
1972[12] Papakura CityLynndale
1973[13] ManurewaPapatoetoe
1974[14] Whangarei City (2)Takapuna City
1975[15] Lynndale (2)Rotorua City
1976[16] Glenfield RoversMetro College
1977[17] EllerslieMt. Roskill
1978East Coast BaysMetro College
1979Waitemata CityPapatoetoe
1980Birkenhead United (2)Rotorua City
1981EdenWhangarei City
1982UniversityLynndale
1983Otara Rangers
1984HowickPapakura City
1985Mount MaunganuiOtara Rangers
1986WaikatoOratia United
Kelston West
1987Mount Albert-Ponsonby (2)Manukau City
Blockhouse Bay
1988CentralRotorua City
1989East Coast Bays (2)Massey
1990University (2)
1991Central (2)Rotorua City
Kawerau Town
1992Tauranga CityEden
Pakuranga Town
1993Melville UnitedOnehunga Sports
1994Metro (2)Ngaruawahia United
1995CambridgeNorthland United
Hamilton Wanderers
Takapuna
1996Glenfield Rovers (2)
1997Hamilton WanderersGlenfield Rovers
1998Three Kings UnitedTauranga City
1999Takapuna (2)Eastern Suburbs
2000Central United (3)Manukau City
2001Onehunga SportsBay Olympic
2002Waitakere CityUniversity-Mount Wellington
2003East Coast Bays (3)Mangere United
2004Papakura City (2)
2005Albany UnitedBirkenhead United
2006Onehunga Sports (2)Hamilton Wanderers
2007Lynn-Avon UnitedMelville United
Metro
Three Kings United
Papatoetoe
Mount Albert-Ponsonby
2008[18] Manurewa (2)
2009Three Kings United (2)
2010[19] Hamilton Wanderers (2)
Onehunga Sports (3)
2011[20] Eastern SuburbsManurewa
2012[21] Birkenhead United (3)Ellerslie
2013[22] Glenfield Rovers (3)Ngaruawahia United
2014[23] Western SpringsEastern Suburbs
Melville United
2015[24] Forrest Hill Milford UnitedTauranga City United
2016[25] Waitakere City (2)Manurewa
2017[26] Western Springs (2)Manukau City
2018[27] Melville United (2)North Shore United
2019[28] [29] Forrest Hill Milford United (2)Bay Olympic
2020Abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
2021[30] [31] Waiheke UnitedTakapuna
2022[32] West Coast RangersManurewa
2023[33] Tauranga City (2)East Coast Bays
2024[34] Fencibles United

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New look for LOTTO NRFL 2023. 2 March 2023. Northern Region Football. 2 March 2023. 2 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230302102746/https://www.nrf.org.nz/newsarticle/125404. live.
  2. Web site: Promoted sides drawn away in season openers for Lotto NRFL Men's Championship. 2 March 2023. friendsoffootballnz.com. 2 March 2023. 2 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230302022925/https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2023/03/02/promoted-sides-drawn-away-in-season-openers-for-lotto-nrfl-mens-championship/. live.
  3. Web site: Lotto NRFL Review 2021. Northern Region Football. 2 March 2023. 2 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230302102747/https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=dd8c99f3-671e-4244-adc4-08545278022f. live.
  4. Web site: Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 24 June 2021 . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427083218/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id34.htm . live .
  5. Web site: 1965 Northern Leagues . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427083207/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id353.htm . live .
  6. Web site: 1966 Northern Leagues . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 29 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210429114959/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id354.htm . live .
  7. Web site: 1967 Innes-Tartan Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 30 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210630073304/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id355.htm . live .
  8. Web site: 1968 Innes-Tartan Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 28 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428143656/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id356.htm . live .
  9. Web site: 1969 Rothmans Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427082637/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id357.htm . live .
  10. Web site: 1970 Rothmans Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 28 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210628010910/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id358.htm . live .
  11. Web site: 1971 Rothmans Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 26 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210426053348/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id359.htm . live .
  12. Web site: 1972 Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 28 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428191258/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id360.htm . live .
  13. Web site: 1973 Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 29 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629012853/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id361.htm . live .
  14. Web site: 1974 Broadlands Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 28 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428195354/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id362.htm . live .
  15. Web site: 1975 Broadlands Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 29 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629032151/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id343.htm . live .
  16. Web site: 1976 Broadlands Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427083209/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id344.htm . live .
  17. Web site: 1976 Broadlands Northern League . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . 23 June 2021 . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427083209/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id344.htm . live .
  18. Web site: Lotto NRFL 2008 award winners Auckland Football Federation. www.aucklandfootball.org.nz. en-AU. 2017-10-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028195321/http://www.aucklandfootball.org.nz/lotto-nrfl-2008-award-winners/. 28 October 2017. dead.
  19. Web site: Award winners end NRFL year Auckland Football Federation. www.aucklandfootball.org.nz. en-AU. 2017-10-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094527/http://www.aucklandfootball.org.nz/award-winners-end-nrfl-year/. 28 October 2017. dead.
  20. Web site: Ladder for NRFL Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028144659/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-156086-0&pool=1&a=LADDER. 28 October 2017. 2017-10-28.
  21. Web site: Ladder for 2012 NRFL Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093635/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-202619-0&a=LADDER. 2017-10-28. 2017-10-28.
  22. Web site: Ladder for 2013 Northern Region Football Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094405/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-234544-0&a=LADDER. 2017-10-28. 2017-10-28.
  23. Web site: Ladder for 2014 Northern Region Football Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093819/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-295355-0&a=LADDER. 2017-10-28. 2017-10-28.
  24. Web site: Ladder for NRFL 2015 Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094106/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-339163-0&a=LADDER. 2017-10-28. 2017-10-28.
  25. Web site: Ladder for 2016 NRFL Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093528/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-393080-0&a=LADDER. 2017-10-28. 2017-10-28.
  26. Web site: Ladder for NRFL Division 1. SportsTG. en. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027130434/http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4202-0-433377-0&a=LADDER. 2017-10-27. 2017-10-27.
  27. Web site: CONGRATULATIONS! @MelvilleUnited have been crowned champions of the 2018 #LottoNRFL Men's Division One!pic.twitter.com/ADeSyMczOY. NRFL. LOTTO. 2018-08-10. @LOTTONRFL. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200419044210/https://twitter.com/LOTTONRFL/status/1028142618620833794. 2020-04-19. 2020-04-19.
  28. Web site: Auckland Football Federation - LOTTO NRFL 2019. www.aucklandfootball.org.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20200419041651/http://www.aucklandfootball.org.nz/COMPETITIONS-1/Senior-Fixtures/LOTTO-NRFL-2019-1. 19 April 2020. 2020-04-19. live.
  29. Web site: pic.twitter.com/vfk2ICm7AJ. Milford. Forrest Hill. 2019-08-30. @ForrestHillFC. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200419051407/https://twitter.com/ForrestHillFC/status/1167662359030185985. 2020-04-19. 19 April 2020.
  30. Web site: Northern League 2021. The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 15 September 2021. 15 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915115455/https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/20217e8.htm. live.
  31. Web site: Northern League and LOTTO NRFL results confirmed. Northern Region Football. 15 September 2021. 26 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126122643/https://www.northernregionfootball.org.nz/newsarticle/107997. dead.
  32. Web site: West Coast Rangers survive early scare to secure Lotto NRFL first division title. 28 August 2022. friendsoffootballnz.com. 29 August 2022. 29 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220829115540/https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2022/08/28/west-coast-rangers-survive-early-scare-to-secure-lotto-nrfl-first-division-title/. live.
  33. Web site: Tauranga City finish season in style to win Lotto NRFL Men's Championship. 9 September 2023. friendsoffootballnz.com. 10 September 2023. 9 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230909090417/https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2023/09/09/tauranga-city-finish-season-in-style-to-win-lotto-nrfl-mens-championship/. live.
  34. Web site: Fencibles United clinch Championship title and promotion to Northern League. 25 August 2024. friendsoffootballnz.com. 25 August 2024.

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