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Central League 2026

237 replies · 19,373 views

23 days ago

For comparative purposes, the last set of financial accounts, Napier City Rovers posted to Incorporated Society had "Central League Team" 160,786 in 2024 and 139,421 in 2023. My dim memory recalled seeing something somewhere that said if they went down the day before to minimise the travel before then they had to fund the overnight themselves.

Also note all teams in Northern, Central, Southern leagues this year pay an entry fee of $12,500 and that NZF cover the travel cost of the national league portion. So effectively 30 teams cover the costs of 9 in the National League phase. Next year with National League being seperate, in theory each league is funding themselves and there is no cross subsidisation taking place.

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21 days ago

Mother's day activities today so unfortunately not down watching FC Western v Miramar.

Let's just say I'm not expecting too much from this one though.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

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21 days ago

YoungHeartHM wrote:
Mother's day activities today so unfortunately not down watching FC Western v Miramar.

Let's just say I'm not expecting too much from this one though.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

Have a TAB dabble at 50:1. Wharf not far behind. Never seen such odds !

Founder

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21 days ago

Feverish wrote:
YoungHeartHM wrote:
Mother's day activities today so unfortunately not down watching FC Western v Miramar.

Let's just say I'm not expecting too much from this one though.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.
Have a TAB dabble at 50:1. Wharf not far behind. Never seen such odds !

F/T | 3-1 Miramar

Better than what I was expecting, and we even scored our first goal at this level!

After last week that is one hell of an improvement against a good Miramar side. I wholeheartedly thought it was going to get really ugly today.

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21 days ago

Napier will be pleased to put on a big score. Have been a little lacking on attack this yr.

FCW should be pleased with the closeness of that game - a sign they can hopefully step up against other weak sides

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20 days ago

So good they were able to score a goal 💪 the league is starting to become a little predictable.

Miramar vs Napier will be a good game this week

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biHe

20 days ago

Miramar v NCR will defo be a tasty one. well done to FC Western to put in a good shift. thought Waterside Karori were very poor and offered little yesterday. clinical and good standards from NCR

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18 days ago

WPX Reserves with one win and in 8th place with -3 goal difference

NZ Football: "Welcome to the National League - Free Pass for you!"

Wouldn't it be better if the young players actually had to earn the right to play in the best league in the country?

Some people wonder why no one likes the Academy players and I think the entitlement that they walk around with has something to do with it.

Auckland FC are doing their youth set-up 10 times better and keeping clubs on-side at the same time

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18 days ago · edited 18 days ago · History

AFC Reserves currently sit 8th in the Northern League. So the same agrument applies.
https://www.nrf.org.nz/Competitions-1/northern-league-1

Though they will likely be strengthened when the OFC Pro League finishes, and a few OPL players drop into their Northern/National League squad.
Will be a small number though.

Most of their OPL squad coming from other Northern League clubs, or even overseas.
Prins Central League.

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18 days ago · edited 18 days ago · History

observer wrote:
WPX Reserves with one win and in 8th place with -3 goal difference

NZ Football: "Welcome to the National League - Free Pass for you!"

Wouldn't it be better if the young players actually had to earn the right to play in the best league in the country?

Some people wonder why no one likes the Academy players and I think the entitlement that they walk around with has something to do with it.

Auckland FC are doing their youth set-up 10 times better and keeping clubs on-side at the same time

Meanwhile in Auckland...

Last season

And currently...

Do they still have to 'earn the right' as well?

The system obviously has it's flaws and it's downsides, but come on.

You can't slag off one club without looking at the other and asking the exact same question of them.

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18 days ago

I can see the arguments for and against but I feel both should have to earn their way into the national league. I think it's a bit ridiculous that if they finish like this come season end they'll be playing NL with 3-4 objectively better clubs respectively. I feel like the Nix have generally gotten away with it because they've generally finished top 4 but now with both struggling it just comes off as taking opportunities away from other clubs. That said A-FC somehow finished 4th in the NL so what do I know?

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18 days ago · edited 18 days ago · History

Both reserve teams can have pretty transient squads.

Players coming and going due to - OFC age group qualifiers, age group WCs, players called up to senior ALM squads, guys needing rest periods (otherwise can be 12 months continous football) and now the OFC Pro League another factor.

There can be games where they field strong sides, with lots of wider ALM squad players, and others where it's very much young 16-17 kids running around.

That likely won't change much when the National League moves a full winter comp next season. In the bigger picture of maximising young player development pathways in NZ, they should be in the National League. The NZ talent pool will always be shallow compared to most nations, so anything that enhances it is a good thing.

But for sure if you are a staunch supporter of NCR, Petone, Auckland United, Western Springs or whoever you may have a different view.

Is the National League a development comp, or well.........a national league. That's always the debate isn't it. And as Declan would say with the best young player development setups, the results/games are often secondary.

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18 days ago

coochiee wrote:
Both reserve teams can have pretty transient squads.

Players coming and going due to - OFC age group qualifiers, age group WCs, players called up to senior ALM squads, guys needing rest periods (otherwise can be 12 months continous football) and now the OFC Pro League another factor.

There can be games where they field strong sides, with lots of wider ALM squad players, and others where it's very much young 16-17 kids running around.

That likely won't change much when the National League moves a full winter comp next season. In the bigger picture of maximising young player development pathways in NZ, they should be in the National League. The NZ talent pool will always be shallow compared to most nations, so anything that enhances it is a good thing.

But for sure if you are a staunch supporter of NCR, Petone, Auckland United, Western Springs or whoever you may have a different view.

Is the National League a development comp, or well.........a national league. That's always the debate isn't it. And as Declan would say with the best young player development setups, the results/games are often secondary.

Whatever about quailification for academy teams in the current format, it is what it is. I worry about relegation in the proposed winter format.

*hypothetically* Weenix and AFC reserves finish in the bottom two spots, try telling the teams that get relegated in their place its for the good of football.

I have horrible opinions

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18 days ago

Yipe in that hyothetical it's going to suck for the clubs that are relegated. The debate will rage.

But everyone knows the rules before a ball is kicked, crummy as they may seem.

You could describe it as a 10 team National League plus two invitation sides, who will always be invited back in each year.
Like Japan or Qatar can be in the Copa America, and even win it.

Re the development angle, I always think of Declan's youthful Wests basically parachuting in Hay's 2018/19 Handy Prem winning Eastern Suburbs side.
Would McCowatt, Just, Pijnaker, OPP and Wilkins be the players they are today, without that opportunity to play NL together as 18-20 yr olds?
Des's NZU20s and even now the AWs definitely got some benefit out of that happening.

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18 days ago

Are there any other National Leagues in the World that don't have the highest ranking teams included?

Decisions like this make NZ Football a laughing stock - at least Declan's kids had to earn their place in the National League through consitently high finishes in the Central League.

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18 days ago

In all fairness not having to face relegation would simulate the first teams to a tea!

Jokes aside we'll have to see how the national league plays out next year first. Last year they finished 4th and 9th respecively, out of a hypothetical relegation zone, so both squads are among the best in the nation when chucked in the deep end.

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18 days ago

If I can offer something else to consider, assuming we do end up getting an OFCPL team then I think we should be able to get relegated from the National League. We'd already have a squad playing at a higher level so how much does it really matter if our 3rds can't compete in the top tier of NZ every time?

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17 days ago · edited 17 days ago · History

Noah4thenix wrote:
If I can offer something else to consider, assuming we do end up getting an OFCPL team then I think we should be able to get relegated from the National League. We'd already have a squad playing at a higher level so how much does it really matter if our 3rds can't compete in the top tier of NZ every time?

Yeah that idea has some merit.

However any Nix II team in the OFC Pro League (OFCPL) is likely to have large number of players brought in, who ain't from the Nix Academy (Wee Nix). That's the way Auckland have done it with their team in the OFC Pro League.

The OFCPL has a massive financial carrot for the winners, ie annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup, plus the 4 yearly CWC. Developing players for the ALM nice, but winning the comp seems Auckland's main focus, hence bringing in a heap of players from other Northern & Central (Prins) clubs. Also Faulds, Ferguson (Oz) plus effectively Normann & Robinson from overseas.

So Auckland's current squad in the Northern League is still far more AFC II than AFC III.
I'm guessing that will stay the same next year when the OFCPL and winter National League overlap for the first few months.

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17 days ago · edited 17 days ago · History

observer wrote:
Are there any other National Leagues in the World that don't have the highest ranking teams included?

Decisions like this make NZ Football a laughing stock - at least Declan's kids had to earn their place in the National League through consitently high finishes in the Central League.

Similar but almost 360 degree different. Many countries in Europe that have reserve teams in their 2nd tier, don't allow those reserve sides to be promoted even if they win the 2nd tier comp. So technically the highest ranked sides may not be in the top tier the next season.

The Netherlands in 2022 suspended mandatory promotion and relegation for five to 10 years, between it's 2nd & 3rd tiers. Meaning the 4 Jong (reserve or U23) teams in the 2nd tier effectively can't be relegated. But that's more to do with the 3rd tier being amateur, and clubs at that level struggling to morph into pro clubs in the 2nd tier.

https://covid.fabriciano.mg.gov.br/official-origin/dutch-second-division-all-about-the-keuken-kampioen-divisie-1764797866
...........the inclusion of Jong teams can sometimes create debates about fairness and competitive balance. Some argue that these teams have an unfair advantage because they can draw on the resources and training facilities of their parent clubs. Others believe that they provide valuable opportunities for young players to develop and contribute to the overall quality of Dutch football.

And I'm pretty sure Declan left Wests/Ole, when the Handy Prem was still operating??
So it was just Tee Dubs in the Welly region playing NL.
He never had the opportunity to qualify Wests from Central League to NL under the current format.

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17 days ago

coochiee wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
If I can offer something else to consider, assuming we do end up getting an OFCPL team then I think we should be able to get relegated from the National League. We'd already have a squad playing at a higher level so how much does it really matter if our 3rds can't compete in the top tier of NZ every time?
Yeah that idea has some merit.

However any Nix II team in the OFC Pro League (OFCPL) is likely to have large number of players brought in, who ain't from the Nix Academy (Wee Nix). That's the way Auckland have done it with their team in the OFC Pro League.

Not necassarily, Auckland brought in players from other clubs because they don't have an academy yet. Sure we'd probably have to bring in a few guys from outside the nix but we could definitely promote a number of people to the OFCPL. Hell a few of the guys in the ressies have already had minutes in the A-League, Loke, Gardiner, Walker, Cassidy, McCarron. Chuck in a few deserving guys in the ressies, add some strong players locally who haven't already been picked up yet and I'd say we have a competitive squad tbh

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17 days ago · edited 17 days ago · History

Noah4thenix wrote:
coochiee wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
If I can offer something else to consider, assuming we do end up getting an OFCPL team then I think we should be able to get relegated from the National League. We'd already have a squad playing at a higher level so how much does it really matter if our 3rds can't compete in the top tier of NZ every time?
Yeah that idea has some merit.

However any Nix II team in the OFC Pro League (OFCPL) is likely to have large number of players brought in, who ain't from the Nix Academy (Wee Nix). That's the way Auckland have done it with their team in the OFC Pro League.
Not necassarily, Auckland brought in players from other clubs because they don't have an academy yet. Sure we'd probably have to bring in a few guys from outside the nix but we could definitely promote a number of people to the OFCPL. Hell a few of the guys in the ressies have already had minutes in the A-League, Loke, Gardiner, Walker, Cassidy, McCarron. Chuck in a few deserving guys in the ressies, add some strong players locally who haven't already been picked up yet and I'd say we have a competitive squad tbh

If Nix get a OFCPL side Loke, Walker and Cassidy might get to play a few games here and there. But they will mostly need to stay close to the ALM squad.

It's tricky when your ALM squad is criss crossing the Tasman, and the OFC League is based in Honiara, Port Moresby and Fiji for 1-2 weeks at a time. Injuries happen in the ALM and you need your squaddies able to be called up at very short notice.

You have even fewer flights into Welly from those far flung Island destinations, than into the 09.

Auckland's fringe ALM players like Fitzharris, McKenlay, Middleton, Coulibaly, Bidois, James Mitchell (all on scholarship deals?) etc have generally played very few mins in the OFC League. I'm guessing because they were required to train with the first team almost exclusively?? There are also some (age?) rule restrictions on players moving between the two comps.

Any Nix entrant in the OFCPL I think will operate very similar to how Auckland have done it this year.

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17 days ago

Noah4thenix wrote:
coochiee wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
If I can offer something else to consider, assuming we do end up getting an OFCPL team then I think we should be able to get relegated from the National League. We'd already have a squad playing at a higher level so how much does it really matter if our 3rds can't compete in the top tier of NZ every time?
Yeah that idea has some merit.

However any Nix II team in the OFC Pro League (OFCPL) is likely to have large number of players brought in, who ain't from the Nix Academy (Wee Nix). That's the way Auckland have done it with their team in the OFC Pro League.
Not necassarily, Auckland brought in players from other clubs because they don't have an academy yet. Sure we'd probably have to bring in a few guys from outside the nix but we could definitely promote a number of people to the OFCPL. Hell a few of the guys in the ressies have already had minutes in the A-League, Loke, Gardiner, Walker, Cassidy, McCarron. Chuck in a few deserving guys in the ressies, add some strong players locally who haven't already been picked up yet and I'd say we have a competitive squad tbh

You don't bring in the likes of Oscar Faulds, Ronan Wynne, Zac Zoricich, Michael den Heijer, Emiliano Tade (who tbf is also a coach), Tass Mourdakoutas, Oscar Normann, Jonathan Robinson, Reid Drake etc. because you don't have an academy. If it was about the academy they'd have brought in young players with good potential (and are pretty unlikely to have brought in any visa players).

Auckland joined because it could get them into FIFA competitions (making them a lot of money) and made sure to field a team that will be better all the other OFC teams.

If we join, I expect we'd probably try similar, maybe not quite to the same extent since it clearly works. You'll see a sprinkling of academy guys and fringe scholarship players (like GSR, Loke, Walker etc.) but a lot of the time I can see being brought in. It'll be good for competitive balance if we do (Auckland won't have such an easy time running away with it), but it'll suck for SIU who will be getting mostly third string players.

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17 days ago

Nix reserves conundrum aside, does a team that finishes 4th in the Central League deserve to play in the National League Championship? I think it's tougher up north where the depth is outstanding, in this region you get about 3-5 decent sides every year, if you're only 4th best I'm not sure you deserve to be there.

Conversation has been done to death a bit - Nix and Aucklands automatic places appear to be here to stay. For what it's worth, they're generally quite competitive and don't look out of place in the National League.

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17 days ago · edited 17 days ago · History

Southernix wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
coochiee wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
If I can offer something else to consider, assuming we do end up getting an OFCPL team then I think we should be able to get relegated from the National League. We'd already have a squad playing at a higher level so how much does it really matter if our 3rds can't compete in the top tier of NZ every time?
Yeah that idea has some merit.

However any Nix II team in the OFC Pro League (OFCPL) is likely to have large number of players brought in, who ain't from the Nix Academy (Wee Nix). That's the way Auckland have done it with their team in the OFC Pro League.
Not necassarily, Auckland brought in players from other clubs because they don't have an academy yet. Sure we'd probably have to bring in a few guys from outside the nix but we could definitely promote a number of people to the OFCPL. Hell a few of the guys in the ressies have already had minutes in the A-League, Loke, Gardiner, Walker, Cassidy, McCarron. Chuck in a few deserving guys in the ressies, add some strong players locally who haven't already been picked up yet and I'd say we have a competitive squad tbh
You don't bring in the likes of Oscar Faulds, Ronan Wynne, Zac Zoricich, Michael den Heijer, Emiliano Tade (who tbf is also a coach), Tass Mourdakoutas, Oscar Normann, Jonathan Robinson, Reid Drake etc. because you don't have an academy. If it was about the academy they'd have brought in young players with good potential (and are pretty unlikely to have brought in any visa players).

Auckland joined because it could get them into FIFA competitions (making them a lot of money) and made sure to field a team that will be better all the other OFC teams.

If we join, I expect we'd probably try similar, maybe not quite to the same extent since it clearly works. You'll see a sprinkling of academy guys and fringe scholarship players (like GSR, Loke, Walker etc.) but a lot of the time I can see being brought in. It'll be good for competitive balance if we do (Auckland won't have such an easy time running away with it), but it'll suck for SIU who will be getting mostly third string players.

Of Auckland's 26-27 man ALM squad only Gillion and to a lesser extent Vicelich have got many mins in the OFCPL.

The Nix will do similar and Loke, Walker, GSR will barely play in it, if at all.

You need 18-20 players each ALM match day squad naming. Throw in a few injuries & suspensions, or players under an injury cloud, and there are basically few if any ALM squad players available to play in the OFCPL. The travel logistics of the two different comps making it even more tricky.

If the Nix field a Weenix heavy team of 17-19 yr olds in the OFCPL they will be down the bottom. They will need to go out and recruit their own large cohort of 20-30 age somethings (mostly Kiwis) who want a crack at pro football. They could try woo all the ex Weenix 20s guys playing for the OFC teams (Owen Smith, Matt Foord, Fergus Gillion, Adam Supyk) for a start.

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17 days ago

The rationale for the protected status stems from when the NL was in the summer and so overlapped the A-league. The Nix needed a second team playing at a high level over the summer that fringe squad members could get minutes in.

I think NZF secret long term plan is to have 3 NZ sides in the A-league and their respective reserve sides in the OPL, both being played over our summer.

Whatever teams these professional clubs put out in the winter should end up playing where appropriate on merit. There isn't the requirement for them to be at a suitable level so fringe first teamers get decent minutes against decent opposition. I anticipate after a year or 2 of winter national league and Nix getting their reserves into the OPL, that will be a catalyst to remove the protected status.

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17 days ago

I don't think the idea of NZF being in favour of 3 a league teams in NZ is a secret.

Less convinced that NZF is hammer and tongs in favour of the OFC Pro League, or that it will exist after the Saudi money dries up.

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17 days ago

from about Capt prem upwards I'm pretty sure Cap footy only allows 1 team per club, given the Nix have an age group team in each except CL2 then I dont see an issue with the Nix not being relegated from whatever league they are in, they cant get promoted either.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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17 days ago

zonknz wrote:
I don't think the idea of NZF being in favour of 3 a league teams in NZ is a secret.

Less convinced that NZF is hammer and tongs in favour of the OFC Pro League, or that it will exist after the Saudi money dries up.

3 teams in the a-league for us would be bad, especially if the other two have way more money behind them.

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15 days ago

And Miramar are the favourites now! 2-1 win over Napier

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15 days ago · edited 15 days ago · History

15 year old Central League debutant Jack Clegg involved in all three goals for the WeeNix this arvo (2 goals, 1 assist).

Ben Trenberth, another 15 year old, gets an assist on Clegg's second goal as the WeeNix currently 3-1 up over IBU.

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15 days ago

Any relation to Millie Clegg?

Good result for the Wee Nix if it stays this way.

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15 days ago

Procrastinixing wrote:
Any relation to Millie Clegg?

Good result for the Wee Nix if it stays this way.

Brother. Cracking kid with a big future ahead of him!

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15 days ago

JayJay wrote:
Procrastinixing wrote:
Any relation to Millie Clegg?

Good result for the Wee Nix if it stays this way.
Brother. Cracking kid with a big future ahead of him!

Scored 45 goals in a season in NRF 13th grade in 2023.

Had his first taste of senior football in Cap 1 last year where he scored five – Paul Ifill, some 30 years older, scored 10 in the same comp.

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14 days ago

LT01 wrote:
And Miramar are the favourites now! 2-1 win over Napier

I watched the steam of the game. Dave Farrington Park is in a bad way and the facilties/ buildings appear to be very run down. Well over due for a make over.

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14 days ago

FC Western continue to struggle... Upper Hutt scoring a big 4-1 win there

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14 days ago

LT01 wrote:
And Miramar are the favourites now! 2-1 win over Napier

Idk if I would call them favourites just yet. Only 3-points above Olympic and 5 above suburbs.

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14 days ago

whatever-11456-1 wrote:
LT01 wrote:
And Miramar are the favourites now! 2-1 win over Napier
I watched the steam of the game. Dave Farrington Park is in a bad way and the facilties/ buildings appear to be very run down. Well over due for a make over.

Grass needed a good mow alright. Can't dribble or lay a good ball through a paddock.

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14 days ago

Noah4thenix wrote:
LT01 wrote:
And Miramar are the favourites now! 2-1 win over Napier
Idk if I would call them favourites just yet. Only 3-points above Olympic and 5 above suburbs.

Not saying they'll win for sure so much more football to play, but they are obviously the favourite i.e. the most likely team to win right??

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13 days ago

LT01 wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
LT01 wrote:
And Miramar are the favourites now! 2-1 win over Napier
Idk if I would call them favourites just yet. Only 3-points above Olympic and 5 above suburbs.
Not saying they'll win for sure so much more football to play, but they are obviously the favourite i.e. the most likely team to win right??

I mean sure they're in the lead but I feel like considering Olympic's recent history are we really gonna say a 3-point lead is enough?

Maybe this is just a me thin,g but I feel like with just a 3-point lead Olympic are gonna overtake them sooner or later. You don't win 5 consequtive for nothing, Miramar will have to get a 5+ gap before we can call them the favourites. One loss and it's neck and neck.

But that's just my opinion