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New National League format in 2027

57 replies · 5,165 views

25 days ago

zonknz wrote:
How does the promoted side get chosen? I.e the format for each match? ET+penalties could still result in 3 teams with one won, one loss each?

When we last had club NL with promotion/relegation matches it was the same single round robin format and matches could be drawn - no need for a winner in individual matches just like normal league matches. Standard NL round robin principles applied - so points then goal difference then goals scored. Presumably the same for NL 2027 qualification although it is unclear what happens if these cannot split the sides.

There were multi team promotion/relegation round robins from 2000 to 2002 but none ended with teams tied on points.

At the end of the 2000 season Caversham qualified from the single round robin with 4 points (3-3 draw with Havelock North Wanderers and a 3-1 win over Tauranga City United) ahead of Tauranga City United on 3 points (TCU beat HNW 4-1) and Havelock North Wanderers on 1 point. For that season there was a playoff against bottom place in NL (which was Metro) and Caversham lost that match 2-3.

In 2001 North Shore United won both matches against Wellington United and Caversham while in 2002 the bottom placed team in NL was included in a 4 team round robin with Caversham finally making it beating Glenfield Rovers, Western Suburbs and Waitakere City.

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24 days ago

Tartan Kiwi wrote:
zonknz wrote:
How does the promoted side get chosen? I.e the format for each match? ET+penalties could still result in 3 teams with one won, one loss each?
When we last had club NL with promotion/relegation matches it was the same single round robin format and matches could be drawn - no need for a winner in individual matches just like normal league matches. Standard NL round robin principles applied - so points then goal difference then goals scored. Presumably the same for NL 2027 qualification although it is unclear what happens if these cannot split the sides.

There were multi team promotion/relegation round robins from 2000 to 2002 but none ended with teams tied on points.

At the end of the 2000 season Caversham qualified from the single round robin with 4 points (3-3 draw with Havelock North Wanderers and a 3-1 win over Tauranga City United) ahead of Tauranga City United on 3 points (TCU beat HNW 4-1) and Havelock North Wanderers on 1 point. For that season there was a playoff against bottom place in NL (which was Metro) and Caversham lost that match 2-3.

In 2001 North Shore United won both matches against Wellington United and Caversham while in 2002 the bottom placed team in NL was included in a 4 team round robin with Caversham finally making it beating Glenfield Rovers, Western Suburbs and Waitakere City.

Love the history Tartan Kiwi, also cool seeing the type of clubs that were close to Nationl League back in those days!

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22 days ago

This feels like a really basic question but I haven't found a definitive answer to it: what happens to the current NL Regional Phase in 2027?

Will NZF continue to run the men's Northern/Central/Southern Leagues in parallel with the new NL, using them as regional feeders to the 2028 NL, or will they become regionally-managed like the current NRFL, WCL etc on the women's side? In the absence of announced changes I'm guessing NZF will keep them, so a Welly-centric view of the national pyramid in 2027 looks something like this:

Tier 1 (NZF): men's and women's National League

Tier 2 (NZF): men's Northern/Central/Southern Leagues

Tier 3 (Capital/Central Football): Men's Central League 2, Women's Central League (and equivalents for other regions)

Tier 4 (Capital Football): Men's and Women's Capital Premier (and equivalents for other federations)

I don't mean to duplicate the 2027 pro/rel speculation going on in other threads, just trying to get the bigger picture clear in my head.

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22 days ago

I believe they are all becoming regionally managed feeders, although how pro/rel works isn't clear. Presumably a playoff like this year's.

Northern League is dropping to 10 teams and becoming the NRFL Premiership

Central League is promoting a bunch of side from CL2

Not sure how Southern League will work yet, apparently clubs have been advised those. I'd be guessing some sort of rebrand to match with the Women's South Island League.

Seems like the next tier down will stay the same and aside from the NRFL Conference change, everything below it too.

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22 days ago · edited 22 days ago · History

Southernix wrote:
I believe they are all becoming regionally managed feeders, although how pro/rel works isn't clear. Presumably a playoff like this year's.

Northern League is dropping to 10 teams and becoming the NRFL Premiership

Central League is promoting a bunch of side from CL2

Not sure how Southern League will work yet, apparently clubs have been advised those. I'd be guessing some sort of rebrand to match with the Women's South Island League.

Seems like the next tier down will stay the same and aside from the NRFL Conference change, everything below it too.

Believe no definitive structure has been put in place for the Southern League as yet, with clubs receiving a proposal today, with clubs having to reply by early September.

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13 days ago

Christchurch United 3 - 0 Western Suburbs FT

Well that was a surprise, figured this would be between Springs and Suburbs but apparently not. Kind of dissapointed in Suburbs, really thought they would win the series, but props to United for showing up on home soil.

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13 days ago · edited 13 days ago · History

Noah4thenix wrote:
Christchurch United 3 - 0 Western Suburbs FT

Well that was a surprise, figured this would be between Springs and Suburbs but apparently not. Kind of dissapointed in Suburbs, really thought they would win the series, but props to United for showing up on home soil.

That makes it Southern League 3 Central League 0 so far this season following Cashmere Technical's cup wins over Miramar Rangers and Napier City Rovers (admittedly all three matches were in Christchurch). Of the CL top 4 only Olympic haven't lost to SL opposition ... because they lost to Miramar in their first cup match so didn't reach the nationwide draw.

Rovers are the only CL side this season to win a competitive match against another region - and even that was against Hibiscus Coast who were third down in the Northern League First Division.

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13 days ago

Well, well, well! This is well and truly going to throw a massive spanner in the works for Souther League in 2027 if Utd get a point in remaining game which is potentially all they'll need to qualify!

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13 days ago · edited 13 days ago · History

Jonty07 wrote:
Well, well, well! This is well and truly going to throw a massive spanner in the works for Souther League in 2027 if Utd get a point in remaining game which is potentially all they'll need to qualify!

Was having similar thoughts too. The 8-side conference league partially worked since it meant FC Nelson, Halswell and Northern Hearts would all just get promoted with no playoffs needed. If Chch United get promoted, though, than that leaves a 4th spot open, and how do you fill that?

Either they allow NL reserve sides in and force the other three to do a playoff series, which would lead to Chch, Coastal and Cashmere being able to hoard top players. Or you let Rangers Blenheim and Burwood compete with the last spot which arguebly sounds worse.

Or you go with the third option of scrapping the conference Idea all together. Wonder if Mainland and South are hoping Springs win their 2 games now lol

Edit: Alternatively again, you could have the NL reserve sides do a playoff for the fourth spot, but that doesn't really solve the issue of at least 1 NL side having an unfair advantage over everyone else, plus it's all a bit of a headache.

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13 days ago

Or we just do the simple thing and have an 8 team Southern League 🙂

If teams don't want to be in it that's okay, but that shouldn't limit those that do.

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13 days ago

LT01 wrote:
Or we just do the simple thing and have an 8 team Southern League 🙂

If teams don't want to be in it that's okay, but that shouldn't limit those that do.

That would be the most ideal situation but word was both Wanaka and Northern are not keen on SL. Hence the option of North and South conferences.

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7 days ago

Caught most of Western Suburbs vs Western Springs (not the goals lol).

Wests (Suburbs) were pretty ordinary, and certainly never threatened to chase down the scoreline they needed (a win by 3+). They have some good players that can play NL but just lack the star quality/experience to win these big games. You could see that in their frustration as the game went on.

Springs were not too flash either - went through the motions, couldn't control the game and at times let Wests really run at them in a dangerous way. However - job done performance, by avoiding defeat they keep it simple for next week (any win will do). And they earnt the point too.

I hope its Chch Utd that make it, but despite results so far, I still think Springs are favourites to qualify next week. Maybe a generalisation but Auckland teams are often quite dominant at home to SI teams in the domestic game, and still not sure if Chch Utd are actually good.

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7 days ago

Chch need to win or draw. Only a win will do for Springs.

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7 days ago

Watched the Wests/Western Springs game on DAZN and thought the first half was entertaining - Wests could have been easily 3-0 up and cruising before the equaliser. Second seemed a little quieter, but sets up an exciting game next week between Western Springs and ChCh Utd! All to play for!

Can someone please tell me where they get the commentators from for these games? It's so, so bad and pushes you to watch it on mute. I've moaned about it before, but surely there's some form of training before picking up a microphone and broadcasting to the world? It certainly doesn't sound like there is. The commentary on this game was horrific - it sounded like they were reading from a textbook. Get some personality and feel for football into it. Jason Pine's job is safe, that's for sure!

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7 days ago

zonknz wrote:
Chch need to win or draw. Only a win will do for Springs.

Yep - had they lost today by a goal, they'd have needed to win against Chch Utd by 2+. So the draw while not flashy was a valuable result.

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about 5 hours ago

Congrats to Springs. Well deserved.

Three for me, and two for them.

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about 5 hours ago

Full-time: Western Springs 2 Christchurch United 0 HT 1 - 0

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about 5 hours ago

AllWhites82 wrote:
Full-time: Western Springs 2 Christchurch United 0 HT 1 - 0

Christchurch United had Western Springs under the pump somewhat chasing an equaliser for the first half of the second half before a red card to Oliver Grosso for a dangerous tackle and a second for Springs almost immediately after.

A shame NZF couldn't make a 14-team comp work. Christchurch United and Western Suburbs both good value, have decent academy programmes attached, but then you'd be battling come team No 15.

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