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Southern League 2026

611 replies · 49,495 views

28 days ago

Steptoe wrote:
Southernix wrote:
Coastal Spirit's win over Christchurch United finally confirms their placement in the National League for 2027 but out of the race for 2026.

Christchurch United meanwhile are the first confirmed for the playoffs.
Coastal Spirit can thank NZF's intellectual sloppiness for their participation in the 2027 NL. The adoption of league placing rather than league points as a measure of league performance (NZF National League Regulations, Clause 29.2) potentially rewards mediocrity.
Screen Shot 2026-08-30 at 17.29.59.png 195.63 KB
If league points were adopted as the performance parameter (as previously argued by Andrew Voerman), the above table shows that Christchurch United would be in the 2017 NL, not Coastal Spirit.

Even with points applied, the gap is next to nothing and Coastal have been better in the last 3 seasons. It's not a biggie, and Christchurch Utd have the elite platform of OFC Pro League to use anyway.

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28 days ago

Dates for the Dettol National League 2027 Play-off Series:
Game 1
September 6 - 2:00pm
Christchurch United vs. Western Suburbs - United Sports Centre
Game 2
September 12 - Time to be confirmed
Western Suburbs vs Western Springs - Endeavor Park
Game 3
September19 - Time to be confirmed
Western Springs vs. Christchurch United - Seddon Fields

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28 days ago · edited 28 days ago · History

Deleted - as was a double post.

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27 days ago

LT01 wrote:
Steptoe wrote:
Southernix wrote:
Coastal Spirit's win over Christchurch United finally confirms their placement in the National League for 2027 but out of the race for 2026.

Christchurch United meanwhile are the first confirmed for the playoffs.
Coastal Spirit can thank NZF's intellectual sloppiness for their participation in the 2027 NL. The adoption of league placing rather than league points as a measure of league performance (NZF National League Regulations, Clause 29.2) potentially rewards mediocrity.
Screen Shot 2026-08-30 at 17.29.59.png 195.63 KB
If league points were adopted as the performance parameter (as previously argued by Andrew Voerman), the above table shows that Christchurch United would be in the 2017 NL, not Coastal Spirit.

Even with points applied, the gap is next to nothing and Coastal have been better in the last 3 seasons. It's not a biggie, and Christchurch Utd have the elite platform of OFC Pro League to use anyway.

I disagree. The OFC Pro League argument is irrelevant. This is just intellectual laziness on the part of NZ Football.

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27 days ago

Steptoe wrote:
LT01 wrote:
Steptoe wrote:
Southernix wrote:
Coastal Spirit's win over Christchurch United finally confirms their placement in the National League for 2027 but out of the race for 2026.

Christchurch United meanwhile are the first confirmed for the playoffs.
Coastal Spirit can thank NZF's intellectual sloppiness for their participation in the 2027 NL. The adoption of league placing rather than league points as a measure of league performance (NZF National League Regulations, Clause 29.2) potentially rewards mediocrity.
Screen Shot 2026-08-30 at 17.29.59.png 195.63 KB
If league points were adopted as the performance parameter (as previously argued by Andrew Voerman), the above table shows that Christchurch United would be in the 2017 NL, not Coastal Spirit.

Even with points applied, the gap is next to nothing and Coastal have been better in the last 3 seasons. It's not a biggie, and Christchurch Utd have the elite platform of OFC Pro League to use anyway.
I disagree. The OFC Pro League argument is irrelevant. This is just intellectual laziness on the part of NZ Football.

Are we really arguing that Coastal, who have evidently been a superior team to Christchurch United in the last three years, shouldn't be there because they were poor in 2022 and 2023?

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27 days ago · edited 27 days ago · History

Does not matter what system was used to determine the sides that qualified for the 2027 National League, with only two automatic spots available for South Island clubs other were not going to make the cut.

Going forward for any South Island clubs that are looking to gain promotion to the National League then we need the strongest standard for the Southern League and doubt very much if the proposed north / south split is the right path and this seems to be a bigger issue.

Unsure how the proposal can fit inside the Whole of Football Plan - club licensing, player and coaching development, academies, player pathways etc, that NZ Football and the Federations have been 'selling' in recent seasons.

If clubs are not seeking a National League pathway, then do not deny those that do.

I know costs are an issue but what of the true costs if recent gains 'on and off' the field are not maintained and lifted.

Hopefully the new edition of the National League lasts longer than some of the many early editions and does not get altered around and or expanded quickly - history shows that if this happens then ultimately, it brings about the demise of league. Yet another reason to ensure the Southern League format matches both the Northern and Central League.

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Endorsed by

biDe

26 days ago

AngryOldMan wrote:
The structure proposal is doing away with the island wide Southern League and making two 8-side conferences, one north and one south. At the end of the season the top 3 sides from each conference will come together in a 6-side finals series to name a South Island champion. It’s basically what was in place between 2000-2021. Full confirmation will come out on the 11th of September.

I'm guessing the finals series is a 5 week round robin and not a 3 week knockout. This could also leave teams in position 4-8 playing a 5 week consolation round robin as well.

One thing I have not seen in NZ is a conference system where teams play those teams in their conference twice and those teams in the other conference once. This would give 7x2 +8 = 22 games, 7 away games in your conference, 4 away games outside your conference. The 4 away games could be done as double-up Friday evening, Sunday afternoon if 2 nights accom is cheaper than 2 flights.

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18 days ago

Round 13 catch-up game between Cashmere Technical and Wanaka now confirmed as a 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday 12 Sept.

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18 days ago

AllWhites82 wrote:
Round 13 catch-up game between Cashmere Technical and Wanaka now confirmed as a 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday 12 Sept.

Probably a useful game for Cash Tech to maintain fitness. Will have the chance to rotate plenty too.

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18 days ago

Not sure a great deal of rotation will necessarily be on the cards. A big goal of theirs is to be the first team to go undefeated in a Southern League season

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18 days ago

LT01 wrote:
AllWhites82 wrote:
Round 13 catch-up game between Cashmere Technical and Wanaka now confirmed as a 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday 12 Sept.
Probably a useful game for Cash Tech to maintain fitness. Will have the chance to rotate plenty too.

Yes, an a few stat records possible for Tech to achieve depending on the result.

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18 days ago

AllWhites82 wrote:
LT01 wrote:
AllWhites82 wrote:
Round 13 catch-up game between Cashmere Technical and Wanaka now confirmed as a 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday 12 Sept.
Probably a useful game for Cash Tech to maintain fitness. Will have the chance to rotate plenty too.
Yes, an a few stat records possible for Tech to achieve depending on the result.

I was actually going to comment about the end of year results and how we haven't seen your normal stats. And of course the season hasn't finished!

I look forward to seeing it and can imagine there may be a few more records this weekend.

I let my guitar speak for me

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18 days ago

SamCoughlan wrote:
Not sure a great deal of rotation will necessarily be on the cards. A big goal of theirs is to be the first team to go undefeated in a Southern League season

With the greatest of respect to Wanaka, I don't think this is in question.

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16 days ago

The latest on next year's format. Mainland Football, Southern Football, and clubs all against the clock to get something sorted before flight cost becomes even more of a factor.

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16 days ago

$14,000 to a $40,000 entry fee is absurd. The entry fee into the MCL is only $12,500 for comparison, surely an entry fee like that is going to scare a lot of clubs off and make them less eager to accept promotion?

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16 days ago

"The tier-two competitions will not be cost-equalised, meaning every team across the country will no longer pay the same entry fee as they have in the past."

Why?!

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16 days ago

Noah4thenix wrote:
$14,000 to a $40,000 entry fee is absurd. The entry fee into the MCL is only $12,500 for comparison, surely an entry fee like that is going to scare a lot of clubs off and make them less eager to accept promotion?

Are you saying entry for Southern League is now $40k per club??

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16 days ago

Jonty07 wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
$14,000 to a $40,000 entry fee is absurd. The entry fee into the MCL is only $12,500 for comparison, surely an entry fee like that is going to scare a lot of clubs off and make them less eager to accept promotion?

Are you saying entry for Southern League is now $40k per club??

Meant to be decided by today. Wonder when clubs find out?

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16 days ago

Jonty07 wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
$14,000 to a $40,000 entry fee is absurd. The entry fee into the MCL is only $12,500 for comparison, surely an entry fee like that is going to scare a lot of clubs off and make them less eager to accept promotion?

Are you saying entry for Southern League is now $40k per club??

"Last year that fee was around $14,000. Next year it could be as much as $40,000 for Southern League teams."

Not confirmed but even considering it is ridiculous. I'm not confident any otago club could afford that besides maybe Royals, and you'd have to imagine this would be a bit much even up North. Nelson had to ask for donations to balance the books because their chatham cup run was so expensive, tagging on an extra $26,000 for the entry fee would surely have to put them in trouble.

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16 days ago

Noah4thenix wrote:
Jonty07 wrote:
Noah4thenix wrote:
$14,000 to a $40,000 entry fee is absurd. The entry fee into the MCL is only $12,500 for comparison, surely an entry fee like that is going to scare a lot of clubs off and make them less eager to accept promotion?

Are you saying entry for Southern League is now $40k per club??
"Last year that fee was around $14,000. Next year it could be as much as $40,000 for Southern League teams."

Not confirmed but even considering it is ridiculous. I'm not confident any otago club could afford that besides maybe Royals, and you'd have to imagine this would be a bit much even up North. Nelson had to ask for donations to balance the books because their chatham cup run was so expensive, tagging on an extra $26,000 for the entry fee would surely have to put them in trouble.

That is absolutely insane! No wonder there is talk of no Southern league

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15 days ago

Catch-up game: Half-time
Cashmere Technical 5 Wanaka

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15 days ago · edited 15 days ago · History

FT Cashmere Technical 11 Wanaka 0

Technical become the 1st side to go unbeaten in the league, most points, most goals, least goals conceded leading to best goal difference.

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15 days ago · edited 14 days ago · History

Today's scorers:
Cashmere Technical 11 (Garbhan Coughlan x 4, Rory Hibbert x 4, Alex Ballard, Charlie Peacocke, Edy Belingher - pen) HT 5 - 0

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14 days ago

Final Table:

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13 days ago

Records set (or equalled) this season:

Cashmere Technical become the first club not to lose a game and also topped the table at the end of all 18 rounds, along with the following records,

- most points - 52, previous best 49

- most wins - 17, previous best 16
- most goals scored - 91, previous best 90
- least goals conceded - 7, previous best 12
- best goal difference - 84, previous best 71
- biggest point gap between 1st and 2nd - 14, previous biggest 7
- most goals to win the Golden Boot - 32 previous 29
- equalled the most Clean Sheets - 11

Over the entire League
the lowest number of goals scored - 364, previous lowest was 392, with the average being 4.04 goals per game
210 goals were scored by the Home side, 164 goals going to the Away side
180 goals were scored in the 1st half and 184 in the 2nd half
the most Home wins - 49, previous best 43

the least Away wins - 32, previous lowest was 33
the most Clean Sheets - 48, previous best 41
the least draws - 9, previous lowest 10
the least penalties - 22, compared to 25
most own goals - 14, previous best 12
equalled the record for Hat-tricks - 17
lowest number of Yellow cards shown to players - 218, previous lowest 247 and a high of 330
11 Red cards issued, which was the second lowest, 10 the lowest and 19 the highest

More to follow.

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12 days ago

Here is table for the final six rounds:

So in the final six rounds only movement in the final positions were:

Nomads going from fourth to third, with Coastal going from third to fourth.
Wanaka going from tenth to ninth, with Selwyn going from ninth to tenth.

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12 days ago

Home table:

Away table:

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11 days ago

Thanks AW82, you know I love your stats.

Can you give me something really obscure please.

I let my guitar speak for me

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9 days ago

Latest update from Sam Coughlan in the Star yesterday on the Southern League format shenanigans:
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-star-christchurch-24vn/20260917/281788520958664

The 2027 Southern League format is yet to be finalised despite ongoing discussions between Mainland Football, Southern Football and South Island clubs.

Next year’s competition is being reshaped by New Zealand Football’s introduction of a winter National League, which will see Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit promoted as the top Southern League sides.

Christchurch United will join them with a win or draw against Auckland’s Western Springs in their promotion playoff on Saturday.

Clubs’ preferred format for next year’s Southern League is an eight-team, triple round-robin competition with teams from across the South Island, including Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and Wānaka.

But Mainland Football chief executive Martin Field-Dodgson said that format was currently not financially feasible.

“For the triple round-robin, we need to find a significant increase in funding,” he said.

“That’s the challenge. Every day that goes past, flights get more expensive, so we need to draw it to a close as soon as we can.”

Last year, teams across the three top leagues paid the same entry fee of about $14,000.

That was particularly beneficial to the Southern League, with its travel costs dwarfing those of the Northern and Central Leagues.

Without additional funding, entry fees for an eight-team league next year could be between $30,000 and $40,000.

The alternative would see the eight teams split into two groups of four based on their finishing positions, with each group playing a double roundrobin before a crossover phase at the end of the season.

Clubs say that format would be less competitive and provide fewer fixtures against top opposition. It would also require teams to be promoted from the Nelson, Canterbury and Southern second tiers.

Field-Dodgson said an agreement was needed soon.

Even if the format changes again in 2028, clubs would still need to know how many teams would be promoted or relegated in 2027.

“We’ve got to run something that’s sustainable and within budget, it’s as simple as that,” Field-Dodgson said.

Big Pete 65, Christchurch

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9 days ago

From pitchside gossip I've been told that the mainland football clubs are kind of in denial about the costs which is why there's been delays.

I think it'll absolutely be a Nth-Sth conference next year because there's not a single club in the South Island that could afford an entry fee like that besides maybe the Chch United group. Not ideal compeition-wise but you still have to keep things sustainable for clubs

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8 days ago

Looks like Christchurch United are sticking around for next year.

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8 days ago

LT01 wrote:
Looks like Christchurch United are sticking around for next year.

Yes, Western Spring won 2 - 0 over Christchurch United in game 3 of the 2027 Winter Nation League Play-offs.

Springs finish on 4 points United 3 and Western Suburbs 1.

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5 days ago

Anyone heard anymore on what the format will be for next year?
With the final decision taking so long, someone must be really pushing for the whole south island option.
I think if it was the North & South conference option then it would be quicker to decide & finalise.
Is there still a chance of playoffs for Halswell, FC Nelson & Northern Hearts? Makes it hard on these teams if they still need to be training at this point.

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4 days ago · edited 4 days ago · History

CPL Bingo wrote:
Anyone heard anymore on what the format will be for next year?
With the final decision taking so long, someone must be really pushing for the whole south island option.
I think if it was the North & South conference option then it would be quicker to decide & finalise.
Is there still a chance of playoffs for Halswell, FC Nelson & Northern Hearts? Makes it hard on these teams if they still need to be training at this point.

Understand meeting of clubs tomorrow evening, so likely to hear a definative plans going forward for 2027 and beyond.

Smart money on two conferences for 2027 and then hopefully something that is better for those clubs aiming for National League status going forward.

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4 days ago

CPL Bingo wrote:
Anyone heard anymore on what the format will be for next year?
With the final decision taking so long, someone must be really pushing for the whole south island option.
I think if it was the North & South conference option then it would be quicker to decide & finalise.
Is there still a chance of playoffs for Halswell, FC Nelson & Northern Hearts? Makes it hard on these teams if they still need to be training at this point.

I have been told reluctantly, the clubs have decided to go with the North/South option after a meeting with NZ football. Only for 2027 though. Sounds like NZ football have agreed this has all been miss handled and will look at options for 2028 and beyond.

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4 days ago

NZF and mishandling, name a more iconic duo

Valley FC til I die?

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3 days ago

Look for a few twists coming out from tonight's meeting as assumption of 2 x 8 teams may not be the case.

Are there 16 clubs that are willing to commit to the Southern League?

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3 days ago

Nelfoos wrote:
NZF and mishandling, name a more iconic duo

Isn't this more at the feet of Mainland/Football South. For comparison, the Northern regs at the beginning of this season stated what was going to be happening next season (well except for reserve leagues). I know for them geographically it is simpler, but Mainland/Football South and I guess Central/Capital have had all season to say what was going to happen next season and haven't.

Perhaps due to the travel costs, NZF needs to be the administering body for the second level of the pyramid as well as the first.

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3 days ago

reubee wrote:
Nelfoos wrote:
NZF and mishandling, name a more iconic duo

Isn't this more at the feet of Mainland/Football South. For comparison, the Northern regs at the beginning of this season stated what was going to be happening next season (well except for reserve leagues). I know for them geographically it is simpler, but Mainland/Football South and I guess Central/Capital have had all season to say what was going to happen next season and haven't.

Perhaps due to the travel costs, NZF needs to be the administering body for the second level of the pyramid as well as the first.

My understanding was that NZF was granting $250k to help the Southern League next year which is why the entry fee rose by so much, since this is less than it typically is. The reasoning I was given was that the money NZF usually invests is being mostly focussed on the National League next year, thus the 2nd level gets less money than usual. I think it's a little ridiculous personally since they've just earned a boat load of cash through the world cups, but I'm not a football admin so I'm probably not the best opinion on how they should handle their money.

Not sure what other options they could be looking towards for 2028 since it'll be tough getting around the entry fee. Just gonna have to wait another year and see.

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3 days ago · edited 2 days ago · History

Noah4thenix wrote:
reubee wrote:
Nelfoos wrote:
NZF and mishandling, name a more iconic duo

Isn't this more at the feet of Mainland/Football South. For comparison, the Northern regs at the beginning of this season stated what was going to be happening next season (well except for reserve leagues). I know for them geographically it is simpler, but Mainland/Football South and I guess Central/Capital have had all season to say what was going to happen next season and haven't.

Perhaps due to the travel costs, NZF needs to be the administering body for the second level of the pyramid as well as the first.

My understanding was that NZF was granting $250k to help the Southern League next year which is why the entry fee rose by so much, since this is less than it typically is. The reasoning I was given was that the money NZF usually invests is being mostly focussed on the National League next year, thus the 2nd level gets less money than usual. I think it's a little ridiculous personally since they've just earned a boat load of cash through the world cups, but I'm not a football admin so I'm probably not the best opinion on how they should handle their money.

Not sure what other options they could be looking towards for 2028 since it'll be tough getting around the entry fee. Just gonna have to wait another year and see.

Yes and the $250k is to be shared between both the men's and women's Southern League.

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