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.png195.63 KBIf 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.
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
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.png195.63 KBIf 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.
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.png195.63 KBIf 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?
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.
bibigfudgeDeDeltaLT01Marshy+3Noah4thenix, Simon B, Southernix
5 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.
