I highly doubt Taradale will play that game at Taradale Park. Cricket will barely be finished and the cricket block is in the middle of the number 1 pitch.
Last year Taradale played their first 2 or 3 games at Park Island.
Unless a team has dropped out of the East the rumours are untrue. Western Prems lineup is as expected, with Whanganui City relegated to the Manawatu Championship.
Teams are:
NP Rangers Moturoa FC Western Reserves New Plymoutb Boys High School Levin Feilding United Marist Reserves PNU Reserves Takaro Whanganui Athletic
18 game league season playing everyone home and away, Fed Cup through the season and supposedly a Prem Cup once the league finishes on 8th August.
Unless a team has dropped out of the East the rumours are untrue. Western Prems lineup is as expected, with Whanganui City relegated to the Manawatu Championship.
Teams are:
NP Rangers Moturoa FC Western Reserves New Plymoutb Boys High School Levin Feilding United Marist Reserves PNU Reserves Takaro Whanganui Athletic
18 game league season playing everyone home and away, Fed Cup through the season and supposedly a Prem Cup once the league finishes on 8th August.
Good to see a decent competition in the West
Educated guess here. The east will be an 8 team league 1. Havelock 2.NCR Res 3.Taradale Res 4.Port Hill 5. Western Rangers 6. Gisborne United 7. Gisborne Thistle 8. Maycenvale
Can’t see Marist putting a side in. Particularly when their ‘advertisement‘ for pre season has nothing about a prems team.
Unless a team has dropped out of the East the rumours are untrue. Western Prems lineup is as expected, with Whanganui City relegated to the Manawatu Championship.
Teams are:
NP Rangers Moturoa FC Western Reserves New Plymoutb Boys High School Levin Feilding United Marist Reserves PNU Reserves Takaro Whanganui Athletic
18 game league season playing everyone home and away, Fed Cup through the season and supposedly a Prem Cup once the league finishes on 8th August.
Good to see a decent competition in the West
Educated guess here. The east will be an 8 team league 1. Havelock 2.NCR Res 3.Taradale Res 4.Port Hill 5. Western Rangers 6. Gisborne United 7. Gisborne Thistle 8. Maycenvale
Can’t see Marist putting a side in. Particularly when their ‘advertisement‘ for pre season has nothing about a prems team.
Yeah they're the only real question mark for me as well. Also mentioned how Marty Akers would be taking trainings for the next few weeks so sounds like no official coach in place either. Apparently Western Rangers have struggled for good numbers at pre season as well so will be interesting to see what happens.
Would love to have a 9-10 team league but its always hard to pick from when the only areas you're picking teams from is Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Unless teams like Eskview, Hastings Hibernian, or even the Central Hawkes Bay juniors start propping themselves up (theres no news of this, it's just the Waipuk area is the only one in the catchment area without senior mens football) that number will stay the same for the forseeable future
Unless a team has dropped out of the East the rumours are untrue. Western Prems lineup is as expected, with Whanganui City relegated to the Manawatu Championship.
Teams are:
NP Rangers Moturoa FC Western Reserves New Plymoutb Boys High School Levin Feilding United Marist Reserves PNU Reserves Takaro Whanganui Athletic
18 game league season playing everyone home and away, Fed Cup through the season and supposedly a Prem Cup once the league finishes on 8th August.
Good to see a decent competition in the West
Educated guess here. The east will be an 8 team league 1. Havelock 2.NCR Res 3.Taradale Res 4.Port Hill 5. Western Rangers 6. Gisborne United 7. Gisborne Thistle 8. Maycenvale
Can’t see Marist putting a side in. Particularly when their ‘advertisement‘ for pre season has nothing about a prems team.
Yeah they're the only real question mark for me as well. Also mentioned how Marty Akers would be taking trainings for the next few weeks so sounds like no official coach in place either. Apparently Western Rangers have struggled for good numbers at pre season as well so will be interesting to see what happens.
Would love to have a 9-10 team league but its always hard to pick from when the only areas you're picking teams from is Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Unless teams like Eskview, Hastings Hibernian, or even the Central Hawkes Bay juniors start propping themselves up (theres no news of this, it's just the Waipuk area is the only one in the catchment area without senior mens football) that number will stay the same for the forseeable future
Certainly won’t be seeing a Prems side at Eskview for a few years at least, Hibernian would be even less likely.
Western Rangers video on their FB page certainly didn’t look like great numbers. But who knows how many will show up when games actually start up.
The Maycenvale Reserves had a bunch of CHB based players over the last few years. I think one of the Hibernian women’s teams have played some home games at Russell Park in Waipuk recently.
Always used to be a tough away trip, they were one of the better division one.
That’s a great idea pre season. Generally seems like the west is whole lot better put together than the East.
I see Western Rangers coach quit, they announced a replacement quickly. But certainly not good signs.
You'd think that if they had any foresight they'd be able to put together a mini tournament between the prem clubs if they tried. Half of the teams are already in Hawkes Bay. The west certainly has more cities to pluck teams from but the east's close proximity for majority of the teams should make things like this easier
about 2 months ago· edited about 2 months ago· History
Whanganui Athletic played against PNU's CL2 team last Saturday up at Massey. 3-2 win to PNU, could and should have been a wider margin. Sloppy first preseason outing for both sides so probably shouldn't read too much into it.
Not much has changed at Athletic although they only had one import playing. Same constant moaning at the ref, fouling constantly.
PNU will be in trouble if that is actually their 1st team line-up, not a lot of quality on display.
Whanganui Athletic played against PNU's CL2 team last Saturday up at Massey. 3-2 win to PNU, could and should have been a wider margin. Sloppy first preseason outing for both sides so probably shouldn't read too much into it.
Not much has changed at Athletic although they only had one import playing. Same constant moaning at the ref, fouling constantly.
PNU will be in trouble if that is actually their 1st team line-up, not a lot of quality on display.
Never change hot chips. I'd love to see Levin give them a good go this year but I'm sure they'll be a bit more chopping and changing before the start of the season for both teams.
Scott Robson's a good coach so I expect they'll be up there again. Who knows with Whanganui in West Prems
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
Gisborne Thistle once again announcing English import signings. They certainly give a decent backstory on their Facebook page, remains to be seen what the quality will be. But I imagine they’ll be pushing for promotion
New to this forum and read through some of the old comments. Why do people not like Athletic? bigfudge
hotchips
Whanganui Athletic played against PNU's CL2 team last Saturday up at Massey. 3-2 win to PNU, could and should have been a wider margin. Sloppy first preseason outing for both sides so probably shouldn't read too much into it.
Not much has changed at Athletic although they only had one import playing. Same constant moaning at the ref, fouling constantly.
PNU will be in trouble if that is actually their 1st team line-up, not a lot of quality on display.
Never change hot chips. I'd love to see Levin give them a good go this year but I'm sure they'll be a bit more chopping and changing before the start of the season for both teams.
Scott Robson's a good coach so I expect they'll be up there again. Who knows with Whanganui in West Prems
bigfudge
hotchips
Whanganui Athletic played against PNU's CL2 team last Saturday up at Massey. 3-2 win to PNU, could and should have been a wider margin. Sloppy first preseason outing for both sides so probably shouldn't read too much into it.
Not much has changed at Athletic although they only had one import playing. Same constant moaning at the ref, fouling constantly.
PNU will be in trouble if that is actually their 1st team line-up, not a lot of quality on display.
Never change hot chips. I'd love to see Levin give them a good go this year but I'm sure they'll be a bit more chopping and changing before the start of the season for both teams.
Scott Robson's a good coach so I expect they'll be up there again. Who knows with Whanganui in West Prems
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
Bootl3gger
New to this forum and read through some of the old comments. Why do people not like Athletic? bigfudge
hotchips
Whanganui Athletic played against PNU's CL2 team last Saturday up at Massey. 3-2 win to PNU, could and should have been a wider margin. Sloppy first preseason outing for both sides so probably shouldn't read too much into it.
Not much has changed at Athletic although they only had one import playing. Same constant moaning at the ref, fouling constantly.
PNU will be in trouble if that is actually their 1st team line-up, not a lot of quality on display.
Never change hot chips. I'd love to see Levin give them a good go this year but I'm sure they'll be a bit more chopping and changing before the start of the season for both teams.
Scott Robson's a good coach so I expect they'll be up there again. Who knows with Whanganui in West Prems
bigfudge
hotchips
Whanganui Athletic played against PNU's CL2 team last Saturday up at Massey. 3-2 win to PNU, could and should have been a wider margin. Sloppy first preseason outing for both sides so probably shouldn't read too much into it.
Not much has changed at Athletic although they only had one import playing. Same constant moaning at the ref, fouling constantly.
PNU will be in trouble if that is actually their 1st team line-up, not a lot of quality on display.
Never change hot chips. I'd love to see Levin give them a good go this year but I'm sure they'll be a bit more chopping and changing before the start of the season for both teams.
Scott Robson's a good coach so I expect they'll be up there again. Who knows with Whanganui in West Prems
Personally I'm not a fan of the approach they have taken with importing a bunch of lads from overseas blocking pathways for local young players. I don't think the return they got from one year of most of these lads was worth it.
On the pitch they were dickheads, although dickhead in chief (Noon) has left so hopefully that changes. Sore losers at boys high and in Wainuiomata as well.
Hopefully their attitude is a bit less dickhead this year with the turnover.
cup table.jpg358.35 KB Feilding sitting at the top of the table halfway through this preseason tournament thingy. These have been really close games, albeit everyone's a bit rusty. Hard to read much into preseason, the only real insight I've gained so far is that Feilding have recruited really well.
Other Western Prem news, John Gray replaces Juliano Schmeling as coach at Rangers.
NPBHS were supposedly going to be kicked out due to NZ Football rules about moving away from school teams playing senior footy, however they actually registered themselves as a club to circumvent it. Apparently lawyered up as well.
PN Marist appear to be a bit of a shambles, scrambling around last minute looking for friendlies for their CL2 team.
Friendlies I'm aware of this week, Athletic have another crack at PNU's 1st team, this time at Wembley, whilst their Ressies (Manawatu Championship) take on PNU Reserves (Western Prems)
Feilding are also at Wembley taking on Whanganui City (Manawatu Championship)
Takaro host Levin in the tournament Tuesday night - if this is drawn that will mean Feilding probably take the trophy if they beat Levin the following week.
No Napier Marist in Eastern Prems this year, apparently no team in either Div 1 or Div 2 so looking like a bit of a reset there.
Some of the other preseason results: Maycenvale Prems 3-4 Havelock North Reserves Palmerston North United CL2 5-0 Havelock North Prems PNU Reserves 4-0 Port Hill United
Only friendly I am aware of this weekend was Feilding 1 PNU Reserves 0. This result means Levin take out the preseason tourney trophy on goal difference over Feilding.
And so the 2026 Western Premier ship season kicks off next week, with the following fixtures.
PNU Reserves vs Marist Reserves, 12pm Memorial Park. Marist have been a basket case all summer with players and coaches leaving left right and centre. Could be a massive struggle for them this year both at CL2 and Western Prems level. PNU very young but tidy on the ball. Prediction PNU win
NPBHS vs FC Western Reserves, 1230pm Gully Turf. Hard to predict how the high school will fare. Would expect FC Western to field a strong lineup - they often had numerous 1st team players dropping down when the 1st team was away which they are this week. FC Western Win.
Takaro vs Feilding, 245pm Skoglund. A much improved Feilding side this year with some great recruitment, they dominated Takaro in their preseason game, I expect more of the same here. Feilding win.
Moturoa vs NP Rangers, 245pm Onuku Taipari. Both sides with new coaches, and supposedly a few players departing. Hard to call, will say draw.
Levin vs Whanganui Athletic, 245pm Donnelly. Last year's 2nd vs 1st and the game of the round. Apparently Athletic have seven overseas imports who have only just arrived, will they gel enough to see off Levin whose team have played together for years now. Levin are a quality team especially at home, I say no, Levin win.
bigfudge wrote: No Napier Marist in Eastern Prems this year, apparently no team in either Div 1 or Div 2 so looking like a bit of a reset there.
Some of the other preseason results: Maycenvale Prems 3-4 Havelock North Reserves Palmerston North United CL2 5-0 Havelock North Prems PNU Reserves 4-0 Port Hill United
Napier Marist have a Div 2 team.
Earlier pre season results in aware of NCR Res v Port Hill - 0-3 NCR Res v Western Rangers 0-3 Western Rangers v Port Hill 0-4
NCR Res played Taradale Res today, not sure of result.
Havelock Prems v Taradale CL2 1-0 to Taradale at 60 mins, left before FT. Taradale looked strong first half but didn’t create too much after their first goal. Subbed about 8 players at HT. Havelock looked very strong for an Easter PL side. I think they will be very dangerous this year
2026 season starts next week for Eastern Prems, gonna predict a few results like I've seen with the western leagues above.
Gisborne United vs Gisborne Thistle, 2:45PM Childers Road Lots of change for both of these teams. Major ones of note include Jimmy Sommerton moving to United. Hard to not see them as serious challengers this year with a signing like that. Thistle going back to their import model, lost a lot of good players but seems like they've made a few decent signings. Gizzy United win.
Port Hill United vs Maycenvale United, 3pm Marewa Park Lots of change at both teams, Vale still have Dakota Lucas floating around up top so may put up some numbers for them. New coach at Maycenvale but they've lost Liam Shackleton. Still a bit all over the place with numbers. Hard to call, will go draw.
Havelock North Wanderers vs Taradale Reserves, 3pm Guthrie Park Going off what I've heard from the game they played on the weekend, this could be a close one. Havelock with quite a few decent signings this year but Taradale seem well drilled. Close but I'd go Havelock win.
Napier City Rovers Res vs Western Rangers, 3pm, Bond Field Apparently quite a young team this year with Rovers prems, may be a bit inconsistent depending on how many CL players drop down. Western Rangers also a bit of unknown with a coaching change mid pre season. NCR res have struggled in pre season so will go Rangers win.
A bit disappointed in Napier Marist. Seem to have been in constant decline since Dunning and that team left. Angell did well to stop the slump but seemed like the writing was on the wall after last season. Bit of a shame considering where they were a few years ago.
Hopefully theres a bit of a club reset and some more youth coming through like in the old days.
Marist would have to start from the bottom up. Writing had been on the wall for sometime. Not sure what their Div2 team is like. But that’s a tough division!
On the positive side for Napier Marist, they have their first women’s team in a long long time.
I think I agree with all big fudge predictions.
Gis United win, but tight game.
Port missing a few players throughout pre season. But Dakota is a threat no matter who he’s playing for.
Havelock too good for Taradale Res
Rangers have a good young team, should be well drilled. NCR will be entirely dependant on which CL players are rotated into their squad. But if we go on pre seasons, I agree Rangers win.
mraotxt2 wrote: Marist would have to start from the bottom up. Writing had been on the wall for sometime. Not sure what their Div2 team is like. But that’s a tough division!
On the positive side for Napier Marist, they have their first women’s team in a long long time.
I think I agree with all big fudge predictions.
Gis United win, but tight game.
Port missing a few players throughout pre season. But Dakota is a threat no matter who he’s playing for.
Havelock too good for Taradale Res
Rangers have a good young team, should be well drilled. NCR will be entirely dependant on which CL players are rotated into their squad. But if we go on pre seasons, I agree Rangers win.
What is Central Football's stance on teams joining Prems? I know that when teams drop out of leagues in Wellington they are forced to work their way up. In Western prems I see Wanganui City FC were relegated but I'm sure if Marist got their act together and wanted to rejoin next season they would probably be allowed to do so.
If I'm wrong then let me know, I just don't think the Eastern prem and HB leagues are big enough to be able to turn down if a team wants to play Prems.
Also yes, great note, it's been a big omission from their club for a while, and considering their good junior numbers i'm surprised it's taken them this long to put together a senior womens side.
mraotxt2 wrote: Marist would have to start from the bottom up. Writing had been on the wall for sometime. Not sure what their Div2 team is like. But that’s a tough division!
On the positive side for Napier Marist, they have their first women’s team in a long long time.
I think I agree with all big fudge predictions.
Gis United win, but tight game.
Port missing a few players throughout pre season. But Dakota is a threat no matter who he’s playing for.
Havelock too good for Taradale Res
Rangers have a good young team, should be well drilled. NCR will be entirely dependant on which CL players are rotated into their squad. But if we go on pre seasons, I agree Rangers win.
What is Central Football's stance on teams joining Prems? I know that when teams drop out of leagues in Wellington they are forced to work their way up. In Western prems I see Wanganui City FC were relegated but I'm sure if Marist got their act together and wanted to rejoin next season they would probably be allowed to do so.
If I'm wrong then let me know, I just don't think the Eastern prem and HB leagues are big enough to be able to turn down if a team wants to play Prems.
Also yes, great note, it's been a big omission from their club for a while, and considering their good junior numbers i'm surprised it's taken them this long to put together a senior womens side.
I wouldn't be massively surprised by a return to the Fed League next season.
mraotxt2 wrote: Marist would have to start from the bottom up. Writing had been on the wall for sometime. Not sure what their Div2 team is like. But that’s a tough division!
On the positive side for Napier Marist, they have their first women’s team in a long long time.
I think I agree with all big fudge predictions.
Gis United win, but tight game.
Port missing a few players throughout pre season. But Dakota is a threat no matter who he’s playing for.
Havelock too good for Taradale Res
Rangers have a good young team, should be well drilled. NCR will be entirely dependant on which CL players are rotated into their squad. But if we go on pre seasons, I agree Rangers win.
What is Central Football's stance on teams joining Prems? I know that when teams drop out of leagues in Wellington they are forced to work their way up. In Western prems I see Wanganui City FC were relegated but I'm sure if Marist got their act together and wanted to rejoin next season they would probably be allowed to do so.
If I'm wrong then let me know, I just don't think the Eastern prem and HB leagues are big enough to be able to turn down if a team wants to play Prems.
Also yes, great note, it's been a big omission from their club for a while, and considering their good junior numbers i'm surprised it's taken them this long to put together a senior womens side.
I wouldn't be massively surprised by a return to the Fed League next season.
I think there needed to be a change to regionalise it somehow because it made it borderline impossible for teams in New Plymouth and Gisborne to sustainably run and compete.
Unfortunately for Central Football, there just isn't enough teams in the Eastern area to keep the number of teams consistent or have teams actively trying to get promoted into it. The fact teams are dropping out already isn't a good sign either. West seems to be a bit more put together but it helps that they're picking from teams in three major cities.
I think teams jumping to National League will complicate things as well, theres very little information on what promotion looks like this year in these leagues or the capital leagues. Lots of question marks about whether CL2 will even be a thing after the winterization of NL. Capital and Central Football really need to put something out explaining what the actual plan is, bit ridiculous that we're a week away from the season and nobody knows what promotion actually looks like.
bigfudge wrote: I think teams jumping to National League will complicate things as well, theres very little information on what promotion looks like this year in these leagues or the capital leagues. Lots of question marks about whether CL2 will even be a thing after the winterization of NL. Capital and Central Football really need to put something out explaining what the actual plan is, bit ridiculous that we're a week away from the season and nobody knows what promotion actually looks like.
4 teams up automatically from CL to National League, plus a playoff for a 5th team. WeeNix automatically one of the 4. Then either 4 or 5 up from CL2, and 4 or 5 up from Cap Prem, West and East. National League reserve teams are eligible for CL2 - which is why there's a hold up until the end of the season as we won't know what those teams are until the CL season shakes out.
bigfudge wrote: I think teams jumping to National League will complicate things as well, theres very little information on what promotion looks like this year in these leagues or the capital leagues. Lots of question marks about whether CL2 will even be a thing after the winterization of NL. Capital and Central Football really need to put something out explaining what the actual plan is, bit ridiculous that we're a week away from the season and nobody knows what promotion actually looks like.
4 teams up automatically from CL to National League, plus a playoff for a 5th team. WeeNix automatically one of the 4. Then either 4 or 5 up from CL2, and 4 or 5 up from Cap Prem, West and East. National League reserve teams are eligible for CL2 - which is why there's a hold up until the end of the season as we won't know what those teams are until the CL season shakes out.
Central Footballs document includes the helpful advice for all Prem teams to finish as high as they can - who would have thought it!
Eastern Prem - I am certain CF would allow any entry into the league provided it’s from a club not represented. You just have to look at HSOB from Gizzy last year. So if Marist (or Eskview) did manage to assemble a squad, I think they wouldn’t have any issues entering.
Next year looks so confusing as to how it will all work. Will the NL reserve teams need to qualify for the CL2 or would they get in by right I wonder?
Has anyone heard anything from people involved at Napier Marist about the reason for dropping out? Or if they've got a plan going forward? I assume most of their players will just move to Dale prems. Thought they had a few decent players last year but obviously just not enough coming back.
bigfudge wrote: Has anyone heard anything from people involved at Napier Marist about the reason for dropping out? Or if they've got a plan going forward? I assume most of their players will just move to Dale prems. Thought they had a few decent players last year but obviously just not enough coming back.
They had a few guys move to Australia towards the end of last season. I’m aware of at least one player at Taradale and one at Port Hill this year. I know of two players who aren’t playing at all this year.
Much of last season they only had 11-13 players for games. Yet they still played bloody well at times, to be fair to them. They had a great coach in my opinion. He had to step up and play at times due to how short they were numbers wise.
I’m guessing a few of the club loyalists will be just dropping to the Div 2 side (that’s why i think they’ll be strong in that division).
It’s a pity, Napier Marist were such a strong club and usually a good bunch of guys. The league will definitely miss them. When I last played for them 6-8 years ago, they had a fed team, prems, reserves, Div 3 and masters. I’m not sure how a club can fall away so quickly?
I didn’t like the after matches that much as the clubrooms were always dominated by the rugby club and football always seemed to play second fiddle.
I’m not sure how relevant it is to the Eastern Prems. But in terms of Men’s club team numbers. It’s interesting to see where clubs are at. Havelock and Port Hill both have 7 men’s teams this year!
