New Zealand Football Championship
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Football Championship (known as the ASB
Premiership from 2011 for sponsorship reasons) is the national association football league in New Zealand
. It is a professional/semi-professional
status Association football (soccer) sports Franchise
league that is operated by New Zealand Football. The league is run separately from the New Zealand Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier and the other Winter Regional club competitions
, and many of the teams competing are Franchises
jointly run by Winter clubs. The Premiership does not include the Wellington Phoenix
who play in the Australasia
n A-League
. It is currently sponsored by ASB Bank
.
The league competition phase was initially contested by a three-round, 21-match league system, each team playing every other team three times. This system was in place for the first four seasons of the competition. It was changed to the present two-round, 14-match system in 2008, due to financial difficulties affecting some of the teams in the league.
The playoff competition phase was initially run as a three-team playoff system, in which the Premier (winner of league phase) received a bye and hosting rights for the grand final, with second and third placed teams playing off in a one-game preliminary final. For the 2005-06 season
, the NZFC experimented with a five team playoff (see NZFC 2005-06), however this was discontinued and the league reverted to the three-team playoff for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
The teams that win the league phase (the "premier") and the Grand Final (the "champion") qualify for the OFC Champions League
. Should the same team win both the Premiership and the Championship, the second O-League spot will be granted to league runner-up. This had occurred during the 2007-08 season, where Waitakere United won both the league and the final. This resulted in Auckland City FC, league runner-up, to enter the O-League, despite Team Wellington contesting the grand final.
As there are no lower divisions in the Premiership, no promotion and relegation
exists, similar to leagues in Australia
and the in the United States
.
, a tournament involving clubs from the regional governing bodies of New Zealand Football. The NZFC would be run as a summer league involving new clubs created solely for the new competition, with these new clubs being run jointly by existing winter clubs. The only exception to this was Napier City Rovers
, whose summer club would be rebranded Hawke's Bay United
during the second season, to be operated jointly by other clubs in the Hawke's Bay
region.
Eleven groups bidded for franchises, with the successful bids being announced on 7 April 2004 as Auckland City FC
, Canterbury United
, Napier City Rovers
, Otago United
, Team Wellington
, Waikato FC
, Waitakere United
and YoungHeart Manawatu
, with Olé Madrids, East Auckland and Team Bay of Plenty being excluded. Unhappy at their exclusion, the Olé Madrids bid team took New Zealand Soccer to court, suing for damages and demanding inclusion in the competition, claiming that while they met NZ Soccer's criteria for inclusion, other bids who succeeded did not. The case was dropped by the Madrids team eight days before the commencement of the first NZFC season. Western Suburbs, the club associated with the Olé Academy, is now a principal member of the Team Wellington franchise. East Auckland also considered legal action, however this did not occur.
The first match of the competition was on 15 October 2004, with Auckland City defeating Napier City Rovers
3-1 at Park Island, Napier
. Auckland also won the final match of the inaugural season, defeating Waitekere United to become the first NZFC Champion. Auckland would go on to win the grand final again in the next two seasons, creating the competitions first dynasty
.
The second season saw Napier City Rovers rebrand and re-organize their NZFC team as Hawke's Bay United, forming an amalgamated franchise with other local clubs. It also saw the first instance of a NZFC team winning the O-League
, with Auckland City FC defeating French Polynesia
n team AS Pirae
3-1.
The third season saw two NZFC teams qualify for the O-League, with the eventual Grand Final runner-up Waitakere United
qualifying in place of Vanuatu's
Port Vila Sharks withdrawing. When Port Vila Sharks decided to withdraw, the NZFC was in their 3rd round when the OFC decided give their place to a second NZFC team. However the decision by NZF for Waitakere United
to be rushed into the O-League was because they were the leading club (besides the already qualified Auckland City FC
) in the NZFC after the 7th round of that season. The decision by the NZF was in a mist of controversy, as YoungHeart Manawatu
was in contention to be the leading club.
However Auckland City FC
that had won a game against Waitakere United
with a player who was not allowed to play, after they refused to play for a nationally selected touring team citing injuries but yet had turned up to play in the NZFC. This was against NZF policy for NZFC teams, which states that a NZFC player which has cited injuries as a reason for not playing for a nationally selected team, cannot play for the NZFC team while the nationally selected team was playing at the same time. The policy was to prevent nationally selected NZFC players from using injuries as a deception to play elsewhere and not fulfill national duties. In this case, the deception was for the player to play in the highly competitive Auckland derby match. Hence there was a reverse of results that gave Waitakere United
the three league points it needed to lead the NZFC and it reduced the three league points that Auckland City FC
had while leading the NZFC. YoungHeart Manawatu
who was in second-placed, behind Auckland City FC but ahead of Waitakere United
, before the reversal of the result had then found themselves to be 3rd place afterwards. YoungHeart Manawatu
had lodged a formal complaint with NZF which was then turned down. Waitakere United
capitalized on this opportunity by winning that year's O-League competition.
With the first three seasons completed, the NZFC granted three-season license extensions to seven of the eight franchises - all but YoungHeart Manawatu, who had to re-apply on account of the NZFC's concerns towards the clubs financial and organizational situation. However YoungHeart managed successfully earn reinstatement after beating out four rival bids - one based in Gisborne
, one from North Shore City, and two from Manukau
. Olé Madrids also applied for the license, however they withdrew early.
In 2007, the NZFC was represented at the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup
, with Waitakere United
qualifying as the Oceania Football Confederation
champion. Waitakere's only match was a 1-3 loss to Iranian club Sepahan. After this match, FIFA
chairman Sepp Blatter
hinted that the OFC
may lose qualification rights for the Club World Cup due to the gap in competition quality, stating that "professional teams" and giving the OFC a deadline of two years to raise their standards. A possible solution has been suggested in allowing the Wellington Phoenix
, a New Zealand-based team playing in the Australian A-League
(an Asian competition) to qualify for the O-League, which may cause the NZFC to lose one of its two qualifying spots.
The 2007/08 season saw the end of the Auckland City FC
dynasty, with Team Wellington
eliminating them in the preliminary final. Waitakere United went on to win the Grand Final - in doing so, completing "the treble" - winning the Youth League, the Premiership and the Championship all in one season. A year later the 2008/09 season saw the championship return to Auckland City FC
, after a season dominated by minor premiers Waitakere United
. After the cross-town neightbours had taken care of both Team Wellington
and YoungHeart Manawatu
respectively in the semi-finals, the grand final was held at Douglas Field. Waitakere United
– who hadn’t lost at home for almost two full seasons, looked on course for a second successive crown when Allan Pearce
benefited from Roy Krishna
’s good work to tap in a 15th minute opener. A piece of Keryn Jordan magic however and a late goalkeeping error from Waitakere’s Richard Gillespie would see the trophy head back to Kiwitea Street
for a fourth time in five seasons.
On 12 April 2010 Canterbury United
produced arguably the result of the 2009/10 NZFC season in a stunning 3-0 victory at Kiwitea Street
. This result overturned a 2-1 semi-final first leg deficit and knocked defending champions Auckland City FC
out of the competition 4-2 on aggregate. The form book was almost thrown out the window at Fred Taylor Park
also as Team Wellington
came within seconds of defeating Waitakere United
in the other semi-final. A ninety-second minute goal from Brent Fisher eventually saw Waitakere United
through on the away goals rule after a 3-3 draw on aggregate. The Grand Final however had a familiar outcome despite the Dragons taking an early lead through Tom Lancaster. Solomon Islands
International Benjamin Totori
levelled the scores then the balance of the match was tipped in Waitakere United
’s favour following the sending off of Paul Dirou. This proved to be the case as the home side scored two unanswered second half goals through Allan Pearce
and a second from Benjamin Totori
to win the match 3-1. This result saw Neil Emblen
's side win their second Championship in three seasons.
On 2 September 2010, New Zealand Football announced a five-year sponsorship agreement with ASB Bank
. The agreement included the rebranding of the NZFC as the ASB Premiership.
The league has been dominated by Auckland City and Waitakere United. The pair contest a local derby.
playing in the New Zealand Football Championship. Unlike most European leagues, there is no system for promotion and relegation
. This system is similar to leagues in Australia
and the in the United States
.
. Should the same team win both the Premiership and the Championship, the second O-League spot will be granted to league runner-up.
, New Zealand's representative in the Australian A-League
.
New Zealand Football also runs the Under-20 ASB National Youth League. The 2011/12 season consists of two four-team conferences (North and South) that play against each conference opponent twice (home and away), for six regular season games. At the conclusion of the youth league regular season, the top ranked Northern team hosted the second ranked Southern team, and the top ranked Southern team hosted the second ranked Northern team for the semi finals. The winners of these matches will face each other in the grand final. The current Youth League champion is Waitakere United, having defeated Canterbury United 2-0 at Linfield Park, Christchurch
ASB Bank
ASB is a New Zealand bank owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It is one of the largest New Zealand banks, with branches throughout the country. It operates BankDirect, a branchless banking service that provides service via phone, Internet,...
Premiership from 2011 for sponsorship reasons) is the national association football league in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is a professional/semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
status Association football (soccer) sports Franchise
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
league that is operated by New Zealand Football. The league is run separately from the New Zealand Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier and the other Winter Regional club competitions
Soccer in New Zealand
Association football, also known as football or soccer, is a popular recreation sport in New Zealand. The sport is administered in New Zealand by the governing body New Zealand Football ....
, and many of the teams competing are Franchises
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
jointly run by Winter clubs. The Premiership does not include the Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
who play in the Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
n A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. It is currently sponsored by ASB Bank
ASB Bank
ASB is a New Zealand bank owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It is one of the largest New Zealand banks, with branches throughout the country. It operates BankDirect, a branchless banking service that provides service via phone, Internet,...
.
Competition format
The league is an eight-team system, with each club playing everyone else twice. After the end of the regular season, the top four teams progress to the playoffs. The playoffs are run as a home-and-away semi-finals series, with the winners progressing to a one-match Grand Final.The league competition phase was initially contested by a three-round, 21-match league system, each team playing every other team three times. This system was in place for the first four seasons of the competition. It was changed to the present two-round, 14-match system in 2008, due to financial difficulties affecting some of the teams in the league.
The playoff competition phase was initially run as a three-team playoff system, in which the Premier (winner of league phase) received a bye and hosting rights for the grand final, with second and third placed teams playing off in a one-game preliminary final. For the 2005-06 season
New Zealand Football Championship 2005-06
- Final league table :* Auckland win "Premiership" and qualify for Round 2 of the playoffs* Manawautu, Canterbury, Wellington and Otago all qualify for Round 1 of the playoffs-Round 1:...
, the NZFC experimented with a five team playoff (see NZFC 2005-06), however this was discontinued and the league reverted to the three-team playoff for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
The teams that win the league phase (the "premier") and the Grand Final (the "champion") qualify for the OFC Champions League
OFC Champions League
The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
. Should the same team win both the Premiership and the Championship, the second O-League spot will be granted to league runner-up. This had occurred during the 2007-08 season, where Waitakere United won both the league and the final. This resulted in Auckland City FC, league runner-up, to enter the O-League, despite Team Wellington contesting the grand final.
As there are no lower divisions in the Premiership, no promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
exists, similar to leagues in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Establishment in 2004-present
The New Zealand Football Championship was created as a replacement to the former New Zealand National Soccer LeagueNew Zealand National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...
, a tournament involving clubs from the regional governing bodies of New Zealand Football. The NZFC would be run as a summer league involving new clubs created solely for the new competition, with these new clubs being run jointly by existing winter clubs. The only exception to this was Napier City Rovers
Napier City Rovers
Napier City Rovers are an association football team based in Napier, New Zealand. They are currently competing in the Central Premier League.-Club history:The team was founded in 1973 via a merger of Napier Rovers and Napier City....
, whose summer club would be rebranded Hawke's Bay United
Hawke's Bay United
Hawke's Bay United is an association football club based in Napier, New Zealand. HB United play in the ASB Premiership - a semi-professional franchise based league, which runs independently of the winter club season. Local winter clubs provide the player pool for each franchise...
during the second season, to be operated jointly by other clubs in the Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
region.
Eleven groups bidded for franchises, with the successful bids being announced on 7 April 2004 as Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
, Canterbury United
Canterbury United
Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson...
, Napier City Rovers
Hawke's Bay United
Hawke's Bay United is an association football club based in Napier, New Zealand. HB United play in the ASB Premiership - a semi-professional franchise based league, which runs independently of the winter club season. Local winter clubs provide the player pool for each franchise...
, Otago United
Otago United
Otago United is a soccer club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.It participates in the ASB Premiership. Their previous home stadium is Carisbrook in the South Dunedin suburb of Caversham which is the soon the replaced home of Otago Rugby...
, Team Wellington
Team Wellington
Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :...
, Waikato FC
Waikato FC
Waikato Football Club, currently known as Yardhouse Waikato Football Club due to sponsorship agreements, is a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and currently play in the ASB Premiership...
, Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
and YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :...
, with Olé Madrids, East Auckland and Team Bay of Plenty being excluded. Unhappy at their exclusion, the Olé Madrids bid team took New Zealand Soccer to court, suing for damages and demanding inclusion in the competition, claiming that while they met NZ Soccer's criteria for inclusion, other bids who succeeded did not. The case was dropped by the Madrids team eight days before the commencement of the first NZFC season. Western Suburbs, the club associated with the Olé Academy, is now a principal member of the Team Wellington franchise. East Auckland also considered legal action, however this did not occur.
The first match of the competition was on 15 October 2004, with Auckland City defeating Napier City Rovers
Hawke's Bay United
Hawke's Bay United is an association football club based in Napier, New Zealand. HB United play in the ASB Premiership - a semi-professional franchise based league, which runs independently of the winter club season. Local winter clubs provide the player pool for each franchise...
3-1 at Park Island, Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
. Auckland also won the final match of the inaugural season, defeating Waitekere United to become the first NZFC Champion. Auckland would go on to win the grand final again in the next two seasons, creating the competitions first dynasty
Dynasty (sports)
A sports dynasty is a team that dominates their sport or league for multiple seasons or years. Such dominance is often only realized in retrospect...
.
The second season saw Napier City Rovers rebrand and re-organize their NZFC team as Hawke's Bay United, forming an amalgamated franchise with other local clubs. It also saw the first instance of a NZFC team winning the O-League
OFC Champions League
The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
, with Auckland City FC defeating French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
n team AS Pirae
AS Pirae
AS Pirae is a football team from Pirae in Tahiti. They are one of the most successful teams in Tahiti having won the Tahiti Division Fédérale seven times...
3-1.
The third season saw two NZFC teams qualify for the O-League, with the eventual Grand Final runner-up Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
qualifying in place of Vanuatu's
Vanuatu Premia Divisen
Vanuatu Premia Divisen is the top division of the Port Vila Football League, Since the Vanuatu Football Federation does not run a national league as such but on occasions runs invitational tournaments involving clubs from the various affiliate associations, the Port Vila Football League is...
Port Vila Sharks withdrawing. When Port Vila Sharks decided to withdraw, the NZFC was in their 3rd round when the OFC decided give their place to a second NZFC team. However the decision by NZF for Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
to be rushed into the O-League was because they were the leading club (besides the already qualified Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
) in the NZFC after the 7th round of that season. The decision by the NZF was in a mist of controversy, as YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :...
was in contention to be the leading club.
However Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
that had won a game against Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
with a player who was not allowed to play, after they refused to play for a nationally selected touring team citing injuries but yet had turned up to play in the NZFC. This was against NZF policy for NZFC teams, which states that a NZFC player which has cited injuries as a reason for not playing for a nationally selected team, cannot play for the NZFC team while the nationally selected team was playing at the same time. The policy was to prevent nationally selected NZFC players from using injuries as a deception to play elsewhere and not fulfill national duties. In this case, the deception was for the player to play in the highly competitive Auckland derby match. Hence there was a reverse of results that gave Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
the three league points it needed to lead the NZFC and it reduced the three league points that Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
had while leading the NZFC. YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :...
who was in second-placed, behind Auckland City FC but ahead of Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
, before the reversal of the result had then found themselves to be 3rd place afterwards. YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :...
had lodged a formal complaint with NZF which was then turned down. Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
capitalized on this opportunity by winning that year's O-League competition.
With the first three seasons completed, the NZFC granted three-season license extensions to seven of the eight franchises - all but YoungHeart Manawatu, who had to re-apply on account of the NZFC's concerns towards the clubs financial and organizational situation. However YoungHeart managed successfully earn reinstatement after beating out four rival bids - one based in Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, one from North Shore City, and two from Manukau
Manukau
Manukau City was a large territorial authority in Auckland, New Zealand. The city was sometimes referred to as South Auckland, but this term did not possess official recognition and did not encompass areas like East Auckland, which was previously within the official boundaries of Manukau City...
. Olé Madrids also applied for the license, however they withdrew early.
In 2007, the NZFC was represented at the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup
2007 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2007 FIFA Club World Cup was a football tournament played in Japan from 7 December to 16 December 2007. It was the fourth FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament organised by FIFA for the winners of each confederation's top continental club tournament....
, with Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
qualifying as the Oceania Football Confederation
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
champion. Waitakere's only match was a 1-3 loss to Iranian club Sepahan. After this match, FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
chairman Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
hinted that the OFC
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
may lose qualification rights for the Club World Cup due to the gap in competition quality, stating that "professional teams" and giving the OFC a deadline of two years to raise their standards. A possible solution has been suggested in allowing the Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
, a New Zealand-based team playing in the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
(an Asian competition) to qualify for the O-League, which may cause the NZFC to lose one of its two qualifying spots.
The 2007/08 season saw the end of the Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
dynasty, with Team Wellington
Team Wellington
Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :...
eliminating them in the preliminary final. Waitakere United went on to win the Grand Final - in doing so, completing "the treble" - winning the Youth League, the Premiership and the Championship all in one season. A year later the 2008/09 season saw the championship return to Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
, after a season dominated by minor premiers Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
. After the cross-town neightbours had taken care of both Team Wellington
Team Wellington
Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :...
and YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu
YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :...
respectively in the semi-finals, the grand final was held at Douglas Field. Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
– who hadn’t lost at home for almost two full seasons, looked on course for a second successive crown when Allan Pearce
Allan Pearce
Allan Pearce is a New Zealand football player who plays as a striker. In the 2004/05 season he played for Waitakere United, scoring 6 goals.-Club career:...
benefited from Roy Krishna
Roy Krishna
Roy Krishna is a Fijian association football player, who currently plays as a striker for Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship.-Club career:...
’s good work to tap in a 15th minute opener. A piece of Keryn Jordan magic however and a late goalkeeping error from Waitakere’s Richard Gillespie would see the trophy head back to Kiwitea Street
Kiwitea Street
Kiwitea Street, also known as Freyberg Field, is a multi-purpose stadium in Auckland, New Zealand with a capacity of 3,500. It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of both Auckland City FC and Central United....
for a fourth time in five seasons.
On 12 April 2010 Canterbury United
Canterbury United
Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson...
produced arguably the result of the 2009/10 NZFC season in a stunning 3-0 victory at Kiwitea Street
Kiwitea Street
Kiwitea Street, also known as Freyberg Field, is a multi-purpose stadium in Auckland, New Zealand with a capacity of 3,500. It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of both Auckland City FC and Central United....
. This result overturned a 2-1 semi-final first leg deficit and knocked defending champions Auckland City FC
Auckland City FC
Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...
out of the competition 4-2 on aggregate. The form book was almost thrown out the window at Fred Taylor Park
Fred Taylor Park
Fred Taylor Park is the home stadium to the Waitakere United, a New Zealand soccer team based in Whenuapai.-External links:* at the Waitakere United website...
also as Team Wellington
Team Wellington
Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :...
came within seconds of defeating Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
in the other semi-final. A ninety-second minute goal from Brent Fisher eventually saw Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
through on the away goals rule after a 3-3 draw on aggregate. The Grand Final however had a familiar outcome despite the Dragons taking an early lead through Tom Lancaster. Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands national football team
The Solomon Islands national football team is the national team of the Solomon Islands and is controlled by Solomon Islands Football Federation. The team shocked the football world in the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup , tying Australia 2–2 to nip heavily-favored New Zealand for second place and a spot...
International Benjamin Totori
Benjamin Totori
Benjamin Totori is a Solomon Islands footballer who currently plays as a striker for Koloale FC.-Club career:A small but speedy striker, Totori made his name at fellow NZFC side YoungHeart Manawatu before moving to Richmond Athletic and then onto Waitakere United in 2007...
levelled the scores then the balance of the match was tipped in Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
’s favour following the sending off of Paul Dirou. This proved to be the case as the home side scored two unanswered second half goals through Allan Pearce
Allan Pearce
Allan Pearce is a New Zealand football player who plays as a striker. In the 2004/05 season he played for Waitakere United, scoring 6 goals.-Club career:...
and a second from Benjamin Totori
Benjamin Totori
Benjamin Totori is a Solomon Islands footballer who currently plays as a striker for Koloale FC.-Club career:A small but speedy striker, Totori made his name at fellow NZFC side YoungHeart Manawatu before moving to Richmond Athletic and then onto Waitakere United in 2007...
to win the match 3-1. This result saw Neil Emblen
Neil Emblen
Neil Emblen is an English football player who plays for and is coach of New Zealand club Waitakere United.Emblen had spent the majority of his career in English football with Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Walsall.-Career:Emblen started his career as a youth...
's side win their second Championship in three seasons.
On 2 September 2010, New Zealand Football announced a five-year sponsorship agreement with ASB Bank
ASB Bank
ASB is a New Zealand bank owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It is one of the largest New Zealand banks, with branches throughout the country. It operates BankDirect, a branchless banking service that provides service via phone, Internet,...
. The agreement included the rebranding of the NZFC as the ASB Premiership.
The league has been dominated by Auckland City and Waitakere United. The pair contest a local derby.
Current clubs
There are currently eight clubs from New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
playing in the New Zealand Football Championship. Unlike most European leagues, there is no system for promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
. This system is similar to leagues in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
| City | Joined | Current ASB Premiership Clubs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... |
Kiwitea Street Kiwitea Street Kiwitea Street, also known as Freyberg Field, is a multi-purpose stadium in Auckland, New Zealand with a capacity of 3,500. It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of both Auckland City FC and Central United.... |
2004 |  Ramon Tribulietx |
||||
| Canterbury United Canterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
ASB Football Park English Park English Park is a multi-use stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Canterbury United. The stadium has a capacity of 9,000 people.... |
2004 |  Keith BraithwaiteKeith Braithwaite Keith Braithwaite is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Braithwaite made a solitary official international appearance for New Zealand in a 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia on 23 June 1988.... |
||||
| Hawke's Bay United Hawke's Bay United Hawke's Bay United is an association football club based in Napier, New Zealand. HB United play in the ASB Premiership - a semi-professional franchise based league, which runs independently of the winter club season. Local winter clubs provide the player pool for each franchise... |
Napier Napier, New Zealand Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"... |
Bluewater Stadium | 2004 |  Matt Chandler |
||||
| Otago United Otago United Otago United is a soccer club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.It participates in the ASB Premiership. Their previous home stadium is Carisbrook in the South Dunedin suburb of Caversham which is the soon the replaced home of Otago Rugby... |
Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... |
Forsyth Barr Stadium | 2004 | Richard Murray |
||||
| Team Wellington Team Wellington Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :... |
Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... |
Newtown Park Newtown Park Newtown Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and athletic events. The main pitch has a 400 metre, all-weather rubberized athletics track around it, as well as the spectator stands and the corporate loungue... |
2004 | Matt Calcott |
||||
| Waikato FC Waikato FC Waikato Football Club, currently known as Yardhouse Waikato Football Club due to sponsorship agreements, is a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and currently play in the ASB Premiership... |
Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... |
Porritt Stadium | 2004 | Declan Edge Declan Edge Declan John Edge is a former soccer player who represented New Zealand in the 1980s and 90s.... |
||||
| Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
Waitakere City | Fred Taylor Park Fred Taylor Park Fred Taylor Park is the home stadium to the Waitakere United, a New Zealand soccer team based in Whenuapai.-External links:* at the Waitakere United website... |
2004 | Neil Emblen Neil Emblen Neil Emblen is an English football player who plays for and is coach of New Zealand club Waitakere United.Emblen had spent the majority of his career in English football with Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Walsall.-Career:Emblen started his career as a youth... |
||||
| YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :... |
Palmerston North Palmerston North Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank... |
Memorial Park | 2004 | Stu Jacobs Stu Jacobs Stu Jacobs is a New Zealand association football player and manager who represented New Zealand and coached the New Zealand Men's Olympic team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.-Playing career:... |
||||
Champions and premiers
The teams that win the league phase (the "premier") and the Grand Final (the "champion") qualify for the OFC Champions LeagueOFC Champions League
The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
. Should the same team win both the Premiership and the Championship, the second O-League spot will be granted to league runner-up.
| Season | Regular season | Grand final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Points | Runners-up | Champions | Score | Runners-up | |
| 2004–05 Details |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country...  |
46–40 Ladder |
 Waitakere UnitedWaitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
3-2 |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
| 2005–06 Details |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
48-46 Ladder |
 YoungHeart ManawatuYoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :... |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
3-3 (a.e.t.) 4–3 (p.s.o) |
 Canterbury UnitedCanterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
| 2006–07 Details |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
47-45 Ladder |
YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :... |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
3-2 |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
| 2007–08 Details |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
51-50 Ladder |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
2–0 |
 Team WellingtonTeam Wellington Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :... |
| 2008–09 Details |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
33-25 Ladder |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
2-1 |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
| 2009–10 Details |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
31-29 Ladder |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
3-1 |
Canterbury United Canterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
| 2010–11 Details 2010–11 ASB Premiership The New Zealand Football Championship's 2010–11 season is the sixth season of the NZFC since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season began on 16 October 2010 with a kickoff between Auckland City FC and Waikato FC... |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
36-30 Ladder |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
3-2 |
Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
Premiership Winners
| Titles | Team | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11 |
| 3 | Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10 |
Championship Winners
| Titles | Team | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09 |
| 3 | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11 |
Golden Boot
The Golden Boot is presented to the player who scores the most goals during the season.| Year | Player/s | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Graham Little |
Team Wellington Team Wellington Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :... |
12 |
| 2008–09 |  Luis Corrales |
Team Wellington Team Wellington Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :... |
12 |
| 2009-10 |  Seule SoromonSeule Soromon Seule Soromon is an association football striker from Vanuatu who currently plays for ASB Premiership team YoungHeart Manawatu.He hails from Mele, which is located northwest of Port Vila.-Club career:... |
YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :... |
9 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 ASB Premiership The New Zealand Football Championship's 2010–11 season is the sixth season of the NZFC since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season began on 16 October 2010 with a kickoff between Auckland City FC and Waikato FC... |
Allan Pearce Allan Pearce Allan Pearce is a New Zealand football player who plays as a striker. In the 2004/05 season he played for Waitakere United, scoring 6 goals.-Club career:... |
Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
13 |
All-time NZFC regular season records by club
Updated to the end of the 2009/10 season| Posn (pts) |
Club |
Sn |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
6 | 112 | 75 | 18 | 19 | 270 | 126 | 242* | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
6 | 112 | 67 | 19 | 26 | 236 | 131 | 222* | 3 | 2 | |
| 3 | Team Wellington Team Wellington Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :... |
6 | 112 | 49 | 22 | 41 | 216 | 200 | +16 | 169 | ||
| 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 4 | YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :... |
6 | 112 | 48 | 21 | 43 | 207 | 195 | +12 | 165 | ||
| 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 5 | Canterbury United Canterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
6 | 112 | 39 | 20 | 53 | 156 | 186 | -30 | 137 | ||
| 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| 6 | Waikato FC Waikato FC Waikato Football Club, currently known as Yardhouse Waikato Football Club due to sponsorship agreements, is a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and currently play in the ASB Premiership... |
6 | 112 | 32 | 20 | 60 | 139 | 203 | -64 | 116 | ||
| 1 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Hawke's Bay United Hawke's Bay United Hawke's Bay United is an association football club based in Napier, New Zealand. HB United play in the ASB Premiership - a semi-professional franchise based league, which runs independently of the winter club season. Local winter clubs provide the player pool for each franchise... † |
6 | 112 | 31 | 20 | 61 | 156 | 237 | -81 | 113 | ||
| 1 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Otago United Otago United Otago United is a soccer club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.It participates in the ASB Premiership. Their previous home stadium is Carisbrook in the South Dunedin suburb of Caversham which is the soon the replaced home of Otago Rugby... |
6 | 112 | 24 | 26 | 62 | 117 | 219 | ||||
| 98 | ||||||||||||
- * Waitakere were awarded a goalless win against Auckland in 2006/07
- † Includes record as Napier City Rovers
All-time NZFC playoff records by club
Updated to, and including, the 2009/10 playoff semi-finals.| Posn (pts) |
Club |
P/sn |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland City FC Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
6/6 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 22 | 4 | ||
| 1 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
5/6 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 13 | +8 | 15 | 2 | 3 | |
| 3 | Team Wellington Team Wellington Team Wellington are one of the eight franchises in the New Zealand ASB Premiership football competition. They play their home games at Newtown Park, Wellington.- History :... |
4/6 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 21 | -7 | 10 | |||
| 1 | 2* | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Canterbury United Canterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
2/6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | |||
| 2 | |||||||||||||
| 5 | YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu YoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the ASB Premiership and their home ground is Memorial Park.- History :... |
3/6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 4 | - | - | 2* |
| 6 | Otago United Otago United Otago United is a soccer club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.It participates in the ASB Premiership. Their previous home stadium is Carisbrook in the South Dunedin suburb of Caversham which is the soon the replaced home of Otago Rugby... |
1/6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | - | - | |
| 7 | Waikato FC Waikato FC Waikato Football Club, currently known as Yardhouse Waikato Football Club due to sponsorship agreements, is a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and currently play in the ASB Premiership... |
1/6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 | - | - | 1 |
| - | Hawke's Bay United Hawke's Bay United Hawke's Bay United is an association football club based in Napier, New Zealand. HB United play in the ASB Premiership - a semi-professional franchise based league, which runs independently of the winter club season. Local winter clubs provide the player pool for each franchise... † |
0/6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- * Y.H. Manawatu finished 3rd in the 2008/09 playoffs with a better record than the other semi-finalist, Team Wellington. Team Wellington finished 3rd in the 2009/10 playoffs with a better record than the other semi-finalist, Auckland City.
- † Includes record as Napier City Rovers
ASB Phoenix Challenge
The 2010-11 season will see the introduction of the ASB Challenge Series. This is an individual friendly competition in which the eight Premiership teams compete against a reserve team attached to Wellington Phoenix FCWellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
, New Zealand's representative in the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
.
ASB National Youth League
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/09 | Auckland City Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is a football club based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The club competes in the eight-team ASB Premiership which is the highest level of domestic football in the country... |
? | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
| 2009/10 | Canterbury United Canterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
6 - 0 | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
| 2010/11 | Waitakere United Waitakere United Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:... |
0 - 2 | Canterbury United Canterbury United Canterbury United FC is an association football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The club plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson... |
New Zealand Football also runs the Under-20 ASB National Youth League. The 2011/12 season consists of two four-team conferences (North and South) that play against each conference opponent twice (home and away), for six regular season games. At the conclusion of the youth league regular season, the top ranked Northern team hosted the second ranked Southern team, and the top ranked Southern team hosted the second ranked Northern team for the semi finals. The winners of these matches will face each other in the grand final. The current Youth League champion is Waitakere United, having defeated Canterbury United 2-0 at Linfield Park, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
Referees
Referees are selected from around New Zealand and occasionally include guest referees from other nations, most notably Australia. Whilst the match referees may travel to games outside their home federation, assistant referees and fourth officials are from generally within the hosting federation.See also
- New Zealand Football Championship Records
- New Zealand Champions (Soccer)
- New Zealand National Soccer LeagueNew Zealand National Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is a name given to competitions in which New Zealand's top soccer clubs play each other, at least two times, on a home and away basis . At the completion of the competition, the best-performed team is declared as the New Zealand champion...