Northern League (New Zealand)

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Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier
Lotto logo.jpeg
Country New Zealand New Zealand
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Founded 1965
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1
Domestic cup(s) Chatham Cup
Current champions Eastern Suburbs AFC
(2015)
Most championships Bay Olympic (4), Takapuna AFC (4)
TV partners Prime (New Zealand)
FTN – Family Television Network
TVNZ (Highlights only)
Sky Network Television (Playoffs only)
Website Auckland Football Federation
2015 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier
Auckland Football
Federation Logo

The Northern Region Football League, or Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier for sponsorship reasons, is a professional/semi-professional New Zealand association football (soccer) league competition that is run by the Auckland Football Federation. The NRFL is at the First level of New Zealand Football, along with the franchise-based ASB Premiership, and includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, New Zealand. It is open to clubs from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty provinces.


History

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The first Four Years (1965–1969)

File:Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier Trophy.jpg
The symbol of supremacy in Northern League football, the Northern Premier League trophy.

In the years 1965–1969, before the launch of a National Soccer League, the Northern League was the highest level competition available to the clubs in the northern region. When the National Soccer League was created in 1970, the Northern League became one of its feeder leagues.

In 1997 and 1998, when the National Soccer League operated as an invitation-only summer league, the Northern League again became the highest level club competition available to the clubs from the northern provinces.

Present day

With the demise of the club-based National Soccer League in 2004, the Northern League, now known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Men's Premier, became part of the highest level of football league competition in New Zealand for the third time in its history. The league runs between the New Zealand autumn and winter months (April to October), while the ASB Premiership runs between the New Zealand spring and summer months (November to April).

Sponsors

The following list is of the official sponsors of the League, unless otherwise noted.

Current

Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier Clubs – 2015

Club Location Home Ground(s)
Bay Olympic New Lynn, New Zealand Olympic Park Sports Ground (3,500)
Birkenhead United Birkenhead, New Zealand Shepherds Park (10,000)
Central United Auckland, New Zealand Kiwitea Street Stadium (5,000)
East Coast Bays AFC North Shore City, New Zealand Bay City Park Stadium (4,000)
Eastern Suburbs AFC Kohimarama, New Zealand Madills Farm
Glenfield Rovers Glenfield, New Zealand, New Zealand McFetridge Park (2,000)
Hamilton Wanderers Hamilton, New Zealand Porritt Stadium (2,700)
Melville United Hamilton West, New Zealand Gower Park
Onehunga Sports Onehunga, New Zealand Waikaraka Park Sports Ground (3,000)
Three Kings United Three Kings, New Zealand Keith Hay Park Sports Ground (5,000)
Waitakere City F.C. Waitakere City, New Zealand Fred Taylor Park Stadium (10,000)
Western Springs AFC Westmere, New Zealand Seddon Fields

Past Champions & Current Champion

Performance By Club

Club City Titles Last Title
Bay Olympic New Lynn 4 2011
Takapuna City Takapuna 4 1988
Glenfield Rovers Glenfield, New Zealand 3 2014
East Coast Bays North Shore City 3 2013
Central United Auckland 3 2008
Mount Wellington Auckland 3 1997
Hamilton Wanderers Hamilton 3 1984
Eastern Suburbs Kohimarama, New Zealand 3 2015
Melville United Melville 2 2009
North Shore United North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand 2 2001
Tauranga City Tauranga, New Zealand 2 2000
Mount Maunganui Tauranga, New Zealand 2 1994
Papatoetoe Papatoetoe, New Zealand 2 1991

Notable players

This list consist of Past or present notable players that have either represented the New Zealand national team at the FIFA World Cup or the Olympic Games. This list also consist of players who have either played for New Zealand Knights FC or have played in the FIFA Club World Cup with a New Zealand football club:

References

External links