# Central Federation League

The Central Federation League is an amateur status league competition run by Central Football for association football clubs located in the central region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is currently in the third level of the New Zealand football league system, below the Central League administered by Capital Football and is entered by clubs from the Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne districts.

## History

The league was launched in 2000 and began within the second tier of the New Zealand football league system as a replacement for the disbanded triple division Central League, which had run in various forms since 1966.

## Current clubs

As of the 2024 season.
| Club | Location | Home Ground(s) | 2023 season |
| FC Western | New Plymouth | Lynmouth Park | 2nd in Taranaki Premiership (new entry) |
| Gisborne Thistle | Gisborne | Childers Road Reserve | 4th |
| Havelock North Wanderers | Havelock North | Guthrie Park | 2nd in Pacific Premiership (new entry) |
| New Plymouth Rangers | New Plymouth | Merrilands Domain | 3rd in Taranaki Premiership (new entry) |
| Palmerston North Marist | Palmerston North | Central Energy Trust Arena Turf | 1st |
| Palmerston North United | Palmerston North | Memorial Park | 2nd |
| Peringa United | New Plymouth | Peringa Park | 1st in Taranaki Premiership (new entry) |
| Taradale | Napier | Taradale Park | 5th |
| Whanganui Athletic | Wembley Park | Whanganui | 10th in Central League (relegated) |

## Records
### Past Champions

* 2000 – Manawatu
* 2001 – Napier City Rovers
* 2002 – Napier City Rovers
* 2003 – Manawatu
* 2004 – Napier City Rovers
* 2005 – Gisborne Thistle
* 2006 – Team Taranaki
* 2007–09 – not contested
* 2010 – Maycenvale United
* 2011–12 – not contested
* 2013 – Palmerston North Marist
* 2014 – Wanganui Athletic
* 2015 – Team Taranaki
* 2016 – Team Taranaki
* 2017 – Havelock North Wanderers
* 2018 – Palmerston North Marist
* 2019 – Havelock North Wanderers
* 2020 – New Plymouth Rangers
* 2021 – Havelock North Wanderers
* 2022 – Whanganui Athletic
* 2023 – Palmerston North Marist
* 2024 - Palmerston North United

### 2024 Federation League Table

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| Palmerston North United | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 36 |
| Palmerston North Marist | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 33 |
| FC Western | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 31 |
| Taradale | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 28 |
| Havelock North Wanderers | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 25 |
| Gisborne Thistle | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | -20 | 22 |
| New Plymouth Rangers | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | -6 | 19 |
| Whanganui Athletic | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -18 | 10 |
| Peringa United | 16 | 2 | 1 | 13 | -33 | 7 |
The 2024 season saw the league increase the number of clubs from five to nine. Whanganui Athletic, relegated from the 2023 Central League, joined a trio of clubs from New Plymouth including; 2023 Taranaki Premiership champions Peringa United, FC Western (both new entrants to the league), and the returning New Plymouth Rangers. Havelock North Wanderers rejoined the league from the Pacific Premiership while Napier City Rovers reserves withdrew before the 2024 season commenced.

### 2024 Central League Premier Division place play-off

Upper Hutt City win 4 - 2 on aggregate and promotion to the 2025 Central League Premier Division.

### 2023 Federation League Table

| Club | Pld | W | D | L |
| Palmerston North Marist | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 |
| Palmerston North United | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| Napier City Rovers Reserves | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Gisborne Thistle | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Taradale | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Prior to the commencement of the 2023 season, a merger of three Palmerston North clubs; Massey University FC, North End and Red Sox Manawatu created new entity, Palmerston North United. Palmerston North United replaced North End and Massey University in the league.
Napier Marist FC and Levin AFC withdrew from the league before the 2023 competition began reducing the number of clubs participating to five.

### 2023 Central League place play-off

Island Bay United win 7 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2024 Central League.

### 2022 Federation League Table

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Whanganui Athletic | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 7 | +41 | 38 |
| Palmerston North Marist | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 12 | +27 | 32 |
| North End | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 14 | +23 | 29 |
| Massey University | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 27 | 30 | -3 | 22 |
| Napier Marist | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 25 | 41 | -16 | 19 |
| Napier City Rovers | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 27 | 36 | -9 | 15 |
| Levin | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 43 | -31 | 4 |
| Gisborne Thistle | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 44 | -32 | 4 |

### 2022 Central League place play-off

Aggregate score 5–4. Stop Out promoted to the 2022 Central League. In late 2022 Whanganui Athletic were also promoted to the 2023 Central League after the withdrawal of Wellington United from the competition.

### 2021 Federation League Table

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Havelock North Wanderers | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 16 | +39 | 40 |
| Palmerston North Marist | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 62 | 26 | +36 | 34 |
| Whanganui Athletic | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 23 | +15 | 30 |
| Gisborne Thistle | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 30 |
| Massey University | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 31 | 9 | 28 |
| North End | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 35 | 36 | -1 | 22 |
| Napier Marist | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 25 | 57 | -32 | 10 |
| Levin | 16 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 15 | 45 | -30 | 8 |
| New Plymouth Rangers | 16 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 15 | 62 | -47 | 7 |

### 2021 Central League place play-off

Aggregate score 6–6. Havelock North Wanderers win tie on away goal rule and are promoted to the 2022 Central League.
Note - Wairarapa United withdrew from the 2022 Central League prior to the start of the season and were subsequently replaced by Wellington United.

### 2020 Central League place play-off

Aggregate score 12 - 6. Wainuiomata are promoted to the 2021 Central League.

### 2019 Central League place play-off

Petone won 6 - 5 on aggregate and promotion to the 2020 Central League.

### 2018 Central League place play-off

North Wellington won 12 - 0 on aggregate and promotion to the 2019 Central League.

### 2017 Central League place play-off

Waterside Karori won promotion on away goal rule to 2018 Central League.

### 2016 Central League place play-off

Team Taranaki won on away goals rule and promotion to the 2017 Central League.

### Past Clubs

| Club | Location | Home Ground(s) | Last Season |
| Gisborne City | Gisborne | Childers Road Reserve | 2003 - merged as Gisborne City Marist |
| Moturoa AFC | New Plymouth | Onuku Taipari Domain | 2003 - league position given to Team Taranaki |
| Gisborne City Marist | Gisborne | Childers Road Reserve | 2004 - withdrew |
| Manawatu AFC | Palmerston North | | 2004 (amalgamated) |
| Red Sox Riverside | Palmerston North | | 2004 (amalgamated) |
| Linton Area Defence FC | Palmerston North | Linton Military Camp | 2005 - withdrew |
| Napier City Rovers | Napier | Bluewater Stadium | 2010 - withdrew to Pacific Premiership |
| Feilding United | Manawatu | Timona Park | 2015 - withdrew |
| Team Taranaki | New Plymouth | Yarrow Stadium | 2016 - promoted to 2017 Central League |
| Port Hill United | Napier | Marewa Park | 2016 - withdrew |
| Wanganui City FC | Whanganui | Wembley Park | 2019 - withdrew |
| Palmerston North Boys' High School | Palmerston North | High School Ground | 2019 - relegated |
| Hokowhitu FC | Palmerston North | Hokowhitu Park | 2019 - withdrew |
| Red Sox Manawatu | Palmerston North | | 2020 - withdrew |
| Levin | Levin | Donnelly Park | 2022 - withdrew to Horizons Premiership |
| Napier Marist | Napier | Bluewater Stadium | 2022 - withdrew to Pacific Premiership |
| North End | Palmerston North | Memorial Park | 2022 - merged as Palmerston North United |
| Massey University | Palmerston North | Massey University | 2022 - merged as Palmerston North United |
| Napier City Rovers Reserves | Napier | Bluewater Stadium | 2023 - withdrew to Pacific Premiership |

## Central Federation Cup

The Lotto Central Federation Cup is the premier men's knock-out trophy of the Central Football Federation and is contested annually by clubs affiliated to the Central Football Federation. The cup competition in its current form began in 2009, with the exception of the COVID-19 affected 2020 season when the first round of matches was initially scheduled then subsequently cancelled.

### Central Federation Cup Champions

* 2009 - Wanganui City AFC
* 2010 - Gisborne City AFC
* 2011 - Maycenvale United (2)
* 2012 - Napier City Rovers FC (2)
* 2013 - Havelock North Wanderers AFC
* 2014 - Gisborne United AFC
* 2015 - Hāwera FC
* 2016 - Napier City Rovers FC (2)
* 2017 - Massey University Football Club
* 2018 - Eltham AFC
* 2019 - Massey University Football Club
* 2020 - not contested
* 2021 - Massey University Football Club
* 2022 - Gisborne United AFC
* 2023 - Whanganui Athletic (2)
* 2024 - Taradale AFC
*(2) denotes club's second team