# 2009–10 New Zealand Football Championship

The NZFC 2009–10 season is the sixth season of the New Zealand Football Championship competition.
The previous season's champion, Auckland City FC, and premier Waitakere United will also be competing in the 2009–10 O-League which will run alongside the NZFC season.

## Changes for 2009/10

* Otago United will return to Carisbrook after using Sunnyvale Park as their home ground during the previous season.
* Waitakere United will now play their home fixtures at Fred Taylor Park.

## Participating clubs

| Club Name | Home City | Stadium | 2008-09 Placing | 2008-09 Notes |
| Auckland City FC | Auckland | Kiwitea Street | 2nd | 2008-09 NZFC Champion Qualified for O-League 2009-10 |
| Canterbury United | Christchurch | English Park | 8th | 2008-09 NZFC Wooden Spoon |
| Hawke's Bay United | Napier | Bluewater Stadium | 5th | |
| Otago United | Dunedin | Carisbrook | 7th | |
| Team Wellington | Wellington | Newtown Park | 4th | |
| Waikato FC | Ngaruawahia | Centennial Park | 6th | |
| Waitakere United | Waitakere City | Fred Taylor Park | 1st | 2008-09 Premier Qualified for O-League 2009-10 |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | Palmerston North | Memorial Park | 3rd | |
Canterbury United had initially announced in mid June they would not be competing. However they revoked their decision within two weeks and re-entered the competition. There was also hope from some parties to have a youth/reserve team for Wellington Phoenix FC to participate in the competition. However, the FIFA rules and regulations preventing a professional Australian team from competing in a New Zealand amateur competition meant this was not feasible.
The NZF has looked at including alternative teams in case any of the current eight franchises pull out. In September 2009,a syndicate from North Shore and another from Manukau were approached and asked if they could step in at late notice if one of the eight franchises withdrew.
This season is the final one in the five-year licences for each franchise and NZF are undertaking a major review of their competition structures, including the national league. Significant changes like reverting to a winter league and a club competition complete with promotion/relegation are being considered.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Auckland City | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 13 | +20 | 31 | Qualified for the 2010–11 OFC Champions League |
| 2 | Waitakere United (C) | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 29 | Qualified for the 2010–11 OFC Champions League |
| 3 | Team Wellington | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 24 | −2 | 21 | 2010 New Zealand Football Championship Finals |
| 4 | Canterbury United | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 18 | 2010 New Zealand Football Championship Finals |
| 5 | Otago United | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 22 | −6 | 18 | |
| 6 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 16 | |
| 7 | Hawke's Bay United | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 27 | −9 | 15 | |
| 8 | Waikato FC | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 33 | −14 | 10 | |

## Competition schedule

The competition fixtures were announced on 21 September 2009

### Round 1

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Otago United | 0–0 | Auckland City FC | 1 November 2009 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 0–4 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 1 November 2009 | Newtown Park | (Report) |
| Waikato FC | 4–2 | Hawke's Bay United | 1 November 2009 | Centennial Park | (Report) |
| Waitakere United | 1–0 | Canterbury United | 1 November 2009 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |

### Round 2

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Hawke's Bay United | 2–1 | Otago United | 8 November 2009 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |
| Canterbury United | 2–0 | Waikato FC | 8 November 2009 | English Park | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 0–1 | Auckland City FC | 14 November 2009 | Newtown Park | (Report) |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–1 | Waitakere United | 14 November 2009 | Memorial Park | (Report) |

### Round 3

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Auckland City FC | 2–1 | Waitakere United | 22 November 2009 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |
| Canterbury United | 1–1 | Hawke's Bay United | 22 November 2009 | English Park | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 0–2 | Otago United | 22 November 2009 | Newtown Park | (Report) |
| Waikato FC | 1–2 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 22 November 2009 | Centennial Park | (Report) |

### Round 4

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–0 | Canterbury United | 6 December 2009 | Memorial Park | (Report) |
| Hawke's Bay United | 0–2 | Team Wellington | 6 December 2009 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |
| Otago United | 1–2 | Waitakere United | 6 December 2009 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| Auckland City FC | 5–0 | Waikato FC | 25 October 2009 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |

### Round 5

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Waikato FC | 0–1 | Otago United | 13 December 2009 | Centennial Park | (Report) |
| Waitakere United | 2–1 | Team Wellington | 13 December 2009 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 1–0 | Hawke's Bay United | 13 December 2009 | Memorial Park | (Report) |
| Canterbury United | 1–3 | Auckland City FC | 21 March 2010 | English Park | (Report) |

### Round 6

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Auckland City FC | 1–4 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 2 April 2010 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |
| Hawke's Bay United | 2–2 | Waitakere United | 20 December 2009 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |
| Otago United | 1–3 | Canterbury United | 20 December 2009 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 2–1 | Waikato FC | 20 December 2009 | Newtown Park | (Report) |

### Round 7

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–3 | Otago United | 9 January 2010 | Memorial Park | (Report) |
| Auckland City FC | 2–1 | Hawke's Bay United | 10 January 2010 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |
| Canterbury United | 1–4 | Team Wellington | 10 January 2010 | English Park | (Report) |
| Waikato FC | 2–3 | Waitakere United | 10 January 2010 | Centennial Park | (Report) |

### Round 8

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Auckland City FC | 5–0 | Otago United | 17 January 2010 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |
| Canterbury United | 4–0 | Waitakere United | 17 January 2010 | English Park | (Report) |
| Hawke's Bay United | 3–0 | Waikato FC | 17 January 2010 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–2 | Team Wellington | 17 January 2010 | Memorial Park | (Report) |

### Round 9

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Waitakere United | 3–2 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 23 January 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |
| Otago United | 1–0 | Hawke's Bay United | 23 January 2010 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| Waikato FC | 1–0 | Canterbury United | 24 January 2010 | Centennial Park | (Report) |
| Auckland City FC | 3–1 | Team Wellington | 24 January 2010 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |

### Round 10

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Waitakere United | 1–1 | Auckland City FC | 30 January 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |
| Hawke's Bay United | 2–1 | Canterbury United | 6 March 2010 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |
| Otago United | 3–1 | Team Wellington | 31 January 2010 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 2–3 | Waikato FC | 31 January 2010 | Memorial Park | (Report) |

### Round 11

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Canterbury United | 6–0 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 7 February 2010 | English Park | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 0–1 | Hawke's Bay United | 7 February 2010 | Newtown Park | (Report) |
| Waikato FC | 1–2 | Auckland City FC | 7 February 2010 | Centennial Park | (Report) |
| Waitakere United | 4–0 | Otago United | 7 February 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |

### Round 12

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Team Wellington | 4–3 | Waitakere United | 14 February 2010 | Newtown Park | (Report) |
| Otago United | 2–2 | Waikato FC | 21 February 2010 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| Auckland City FC | 1–1 | Canterbury United | 21 February 2010 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |
| Hawke's Bay United | 2–2 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 21 February 2010 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |

### Round 13

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Waikato FC | 2–3 | Team Wellington | 28 February 2010 | Centennial Park | (Report) |
| Canterbury United | 2–0 | Otago United | 28 February 2010 | English Park | (Report) Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine |
| Waitakere United | 4–1 | Hawke's Bay United | 28 February 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 1–1 | Auckland City FC | 28 February 2010 | Memorial Park | (Report) |

### Round 14

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Otago United | 1–1 | YoungHeart Manawatu | 13 March 2010 | Carisbrook | (Report) |
| Hawke's Bay United | 1–6 | Auckland City FC | 14 March 2010 | Bluewater Stadium | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 2–1 | Canterbury United | 14 March 2010 | Porirua Park | (Report) |
| Waitakere United | 4–2 | Waikato FC | 14 March 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |

## Finals
### Semi-Finals - First leg

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Canterbury United | 1–2 | Auckland City FC | 4 April 2010 | English Park | (Report) |
| Team Wellington | 3–2 | Waitakere United | 4 April 2010 | Newtown Park | (Report) |

### Semi-Finals - Second leg

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Waitakere United | 2–1 | Team Wellington | 10 April 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |
| Auckland City FC | 0–3 | Canterbury United | 11 April 2010 | Kiwitea Street | (Report) |

### Grand Final

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Reports |
| Waitakere United | 3–1 | Canterbury United | 24 April 2010 | Fred Taylor Park | (Report) |
* 1 2 3 Match postponed due to 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
* ↑ Match postponed from 31 January 2010 due to pitch condition