Northern League (New Zealand)

Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier
Founded	1965
Country	New Zealand
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Number of teams	12
Level on pyramid	2
Relegation to	Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1
Current champions	North Shore United ; (2019)
Most championships	Bay Olympic, Takapuna AFC, Central United (4)
Website	Auckland Football Federation
	Current: 2020 NRFL Premier

The Northern Region Football League Premier, currently known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional New Zealand association football league competition that is run by the Auckland Football Federation.

The NRFL competition is played during the off-season of the country's main football competition, the New Zealand Football Championship, and includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, New Zealand from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty provinces.

History

The first four years (1965–1969)

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 September), while the ASB Premiership runs between the New Zealand spring and summer months (October to March).

Current Northern League structure

NRFL Premier (this page)
NRFL Division 1
NRFL Division 2

Current clubs

As of the 2020 season.^[1]

Team	Location	Stadium	Notes
Auckland United	Mount Roskill, Auckland	Keith Hay Park
Bay Olympic	New Lynn, Auckland	Olympic Park	2nd in 2019 NRFL Division 1; promoted
Birkenhead United	Birkenhead, Auckland	Shepherds Park
Central United	Sandringham, Auckland	Kiwitea Street
Eastern Suburbs Reserves	Kohimarama, Auckland	Madills Farm
Forrest Hill Milford	Forrest Hill, Auckland	Becroft Park	1st in 2019 NRFL Division 1; promoted
Hamilton Wanderers Reserves	Chartwell, Hamilton	Porritt Stadium
Manukau United	Māngere East, Auckland	Centre Park
Melville United	Melville, Hamilton	Gower Park
North Shore United	Devonport, Auckland	Allen Hill Stadium
Waitakere City	Whenuapai, Auckland	Fred Taylor Park
Western Springs	Westmere, Auckland	Seddon Fields

Past champions

1965 – Eastern Suburbs AFC
1966 – Eastern Suburbs AFC
1967 – Ponsonby AFC
1968 – Mount Wellington
1969 – Mount Wellington
1970 – Mt Albert
1971 – Takapuna City
1972 – Hamilton Wanderers
1973 – North Shore United
1974 – Eden
1975 – Manurewa
1976 – Hamilton Wanderers
1977 – Courier Rangers
1978 – Manurewa
1979 – Hamilton Wanderers
1980 – Takapuna City
1981 – East Coast Bays
1982 – Papatoetoe
1983 – University of Auckland
1984 – Hamilton Wanderers
1985 – Takapuna City
1986 – Mount Maunganui
1987 – AFC Waikato
1988 – Takapuna City
1989 – Mount Roskill
1990 – Mt Albert-Ponsonby
1991 – Papatoetoe

1992 – Oratia United
1993 – Ellerslie
1994 – Mount Maunganui
1995 – Melville United
1996 – Lynn-Avon United
1997 – Mount Wellington
1998 – Metro F.C.
1999 – Tauranga City
2000 – Tauranga City
2001 – North Shore United
2002 – Glenfield Rovers
2003 – Glenfield Rovers
2004 – Central United
2005 – Bay Olympic
2006 – Bay Olympic
2007 – Central United
2008 – Central United
2009 – Melville United
2010 – East Coast Bays
2011 – Bay Olympic
2012 – Bay Olympic
2013 - East Coast Bays
2014 - Glenfield Rovers
2015 – Eastern Suburbs AFC
2016 – Central United
2017 – Onehunga Sports
2018 – Onehunga Sports
2019 – North Shore United

Performance by club

Club	Location	Titles	Last Title
Bay Olympic	New Lynn	4	2011
Central United	Auckland	4	2016
Takapuna City	Takapuna	4	1988
Glenfield Rovers	Glenfield	3	2014
East Coast Bays	North Shore	3	2013
Mount Wellington	Auckland	3	1997
Hamilton Wanderers	Hamilton	3	1984
Eastern Suburbs	Kohimarama	3	2015
North Shore United	North Shore	3	2019
Melville United	Melville	2	2009
Tauranga City	Tauranga	2	2000
Mount Maunganui	Tauranga	2	1994
Papatoetoe	Papatoetoe	2	1991

Notable players

This list consists of past or present notable players that have either represented an international team, or made more than fifty appearances at a professional level in their careers.