Central League (New Zealand)

The Central League is an amateur status league run by Capital Football for association football clubs located in the southern and central parts of the North Island. It is a New Zealand top-tier competition during the winter season, and sits at step two overall under the summer National League.

League history
The premier league was initially set up as one of the three feeder leagues to the New Zealand National Soccer League in 1992, and continued in this form until being disbanded at the end of the 1999 season. The league was reinstated in 2005 as the top club league for the central region of New Zealand football, and the current strength of the league is demonstrated by it providing the past Chatham Cup winners in 2009 (Wellington Olympic), 2010 (Miramar Rangers), 2011 (Wairarapa United) and 2015 (Napier City Rovers).

Renaming and restructuring of leagues in the country
In March 2021, New Zealand Football announced a change to the structure of both the premiership and the top regional leagues around the country. The four top regional leagues (NRFL Premier, Central Premier League, Mainland Premier League and the FootballSouth Premier League) would be formed into the Northern League, Central League, and the Southern League. These leagues would allow local clubs to qualify for the premiership season (now known as the National League Championship), with the top 4 teams from the Northern League, the top 3 teams from the Central League, and the top 2 teams from the Southern League making up the competition, alongside the Wellington Phoenix Reserve side. All teams that qualify plus the Phoenix Reserves, would then play a single round-robin competition between September and December.

League format
The league currently comprises 10 teams, who play each other twice in the season on a home-and-away basis. At the conclusion of the season the winner are crowned champions and with the next two sides proceed to the National League. The bottom side is relegated automatically to their regional league (either Capital Premier or the Federation League), with the top eligible sides from each of those leagues playing a two-legged playoff for promotion.

Current clubs
As of the 2024 season. Wellington Olympic, Wellington Phoenix Reserves, Napier City Rovers and Petone qualified for the 2023 New Zealand National League.

2022 Season
As of the 2022 season. Wairarapa United was entered as one of the originally 10 teams to play the 2022 season but withdrew with just two weeks to go before the start of the season. They were replaced by Wellington United who had originally missed out on promotion to Havelock North Wanderers.

Top scorers
The following list is from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021, the Central League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League.

Records
The following records are from the 2021 season onwards after New Zealand Football changed the football league system in New Zealand. From 2021, the Central League has acted as a qualifier league to the National League. The records are up to date as of the end of the 2023 season.
 * Most wins in a season: 15 – Wellington Olympic (2021 & 2023)
 * Fewest defeats in a season: 1 – Wellington Olympic (2021 & 2022)
 * Most goals scored in a season: 79 – Wellington Olympic (2023)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season: 15 –Wellington Olympic (2022)
 * Most points in a season: 47 – Wellington Olympic (2021)
 * Fewest points in a season: 4 – Wainuiomata (2021)
 * Highest goal difference: 56 – Wellington Olympic (2022)
 * Biggest home win: – Lower Hutt City 12–1 Wainuiomata (26 June 2021)
 * Biggest away win: – Western Suburbs FC 1 - 11 Wellington Olympic (14 August 2022)
 * Highest scoring match: 13 goals – Lower Hutt City 12–1 Wainuiomata (26 June 2021)
 * Biggest title-winning margin: – 9 points, 2023, Wellington Olympic (46 points) over Wellington Phoenix Reserves (37 points)
 * Smallest title-winning margin: – 5 points
 * 2021, Wellington Olympic (47 points) over Miramar Rangers (42 points)
 * 2022, Wellington Olympic (45 points) over Miramar Rangers (40 points)

Past Champions
Source:
 * 1992 – Wanganui East Athletic
 * 1993 – Manawatu
 * 1994 – Tawa
 * 1995 – Wainuiomata
 * 1996 – Western Suburbs
 * 1997 – Miramar Rangers
 * 1998 – Western Suburbs
 * 1999 – Island Bay United
 * 2000–2004 – no competition
 * 2005 – Western Suburbs
 * 2006 – Miramar Rangers
 * 2007 – Western Suburbs
 * 2008 – Miramar Rangers
 * 2009 – Western Suburbs
 * 2010 – Wellington Olympic
 * 2011 – Miramar Rangers
 * 2012 – Napier City Rovers
 * 2013 – Miramar Rangers
 * 2014 – Miramar Rangers
 * 2015 – Napier City Rovers
 * 2016 – Wellington Olympic
 * 2017 – Western Suburbs
 * 2018 – Napier City Rovers
 * 2019 – Western Suburbs
 * 2020 – Miramar Rangers
 * 2021 – Wellington Olympic
 * 2022 – Wellington Olympic
 * 2023 – Wellington Olympic