Western Premiership (football)
| Founded | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Number of clubs | 11 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | Central League 2 |
| Relegation to | ● Taranaki Championship ● Manawatū Championship |
| Current champions | Whanganui Athletic (1st title) (2025) |
| Most championships | Whanganui Athletic (1 title) |
| Website | www.centralfootball.co.nz/ |
The Western Premiership is an amateur status league run by Central Football for association football clubs located in the central mid-west regions of the North Island of New Zealand.
The league is composed of clubs from the Manawatū–Whanganui and Taranaki regions.
The Western Premiership is a New Zealand tier four competition, and below the Central League 2.[1]
League format
The league currently comprises 11 teams, who each play a single round of competition before being divided by points accrued and placed into "Top 6" and "Bottom 5" sub-divisions.
The teams in each sub-division play each other in a single round.
At the conclusion of the Western Premiership competition the winners of the "Top 6" sub-division are crowned champions.
The champions of the Western Premiership then play a two-legged tie with the Eastern Premiership champion.
The winner of the Western and Eastern Premierships play–off, then play a two-legged tie against the Capital Premier League champions to decide which club is promoted to Central League 2.
The team in last place of the "bottom 5" sub–division of the Western Premiership is relegated automatically to either the Manawatū or Taranaki Championships. The relegated club is replaced by the highest ranking side from either local championship.
Current clubs
As of the 2025 season.
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2025 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feilding United | Timona Park | Feilding, Manawatū-Whanganui | 10th |
| Levin | Donnelly Park | Levin, Horowhenua District | 2nd |
| Moturoa | Onuku Taipari Domain | Spotswood, New Plymouth | 6th |
| New Plymouth Boys' High School 1st XI | Gully Turf | New Plymouth City | 4th |
| New Plymouth Rangers | Merrilands Domain | Merrilands, New Plymouth | 7th |
| Palmerston North Marist ² | Arena Manawatu | Palmerston North | 9th |
| Palmerston North United ² | Memorial Park | Palmerston North | 5th |
| Takaro | Skoglund Park | Takaro, Palmerston North | 8th |
| Wanganui City | Wembley Park | Whanganui | 11th |
| Western ² | Lynmouth Park | Lynmouth, New Plymouth | 3rd |
| Whanganui Athletic | Wembley Park | Whanganui | 1st |
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 United²
- 2012 - Napier City Rovers FC²
- 2013 - Havelock North Wanderers AFC
- 2014 - Gisborne United AFC
- 2015 - Hāwera FC
- 2016 - Napier City Rovers FC²
- 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 Athletic²
- 2024 - Taradale AFC
- 2025 - Napier City Rovers FC²
*(2) denotes club's second team
References
- ^ Brown, Fin Ocheduszko. "'I'd have bit your hand off': Athletic coach thrilled with title win". NZ Herald.