2024 Mainland Football Leagues
The 2024 Mainland Football Leagues was the 25th season of football in the Mainland Football federation. There are four main men's leagues and four main women's leagues. The main men's leagues are Southern League, Canterbury Premiership League, Nelson Bays Premiership League, and Canterbury Championship League, respectively tier 2, 3, 3 and 4 among New Zealand men's league system. The main women's leagues are [Women's Women's South Island League (New Zealand)|South Island League (New Zealand)|South Island League], Canterbury Women's Premiership League, Nelson Bays Women's Premiership League, and Canterbury Women's Championship League, respectively tier 2, 3, 3 and 4 among New Zealand women's league system.
Along with the main football leagues, there are two main regional knockout cups and a charity cup. The main knockout cups are English Cup for men's teams and Reta Fitzpatrick Cup for women's teams. The charity cup is the [|Whero Cup] for Canterbury Premiership League's reserve teams, Canterbury Championship League and Senior Men's Divisions 1 & 2 teams.
All four of the Canterbury Premiership and Championship leagues are sponsored by New World, while both the Nelson Bays Men's and Women's Premiership leagues are sponsored by Nelson Pines.
Men's competitions
National League
The 2024 National League was the 3rd season of the league. Ten teams competed in the league – the six teams from the previous season that qualified and four new team that qualified for league. The four qualified teams are Birkenhead United, Coastal Spirit, Western Springs and Western Suburbs. This is Coastal Spirit, Western Springs and Western Suburbs' first season in the National League and Birkenhead United's second season. They replaced, after failing to qualify, Auckland United and Christchurch United after two seasons, Manurewa and Petone after their fist season.The Mainland Football teams in the National League are Southern League winners Cashmere Technical and runners-up Coastal Spirit. This is Cashmere Technical's third season competing in the National League Championship, while this is Coastal's first season in the league. Failing to achieve a top two placement, Christchurch United is the only other South Island team that has competed in the National League, this is their first season not qualifying for it having competed in the previous two seasons.
Southern League
The 2024 Southern League was the 3rd season of a full 10 team league, 4th season all total. Ten teams competed in the league – the nine teams from the previous season and the winner of the Southern League play-offs also being the 2023 Canterbury Premiership League champions. The promoted team is University of Canterbury, after winning 5–3 win on aggregate against FC Nelson, then drawing 2–2 on aggregate against Roslyn-Wakari, with University of Canterbury won 6–5 on penalties. This is University of Canterbury's first season in the Southern League, they replaced Green Island after withdrawing at the end of the previous season, they spent three seasons in the league with their highest finish being 8th on all three occasions.The Southern League sits above the Canterbury Premiership and Nelson Bays Premiership and is also overseen by Mainland Football and Southern Football, despite being run by New Zealand Football as part of the New Zealand National League.
Southern League play-off series
The final of the Southern League play-off series was a two-legged match that take place between the Mainland Football nominated club and Southern Football nominated club. Mainland Football will also have a two-legged play-off match between Nelson Bays Premiership League nominated club and Canterbury Premiership League nominated club. FC Nelson came third in the [|2024 Nelson Bays Men's Premiership League], with the champions, Rangers, declining to participate and second-placed Nelson Suburbs Reserves ineligible to participate. Waimakariri United came first in the [|2024 Canterbury Men's Premiership League]. The winner of this play-off will face the Southern Football nominated club, Wānaka. Wānaka came second in the 2024 Southern Premiership League, with champions Mosgiel, declining to participate for the second year in a row. None of the clubs in the play-off series have previously participated in the Southern League with FC Nelson the only to have reached the Mainland Football Playoff Series play-off stage, losing to University of Canterbury in the 2023 play-off series.;Overview
;Matches – Mainland Football Playoff Series
;Matches – Southern League Playoff Series
Hurley Shield
The Hurley Shield is a Challenge Shield, where only teams from Christchurch challenge for the shield. It is only up for challenge when the current holders plays a league home game, cups competitions are not challenge games. The challenging team need to win against the current holders in order for the shield to change hands; if the match is a draw, the current holders retain the shield.The Hurley Shield current holders are Christchurch United, who defeated Coastal Spirit 0–1 in round 15 to claim the shield for the first time since July 2012. They have defended the shield twice, once against Selwyn United and once against rivals Cashmere Technical. Christchurch United have locked the shield up for the rest of the season, as there they have no more games left in the season.
Coastal Spirit before they lost the shield, they had defended it six times and were on a club record 22 games unbeaten in all competitions - Chatham Cup, English Cup and Southern League. Coastal's successful defenses were; twice was against Selwyn United, once against previous holders and local rivals Cashmere Technical, once against local estuary rivals Ferrymead Bays, once against University of Canterbury and once against Nomads United.
Hurley Shield Matches
;Match 1;Match 2
;Match 3
;Match 4
;Match 5
;Match 6
;Match 7
;Match 8
[|Canterbury Men's Premiership League]
The 2024 Canterbury [|Men's Premiership League] was the 3rd season of premiership football, since the restructure of the leagues. The League started on 6 April and finished on 31 August, with the competition being a double round robin. Each team can field a maximum of five foreign players as well as one additional foreign player who has Oceania Football Confederation nationality. Temporary Dismissals will be in use for when a player commits a cautionable offence that is relevant to dissent and the length of the dismissal is 10 minutes starting from when play restarts.At the end of season, the highest ranked team will be nominated to play in a Mainland Football Federation Playoff, two-leg home and away series, against the highest ranked nominated team from [|Nelson Bays Men's Premiership]. This is to get the team that will compete against the highest ranked nominated team from Southern Premiership League in the Southern League Playoff, two-leg home and away series. The winner of Southern League Playoff will be promoted to Southern League, assuming they will have the correct club licensing before the season starts.
Between Round 8 and 10, Christchurch United U20 Reserves results against Nomads United Reserves and Selwyn United U20 Reserves both got over turned to a 3–0 loss from 3–1 and 4–0 wins respectively, after fielding an ineligible player. Cashmere Technical Reserves also fielded an ineligible player in two game, a 2–0 win over Parklands United and a 4–1 win over Burwood overturned to a 3–0 loss. As well as Ferrymead Bays U20 Reserves, they fielded an ineligible player in a 2-1 win over Selwyn United U20 Reserves, which also got overturned to a 3–0 loss.
Men's Premiership teams and personnel
Ten teams competed in the league – seven teams from the previous season, three teams promoted from the [|Canterbury Men's Championship League]. The promoted teams are in order from 1st to 3rd: Christchurch United U20 Academy, Selwyn United Reserves, Ferrymead Bays Reserves. University of Canterbury were promoted to Southern League, while Cashmere Technical U20 Reserves and Nomads United U20 Reserves are now in Canterbury Men's Championship League being replaced by Cashmere Technical Reserves and Nomads United Reserves.| Team | Location | Home ground | Manager | Captain | 2023 season | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burwood AFC | Burwood | Clare Park | Darren Clements | Jamie Auld | 6th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cashmere Technical Reserves | Woolston | Garrick Memorial Park | Adam Keizer | Ewan Hyndman | 2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christchurch United U20 Reserves | Spreydon | United Sports Centre |  Men's Premiership Managerial changesMen's Premiership table
Men's Premiership scoringMen's Premiership top scorersMen's Premiership hat-tricksMen's Premiership own goalsCanterbury Men's Championship LeagueThe 2024 Canterbury Men's Champions League was the 8th season of championship football, 2nd since the restructure of the leagues. The League started on 6 April and finished on 17 August, with league format being a double round robin. Each team has two byes, one in each round.Temporary Dismissals will be in use, when an official referee has been appointed, for when a player commits a cautionable offence that is relevant to dissent and the length of the dismissal is 10 minutes starting from when play restarts. For when an official referee hasn't been appointed, they will be known as Sin Bins. A sin bin is the same as a temporary dismissals, but another player is allowed to be subbed on to bring the team back to 11 players. After 10 minutes, the player is allowed to be used again. The competition allows for each team to have a match day squad of 18 players, 11 starting and 7 substitutes. It also allows for each team to make unlimited substitutions from the 7 substitutes. On 2 May, Nomads United U20 Reserves were withdrawn from the competition after failing to field a team three times in a row, one being a game postponement against University of Canterbury 3rd and the other two being defaults against Selwyn United Turkeys and Coastal Spirit U20 Reserves. All wins and game results against Nomads United U20 Reserves have been voided, even Nomads only game against Cashmere Technical U20 Reserves, 0–8 win for Cashmere Technical. Men's Championship teams and personnelTen teams competed in the league – seven teams from the previous season, one team promoted from the Canterbury Men's Division 1 and two teams added/relegated from Canterbury Men's Premiership League. The promoted team is Selwyn United Turkeys, last season known as Selwyn United Roosters. The two teams added/relegated are Cashmere Technical U20 Reserves and Nomads United U20 Reserves. Christchurch United U20 Academy, Selwyn United Reserves, Ferrymead Bays Reserves were all promoted to [|Canterbury Men's Premiership] League, while there were no teams relegated.
Men's Championship Managerial changesMen's Championship scoringMen's Championship hat-tricksMen's Championship own goalsNelson Bays Men's Premiership LeagueThe League started on 13 April and finished on 24 August, with the competition being a double round robin.At the end of season, the highest ranked team will be nominated to play in a Mainland Football Federation Playoff, two-leg home and away series, against the highest ranked nominated team from Canterbury Men's Premiership. This is to get the team that will compete against the highest ranked nominated team from Southern Premiership League in the Southern League Playoff, two-leg home and away series. The winner of Southern League Playoff will be promoted to Southern League, assuming they will have the correct club licensing before the season starts. Nelson Men's Premiership teams and personnelEight teams competed in the league – six teams from the previous season and two from Division 2. The promoted teams are in order from 1st to 2nd: FC Nelson Karenni and Golden Bay. The two team that FC Nelson Karenni and Golden Bay replaced are FC Nelson Locomotive and Nelson Suburbs Seals.
Women's qualifying competitionsSouth Island Qualifying LeagueThe 2024 South Island Qualifying League was to determine the top three teams in Mainland's federation, with the fourth-placed team playing in a playoff against the third-placed team in Southern Qualifying, who go on to play the top two teams from Southern Football. The bottom teams will play in the Canterbury Women's Premiership, starting after this league finishes. They will be joined by the top teams from the Canterbury Women's Premiership Qualifying League.Seven team competed in the leagues - five teams from the previous season, one new combined team and one reverted combined team. The new combined team is Nomads-Waimakariri United, NW United for short. They are competing in the league, replacing FC Nomads United. Nomads-Waimakariri United are a combined team of Nomads United and Waimakariri United, replacing the combined Nomads United/FC Twenty 11 team from the previous season. Halswell United are competing as a single club, rather than as the previously combined team of Halswell United and Christchurch United. Canterbury Women's Premiership Qualifying LeagueEach team plays each other once, then the league splits into two groups with each team playing another 3 game, with each team playing 10 games. The top 2/3 teams qualifies for the Canterbury Women's Premiership, which played against the bottom 3/4 teams of the South Island Qualifying League.Women's Premiership Qualifying teamsEight teams are competing in the league.
Women's Premiership Qualifying results tableMatches 1-7Team play each other once, either home or away.Matches 8-10After seven matches, the league splits into two sections, with the teams playing every other team in their section once. The exact matches are determined by the position of the teams in the league table at the time of the split.;Top Four ;Bottom Four Canterbury Women's Championship Qualifying LeagueEach team plays each other once; then the league splits into two groups with each team playing another 2/3 games, with each team playing 8/9 games.Women's Championship Qualifying teamsSeven teams are competing in the league.
Women's Championship Qualifying results tableMatches 8-10After six matches, the league splits into two sections, with the teams playing every other team in their section once. The exact matches are determined by the position of the teams in the league table at the time of the split.;Top Four ;Bottom Four Women's competitionsWomen's National LeagueThe 2024 Women's National League was the 4th season of the new structure, 21st season in total. Ten teams competed in the league – the nine teams from the previous season that qualified and one new team that qualified for league. The new team that qualified West Coast Rangers. This is West Coast Rangers first season in the National League. They replaced, after failing to qualify, Ellerslie after their fist season.There are no Mainland Football club teams in the National League, but there is a federation side, Canterbury United Pride. This is the Pride's twenty-first season competing in the National League. South Island LeagueThe 2024 South Island League was the 2nd season of the league, 3rd season in total. Six teams competed in the league - five teams from the previous edition of the league and one new team. The new team is Roslyn-Wakari who qualified after winning the play-off against the team they replaced, University of Canterbury.The South Island League sits above the Canterbury Women's Premiership League and Southern Women's Premier League and is also overseen by Mainland Football and Southern Football, despite being run by New Zealand Football as part of the New Zealand Women's National League. The league started on 22 June and finished on 8 September. Hawkey ShieldThe Hawkey Shield is a Challenge Shield, where only teams from Christchurch challenge for the shield. It is only up for challenge when the current holders plays a league home game, cups competitions are not challenge games. The challenging team need to win against the current holders in order for the shield to change hands; if the match is a draw, the current holders retain the shield.The Hawkey Shield current holders are Coastal Spirit, who have defended it for seven years in a row. They have defended it against Selwyn United, Halswell United and local rivals Cashmere Technical. Coastal have defended the shield for the eighth year in a row, since winning it back in 2017. Hawkey Shield Matches;Match 1;Match 2 ;Match 3 Canterbury Women's Premiership LeagueEach team plays each other once; then the league splits into two groups with each team playing another three games, with each team playing 10 games. The top four teams from the Canterbury Women's Premiership Qualifying and the bottom four teams from the South Island Qualifying League are the eight teams.Canterbury Women's Premiership teamsEight teams are competing in the league.
Women's Premiership results tableMatches 1-7Team play each other once, either home or away.Matches 8-10After seven matches, the league splits into two sections, with the teams playing every other team in their section once.;Top Four ;Bottom Four Canterbury Women's Championship LeagueEach team plays each other twice, home and away; the top three teams from the Canterbury Women's Championship Qualifying and three teams from the Canterbury Women's Premiership Qualifying.Canterbury Women's Championship teamsSix teams are competing in the league.
Nelson Bays Women's Premiership LeagueNelson Women's Premiership teams and personnelEight teams are competing in the league.
Cup competitionsEnglish CupThe 2024 English Cup was the 111th edition, the 104th time the trophy has been played for, of the English Cup.English Cup FinalThis was the fourth of five meetings this year between Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit, with the next meeting coming in the National League. Coastal Spirit have won the last two meeting, once in the Chatham Cup winning 3–1 at Linfield Park, and once in the Southern League winning 2–0 at Garrick Memorial Park. The other result this year was a 4–4 draw in the 3rd round of the Southern League. This is the second time that the two sides have meet in the English Cup Final with Cashmere Technical winning 3–2 in extra time in the 2018 final. This is also Cashmere Technical's 8th English Cup Final in a row.Reta Fitzpatrick CupThe 2024 Reta Fitzpatrick Cup is the 50th edition, the 46th time the trophy has been played for, of the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup.Whero CupThe 2024 Whero Cup is a Charity cup competition for all teams in Canterbury Men's Championship League, Senior Men's Division 1 & 2 and Reserve teams in Men's Premiership League. This is the 2nd edition of the Whero Cup.In 2023, the Whero Cup helped raise awareness and support for Ronald McDonald House South Island. This season, the cup will again help raise awareness and support for . On 1 May 2024, Mainland Football released the draw for [|Round 2]. One notable difference was that Coastal Spirit U20 Reserves were drawn out from the cup, while the team that bet them, Nomads United U20 Reserves, were not drawn out. The day later, it was reveled that Nomads United U20 Reserves were withdrawn from all competitions, Whero Cup and Canterbury Championship. Mainland Football 2024 Awards
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