Top club football gets underway around the country with opening games in the Northern, Central and Southern Leagues.
In the Northern and WaiBOP regions, the Lotto NRFL men’s and women’s competitions start their winter seasons.
The Wellington Phoenix men take a break during the international window but the women head to Newcastle for a must-win game if they want to avoid the women’s A-League’s wooden spoon.
And, of course, the All Whites and our U-22 national men’s squad take on China in the second of their two-match series in Wellington on Sunday.
Our previews
Click on the following links for our weekend preview stories:
READ MORE: Rule change and promoted sides add interest to new Northern League season >>>>
READ MORE: Last seasons’ top two face off in Central League opening weekend >>>>
READ MORE: Friday night showdown headlines opening round of Southern League >>>>
READ MORE: Newly-promoted Coast take on high-flying Springs in women’s season opener >>>>
READ MORE: Revamped Lotto NRFL Championship begins with new faces in the dugouts >>>>
READ MORE: Familiar feel to Northern Conference as new comp replaces second division >>>>
READ MORE: Local derby kicks off opening round of new Lotto NRFL Southern Conference >>>>
READ MORE: Floodlit games to get new-look Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship underway >>>>
Here’s your guide to a busy footballing weekend:
Fixtures
Games to be played on Friday March 24, 2023
Southern League
Ferrymead Bays v Coastal Spirit
Ferrymead Park, Christchurch, 7.15pm
Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League
Western Springs v Hibiscus Coast
Seddon Fields, Auckland, 7.30 pm
Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship
Fencibles United v Te Atatu
William Green Domain, Auckland, 7.30 pm
Manukau United v Franklin United
Mangere Centre Park, Auckland, 7.30 pm
Games to be played on Saturday March 25, 2023
Women’s A-League
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle, 5pm (NZT)
Northern League
Auckland City v Western Springs
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham, 3pm
Auckland United v Takapuna
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill, 3pm
Bay Olympic v Manukau United
Olympic Park, New Lynn, 6pm
Melville United v Eastern Suburbs
Gower Park, Hamilton, 3pm
West Coast Rangers v Hamilton Wanderers
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, 3pm
Central League
Stop Out v Napier City Rovers
Hutt Park, Lower Hutt, 2.30pm
Whanganui Athletic v Petone
Wembley Park, Whanganui, 2.30pm
Wellington Phoenix Reserves v Waterside Karori
Fraser Park (Turf), Lower Hutt, 3pm
North Wellington v Western Suburbs
Alex Moore Artificial, Wellington, 3pm
Wellington Olympic v Miramar Rangers
Wakefield Park, Wellington, 3.45pm
Southern League
Selwyn United v Nelson Suburbs
Foster Park, Christchurch, 11.30am
Dunedin City Royals v Nomads United
Football Turf, Dunedin, 12pm
Christchurch United v Green Island
United Sports Centre, Christchurch, 1.30pm
FC Twenty 11 v Cashmere Technical
Avonhead Park, Christchurch, 2.45pm
Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League
West Coast Rangers v Hamilton Wanderers
Fred Taylor Park, Auckland, 12.30 pm
Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship
Ellerslie v Waiheke United
Michaels Ave, Ellerslie, 3pm
Fencibles United v Metro
Riverhills Park, Pakuranga, 3pm
East Coast Bays v Ngaruawahia United
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, 3pm
Tauranga City v Hibiscus Coast
Ocean Downs, Mt Maunganui, 3pm
North Shore United v Mt Albert Ponsonby
Allen Hill Stadium, Devonport, 3pm
Northern Rovers v Onehunga Mangere United
McFetridge Park, Glenfield, 3pm
Lotto NRFL Northern Conference
Albany United v Waitemata
Ngahue Reserve, 3pm
Oratia United v West Auckland
Crum Park, Auckland, 3pm
Franklin United v Beachlands Maraetai
Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe, 3pm
Bucklands Beach v Northland
MacLeans College, Bucklands Beach, 3pm
Lotto NRFL Southern Conference
Cambridge v Claudelands Rovers
John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge 2pm
Taupo v Papamoa
Crown Park, Taupo, 3pm
Te Awamutu v Otumoetai
The Stadium, Te Awamutu, 3pm
Waikato Unicol v Ngongotaha Lakes
Jansen Park, Hamilton, 3pm
Games to be played on Sunday March 26, 2023
International games
New Zealand U-22 v China PR
Sky Stadium, Wellington, 12.30pm (NZT)
All Whites v China PR
Sky Stadium, Wellington, 4pm (NZT)
Northern League
Birkenhead United v Manurewa
McFetridge Park, Glenfield, 3pm
Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League
Eastern Suburbs v Auckland United
Ngahue Reserve, Auckland, 1 pm
Ellerslie v Northern Rovers
Michael’s Ave Reserve, Auckland, 3 pm
Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship
Otumoetai v Onehunga Sports
Fergusson Park, Tauranga, 1 pm
Tauranga City v Central United
Links Ave Reserve, Tauranga, 1 pm
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