Six games over two weekends will decide the composition of next year’s men’s Central League and its new second-tier competition.
Palmerston North United and Upper Hutt City will play off to decide who replaces relegated Stop Out in the 2025 Central League.
The Manawatu side qualified for the two-legged promotion play-off by winning the Central Federation League title, finishing ahead of local rivals Palmerston North Marist.
Upper Hutt go into the home and away promotion series as the highest-placed club eligible for promotion from the Capital Premier League, which was won by Wellington Olympic ahead of Miramar Rangers.
While the play-offs winner will automatically go into the 2025 Central League, the losers will earn entry to the newly-created Central League 2 competition due to start next season.
How Central League 2 will work
The inaugural competition will have 10 club first teams.
They will be:
- The team relegated from the 2024 men’s Central League (Stop Out).
- The three highest-placed eligible teams from the Men’s Capital Premier League, and the Central Men’s Federation League, but excluding the team that qualifies for promotion to the Central League.
- Four teams determined by play-offs between the next four highest-placed sides from the federation leagues.
READ MORE: Federations confirm men’s Central League 2 will go ahead next season >>>>
Palmerston North Marist and Western, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Central Federation League, have automatically qualified for Central League 2.
Lower Hutt City and Tawa, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Capital Premier League are the highest-ranking eligible teams from that division, other than Upper Hutt City.
The remaining four places in Central League 2 will be decided from a day of play-off matches at Massey University, to kick off simultaneously at 2pm on Saturday September 14.
Those ties will be known after Gisborne Thistle and Havelock North Wanderers play the last game in the Central Federation League.
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday September 7, 2024
Central League
Promotion play-off, first leg
Palmerston North United v Upper Hutt City
Memorial Park, Palmerston North, 2.45pm
Central Federation League
Gisborne Thistle v Havelock North Wanderers
Childers Rd, Gisborne, 2.45pm
Games to be played on Saturday September 14, 2024
Central League
Promotion play-off, second leg
Upper Hutt City v Palmerston North United
Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, 2.30pm
Central League 2 play-offs
Taradale or Havelock North Wanderers v Victoria University
Massey University pitch #8, Palmerston North, 2pm
Taradale or Havelock North Wanderers v Douglas Villa
Massey University pitch #9, Palmerston North, 2pm
Te Kotahitanga v Gisborne Thistle or New Plymouth Rangers
Massey University pitch #10, Palmerston North, 2pm
Seatoun v Gisborne Thistle or New Plymouth Rangers
Massey University pitch #11, Palmerston North, 2pm
This story was first published on September 6, 2024.
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