Northern League (New Zealand)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:58:59 PM Wikipedia source
The Northern League, known as the Dettol Northern League for sponsorship reasons, is an amateur New Zealand association football competition. It is a top-tier competition during the winter season, and sits at step two after then. The Northern League includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. The competition was known as the NRFL Premier until 2021, when New Zealand's football league system was restructured. Clubs compete each season to qualify for the New Zealand National League.
Infobox
Founded
1965
Country
New Zealand
Confederation
OFC (Oceania)
Number of clubs
12
Level on pyramid
2
Feeder to
National League
Relegation to
NRFL Championship
Current champions
Western Springs (1st title) (2025)
Most championships
Auckland CityBay OlympicTakapunaCentral United (4 titles)
Most appearances
Derek Tieku (105)
Top scorer
Derek Tieku (61)
Broadcaster(s)
FIFA (selected matches)
Website
Northern Region Football
Tables
Auckland City dominance · History › National League (2021–)
2021
2021
Season
2021
Champions
Auckland City
Runners-up
Auckland United
2022
2022
Season
2022
Champions
Auckland City
Runners-up
Birkenhead United
2023
2023
Season
2023
Champions
Auckland City
Runners-up
Eastern Suburbs
2024
2024
Season
2024
Champions
Auckland City
Runners-up
Western Springs
2025
2025
Season
2025
Champions
Western Springs
Runners-up
Birkenhead United
mw- .mw- .mw- Oceania Double winners Quadruple winners
mw- .mw- .mw- Oceania Double winners Quadruple winners
Season
mw- .mw- .mw- Oceania Double winners Quadruple winners
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
| 2021 | Auckland City | Auckland United |
| 2022 | Auckland City | Birkenhead United |
| 2023 | Auckland City | Eastern Suburbs |
| 2024 | Auckland City | Western Springs |
| 2025 | Western Springs | Birkenhead United |
| mw- .mw- Oceania Double winners Quadruple winners | ||
· Current clubs
Auckland City
Auckland City
Team
Auckland City
Location
Sandringham, Auckland
Home ground
Kiwitea Street
2024 season
1st
Auckland FC Reserves
Auckland FC Reserves
Team
Auckland FC Reserves
Location
Whenuapai, Auckland
Home ground
Fred Taylor Park
2024 season
New entry
Auckland United
Auckland United
Team
Auckland United
Location
Mount Roskill, Auckland
Home ground
Keith Hay Park
2024 season
5th
Bay Olympic
Bay Olympic
Team
Bay Olympic
Location
New Lynn, Auckland
Home ground
Olympic Park
2024 season
6th
Birkenhead United
Birkenhead United
Team
Birkenhead United
Location
Beach Haven, Auckland
Home ground
Shepherds Park
2024 season
4th
East Coast Bays
East Coast Bays
Team
East Coast Bays
Location
Northcross, Auckland
Home ground
Bay City Park
2024 season
9th
Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs
Team
Eastern Suburbs
Location
Kohimarama, Auckland
Home ground
Madills Farm
2024 season
3rd
Fencibles United
Fencibles United
Team
Fencibles United
Location
Pakuranga, Auckland
Home ground
Riverhills Domain
2024 season
1st in Championship (promoted)
Manurewa
Manurewa
Team
Manurewa
Location
Manurewa, Auckland
Home ground
Memorial Park
2024 season
10th
Tauranga City
Tauranga City
Team
Tauranga City
Location
Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
Home ground
Links Avenue
2024 season
7th
West Coast Rangers
West Coast Rangers
Team
West Coast Rangers
Location
Whenuapai, Auckland
Home ground
Fred Taylor Park
2024 season
8th
Western Springs
Western Springs
Team
Western Springs
Location
Westmere, Auckland
Home ground
Seddon Fields
2024 season
2nd
| Team | Location | Home ground | 2024 season |
| Auckland City | Sandringham, Auckland | Kiwitea Street | 1st |
| Auckland FC Reserves | Whenuapai, Auckland | Fred Taylor Park | New entry |
| Auckland United | Mount Roskill, Auckland | Keith Hay Park | 5th |
| Bay Olympic | New Lynn, Auckland | Olympic Park | 6th |
| Birkenhead United | Beach Haven, Auckland | Shepherds Park | 4th |
| East Coast Bays | Northcross, Auckland | Bay City Park | 9th |
| Eastern Suburbs | Kohimarama, Auckland | Madills Farm | 3rd |
| Fencibles United | Pakuranga, Auckland | Riverhills Domain | 1st in Championship (promoted) |
| Manurewa | Manurewa, Auckland | Memorial Park | 10th |
| Tauranga City | Mount Maunganui, Tauranga | Links Avenue | 7th |
| West Coast Rangers | Whenuapai, Auckland | Fred Taylor Park | 8th |
| Western Springs | Westmere, Auckland | Seddon Fields | 2nd |
· Performance by club
Takapuna City
Takapuna City
Club
Takapuna City
Location
Takapuna
Titles
4
Last title
1988
Bay Olympic
Bay Olympic
Club
Bay Olympic
Location
New Lynn
Titles
4
Last title
2011
Central United
Central United
Club
Central United
Location
Auckland
Titles
4
Last title
2016
Auckland City
Auckland City
Club
Auckland City
Location
Sandringham
Titles
4
Last title
2024
Hamilton Wanderers
Hamilton Wanderers
Club
Hamilton Wanderers
Location
Hamilton
Titles
3
Last title
1984
Mount Wellington
Mount Wellington
Club
Mount Wellington
Location
Auckland
Titles
3
Last title
1997
East Coast Bays
East Coast Bays
Club
East Coast Bays
Location
North Shore
Titles
3
Last title
2013
Glenfield Rovers
Glenfield Rovers
Club
Glenfield Rovers
Location
Glenfield
Titles
3
Last title
2014
Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs
Club
Eastern Suburbs
Location
Kohimarama
Titles
3
Last title
2015
North Shore United
North Shore United
Club
North Shore United
Location
North Shore
Titles
3
Last title
2019
Papatoetoe
Papatoetoe
Club
Papatoetoe
Location
Papatoetoe
Titles
2
Last title
1991
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui
Club
Mount Maunganui
Location
Tauranga
Titles
2
Last title
1994
Tauranga City
Tauranga City
Club
Tauranga City
Location
Tauranga
Titles
2
Last title
2000
Melville United
Melville United
Club
Melville United
Location
Melville
Titles
2
Last title
2009
| Club | Location | Titles | Last title |
| Takapuna City | Takapuna | 4 | 1988 |
| Bay Olympic | New Lynn | 4 | 2011 |
| Central United | Auckland | 4 | 2016 |
| Auckland City | Sandringham | 4 | 2024 |
| Hamilton Wanderers | Hamilton | 3 | 1984 |
| Mount Wellington | Auckland | 3 | 1997 |
| East Coast Bays | North Shore | 3 | 2013 |
| Glenfield Rovers | Glenfield | 3 | 2014 |
| Eastern Suburbs | Kohimarama | 3 | 2015 |
| North Shore United | North Shore | 3 | 2019 |
| Papatoetoe | Papatoetoe | 2 | 1991 |
| Mount Maunganui | Tauranga | 2 | 1994 |
| Tauranga City | Tauranga | 2 | 2000 |
| Melville United | Melville | 2 | 2009 |
· Top scorers
2021
2021
Season
2021
Top scorer(s)
Alex Greive
Club(s)
Birkenhead United
Goals
19
2022
2022
Season
2022
Top scorer(s)
Derek Tieku
Club(s)
Hamilton Wanderers
Goals
17
2023
2023
Season
2023
Top scorer(s)
Ryan de Vries Derek Tieku
Club(s)
Auckland CityHamilton Wanderers
Goals
19
2024
2024
Season
2024
Top scorer(s)
Jake Mechell
Club(s)
Eastern Suburbs
Goals
19
2025
2025
Season
2025
Top scorer(s)
Michael Suski Emiliano Tade Morgan Wellsbury
Club(s)
Birkenhead UnitedAuckland UnitedTauranga City
Goals
14
| Season | Top scorer(s) | Club(s) | Goals |
| 2021 | Alex Greive | Birkenhead United | 19 |
| 2022 | Derek Tieku | Hamilton Wanderers | 17 |
| 2023 | Ryan de Vries Derek Tieku | Auckland CityHamilton Wanderers | 19 |
| 2024 | Jake Mechell | Eastern Suburbs | 19 |
| 2025 | Michael Suski Emiliano Tade Morgan Wellsbury | Birkenhead UnitedAuckland UnitedTauranga City | 14 |
· Records › Appearances
1
1
Rank
1
Player
Derek Tieku
Years
2021–2025
Apps
105
2
2
Rank
2
Player
Shuiab Khan
Years
2021–2025
Apps
101
3
3
Rank
3
Player
Reid Drake
Years
2021–2025
Apps
96
Ross Haviland
Ross Haviland
Rank
Ross Haviland
Player
2021–2025
5
5
Rank
5
Player
Callum McNeill
Years
2021–2025
Apps
95
Leon Van Den Hoven
Leon Van Den Hoven
Rank
Leon Van Den Hoven
Player
2021–2025
7
7
Rank
7
Player
Nicholas Milicich
Years
2021–2025
Apps
91
8
8
Rank
8
Player
Dino Botica
Years
2021–2025
Apps
90
Sam Burfoot
Sam Burfoot
Rank
Sam Burfoot
Player
2021–2025
10
10
Rank
10
Player
Kelvin Kalua
Years
2021–2025
Apps
89
As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in Northern League.
As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in Northern League.
Rank
As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in Northern League.
| Rank | Player | Years | Apps |
| 1 | Derek Tieku | 2021–2025 | 105 |
| 2 | Shuiab Khan | 2021–2025 | 101 |
| 3 | Reid Drake | 2021–2025 | 96 |
| Ross Haviland | 2021–2025 | ||
| 5 | Callum McNeill | 2021–2025 | 95 |
| Leon Van Den Hoven | 2021–2025 | ||
| 7 | Nicholas Milicich | 2021–2025 | 91 |
| 8 | Dino Botica | 2021–2025 | 90 |
| Sam Burfoot | 2021–2025 | ||
| 10 | Kelvin Kalua | 2021–2025 | 89 |
| As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in Northern League. | |||
· Records › Top scorers
1
1
Rank
1
Player
Derek Tieku
Years
2021–2025
Goals
61
Apps
105
Ratio
0.58
2
2
Rank
2
Player
Emiliano Tade
Years
2021–2025
Goals
45
Apps
65
Ratio
0.69
Jake Mechell
Jake Mechell
Rank
Jake Mechell
Player
2021–2025
Years
45
Goals
75
Apps
0.6
4
4
Rank
4
Player
Monty Patterson
Years
2021, 2023–2024
Goals
42
Apps
53
Ratio
0.79
5
5
Rank
5
Player
Angus Kilkolly
Years
2021–2025
Goals
41
Apps
79
Ratio
0.52
6
6
Rank
6
Player
Reid Drake
Years
2021–2025
Goals
34
Apps
96
Ratio
0.35
7
7
Rank
7
Player
Ryan De Vries
Years
2021–2025
Goals
32
Apps
59
Ratio
0.66
8
8
Rank
8
Player
Joshua Redfearn
Years
2021–2023
Goals
28
Apps
56
Ratio
0.5
9
9
Rank
9
Player
Joseph Lee
Years
2023–2025
Goals
26
Apps
86
Ratio
0.3
Dawson Straffon
Dawson Straffon
Rank
Dawson Straffon
Player
2021–2025
Years
26
Goals
70
Apps
0.37
As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in the Northern League.
As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in the Northern League.
Rank
As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in the Northern League.
| Rank | Player | Years | Goals | Apps | Ratio |
| 1 | Derek Tieku | 2021–2025 | 61 | 105 | 0.58 |
| 2 | Emiliano Tade | 2021–2025 | 45 | 65 | 0.69 |
| Jake Mechell | 2021–2025 | 45 | 75 | 0.6 | |
| 4 | Monty Patterson | 2021, 2023–2024 | 42 | 53 | 0.79 |
| 5 | Angus Kilkolly | 2021–2025 | 41 | 79 | 0.52 |
| 6 | Reid Drake | 2021–2025 | 34 | 96 | 0.35 |
| 7 | Ryan De Vries | 2021–2025 | 32 | 59 | 0.66 |
| 8 | Joshua Redfearn | 2021–2023 | 28 | 56 | 0.5 |
| 9 | Joseph Lee | 2023–2025 | 26 | 86 | 0.3 |
| Dawson Straffon | 2021–2025 | 26 | 70 | 0.37 | |
| As of 30 August 2025Bolded players still playing in the Northern League. | |||||
· Records › MVP Winners
2021
2021
Season
2021
Winner(s)
Alex Greive
Club(s)
Birkenhead United
2022
2022
Season
2022
Winner(s)
Derek Tieku
Club(s)
Hamilton Wanderers
2023
2023
Season
2023
Winner(s)
Derek Tieku
Club(s)
Hamilton Wanderers
2024
2024
Season
2024
Winner(s)
Jake Mechell
Club(s)
Eastern Suburbs
2025
2025
Season
2025
Winner(s)
Derek Tieku
Club(s)
Bay Olympic
| Season | Winner(s) | Club(s) |
| 2021 | Alex Greive | Birkenhead United |
| 2022 | Derek Tieku | Hamilton Wanderers |
| 2023 | Derek Tieku | Hamilton Wanderers |
| 2024 | Jake Mechell | Eastern Suburbs |
| 2025 | Derek Tieku | Bay Olympic |
References
- www.stuff.co.nzhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/129546987/the-sham-of-amateurism-in-top-club-football
- New Zealand Footballhttps://web.archive.org/web/20210317013353/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/100552
- Newshubhttps://web.archive.org/web/20210321025532/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2021/03/football-auckland-city-fc-find-way-to-survive-new-zealand-club-football-restructure.html
- friendsoffootballnz.comhttps://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2023/09/02/unbeaten-auckland-city-wrap-up-three-peat-of-northern-league-titles/
- New Zealand Footballhttps://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/132405
- ultimatenzsoccer.comhttps://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/unbeaten_seasons.htm
- friendsoffootballnz.comhttps://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/31/western-springs-make-history-with-title-winning-northern-league-season/
- New Zealand Footballhttps://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/149538?newsfeedId=1275538
- "Northern Region Football – Home"http://www.aucklandfootball.org.nz/lottonrfl/Results-Fixtures
- New Zealand Football instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/p/CiEv0dXph2A/
- "National League | Golden Boot 🥇"https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122171559212236590&set=a.122094476624236590
- "With only one match left in the Dettol Southern League this weekend, here are the top scorers from each region ⚽️"https://www.instagram.com/p/DOZtlBskvi2/?img_index=1
- "Goal-filled final weekend in the South Central Series as Miramar Rangers (men) and Southern United (women) crowned winners"https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/110526
- "Congratulations to the winners of the MVP awards in the Northern, Central and Southern Leagues #NZNationalLeague"https://www.instagram.com/p/CluozRIJUbq/
- "National League MVPs and Golden Boot winners named"https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/133201
- "Announcing the MVPs of the regional phase of the National League 2024 🌟"https://www.instagram.com/p/DAUUjq1yN3V/
- "Here are the MVPs of the Dettol National League Regional Phase! ✨"https://www.instagram.com/p/DO7v_Z3EQSu/