Central League 2 (New Zealand)
| Founded | 1970 Revived: 2025 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1999 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Central League |
| Relegation to | Western Premiership Eastern Premiership Capital Premier |
| Domestic cup | Chatham Cup |
| Last champions | FC Western (1st title) (2025) |
| Most championships | FC Western (1 title) |
| Website | Capital Football |
| Current: 2025 Central League 2 | |
Central League 2 (MCL2) is an amateur status league run by Capital Football and Central Football for association football clubs located in the southern and central parts of the North Island.[1][2][3]
Central League 2 is a New Zealand tier three competition during the New Zealand winter season, and sits at below the Central League and above the Eastern Premiership, Western Premiership and Capital Premier.
League history
The league started for the 2025 season after being officially announced in 2023.[4][5]
Clubs of both federations showed support of reintroducing the competition with 85% of Central clubs and 79% of Capital clubs voting in favour of the league.[6][7]
League format
The league currently comprises 10 teams, who play each other twice in the season on a home-and-away basis and at the conclusion of the season the winner are crowned champions. The bottom side is relegated automatically to their regional league (either Capital Premier or Western and Eastern Premierships), with the top side automatically promoted to the Central League.[8]
Current clubs
As of the 2025 season.
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2024 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Villa | Park Sports Ground | Masterton | 2nd in Capital One (promoted via play-offs) |
| FC Western | Lynmouth Park | Lynmouth, New Plymouth | 3rd in Central Federation League (promoted via play-offs) |
| Lower Hutt City | Fraser Park | Taitā, Lower Hutt | 4th in Capital Premier (promoted via play-offs) |
| Palmerston North Marist | Memorial Park | Terrace End, Palmerston North | 2nd in Central Federation League (promoted via play-offs) |
| Palmerston North United | Central Energy Trust Arena Turf | Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North | 1st in Central Federation League (promoted via play-offs) |
| Seatoun | Seatoun Park | Seatoun, Wellington | 9th in Capital Premier (promoted via play-offs) |
| Stop Out | Hutt Park | Moera, Lower Hutt | 10 in Central League (relegated) |
| Taradale | Taradale Park | Taradale, Napier | 4th in Central Federation League (promoted via play-offs) |
| Te Kotahitanga | Mazengarb Reserve | Paraparaumu | 10th in Capital Premier (promoted via play-offs) |
| Tawa | Redwood Park | Tawa, Wellington | 5th in Capital Premier (promoted via play-offs) |
Past clubs
| Club | Last Season | Position | Record | Promoted club | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ||||
| Te Kotahitanga FC | 2025 | 10th of 10 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 73 | -56 | 3 | Wainuiomata AFC |
Top scorers
The following list is from the 2025 season onwards. New Zealand Football reinstated the Central League second division after disbanding the initial competition at the end of the 1999 season.
From 2025, Central League 2 has again acted as the qualifier league to the Central League.
| Season | Top scorer(s) | Club(s) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Anthony Jones | Palmerston North United | 21 |
Play-offs
2024 Central League 2 (2025) Play-off Series
| 14 September 2024 Play-off 1 | Taradale | 4–3 | Victoria University | Palmerston North |
| 14:00 NZST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Massey University #8 Referee: Russell Uunderwood |
| 14 September 2024 Play-off 2 | Havelock North Wanderers | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Douglas Villa | Palmerston North |
| 14:00 NZST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Massey University #9 Referee: Peter Linney |
| 14 September 2024 Play-off 3 | Te Kotahitanga | 1–0 | Gisborne Thistle | Palmerston North |
| 14:00 NZST |
|
Report | Stadium: Massey University #10 Referee: Ryan Todd |
| 14 September 2024 Play-off 4 | Seatoun | 2–1 | New Plymouth Rangers | Palmerston North |
| 14:00 NZST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Massey University #11 Referee: Jet Norris |
Taradale, Te Kotahitanga, Seatoun and Douglas Villa qualify for 2025 Central League 2.
Following the collapse of the Central Federation League, Havelock North Wanderers and Gisborne Thistle joined the 2025 Eastern Premiership, New Plymouth Rangers joined the 2025 Western Premiership. Victoria University returned to 2025 Capital Premier.
2025 Central League 2 (2026) Promotion Play-off Series.
| 6 September 2025 First leg | Whanganui Athletic | 3–1 | Wainuiomata | Whanganui |
| 14:45 NZST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Wembley Park Referee: Dylan Kawana-Waugh |
| 13 September 2025 Second leg | Wainuiomata | 4–1 | Whanganui Athletic | Wainuiomata |
| 14:45 NZST | Report |
|
Stadium: Richard Prouse Park Referee: Dom Barry |
Wainuiomata won 5 – 4 on aggregate and gained promotion to the 2026 Central League 2 competition. They replace Te Kotahitanga relegated to the Capital Premier.
Records
The following records are from the 2025 season onwards after the re–formation of Central League 2.
- Most wins in a season: 11 – FC Western (2025)
- Fewest defeats in a season: 4 – FC Western (2025)
- Most goals scored in a season: 51 – Palmerston North United & Stop Out (both 2025)
- Fewest goals conceded in a season: 20 – FC Western (2025)
- Most points in a season: 36 – FC Western (2025)
- Fewest points in a season: 3 – Te Kotahitanga (2025)
- Highest goal difference: +24 (51 for, 27 against) – Stop Out (2025)
- Biggest home win: 12 goals – Palmerston North United 12 – 0 Te Kotahitanga (2 August 2025)
- Biggest away win: 10 goals – Te Kotahitanga 0 – 10 Stop Out (20 July 2025)
- Highest scoring match: 12 goals – Palmerston North United 12 – 0 Te Kotahitanga (2 August 2025)
- Highest scoring draw: 4 goals – Seatoun 4 – 4 Lower Hutt City (29 March 2025)
- Biggest title-winning margin: 5 points – 2025, FC Western (39 points) over Palmerston North United (31 points)
- Smallest title-winning margin: – n/a
- Most goals in a single match: 4 goals – Anthony Jones, Palmerston North United, against Te Kotahitanga (2 August 2025)
Past Champions
- 2025 – FC Western
References
- ^ "Central League revives second division". Stuff. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's Central League 2 to be introduced in 2025". Central Football. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's Central League 2 to be introduced in 2025". Capital Football. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's Central League 2 to get underway in 2025". Central Football. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Move to launch Central League second division boosts interest from clubs". friendsoffootballnz.com. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "MEN'S CENTRAL LEAGUE 2". Central Football. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "MEN'S CENTRAL LEAGUE 2 | 2025". Capital Football. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's Central League 2". Capital Football. Retrieved 20 February 2024.