| Countries | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 "NO Relegation in 2010 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier season" |
| Domestic cup(s) | Chatham Cup |
| Current champions | Bay Olympic (2011) |
| Most championships | Takapuna AFC (4) |
| TV partners | Prime (New Zealand) FTN – Family Television Network TVNZ (Highlights only) Sky Network Television (Playoffs only) |
| Website | Auckland Football Federation |
2011 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier |
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The Northern Region Football League, or Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier for sponsorship reasons, is a professional/semi-professional New Zealand association football (soccer) league competition that is run by the Auckland Football Federation. The NRFL is at the First level of New Zealand Football, along with the franchise-based ASB Premiership, and includes soccer clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, New Zealand. It is open to clubs from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty provinces.
The 2011 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier season the League had eight clubs, down from ten in the 2009 season and the 2010 season also saw it include clubs from US1 Premiership in a reforming procedure to the League. The 2011 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier season has returned to a 10 team structure with Onehunga Sports and Hamilton Wanderers being included in the league after their promotions from the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1.
In the years 1965–1969, before the launch of a National Soccer League, the Northern League was the highest level competition available to the clubs in the northern region. When the National Soccer League was created in 1970, the Northern League became one of its feeder leagues.
In 1997 and 1998, when the National Soccer League operated as an invitation-only summer league, the Northern League again became the highest level club competition available to the clubs from the northern provinces.
With the demise of the club-based National Soccer League in 2004, the Northern League, now known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Men's Premier, became the highest level football league competition in New Zealand for the third time in its history. The league runs between the New Zealand autumn and winter months (April to October), while the ASB Premiership runs between the New Zealand spring and summer months (November to April).
The following list is of the official sponsors of the League, unless otherwise noted.
| Club | Location | Home Ground(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Bay Olympic | New Lynn, New Zealand | Olympic Park Sports Ground (3,500) |
| Central United | Auckland, New Zealand | Kiwitea Street Stadium (5,000) |
| East Coast Bays AFC | North Shore City, New Zealand | Bay City Park Stadium (4,000) |
| Eastern Suburbs AFCP1 | Kohimarama, New Zealand | Madills Farm Sports Ground (2,500) |
| Hamilton Wanderers | Hamilton, New Zealand | Porritt Stadium (2,700) |
| Manurewa AFCP1 | Manurewa, New Zealand | Memorial Park Stadium (3,500) |
| Melville United | Melville, New Zealand | Gower Park Sports Ground (5,000) |
| Onehunga Sports | Onehunga, New Zealand | Waikaraka Park Sports Ground (3,000) |
| Three Kings United | Three Kings, New Zealand | Keith Hay Park Sports Ground (5,000) |
| Waitakere City F.C. | Waitakere City, New Zealand | Fred Taylor Park Stadium (10,000) |
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay OlympicC | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 24 | 36 | 45 |
| Three Kings United | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 38 |
| Melville United | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 46 | 35 | 11 | 33 |
| East Coast Bays AFC | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 31 |
| Central United | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 28 |
| Hamilton Wanderers | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 27 |
| Waitakere City | 18 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 41 | −5 | 24 |
| Onehunga Sports | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 29 | 35 | −6 | 24 |
| Forrest Hill MilfordR | 18 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 26 | 60 | −34 | 10 |
| Metro F.C.R | 18 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 13 | 60 | −47 | 1 |
Source: Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier [1]
At completion of the 2010 championship round, the first-placed team was the 2010 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier champions.
No teams were relegated in the 2010 season.
All eight teams from the 2010 season contested the 2011 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier.[2]
The Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier Golden Boot is awarded annually after each season, highlighting the performances of the player who has scored the most goals.
2011
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2010
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| Club | City | Titles | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takapuna City | Takapuna | 4 | 1988 |
| Bay Olympic | New Lynn | 3 | 2011 |
| Central United | Auckland | 3 | 2008 |
| Mount Wellington | Auckland | 3 | 1997 |
| Hamilton Wanderers | Hamilton | 3 | 1984 |
| East Coast Bays | North Shore City | 2 | 2010 |
| Melville United | Melville | 2 | 2009 |
This list consist of Past or present notable players that have either represented the New Zealand national team at the FIFA World Cup or the Olympic Games. This list also consist of players who have either played for New Zealand Knights FC or have played in the FIFA Club World Cup with a New Zealand football club:
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