Mainland Premier League
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Levels on pyramid | 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Chatham Cup |
| Current champions |
Cashmere Technical (2013) |
| Most championships | Ferrymead Bays (4 titles) |
| Website | Mainland Football |
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The Mainland Premier League, or Robbie's Mainland Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is an amateur-status league competition run by Mainland Football for association football clubs located in the northern half of the South Island, New Zealand.
It is currently regarded by the New Zealand footballing community as the strongest football league in the South Island of New Zealand and features current and former ASB Premiership players. The competition currently runs between March and August each year, and consists of seven teams based in Christchurch, and one team in Nelson. There are 21 rounds where teams play each other three times. The winner of the league qualifies for the South Island Championship, a one-off game against the winner of the FootballSouth Premier League, which is hosted by the two federations in alternate years. Cashmere Technical is the current holder of the South Island Championship.
Formerly, the 2010 league was named Matson's Premier Football League due to the sponsorship agreement with the New Zealand beverage company Matson's Brewery. As of 2011, the Mainland Football top-tier football competition has been named the Robbie's Premier Football League with a one-year sponsorship agreement with the New Zealand beverage and food restaurant chain company Robbie's Bar & Bistro, which was extended for the 2012 and 2013 season.
In 2012, Woolston Technical and Cashmere Wanderers were merged into Cashmere Technical, they replaced the Woolston side that had finished 6th in the 2011 competition. Recently merged teams Coastal Spirit (Established between New Brighton AFC and Rangers AFC in 2008), and FC Twenty Eleven (Established between Avon United and Burnside AFC in 2011) entered the Premier League through promotion from the Division One competition.
In the 2012 season, Christchurch United were relegated from the league after a season-long relegation battle with FC Twenty Eleven. Nomads United, who won the Division One title, have been promoted back up to the Premier League. Coastal Spirit completed a switch of home ground for the 2013 season from Linfield Park to Cuthberts Green.
The 2013 season was one of the closest competitions in recent memory. Ferrymead Bays set the pace early on, but soon fell away in the middle of the season after 4–0 home defeat to Nelson Suburbs (who moved into first place). Eventually after strong title challenges by the top four teams Cashmere Technical emerged victorious on succumbing to only two losses in a season that saw them win a treble of the South Island Championship, and the Chatham Cup. FC Twenty Eleven were relegated to the Mainland Division One Competition, with the University of Canterbury replacing them after securing the Mainland Division One title.
The 2014 season is scheduled to begin on Saturday 22 March.
Donnithorne Simms English Cup –
The English Cup is a knock-out competition that features all clubs within the Mainland Football Federation. All games are currently played mid-week (with exception to the final, which is a Saturday afternoon) at the neutral venue of English Park. Currently, Ferrymead Bays are the holders of the trophy for 2012 and 2013 after defeating Coastal Spirit on both occasions.
Robbie's Premier Football League Clubs – 2014
| Position (2013). | Club | Location | Home Ground(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Coastal Spirit | Bromley, New Zealand | Cuthberts Green (2,000) (Grass) |
| 7th | Nomads United | Casebrook, New Zealand | Tulett park (1,500) (Grass) |
| 3rd | Ferrymead Bays | Redcliffs, New Zealand | Barnett Park (1,000) (Grass) |
| 5th | Halswell United | Halswell, New Zealand | Halswell Domain (1,500) (Grass) |
| 2nd | Nelson Suburbs | Nelson, New Zealand | Saxton Field (2,000) (Grass) |
| NA (Promoted) | University of Canterbury | Ilam, New Zealand | Ilam Fields (1,000) (Grass) |
| 4th | Western AFC | Mairehau, New Zealand | English Park (2,500) (Artificial Turf) |
| 1st | Cashmere Technical | Woolston, New Zealand | Garrick Memorial Park (2,000) (Grass) |
Robbie's Men's Division One Clubs – 2014
| Position (2013). | Club | Location | Home Ground(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Christchurch United | Spreydon, New Zealand | Spreydon Domain (1,000) (Grass) |
| 3rd | Waimak United | Rangiora, New Zealand | Kendal Park (1,500) (Grass) |
| 4th | Mid Canterbury FC | Ashburton, New Zealand | Ashburton Domain (1,000) (Grass) |
| 5th | Cashmere Technical Turtles | Woolston, New Zealand | Garrick Memorial Park (2,000) (Grass) |
| 6th | Hornby United | Hornby, New Zealand | Warren Park (1,000) (Grass) |
| NA (Promoted) | Parklands United* | Parklands, New Zealand | Parklands Reserve (1,000) (Sand-based Grass) |
| 8th | Selwyn United FC | Rolleston, New Zealand | Brookside Park (2,000) (Grass) |
| NA (Relegated) | FC Twenty Eleven | Yaldhurst, New Zealand | Avonhead Park (2,000) (Grass) |
- FC Twenty Eleven Bombers who competed in the 2013 competition and finished 7th cannot stay at the current level in 2014 as FC Twenty Eleven would have two teams in the same competition. Because of this Selwyn will maintain their Division One status.
External links
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