National Women's League (New Zealand)

ASB National Women's League

Sport	Association football
Founded	2002
No. of teams	6
Country(ies)	New Zealand
Most recent champion(s)	Auckland Football Federation
Most titles	Auckland Football Federation (6)
Related competitions	ASB Premiership (Male equivalent)
Official website	Official Website

The National Women's League (presently known as the ASB National Women's League) is the top level women's football (soccer) league in New Zealand. Unlike its male counterpart, the ASB Premiership, the teams are run by the regional federations rather than as collaborative entities between local clubs.

The league was founded in 2002 and ran until the end of the 2007, after which the league went on hiatus. The league was resumed in 2009 with five federations participating, as well as the national women's under-17 team. Two federations, United Soccer 1 and Central Football, elected not to participate in the 2009 season.

The league was run as a pure league fourmat in 2002 and 2003, from 2004 to 2008 there has been playoffs. The third and second placed teams after the saeson compete in a one legged semi-final. The winner of that and the first place finished then play the Grand Final to decide the champion.

From 2009 onwards, the league is split into two divisions. A Northern and a Southern Conference of 3 teams that play each other twice. After the season there is a semi-final: 1st North vs 2nd South and 2nd North vs 1st South. The winners of those play the Grand Final.

2009 Participants

North Conference

• Auckland Football Federation
• Waikato/Bay of Plenty Football
• New Zealand women's national under-17 football team

South Conference

• Capital Football
• Mainland Pride
• Footballsouth

List of Champions

The list of champions^[1]:

• 2002: Auckland/Manukau
• 2003: Auckland/Manukau
• 2004: Wellington
• 2005: Auckland/Manukau
• 2006: Auckland/Manukau
• 2007: Auckland/Manukau
• 2008: no league
• 2009: Auckland Football

List of Grand Finals:

• 2004: Wellington vs Auckland/Manukau (2-1)
• 2005: Auckland/Manukau vs Wellington (4-2)
• 2006: Auckland/Manukau vs Wellington (3-1)
• 2007: Auckland/Manukau vs Wellington (3-1)
• 2009: Auckland/Manukau vs Capital Football (5-1)

References

1. ^ http://rsssf.com/tablesn/nz-womchamp.html