Both the Mens and Women's Federation Leagues kick off this weekend (8th & 9th April) 2023.

The Lotto Mens Federation Leauge is made up from teams from Manawatu, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne after Whanganui Athletic were promoted to the Central League for the 2023 season.

The Women's Federation League consists of Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Taranaki clubs.  Taradale AFC have moved into the W-League.

Let's take a look at the teams competiting in 2023:

Watson Integrity Palmerston North Marist      

With 99% of last year's squad returning and some very good new players coming in, the squad is looking very strong and with a lot of depth. With everyone fighting for their spot, we are hopeful this produces some really good games from the squad. Coach Juliano and Captain Adam have the returning and new players blending well and preseason results have proven this. We are looking forward to a productive and exciting season ahead.

Squad List:

Nick Hayward
Campbell Wallace
Adam Cowan
Joshua Cremen
Jono Steele
Mason Charlton
Che Boag
Jake Erskine
Harry Auckram
Elijah Smith
Zak Jenkins
Elisha Masoe
Liam Outtrim
Shahil Dave*
Dylan Bary
Adarsh Dutt
Scott Hilson

*Shahil Dave availablity dependent on International Transfer.

Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers Feds

Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers Federation side will have a fresh look for 2023. With the 2022 season being the first year the club had competed in the league for a number of years, there were many learnings and the new group will aim to be more competitive and successful in the upcoming campaign. 

Staff for the team sees Shane McKenzie & Stu Wilson take the helm as coaches with club stalwart and Life Member – Malcolm Wilson as Team Manager. The coaching group has also being buoyed with the addition of Chris Treacher (C.T Performance) as the Strength & Conditioning coach over pre-season. 

For 2023, the federation side has retained the services of young players Jack Aitchison, Cam Houston, Matt Harvey, Kees MacKirdy, Ben Graney, Aiden Doran and the experienced Shae Bauerfeind. Local players who join for 2023 include Jay Mason, Tom Speers, Harry Huxford and former NCR Central League winning captain – Danny Wilson will add steel and experience to the team. Jack Sanko who shifted to the Bay from Wellington in 2022 is another welcome addition along with Guy Reeves who returns to the region. George Andrew and Alex Davies formerly of Massey and Gisborne Thistle complete the squad. 

The team has shown in pre-season they have real character to play for each other as well as the confidence to play in possession. A new group will take time to gel fully & it will be exciting to see this develop over the campaign and what the end result looks like. A number of the group will have goals of breaking into the club Central League squad proper this season or in the near future. The job of the coaching group and club is to prepare these players and give them opportunities to prove themselves when the opportunity arises. Standards we set for ourselves in terms of commitment & performance will not only assist the players with goals for higher honours, but the overall outcomes for the team during the season. These are exciting times. 

It’s a huge year for our club with the 50^th Anniversary and we look forward to representing the club with pride and honouring those that have come before us. 

Thank you must go to Napier City Rovers and our sponsor the Thirsty Whale for providing us with the support we need to be successful during the 2023 campaign.

Squad List:

Ben Graney (GK)
Jack Aitchison
Matt Harvey
George Andrew
Kees MacKirdy
Aiden Doran © 
Alex Davies
Jack Sanko
Guy Reeves
Tom Speers
Harry Huxford
Cam Houston
Shae Bauerfeind
Danny Wilson
Jay Mason

Coaches: Shane McKenzie & Stu Wilson
Team Manager: Malcolm Wilson
Strength & Conditioning: Chris Treacher
Goalkeeper Coach: Kyle Baxter

Palmerston North United

This is an exciting new season for football in Palmerston North. After much talk and consideration, Massey, North End and Red Sox have been able to come together, to create Palmerston North United. We were delighted to nail down SCOTT ROBSON pretty early on, as our 1st team coach for the 2023 season. He has vast experience playing in New Zealand and overseas, and worked with the North End squad last season. Our ambition with this new club is to create something bigger than ourselves, something that can benefit all of Palmerston North, and Scott was keen to be involved once he knew what our ambitions were. "After growing up in the region and having such great opportunities to play at the top level, it's important that I play my part in trying to help the region get back to where I know it belongs." Scott will be supported by Assistant Coach MATT KENNEDY, Goalkeeper Coach ANDREW SAWYER, and team Manager NICK BAILEY.

We're delighted to welcome on board Bayleys Realty Palmerston North as the naming sponsor of our Men's First Team. There is a deep love for the beautiful game within their team members, and it's great to have them supporting this new venture. Another new sponsor for 2023, Kitchens by Healey. Not only are they supporting our Men's 1st Team, but they are the naming sponsor of our Women's 1st Fed side too! We are also stoked to have McIntosh Cranes and farm machinery back for the 2023 season, having been a supporter of North End in 2022. We're truly humbled to have some fantastic sponsors on board, that are based in our community in Palmerston North. 

Looking at the playing squad itself, Scott has looked for a balance between youth and experience. With the squad based around players from North End and Massey's squads from last season, we also looked to recruit players externally to enhance the group further. Young talents from Palmerston North Boys High School such as JAYDEN SIMPSON, DANIEL McDOUGALL and BAY SHI have come in, while we've also recruited Feilding United's AARON RICHARDSON. While Levin's drop down to the Premiership is disappointing for the Federation League, we were able to gain CONOR VINE and JESSE SKINNER as a result. Our final piece of recruitment saw defender SEKOVI FINAU sign for us - he's already made his presence felt within the squad.

As a club, we're excited to get this season underway. We have lofty long-term goals, but everyone starts somewhere, and we know what our ambitions are for the 2023 season. We have a great coach, and an excellent playing squad. We've also got fantastic training facilities out at Massey University, and we're looking forward to sharing these facilities with the Spanish women's national team when the Women's World Cup gets underway in July. 

Squad List:

Devon Batchelor                                            
Tom Bell
Matt Borren
Alex Bowden
Olly Ceci
Nathan Cooksley
Joe Craven
Matt Draper
Sekovi Finau
Liam Finlayson
Alex Kilkelly
Ryan McDermott
Daniel McDougall
Ben Meyer
Ben Mori
Aaron Richardson
Jacob Riley
Dominic Semmens
Michael Sheridan
Bay Shi
Jayden Simpson
Jesse Skinner
Patrick Smither
Ya Pay Tha
Connor Vine

Shani's Taradale AFC

After a very successful year in 2022 winning 3 trophies the Taradale Mens team took the opportunity to progress into the Mens Fed League. Key to that was the appointment of Jamie Dunning as the club Development Manager and Mens first team Coach. This season will be about establishing ourselves in a higher competition and seeing where we are at and developing the side for the future.

On the back of promotion and Dunnings appointment the club straight away welcomed back former 1^st team regulars Ayden Jones and Liam Hall with new additions to the squad Ethan Clarke, Jackson Haines, Mo Hasim, Harry Lack, Zac Madsen, George Masters and Liam Percy Fysch, giving the squad a very youthful look.

A tough weekend 1^st up away to Palmerston Marist on Saturday and a Cup away game to FC Western on Monday will be a challenge as the team is probably 3 weeks behind in preparation due to the cyclone and not having training grounds available. But some very useful games recently to try and get minutes into the legs to get going as soon as we can to be as competitive as we can for the season. 

Squad List:

Shane Atkins
Ethan Clarke
Nick De Maine  ©
Jackson Haines
Liam Hall
Thomas Hall
Mo Hasim
Graham Healey
Ayden Jones
Ryan Jones
Brandon Josling
Harry Lack
Zac Madsen
George Watson
Camerson Paterson
Liam Percy Fysh
Kris Sweetapple

Coach:  Jamie Dunning
Assistant Coach:  Jamie Hall
GK Coach: Nic Clere
Manager:  Graeme Jones

ALH Gisborne Thistle

ATLAS NP Rangers AFC Women's Feds

Squad List:

Lizzie Ingham
Kendal Moore
Aimee Wisnewski
Zara Errol Watt
Kennedy Heikel
Jasmine Burnand- Leppinus
Ruby Hales
Mya Watkins
Sophie Magon
Harriet Muller
Ella Bense
Jessica Whalley
Ella Third
Katie Clough
Sasha Rasmussen
Chloe Baldwin
Zoe Miller

Palmerston North United Women's Feds

New season, new club, new ambition. Palmerston North United is ready to take the women’s fed league by storm. For me personally it is a privilege to be in this situation and I cannot wait to see where this club can go and what success we can achieve The merger has brought about changes to our squad for 2023. We have the core group from Massey returning which is going to bring experience and talent to the team. We also have new and younger players to help bring enthusiasm and competition to the squad. Our captains Sarah Swinbanks and Kirstie Baker will lead by example and have the backing from the entire squad. Though we have lost a few key players it is a squad that has much potential and is eager for success. W-league is huge goal for us. Having another Palmerston North Club in w-league and beyond is essential for growth in the game in the region. The fed league ,despite being only 5 teams, will be super competitive. However I believe that the ladies have the quality and skill to go all the way this year.

Squad List:
Kirstie Baker
Samantha Bolton
Hannah Carey
Kasey Cavell
Libby Dombroski
Maiah Findlay
Lily Galloway
Megan George
Alex Gray
Sarah-Lee Gurnick
Jorja Horn
Breanna Keenan
Samara Kells
Paris Liu
Micaela Reyes Potin
Aimee Powick
Sarah Swinbanks
Anneka Voss

Head Coach: Ben Mitchell
Assistant Coach: Ryan Noble

Havelock North Wanderers Women's Feds

We are extremely proud, as a club, to have a team in this year’s Women’s Federation league. The growth we have seen with player numbers in the women’s teams over the last few years has enabled us to take this next step and provide the opportunity for players to test themselves at the next level along with providing a future pathway for aspiring junior players at the club.

The squad this year comprises of a mix of players who played in our HB division one team last year and a number of new players to the club.  The squad has come together well through the preseason and we are all looking forward to the adventure ahead in what will be a big year for Women’s football in New Zealand.

Squad List:

Bili Moffat (Captain)
Jules Leporace
Gabriella Anderson
Olivia Wallis
Ashley Arquette
Erin Sycamore
Sydney Grant-Smith
Sian Llewellyn
Nicole Bidart
Kiana Grace Snow-Moeke
Ariana Lander
Brooke Gedye
Maddison Hughes
Kate Parker
Jessica Lunny
Gabby Palmer
Iloara Faamau

Coaches:
Greig Grant-Smith
Chase Arquette
Erin Sycamore

Excel Refrigeration Moturoa AFC Women's Feds

Moturoa AFC are both pleased and excited to be back in the CF Federation league in 2023.  The clubs last involvement in the league saw them take the title in 2020 and on the back of winning their 4th Federation cup last season have formed a squad keen to play regional football again this season. 

The squad has a well-rounded mixture of returning players, youth and experience with some exciting additions. The side will be led by its player selected leadership team of Anna Hinton ©, Jenna Barry and Kat Greaney (vc) and welcome a handful of high school students who offer exciting versatility to the ranks.

Two players have returned to Taranaki, having completed university degrees, and will debut for Moturoa AFC. Chantal Williams has been playing in the WaiBOP W-League while Jenna Barry was with the Wellington W-League winners, Waterside Karori. 

The side has had a pleasing preseason that has included training out and about in the community, hosting a 5-aside tournament as part of women's and girl's month, attended a 4 club game day and also hosted Waikato Unicol to round out its preparations for what will be a very competitive season.

Squad List:

Carla Hill
Madi Hill
Sarah Johnson
 Jenna Barry (vc)
Danielle Lucinsky
Alexis Hintz
Fernanda Toscani
Amelia Riddick
Kate Phipps
Tia Christiansen
Kat Greaney (vc)
Anna Hinton © 
Chantal Williams
Sommer Jordan
Frieda Wilson
Riley Packman
Paige Hareb
Lauren Murray

OneStaff PN Marist Women's Reserves

Squad List:
Caryse Allan
Erin Carpenter
Belle Clark
Charlotte Donald
Aimee Erskine
Kirsty Gledhill
Sarah Hughes
Ella Johns-Stewart
Jaimee Leader
Sophie Martin
Madisyn O'Keefe Neilsen
Kate Pemberton
Erinn Prendergast
Jessica Robinson

Article added: Thursday 06 April 2023