Following careful consideration, Central Football has made the decision to enter a team in the Girls Youth National League only for the 2026 National League season and won't be entering a side in the women's National League.

This decision reflects the transition to the new women's winter-based competition structure from 2027. With those changes on the horizon, we believe the best outcome for football in our Federation is to focus our resources on supporting the development of our emerging players through a strong Youth National League programme.

The Girls Youth National League provides an important opportunity for the Federation's most promising young players to experience a high-performance environment and prepare for future national-level football.

Trials for the 2026 Central Football Girls Youth National League squad will be held at Massey University on Wednesday, 15 July at 6.00pm. Further details, including the player nomination process, will be circulated to clubs shortly.

We are also pleased to confirm that Ben Mitchell has been reappointed as Head Coach of the programme. Ben brings significant experience and knowledge of the women's game, and the remainder of the coaching and support staff will be confirmed in due course.

Central Football remains committed to supporting the growth of the women's game across our Federation and looks forward to the opportunities that the new competition structures will create from 2027 onwards.

Article added: Monday 22 June 2026