September 26, 2025 • 12 mins
Adam Cooper previews round one of the men's and women's National League football competition, with correspondents Hannah Wignall and Hamish Wareham.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's talk football now, and the National Football League is
underway this weekend men's and women's teams who have received
top spots or earned top spots, i should say, after
the respective leagues around the country and now facing off
against each other over the next couple of months. And
the women's competition. The representatives from the Capitol Football Zone
are per TONI in the National League for the very
(00:23):
first time. Is also in the mixed Wellington United, who
are the winners of the Central League, and of course
the Wellington Phoenix Women's Academy gets a team in this
competition automatically taking on teams from right around the country.
And it's preview the round one action today and tomorrow.
Hannah Wignall is our women's football correspondent. She's with us now.
(00:43):
Morning to you, Hannah. And it's exciting time for these teams,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, No, it's really exciting and kind of like the
ultimate woman's amateur competition in the country. So it's pretty
cool for these teams to be considered.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Top indeed, yes, And so there are five games schedules
right across the weekend, and you say pretty cool, Hannah,
particularly for Patoni historic moment for them as they touned
down today for their very first game ever in the
National League.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, it's huge. They'll they'll know what to expect, but
they won't you know, their bodies won't understand and they'll
be they'll be a mix of nerves and excitement. I
am sure.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Indeed, what do you make of this matchup? They have
today at home luckily, and they've got West Coast Rangers visiting.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I've yeah, I've got a few notes. I mean,
the first thing else there is, you know, not all
the players and the Pony team are strangers to the
National League. In particular, they've got Danny Elson and Papill
Oliver Bell who have previously played for Wellington United and
have had taste in taste for the National League in
(01:51):
the Capitol team. So yeah, like talking to some of
the players, I know they've been training really hard and
I'd have said they're excited, apprehensive about what the league
will hold, but ultimately I know that they're just considering
it an amazing opportunity for them to play against top
teams in the country and I hope that at the
end of the season they'll count themselves amongst the top Yeah,
(02:14):
I think it's really good that they've got a home
game first up. It'll give them a little bit of comfort.
West Coast Rangers finish fifth in their league last year
on fourteen points. However, this year the Ranger's top to
the Northern Regional Women's Premier League, so they won sixteen
of their twenty one games finished the league on fifty points.
(02:34):
So this season they are firing and they'll be a
really hard opponent and I think they'll be wanting to
prove a point in the National League this year. Because
the West Coast Rangers only got to the quarterfinals of
the Kate Shepherd Cup, they lost to Auckland United two
to one. So yeah, I just say if you're willing
to and get down to paternity and support them.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, midday kickoff absolutely celebrate a Wellington based team make
history by being part of their first appearance in the
National League. Right, let's go to Sunday Action as where
you focus on the games featuring Wellington based teams and
Wellington United. It after a very successful Central League campaign, Hannah,
they didn't have too many losses to their name. They
will be having the trip out to Auckland to take
(03:16):
on Western Springs.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah. I started this one by saying it feels like
United have been prepping and training for this league all season,
you know that. And they've had an impressive use development
program for a long long time now, so you can
tell that they are pushing to be one of the
top women's clubs in New Zealand and I think it'll
be a really exciting National League campaign for them. For Andre,
(03:42):
it's the first time he'll be coaching in the National League,
so I think he'll be both nervous and excited, but
I know he's heavily supported it. United in particularly, United
have been busy behind the scenes recruit with a lot
of new recruits. Two of those in particular, one goalie
Curry Blair, joins Wellington after a really outstanding university playing
(04:06):
career where she was national champ with her team there
and ranked number one goalkeeper for her season. Blair also
has represented New Zealand at the under seventeen and under
twenty level, which is really exciting addition to the squad.
Another notable person that is joining the team for the
(04:27):
National League round is Maggie Jenkins, who used to play
for United as a teenager. I remember when I was
at United being incredibly impressed at how amazing she was
at fourteen fifteen, and you know, it's exciting to see
her development. She's returned from a standout season in Turkey
(04:49):
in their Women's Super League and of course has won
the football firm as well. It'll be interesting to see
who they pick for their traveling sixteen, given they've got
a number of new recruits and so I wonder if
that will have an impact on some of the starting
eleven who we've seen throughout the Central League. The game
(05:12):
has been played in Auckland, so it's a home game
for Western Springs. They finished fourth in the National League
last year on fourteen points, Wellington United two spots behind
them on six, but with very close thirteen points. So
I think this is a really good game to kick
off the season. It'll be really close, but I think
(05:33):
given United's recent signings, we could see them take the win.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
All right, looking forward to that and at the same
time kicking off the Wellington Phoenix team of course automatically
getting in to this compensation and have the trip down
to Dunedin for Southern United. What do you make of
this matchup?
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, I think it'll be an interesting game. The ground
in Dunedin is really familiar, you know. It's in the
heart of the dinne Eden Students landscape if I could
call it there, and so there should be a really
nice buzz and a number of supporters at the game.
(06:12):
Similar to United, the Phoenix Reserves have been training all
season for the National League. They've had a number of
official games smattered throughout the season, notably with the Kate
Sheppard Cup where they reached the final this year. The
final saw them lose to Auckland United for one and
as an aside, those two teams will meet each other
in Round four of the National League and so it'll
(06:36):
be pretty exciting to see them match up in that
grudge match when they do come to play Auckland United.
Last year, the Phoenix Reserve finished ninth in the National League,
one place from bottom, securing only four points. But I
don't expect that placing will be too much of an
indicator of their performance this year. They will have built
(06:56):
up the squad over the last year focused on intensive
player development and I guess thinking about the Phoenix Reserves,
the difference with this team and other teams in the
league is that these players have a pathway and goals
to play professionally, and I think this means that whilst
the caliber of the player is really high, having competing
goals outside of the immediate team that you're in and
(07:19):
the game in front of you can be a bit
of a distraction, and so the coach will really need
to make sure that the players are focused on what's
in front of them and the immediate goals at hand.
Southern United have pulled from a number of clubs in
the Dunedin area, most notably Dunedin City Royals, Ottaga University
and Roslin. I think the team will need a few
(07:40):
games to find their feet, so I think this is
a good one for the Phoenix to come in, go
hard and take a win first round.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
And today's all right, well some exciting games five in
the rounds all up up and down the country over
the next couple of days, Hannah, appreciate the preview and
we will be getting a very close eye on those
Wellington teams over the next few months. Appreciate your time
as always and have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
To look ahead to the National League Men's side of
things now the Wellington teams and this one for twenty
twenty five. Obviously the top three of from the Central
League plus the Wellington Phoenix team so Miramar Rangers, Wellington
Olympic and Western Suburbs and this alongside the Phoenix Academy
team for twenty twenty five. So let's have a bit
(08:24):
of a look at the games featuring Wellington teams across
today and tomorrow. Our usual football correspondent Dale Warburton away
on holiday this weekend. Are well deserved break for Dale,
so joining us as well, someone that you would hear
quite regularly on a Saturday here on Newstalks. He'd be
covering the local football for us in the afternoon as
Hamish where them? Morning to you, Hamish morning, Adam, how
are you? I'm good mates, And it's always an exciting
(08:46):
new chapter in the football season, isn't it. The best
of the best from around the country seat of taking
on each other in the National League between now and December.
Any particular teams across the ten take your fancy so far.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I've got my eye on a couple of teams from
both of our major centers, Adam. I really like the
looks of Birkenhead United and Western Springs from up North,
and of course you've got the Chatham Cup winners Wellington
Olympic from down here and Mirrormar Rangers back in the
National League for the first time since twenty twenty two.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Right, Well, looking forward to it action right across the
weekends and let's start with well one of those games
featuring Wellington teams Hamish Mirrormar Rangers at home at David
Farrington Park hosting Auckland.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah, she should be a cracking game there, Mirrormar finishing
second in our Central League competition, just a few points
behind Wellington Olympic, whereas Auckland f C with their automatic spot,
finished ninth up in the Northern League. It'll be interesting
to see if Auckland perhaps drop any first team players down.
They've got a couple of youngsters away I think, with
(09:52):
the New Zealand on the twenties in Finn McKinley and
Olly Middleton, as well as a couple more I understand.
But yeah, should be an interesting clash to kick off
National League for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Zan kicking off an hour after that at three o'clock,
two Wellington based teams and of course one of them
the Phoenix reserves and that've got the Chatham Cup winners
as you say, Wellington Olympic at the Phraser Park turf.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Yeah, third meeting this year between those two sides. Wellington
Olympic have won both games three zero. They did have
a bit of an exhibition fixture at ended Cis last
week that the Phoenix a league side, despite going a
goal down ran out six to one winners. But yeah,
it should be another cracking clash. The Phoenix also missing
a few part of Chris Greenacre's New Zealand Under twenty
(10:40):
side and Wellington Olympic, after a bit of a subpar
National League campaign in twenty twenty four, will be looking
to put all things right and have a good crack
at possibly doing the treble.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Three o'clock at Fraser Park for that one and the
final game featuring Wellington based teams. Western Suburbs have the
trip up to Auckland. It's their kind of namesake half
of it anyway, Western Springs the host up there. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Western Suburbs made National League last year. They unfortunately brought
home the Wooden Spoon despite defeating Eastern Suburbs on the
final match days. So they head in to twenty twenty
five National League. I guess, with one win in a
row in the bank, possibly the most informed team in
regards to National League form heading into this year's showdown.
(11:26):
But yeah, that also should be a cracker up at
seven Fields taking on the Auckland Champions Western.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Springs midday kickoff tomorrow Sunday for that one, and that'll
lead into the Western Springs Wellington United Women's National League
game as well. So big afternoon of football up there
for two of our Wellington teams tomorrow. Great to catch up, Hamish,
looking forward to hearing you on through our afternoon coverage
as the National League gets under way. Thanks for filling
in this morning, might appreciate.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
It, absolute pleasure mate. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
For more from News Talks, the'd be listen live on
air or on Lane and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Let's talk football now, and the National Football League is
underway this weekend men's and women's teams who have received
top spots or earned top spots, i should say, after
the respective leagues around the country and now facing off
against each other over the next couple of months. And
the women's competition. The representatives from the Capitol Football Zone
are per TONI in the National League for the very
(00:23):
first time. Is also in the mixed Wellington United, who
are the winners of the Central League, and of course
the Wellington Phoenix Women's Academy gets a team in this
competition automatically taking on teams from right around the country.
And it's preview the round one action today and tomorrow.
Hannah Wignall is our women's football correspondent. She's with us now.
(00:43):
Morning to you, Hannah. And it's exciting time for these teams,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, No, it's really exciting and kind of like the
ultimate woman's amateur competition in the country. So it's pretty
cool for these teams to be considered.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Top indeed, yes, And so there are five games schedules
right across the weekend, and you say pretty cool, Hannah,
particularly for Patoni historic moment for them as they touned
down today for their very first game ever in the
National League.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, it's huge. They'll they'll know what to expect, but
they won't you know, their bodies won't understand and they'll
be they'll be a mix of nerves and excitement. I
am sure.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Indeed, what do you make of this matchup? They have
today at home luckily, and they've got West Coast Rangers visiting.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I've yeah, I've got a few notes. I mean,
the first thing else there is, you know, not all
the players and the Pony team are strangers to the
National League. In particular, they've got Danny Elson and Papill
Oliver Bell who have previously played for Wellington United and
have had taste in taste for the National League in
(01:51):
the Capitol team. So yeah, like talking to some of
the players, I know they've been training really hard and
I'd have said they're excited, apprehensive about what the league
will hold, but ultimately I know that they're just considering
it an amazing opportunity for them to play against top
teams in the country and I hope that at the
end of the season they'll count themselves amongst the top Yeah,
(02:14):
I think it's really good that they've got a home
game first up. It'll give them a little bit of comfort.
West Coast Rangers finish fifth in their league last year
on fourteen points. However, this year the Ranger's top to
the Northern Regional Women's Premier League, so they won sixteen
of their twenty one games finished the league on fifty points.
(02:34):
So this season they are firing and they'll be a
really hard opponent and I think they'll be wanting to
prove a point in the National League this year. Because
the West Coast Rangers only got to the quarterfinals of
the Kate Shepherd Cup, they lost to Auckland United two
to one. So yeah, I just say if you're willing
to and get down to paternity and support them.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, midday kickoff absolutely celebrate a Wellington based team make
history by being part of their first appearance in the
National League. Right, let's go to Sunday Action as where
you focus on the games featuring Wellington based teams and
Wellington United. It after a very successful Central League campaign, Hannah,
they didn't have too many losses to their name. They
will be having the trip out to Auckland to take
(03:16):
on Western Springs.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah. I started this one by saying it feels like
United have been prepping and training for this league all season,
you know that. And they've had an impressive use development
program for a long long time now, so you can
tell that they are pushing to be one of the
top women's clubs in New Zealand and I think it'll
be a really exciting National League campaign for them. For Andre,
(03:42):
it's the first time he'll be coaching in the National League,
so I think he'll be both nervous and excited, but
I know he's heavily supported it. United in particularly, United
have been busy behind the scenes recruit with a lot
of new recruits. Two of those in particular, one goalie
Curry Blair, joins Wellington after a really outstanding university playing
(04:06):
career where she was national champ with her team there
and ranked number one goalkeeper for her season. Blair also
has represented New Zealand at the under seventeen and under
twenty level, which is really exciting addition to the squad.
Another notable person that is joining the team for the
(04:27):
National League round is Maggie Jenkins, who used to play
for United as a teenager. I remember when I was
at United being incredibly impressed at how amazing she was
at fourteen fifteen, and you know, it's exciting to see
her development. She's returned from a standout season in Turkey
(04:49):
in their Women's Super League and of course has won
the football firm as well. It'll be interesting to see
who they pick for their traveling sixteen, given they've got
a number of new recruits and so I wonder if
that will have an impact on some of the starting
eleven who we've seen throughout the Central League. The game
(05:12):
has been played in Auckland, so it's a home game
for Western Springs. They finished fourth in the National League
last year on fourteen points, Wellington United two spots behind
them on six, but with very close thirteen points. So
I think this is a really good game to kick
off the season. It'll be really close, but I think
(05:33):
given United's recent signings, we could see them take the win.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
All right, looking forward to that and at the same
time kicking off the Wellington Phoenix team of course automatically
getting in to this compensation and have the trip down
to Dunedin for Southern United. What do you make of
this matchup?
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, I think it'll be an interesting game. The ground
in Dunedin is really familiar, you know. It's in the
heart of the dinne Eden Students landscape if I could
call it there, and so there should be a really
nice buzz and a number of supporters at the game.
(06:12):
Similar to United, the Phoenix Reserves have been training all
season for the National League. They've had a number of
official games smattered throughout the season, notably with the Kate
Sheppard Cup where they reached the final this year. The
final saw them lose to Auckland United for one and
as an aside, those two teams will meet each other
in Round four of the National League and so it'll
(06:36):
be pretty exciting to see them match up in that
grudge match when they do come to play Auckland United.
Last year, the Phoenix Reserve finished ninth in the National League,
one place from bottom, securing only four points. But I
don't expect that placing will be too much of an
indicator of their performance this year. They will have built
(06:56):
up the squad over the last year focused on intensive
player development and I guess thinking about the Phoenix Reserves,
the difference with this team and other teams in the
league is that these players have a pathway and goals
to play professionally, and I think this means that whilst
the caliber of the player is really high, having competing
goals outside of the immediate team that you're in and
(07:19):
the game in front of you can be a bit
of a distraction, and so the coach will really need
to make sure that the players are focused on what's
in front of them and the immediate goals at hand.
Southern United have pulled from a number of clubs in
the Dunedin area, most notably Dunedin City Royals, Ottaga University
and Roslin. I think the team will need a few
(07:40):
games to find their feet, so I think this is
a good one for the Phoenix to come in, go
hard and take a win first round.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
And today's all right, well some exciting games five in
the rounds all up up and down the country over
the next couple of days, Hannah, appreciate the preview and
we will be getting a very close eye on those
Wellington teams over the next few months. Appreciate your time
as always and have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
To look ahead to the National League Men's side of
things now the Wellington teams and this one for twenty
twenty five. Obviously the top three of from the Central
League plus the Wellington Phoenix team so Miramar Rangers, Wellington
Olympic and Western Suburbs and this alongside the Phoenix Academy
team for twenty twenty five. So let's have a bit
(08:24):
of a look at the games featuring Wellington teams across
today and tomorrow. Our usual football correspondent Dale Warburton away
on holiday this weekend. Are well deserved break for Dale,
so joining us as well, someone that you would hear
quite regularly on a Saturday here on Newstalks. He'd be
covering the local football for us in the afternoon as
Hamish where them? Morning to you, Hamish morning, Adam, how
are you? I'm good mates, And it's always an exciting
(08:46):
new chapter in the football season, isn't it. The best
of the best from around the country seat of taking
on each other in the National League between now and December.
Any particular teams across the ten take your fancy so far.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
I've got my eye on a couple of teams from
both of our major centers, Adam. I really like the
looks of Birkenhead United and Western Springs from up North,
and of course you've got the Chatham Cup winners Wellington
Olympic from down here and Mirrormar Rangers back in the
National League for the first time since twenty twenty two.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Right, Well, looking forward to it action right across the
weekends and let's start with well one of those games
featuring Wellington teams Hamish Mirrormar Rangers at home at David
Farrington Park hosting Auckland.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Yeah, she should be a cracking game there, Mirrormar finishing
second in our Central League competition, just a few points
behind Wellington Olympic, whereas Auckland f C with their automatic spot,
finished ninth up in the Northern League. It'll be interesting
to see if Auckland perhaps drop any first team players down.
They've got a couple of youngsters away I think, with
(09:52):
the New Zealand on the twenties in Finn McKinley and
Olly Middleton, as well as a couple more I understand.
But yeah, should be an interesting clash to kick off
National League for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Zan kicking off an hour after that at three o'clock,
two Wellington based teams and of course one of them
the Phoenix reserves and that've got the Chatham Cup winners
as you say, Wellington Olympic at the Phraser Park turf.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Yeah, third meeting this year between those two sides. Wellington
Olympic have won both games three zero. They did have
a bit of an exhibition fixture at ended Cis last
week that the Phoenix a league side, despite going a
goal down ran out six to one winners. But yeah,
it should be another cracking clash. The Phoenix also missing
a few part of Chris Greenacre's New Zealand Under twenty
(10:40):
side and Wellington Olympic, after a bit of a subpar
National League campaign in twenty twenty four, will be looking
to put all things right and have a good crack
at possibly doing the treble.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Three o'clock at Fraser Park for that one and the
final game featuring Wellington based teams. Western Suburbs have the
trip up to Auckland. It's their kind of namesake half
of it anyway, Western Springs the host up there. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Western Suburbs made National League last year. They unfortunately brought
home the Wooden Spoon despite defeating Eastern Suburbs on the
final match days. So they head in to twenty twenty
five National League. I guess, with one win in a
row in the bank, possibly the most informed team in
regards to National League form heading into this year's showdown.
(11:26):
But yeah, that also should be a cracker up at
seven Fields taking on the Auckland Champions Western.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Springs midday kickoff tomorrow Sunday for that one, and that'll
lead into the Western Springs Wellington United Women's National League
game as well. So big afternoon of football up there
for two of our Wellington teams tomorrow. Great to catch up, Hamish,
looking forward to hearing you on through our afternoon coverage
as the National League gets under way. Thanks for filling
in this morning, might appreciate.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
It, absolute pleasure mate. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
For more from News Talks, the'd be listen live on
air or on Lane and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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