Central Football- Tairāwhiti

⚽️ SCHOOL HOLIDAY FOOTBALL IS BACK! 🙌🔥

We’ve got plenty of football action lined up these school holidays!

📍 WEEK ONE | WATSON PARK
📅 Tuesday 29 September – Thursday 1 October
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👦👧 Ages 5–13
💰 $100
Three days, three different football experiences!
🇧🇷 DAY 1 | JOGA BONITO DAY
Learn to play with Brazilian flair — altinha, ginga and tricks that turn heads!
🌍 DAY 2 | THE WORLDS DAY
Street football skills from around the globe — panna, rondo and gambeta duels!
⚽️ DAY 3 | STRIKERS SCHOOL
Bring everything you’ve learned to our Strikers School — bring the flair and finish like a star!

📍 WEEK TWO | WATSON PARK
📅 Monday 5 – Tuesday 6 October
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👦👧 Ages 5–13
💰 $80
🇧🇷 Day 1 – Joga Bonito Day
⚽️ Day 2 – Strikers School

📍 WEEK TWO | WAIROA AFC
📅 Thursday 8 – Friday 9 October
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👦👧 Ages 5–13
💰 $80
🇧🇷 Day 1 – Joga Bonito Day
⚽️ Day 2 – Strikers School

🔥 Football, skills, challenges and plenty of fun to keep young players active these school holidays!

Get registered and join us 👇
https://tinyurl.com/4n3dzx8c

Reigning A-League champions Auckland FC are heading to Hawke’s Bay to take on Western Sydney Wanderers at McLean Park!

📅 Saturday 19 September
⏰ 3:00pm kick-off
📍 McLean Park, Napier

🎟️ TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Embankment | $27.50
Under 14s | $16
Family of four | $87, booking fee included

Grab your tickets, bring the whānau and get along to see A-League football! 🔥

🎟️ Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=AKLNDFC26

Whanganui Athletic secure promotion to Central League 2 |

Whanganui Athletic will play Central League 2 football in 2027 after an outstanding season was capped off with victory in the East v West Premiership playoff 🙌

“It means a huge amount. For the players, they have put in an enormous amount of work over the last couple of seasons and they deserve the opportunity to prove themselves at the next level." - Head Coach Aaron Folan

Read full story🔗 👇️
https://tinyurl.com/44xyhenm

📸 credit: Caleb's Photography

⚽️ SCHOOL HOLIDAY FOOTBALL IS BACK! 🙌🔥

We’ve got plenty of football action lined up these school holidays!

📍 WEEK ONE | WATSON PARK

📅 Tuesday 29 September – Thursday 1 October
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👦👧 Ages 5–13
💰 $100

Three days, three different football experiences! 👇

🇧🇷 DAY 1 | JOGA BONITO DAY
Learn to play with Brazilian flair — altinha, ginga and tricks that turn heads!

🌍 DAY 2 | THE WORLDS DAY
Street football skills from around the globe — panna, rondo and gambeta duels!

⚽️ DAY 3 | STRIKERS SCHOOL
Bring everything you’ve learned to our Strikers School — bring the flair and finish like a star!

📍 WEEK TWO | WATSON PARK

📅 Monday 5 – Tuesday 6 October
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👦👧 Ages 5–13
💰 $80

🇧🇷 Day 1 – Joga Bonito Day
⚽️ Day 2 – Strikers School

📍 WEEK TWO | WAIROA AFC

📅 Thursday 8 – Friday 9 October
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👦👧 Ages 5–13
💰 $80

🇧🇷 Day 1 – Joga Bonito Day
⚽️ Day 2 – Strikers School

🔥 Football, skills, challenges and plenty of fun to keep young players active these school holidays!

Get registered and join us 👇
https://tinyurl.com/4n3dzx8c

Results Roundup | ⚽️⚽️

All the action from across Tairāwhiti wrapped up in one place.

Full Roundup 👇
https://tinyurl.com/y9nd8sbc

Central Football are saddened to hear of the passing of Barry Smith, QSM, late last week.

Barry was New Zealand football’s official record keeper and historian and for decades he meticulously maintained detailed records of the All Whites, the National League and the regional leagues, creating an invaluable statistical record of the game in New Zealand.
His knowledge, records and incredible ability to retain or recollect historical football moments, and then his willingness to share them, helped ensure that the history of football in New Zealand was not lost.

Barry was a constant presence at football games around the country, having attended the Napier City Rovers U19 tournament in previous years, and many regional and national league games.

Central Football CEO Darren Mason said, “Barry was the nicest of guys and always interested in what others were up to. He was not only a record keeper and historian of football, but he also loved the sport and took a keen interest in the clubs and players for which he kept those records of. I enjoyed the times I had a chance to have a quick chat with him and I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone across the Central federation when say that we have lost a true gentleman and someone who made an incredible contribution to our game. We pass on our deepest condolences to his wife Colleen and the Smith family”.

Champions coming to Napier: Auckland FC to play first ever game at McLean Park 💥

Football fans will get their chance to see New Zealand's newest football powerhouse in action, with Auckland FC confirmed to play a pre-season fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers at Napier's McLean Park on Saturday 19 September 🙌

Tickets will go on sale at Ticketek on Wednesday September 2.

Read more 👇️
https://tinyurl.com/4msx7rnu

🏆 DETTOL CENTRAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS | 2026 🏆

Napier City Rovers are your 2026 Dettol Central League Champions! 👏⚽

Congratulations to the players, coaches, staff and everyone involved on an outstanding campaign! 💙🏆

Graphic credit: Tom Speers - Speers Design

⚽️ PRE-ACADEMY | GAME DAY TWO ⚽️

We’re back for Game Day Two of our Pre-Academy programme tomorrow!

Across six venues, players from throughout the Central Federation will take to the pitch for another great day of football, development and plenty of action.

A big thank you to all the coaches, referees, volunteers and whānau who help make these game days possible.

Enjoy the day, play well and have fun! 💚⚽️