Zone Football League
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Zone Football League is an Australian amateur soccer league based in Northern New South Wales administered jointly by Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football; sub-federations respectively of Northern NSW Football. The league is the third tier of football in the NNSWF. First division was known NNSW Interdistrict Division One prior to 2011, NNSW Zone Football Premier League (2011–2023) and renamed Zone Football League in 2024.
Macquarie Football
Hunter Valley Football
2011–2023 (as NNSW Zone League)
pre-2010 (as NNSW Interdistrict Division One)
| |
| Organising body | Newcastle Football Macquarie Football Hunter Valley Football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2024 2011–2023 (as NNSW Zone League) pre-2010 (as NNSW Interdistrict Division One) |
| Country | Australia |
| Divisions | 3 |
| Number of clubs | 35 Division One: 12 Division Two: 11 Division Three: 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 4–6 |
| Promotion to | Northern League One |
| Domestic cup(s) | National Australia Cup State NNSW State Cup |
| Current champions | ZL1 Newcastle Croatia
ZL2 Croudace Bay ZL3 Greta Branxton(2025) |
| Current premiers | ZL1 Newcastle Croatia
ZL2 Croudace Bay ZL3 Greta Branxton(2025) |
| Website | northernnswfootball.com.au/zone-football-league |
Covering almost 33,000 square kilometres, across more than 10 Local Government Areas, football clubs are scattered across the Hunter Region.[1]
History
Graded Interdistrict competitions have survived alongside the 2 Premier Divisions of local Northern NSW Football for decades.
The 2011 season commenced with 10 teams Cardiff City, Cooks Hill United, Dudley Redhead, Mayfield, Morisset, New Lambton, Swansea, Thornton Park and University in the 1st division competition.
After the 2011 season, Thornton Park (now Thornton Redbacks FC) were elected for promotion to NSW State League Division 1, Kahibah was relegated with Warners Bay and Plattsburg Maryland taking their places in 2012.
The competition briefly dropped to a 7 team competition in 2020, before resuming to a 10 team competition. 2023 saw the expansion of the Zone League 1 from 10 to 12 teams among a greater restructure of the Zone Football Leagues.
From 2024 there will be promotion and relegation between NNSW State League Division 1 and Zone Football League 1 and promotion and relegation between all Zone Leagues.
In 2025 expressions of interest were sought for a women's Zone Football League to be established.[2] In March 2026 the seven founding clubs of the inaugural 2026 Women's Zone Football League were announced. Cooks Hill United FC, Greta Branxton FC, Lochinvar Rovers FC, New Lambton FC, Northumberland United, Southern United FC and University of Newcastle FC.[3]
Format
Teams have a first grade side, reserve grade side and third grade side. The regular season takes place, with each team playing each other once at home and once away. The team that finishes first at the end of the regular season is crowned premiers and promoted, the team who finishes last are relegated.
The top four teams contest the Finals Series. For the semi-finals, 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd. The winner of each semi-final progresses straight to the Grand Final where the winner of that game is crowned champions.
Clubs
The following clubs will compete in the Zone Football League for the 2025 season.
Division One
| Club | Nickname(s) | Founded | LGA | Ground | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff City | Tigers | 1998 | Lake Macquarie | Evans Park | Cardiff |
| Kotara South | Tigers | Newcastle | Nesbitt Park | Kotara | |
| Mayfield United S | Tigers | 1922 | Newcastle | Mayfield Park | Mayfield |
| Newcastle Olympic | Warriors | 1976 | Newcastle | Islington Oval | Islington |
| Newcastle Suns | Suns | 1997 | Newcastle | Myers Park | Broadmeadow |
| Northumberland United | Crabs | 2023 | Newcastle | Heaton Park | Jesmond |
| Stockton | Sharks | Newcastle | Corroba Oval | Stockton | |
| Swansea | Swans | 1950 | Lake Macquarie | Chapman Oval | Swansea |
| Thornton | Redbacks | 1978 | Maitland | Thornton Park | Thornton |
| University of Newcastle | The Students | 1962 | Newcastle | Ray Watt Oval | Callaghan |
| Warners Bay | Panthers | Lake Macquarie | John Street Oval | Warners Bay | |
| Westlakes | Wildcats | 1963 | Lake Macquarie | Fishburn Field | Rathmines |
Italics indicate the club has a team in a higher division.
Division Two
| Club | Nickname(s) | Founded | LGA | Ground | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolwarra Lorn | Bushrangers | 1974 | Maitland | Bolwarra Oval | Bolwarra |
| Cooks Hill United | Cookers | 1997 | Newcastle | National Park | Newcastle West |
| Greta Branxton | Wildcats | 1969 | Cessnock | Miller Park | East Branxton |
| Lambton Jaffas Juniors | Jaffas | 1957 | Newcastle | Harry Edwards Oval | Lambton |
| Merewether Advance | Roosters | 1894 | Newcastle | Jesmond Park | Jesmond |
| Minmi | Wanderers | 1884 | Newcastle | Minmi Field | Minmi |
| Nelson Bay | Marlins | Port Stephens | Tomaree Sports Complex | Nelson Bay | |
| New Lambton Juniors | Golden Eagles | Newcastle | Novocastrian Park | New Lambton | |
| North United | Wolves | 2000 | Maitland | Lorn Park | Lorn |
| South Maitland | Phoenix | 2021 | Maitland | Robins Oval | South Maitland |
| Southern United | Ospreys | 2022 | Mid Coast | Boronia Park | Forster |
Division Three
| Club | Nickname(s) | Founded | LGA | Ground | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley United | Bulldogs | 1962 | Lake Macquarie | Taylor Park | Barnsley |
| Bellbird | Bombers | Cessnock | Carmichael Park | Bellbird | |
| Charlestown | Hammers | 1900 | Lake Macquarie | Charlestown Oval | Charlestown |
| Fletcher | Saints | 2015 | Newcastle | Federal Park | Wallsend |
| Garden Suburb | Kingfishers | 1964 | Lake Macquarie | Lance York Oval | Garden Suburb |
| Kurri Kurri | Roosters | 1904 | Cessnock | Biralee Oval | Kurri Kurri |
| Maitland Juniors | Magpies | 1957 | Maitland | Fieldsend Oval | Metford |
| Medowie | Bees | 1979 | Port Stephens | Yulong Oval | Medowie |
| Merewether United | Sea Eagles | 1953 | Newcastle | Myamblah Crescent | Merewether |
| Musswellbrook | Eagles | 1924 | Musswellbrook | Victoria Park Sportsground | Musswellbrook |
| Rutherford | Dragons | 1967 | Maitland | Norm Chapman Oval | Rutherford |
| Southern Lakes United | Hurricanes | 2011 | Lake Macquarie | Cooranbong Sports Complex | Cooranbong |
Women's
| Club | Nickname(s) | Founded | LGA | Ground | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooks Hill | Cookers | 1997 | Newcastle | National Park | Newcastle West |
| Greta Branxton | Wildcats | 1969 | Cessnock | Miller Park | East Branxton |
| Lochinvar | Rovers | 1975 | Maitland | Lochinvar Sports Complex | Lochinvar |
| New Lambton | Golden Eagles | Newcastle | Alder Park | New Lambton | |
| Northumberland United | Crabs | 2023 | Newcastle | Heaton Oval | Jesmond |
| Raymond Terrace | Lions | 1957 | Port Stephens | King Park | Raymond Terrace |
| Southern United | Ospreys | 2022 | Mid Coast | Boronia Park | Forster |
| University of Newcastle | Students | 1962 | Newcastle | Ray Watt Oval | Callaghan |
| Warners Bay | Panthers | Lake Macquarie | John Street Oval | Warners Bay |
Winners
2012–2023
In 2012, two more divisions were added. In 2023, the third division was removed.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024–present
In 2024, the Newcastle Zone League renamed its league and divisions: the Premier Division became Zone League One, Division One became Zone League Two, and Division Two became Zone League Three.
| Premiers | Champions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ZL1 | ZL2 | ZL3 | ZL1 | ZL2 | ZL3 |
| 2025 | Newcastle Croatia | Croudace Bay Utd | Greta Branxton | Newcastle Croatia | Croudace Bay Utd | Greta Branxton |
| 2024 | Dudley United | Newcastle Croatia | Lambton Jaffas Jrs | Newcastle Suns | Newcastle Croatia | Nelson Bay |
Past seasons
Source:[4]
| 2022[5] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Newcastle Suns | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 51 | 25 | 39 |
| 2 | Dudley Redhead United | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 56 | 28 | 34 |
| 3 | Warners Bay | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 41 | 29 | 34 |
| 4 | Mayfield United | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 22 | 31 |
| 5 | Hamilton Azzurri | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | -4 | 36 | 40 | 28 |
| 6 | Cardiff City | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 32 | 26 |
| 7 | Kotara South | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 38 | 37 | 23 |
| 8 | Cooks Hill United | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | -9 | 35 | 44 | 21 |
| 9 | Westlakes WildcatsP | 18 | 3 | 1 | 14 | -41 | 19 | 60 | 10 |
| 10 | Swansea FC | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | -24 | 28 | 52 | 9 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted, italics = another team in higher division | |||||||||
| 2021[6] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Mayfield United | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 37 | 13 | 39 |
| 2 | Newcastle Suns | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 44 | 18 | 38 |
| 3 | Dudley Redhead United | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 38 | 18 | 32 |
| 4 | Swansea | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 24 | 31 |
| 5 | Hamilton Azzurri | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 21 | 29 |
| 6 | Cardiff City | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | -11 | 33 | 44 | 18 |
| 7 | Warners Bay | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | -13 | 21 | 34 | 16 |
| 8 | Beresfield | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | -17 | 27 | 44 | 16 |
| 9 | Kotara South | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -17 | 24 | 41 | 14 |
| 10 | Cooks Hill United | 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | -25 | 32 | 57 | 12 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted, italics = another team in higher division | |||||||||
| 2020* (affected by COVID-19)[7] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Cardiff City | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 22 | 26 |
| 2 | Swansea | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 30 | 19 | 24 |
| 3 | Hamilton AzzurriP | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 28 | 21 | 21 |
| 4 | Newcastle Suns | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 29 | 17 |
| 5 | Cooks Hill UnitedP | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | -1 | 26 | 27 | 16 |
| 6 | Mayfield United | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -3 | 26 | 29 | 12 |
| 7 | Berefield | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | -27 | 14 | 41 | 3 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted, italics = another team in higher division | |||||||||
| 2019[8] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Mayfield United | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 53 | 62 | 9 | 45 |
| 2 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 50 | 59 | 9 | 45 |
| 3 | Swansea | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 64 | 28 | 42 |
| 4 | Kotara South | 18 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 38 | 30 | 27 |
| 5 | Newcastle Suns | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 53 | 36 | 25 |
| 6 | Beresfield | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | -19 | 43 | 62 | 23 |
| 7 | Warners Bay | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | -14 | 33 | 47 | 20 |
| 8 | Raymond TerraceP | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -33 | 26 | 59 | 19 |
| 9 | Cardiff City | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | -18 | 26 | 44 | 12 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 18 | 1 | 0 | 17 | -80 | 14 | 94 | 3 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2018[9] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Mayfield United | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 55 | 19 | 44 |
| 2 | Newcastle Suns | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 53 | 32 | 40 |
| 3 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 42 | 21 | 39 |
| 4 | Kotara South | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 46 | 23 | 31 |
| 5 | Swansea | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 30 | 32 | 28 |
| 6 | Warners Bay | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | -9 | 31 | 40 | 21 |
| 7 | Cardiff City | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | -12 | 29 | 41 | 20 |
| 8 | Beresfield | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | -31 | 27 | 58 | 12 |
| 9 | BarnsleyP | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -23 | 29 | 52 | 11 |
| 10 | Jesmond | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -24 | 25 | 49 | 11 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2017[10] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Newcastle Suns | 18 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 56 | 80 | 24 | 43 |
| 2 | Beresfield | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 50 | 28 | 32 |
| 3 | Swansea | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 21 | 31 |
| 4 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 18 | 29 |
| 5 | Kotara SouthP | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | -1 | 30 | 31 | 26 |
| 6 | Mayfield United | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | -4 | 28 | 32 | 23 |
| 7 | JesmondP | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | -16 | 31 | 47 | 23 |
| 8 | Cardiff City | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | -3 | 36 | 39 | 22 |
| 9 | Warners Bay | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -35 | 24 | 59 | 15 |
| 10 | University | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -36 | 27 | 63 | 11 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2016[11] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Mayfield United | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 49 | 25 | 38 |
| 2 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 49 | 31 | 34 |
| 3 | University | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 39 | 37 | 29 |
| 4 | Newcastle Suns | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 36 | 29 |
| 5 | Cardiff City | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 31 | 29 |
| 6 | Beresfield | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 44 | 36 | 27 |
| 7 | New Lambton Eagles | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | -6 | 30 | 36 | 25 |
| 8 | Swansea | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | -3 | 27 | 30 | 24 |
| 9 | Morisset UnitedP | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -15 | 33 | 48 | 19 |
| 10 | Garden Suburb | 18 | 0 | 3 | 15 | -32 | 13 | 45 | 3 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2015[12] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | BeresfieldP | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 65 | 25 | 45 |
| 2 | Newcastle SunsP | 18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 49 | 39 | 31 |
| 3 | Swansea | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 41 | 32 | 31 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 41 | 27 | 29 |
| 5 | New Lambton Eagles | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 36 | 27 |
| 6 | University | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 47 | 34 | 25 |
| 7 | Mayfield United | 18 | 8 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 33 | 41 | 25 |
| 8 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 41 | 39 | 24 |
| 9 | Garden SuburbP | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -27 | 33 | 60 | 15 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 18 | 0 | 2 | 16 | -55 | 15 | 70 | 2 |
| Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2014[13] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | New Lambton Eagles | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 36 | 19 | 44 |
| 2 | Mayfield | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 44 | 26 | 42 |
| 3 | WallsendP | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 37 | 24 | 29 |
| 4 | Cooks Hill United | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 30 | 29 |
| 5 | Barnsley United | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 40 | 34 | 25 |
| 6 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | -2 | 38 | 40 | 23 |
| 7 | Swansea | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | -6 | 31 | 37 | 22 |
| 8 | University | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -1 | 26 | 27 | 19 |
| 9 | KahibahP | 18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | -23 | 13 | 36 | 11 |
| 10 | Cardiff City | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -30 | 17 | 47 | 11 |
| Table updated 20 November 2014, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2013[14] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | University | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 41 | 14 | 36 |
| 2 | Cooks Hill United | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 52 | 23 | 35 |
| 3 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 22 | 32 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 39 | 31 | 29 |
| 5 | Mayfield | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 32 | 31 | 26 |
| 6 | Swansea | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | -12 | 18 | 30 | 20 |
| 7 | Barnsley UnitedP | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 23 | 19 |
| 8 | Plattsburg Maryland | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | -10 | 27 | 37 | 18 |
| 9 | New Lambton Eagles | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -21 | 19 | 40 | 17 |
| 10 | Warners Bay | 18 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -28 | 10 | 38 | 11 |
| Table updated 30 July 2014, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2012[15] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Warners BayP | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 48 | 16 | 44 |
| 2 | Swansea | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 41 | 21 | 38 |
| 3 | Cooks Hill United | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 32 | 22 | 32 |
| 4 | New Lambton Eagles | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 28 | 29 |
| 5 | Cardiff City | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 40 | 36 | 26 |
| 6 | Plattsburg MarylandP | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 36 | 24 |
| 7 | Mayfield | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | -4 | 34 | 30 | 24 |
| 8 | Dudley Redhead | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 36 | 42 | 21 |
| 9 | University | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -4 | 32 | 36 | 19 |
| 10 | Morisset | 18 | 0 | 1 | 17 | -74 | 17 | 91 | 1 |
| Table updated 4 July 2013, P = promoted | |||||||||
| 2011[16] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | New Lambton Eagles | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 44 | 23 | 41 |
| 2 | MorissetP | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 43 | 22 | 39 |
| 3 | Cooks Hill United | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 42 | 27 | 36 |
| 4 | University | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 35 | 22 | 35 |
| 5 | Cardiff City | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 43 | 28 | 32 |
| 6 | Swansea | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 32 | 26 |
| 7 | Dudley RedheadR | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | -5 | 33 | 38 | 21 |
| 8 | Thornton ParkR | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | -19 | 24 | 43 | 16 |
| 9 | Mayfield | 18 | 4 | 0 | 14 | -25 | 21 | 46 | 12 |
| 10 | Kahibah | 18 | 1 | 2 | 15 | -42 | 15 | 57 | 5 |
| Table updated 4 July 2013, P = promoted, R = relegated | |||||||||