Proposed New AFF/NFF Mens Championship

Detailed below from  AFF 's is a proposed new Championship league.  Any member who wishes to comment on any aspect of this proposal should forward there thoughts to by email to idavidson@xtra.co.nz     by 20th January 2012.

PROPOSED NEW JOINT AFF/NORTHERN MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION

Ladies and Gentlemen

We have had discussions with Northern Football around the men’s competition immediately below NRFL in both Federations. The top level of Federation competition is the pathway opportunity to the NRFL, for clubs with first teams not already there.

In Northern there is a limited set of clubs in this position. In 2011 Northern also played a separate competition for clubs in the southern end of their territory, distinct from the clubs in Northland. The contender in the NRFL Challenger Series (Waitemata) came from this competition.

In AFF the existing Championship division mixes clubs that have their top team at this level, with clubs already in the NRFL and NRFL reserves competition, ie it is their third team playing at this level. Whilst a first team may progress from Championship to the Challenger Series and if successful into the NRFL itself (as with Manukau City in 2011), if the top teams in the existing competition are all NRFL club third teams, that pathway is blocked.

So there is a proposal from both Federations to run a joint Auckland Metro Championship division (yet to be named) which would consist of the top teams of clubs not yet in the NRFL on both sides of the bridge. NFF teams would only be from the southern end of their region, meaning this is NOT an NRFL 3^rd division in that travelling is restricted to Auckland, with no Northland or WaikatoBoP clubs involved. From this division the opportunity to progress to the NRFL would continue via the combination of play-offs and/or automatic promotion/relegation according to NRFL Competition Regulations in force each season. It is envisaged that only one team would progress to the NRFL opportunity, this competition having already served as a season long play-off to prove that a team deserves to be in the NRFL mix from the two Federations.

The third teams of NRFL clubs in AFF would form a separate Federation competition division (also yet to be named), but clearly the progression from there is for individual players to make their club’s reserves and first teams, whilst the team itself could not gain any further promotion.

These two divisions would be parallel in status, with each having a promotion and relegation link with what is currently AFF Federation Division One below. That competition and the Federation divisions below it would continue to consist of a mixture of first teams and third/fourth and below teams as now.

the Promo/Rel has a question mark between AFF D1 and the new 3rd team comp on the right, as we need to determine whether it is ring-fenced for 3^rd teams only, or has multiple teams from the same club. If promotion and relegation from D1 is allowed then future changes will reflect the true and unrestricted playing position of each team, and the initial structure should be based on the same principle. The suggested structure below assumes that promotion and relegation does take place and the initial composition therefore has multiple teams from one club from the outset.

From the 2011 standings we would therefore suggest that the following 10-team Divisions would be formed in the initial season 2012:

JOINT AUCKLAND METRO CHAMPIONSHIP

Pukekohe MC

Beachlands Maraetai AFFMC

Unimount MC KT

HSOB M1 Red (1^st team)(promoted from AFF D1 2011)

Plus 6 x NFF teams

PARALLEL AFF COMP FOR NRFL 3^rd/4^th TEAMS

TKU MC Waka

Central United MC

Fencibles United MChamp

Bay Olympic MC

Western Springs MC Diamond Geezers

MAP MC

Ellerslie MC

Fencibles United M1 Walsh

Papatoetoe AFC M1

TKU M1 Thunder

AFF DIV 1

Otahuhu United MC (relegated from championship 2011)

Bay Olympic M1

Bucklands Beach AFC M1 Paterson (1^st team)

Lynn Avon M1

SAR M1 Navolo (1^st team)

Otahuhu United M1 Gold

Metro FC M1 Wrimac

Manurewa M2 Assyrian Star

Onehunga Sports M2

Ellerslie M2 MPC

 

AUCKLAND METRO POSSIBLE RESERVES COMPETITION

There is also a proposal that the new joint Auckland Metro Championship would have a mirrored reserves competition. This would bring the second team in non-NRFL clubs up to a new mirrored competition. The purpose of this is to allow clubs to operate in the same way that NRFL clubs do, with extended training squads and the ability to move players between the top two teams without the usual restrictions. It also helps clubs to build their profile within the community and provide an obvious senior pathway for the upper end of youth football. It is possible that such principles could be built into playing regulations to ensure that young players are included in squads and have matchday gametime. In the consultation below please can we have the views of clubs who might be involved in this as to your capability to also run a reserves team. The first teams comp is not dependent on it for 2012, but it does represent a future position that is seen as desirable if it can be achieved.

CONSULTATION

Can I ask each club with an interest in this proposal to come back to me asap but in any case before January 23^rd please with answers and any more detailed observations on the following questions? The timescale is intended to give the clubs time to consider the issue even over the holiday period, but if the answers are generally supportive we would implement for the 2012 season.

Is your club generally in favour of the structure shown above? Or not? (We’d like to hear your reasons for support or opposition).

1. (To clubs with first teams already in the NRFL only) - Is your club in favour of the 3^rd/4^th team parallel comp being
   1. multiple teams from one club, reflecting the true position of each team in the structure, or
   2. being restricted to 3^rd teams only
2. (To clubs with first teams not in the NRFL only) – Would you wish to take up your place in the structure as above, given a proviso in the regs that you would not be forced to take up the NRFL opportunity if you won the joint Auckland Metro Championship (it would pass to the team in 2^nd).
3. (To clubs with first teams not in the NRFL only) – Is your club in favour of and able to field a reserves team in addition to the first team in the joint Auckland Metro Championship? In 2012? In future seasons? Would you be in favour of some playing regulations to promote the transition from youth to senior football (eg a minimum number of under-age (u19 or 21) in squads and on match day team sheets)?
4. Do you foresee any pitfalls or fishhooks?
5. What questions arise that you would like to have clarified?

Jointly the two Federations believe that the proposed structure has the potential to elevate the game in many ways at the level just below NRFL. I look forward to hearing from you all

 

Regards

David

David Parker l CEO l Auckland Football Federation
Office: 09 579 0705 ex 806 l Mobile: 021 759 437 l Web: www.aucklandfootball.org.nz