Mainland Football is one of six federations of

New Zealand Football New Zealand Football is the governing body for the sport of association football in New Zealand. It oversees the seven New Zealand Football federations, as well as the New Zealand national football team (nicknamed the "All Whites"), the nationa ...

, representing regions of Northern and Central

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

, Tasman,

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

Marlborough Marlborough may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Marlborough, Wiltshire, England ** Marlborough College, public school * Marlborough School, Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England * The Marlborough Science Academy in Hertfordshire, England Austral ...

and the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

History

Canterbury United Pride Canterbury United Pride is a semi-professional women's association football team based in Christchurch, New Zealand. The team was established in 2002 as Mainland Pride by Mainland Football as the regional federation's representative in the Natio ...

was founded in 2002, to represent the region for the

New Zealand Women's National League The National League (previously known as the National Women's League) is the top-level women's association football, women's football league in New Zealand. Unlike its male counterpart, the New Zealand National League, previously the teams were ...

from its inaugural season in 2002 onwards.

Canterbury United Dragons Canterbury United Dragons are a semi-professional football club from Christchurch, New Zealand. The team plays most of its matches at English Park in Christchurch, though they occasionally play in Nelson. The club last played in the ISPS Handa ...

was founded in 2002 as a conglomerate of various Christchurch area clubs, in order to form a strong team to take part in the

2002 New Zealand National Soccer League The 2002 New Zealand National Club Championship, also known, due to naming-rights sponsorship, as the Southern Trust National League was the third season of a nationwide club competition in New Zealand football. The competition was won by Miramar ...

. In 2004, the league was replaced by the

New Zealand Football Championship The New Zealand Football Championship ( mi, Te Whakataetae Whutupaoro a Aotearoa) was a men's association football league at the top of the New Zealand league system. Founded in 2004, the New Zealand Football Championship was the successor to a m ...

, run on a regional franchise basis, and Canterbury United became one of the eight competing teams. In 2021, the league was replaced by

New Zealand National League The New Zealand Men's National League is a men's football league at the top of the New Zealand football league system. Founded in 2021, the New Zealand National League is the successor to the New Zealand Football Championship. The league will be ...

for more of a club based competition, causing the Canterbury Dragons to dissolve.

Competitions

Leagues * Men's Leagues ** Southern League ** Canterbury Premier League **

Canterbury Championship League Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of the ...

** Nelson Premiership * Women's Leagues ** South Island League ** Canterbury Women's Premiership League ** Canterbury Women's Championship League ** Nelson Women's Premiership Cups *

English Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in men's domestic Football in England, English football. First played d ...

Reta Fitzpatrick Cup The Reta Fitzpatrick Cup, is an annual New Zealand knockout football competition for Mainland Football women's first teams. First played during the 1974 season, it has been running on for 20 years longer than the Kate Sheppard Cup. It is organ ...

Defunct Leagues * Southern League Divsion One * Southern League Divsion Two Note: Southern League and South Island League includes teams from the Southern Football Federation and is a National competition run by New Zealand Football and managed by Mainland Football.

Current title holders

Affiliated clubs

As of 2023.

References

External links