The NZFC 2008–09 season is the fifth season of the

New Zealand Football Championship The New Zealand Football Championship () 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 myriad of short-lived football leagues in ...

competition. The previous season's champion,

Waitakere United Waitakere United was a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They were one of the franchises in the ISPS Handa Premiership. They played their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeū and The Trusts Arena. History Waitakere Uni ...

, and second-ranked club

Auckland City FC Auckland City Football Club is an association football club based in the suburb of Sandringham, New Zealand, Sandringham in Auckland, New Zealand. They currently compete in the Northern League (New Zealand), Northern League. Auckland City have ...

will also be competing in the 2008-09 O-League which will run alongside the NZFC season.

Changes for 2008/09

* The league format will change from three-round, 21-match system to a two-round, 14-match home and away system. * The playoff system will be changed to home-and-away semifinals contested by the top four teams, followed by a one-match Grand Final. The Premier will no longer receive a bye to the final. *

Otago United Southern United, previously known as Otago United, is an amateur football club based in Dunedin, New Zealand. Founded in 2004, they play their home games at the Logan Park and Forsyth Barr Stadium. It is the southernmost football club playing ...

will now play their home fixtures at

Sunnyvale Park Sunnyvale Park is a multi-use sports venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is located immediately to the west of Abbotsford in Sunnyvale, near Green Island, and is bounded by Main South Road, Dunedin Southern Motorway and Abbot's Creek, a tributary ...

, moving from

Carisbrook Carisbrook (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Carisbrook Stadium) was a major sporting venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. The city's main domestic and international rugby union venue, it was also used for other sports such as cricket, football, ...

. *

YoungHeart Manawatu Manawatu United (previously known as YoungHeart Manawatu) was a football club based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participated in the New Zealand Football Championship, and fielded a youth side in the National Youth League. Their home g ...

will now play their home fixtures at Memorial Park, moving from

FMG Stadium FMG Stadium Waikato is a major sporting and cultural events venue in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a total capacity of 25,800. Four areas contribute to this capacity: The Brian Perry Stand holding 12,000, the WEL Networks Stand holding 8,000, th ...

* Due to financial issues,

Waikato FC WaiBOP United (known as Waikato FC until 2013) was a football club based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004 and disbanded in 2016 and played in the ASB Premiership. WaiBOP United played their home fixtures at John Kerkhof P ...

will now play their home fixtures at Centennial Park in Ngaruawahia, moving from

Waikato Stadium FMG Stadium Waikato is a major sporting and cultural events venue in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a total capacity of 25,800. Four areas contribute to this capacity: The Brian Perry Stand holding 12,000, the WEL Networks Stand holding 8,000, th ...

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

. It is expected the club will return to Hamilton the following season. *

will permanently return to Douglas Field, after spending the majority of the previous season at

Fred Taylor Park Fred Taylor Park is an association football ground based in Whenuapai, Auckland. It is the home ground of West Coast Rangers. It also is the former home to Waitakere City F.C. and Waitakere United before the clubs dissolved in 2020 and 2021 re ...

Team locations

Participating clubs

League table

Competition Schedule

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Finals

Bracket

Semi-final - 1st leg

Semi-final - 2nd leg

Grand final

External links

Official NZFC website

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 New Zealand Football Championship New Zealand Football Championship seasons 1

New New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...