Marquee
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5.5K
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over 13 years

After 19 years in the wilderness, the latest iteration of the Southern League returns. The 2018 South Island League will pitch the top 5 Mainland Premier League teams and the top 3 Football South Premier League teams into battle over one round, with a scheduled kick off of June 30.

It's been a long while coming, with regular talk around the grounds about its future return over the best part of the last two decades. Of note are these words from Jeremy Ruane in 2015: http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/2015...

If you're on Jeremy's website it's interesting to look at the changing face of Canterbury clubs particularly. In 1999 the top 3 teams were Christchurch Technical, Woolston Workingmen's Club and Cashmere Wanderers. Jump forward to 2018 and those 3 teams now form one powerhouse club - Cashmere Technical, with it's premier teams playing at Woolston's Garrick Memorial Park.

So, back to the present. 

This years Mainland Premier League was played over 2 rounds and won by Cashmere Tech last week. The other places were settled weeks ago. Final matches next week will determine the standings of Coastal Spirit, Ferrymead Bays, Nomads United and Nelson Suburbs. 

However in the deep south, matters are going down to the wire with four teams in the running for the thee spots available: Dunedin Technical, Caversham, Queenstown Rovers and Southland United - and they all play each other next weekend!

Initially, it all hangs on the Southern Scenic derby between Rovers and United, with Southland needing a win to stay in the running. Lose, and the top 3 will Tech, Cavvy and Queenstown.

If Southland win, it brings into play two matches: firstly Dunedin heavyweights Tech v. Caversham, with the Tonga Park team probably the more desperate; and also the following week's final league match, Tech v Queenstown.

Gotta love football on Te Waipounamu.

Phoenix Academy
64
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270
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over 14 years

I watched the Cavvy-Q'town Rovers match yesterday on a bumpy Hancock Park (Caversham's new home ground). Discussions with DCC are ongoing re re-sowing the pitch for next season, as it was previously one of Pirates RFC's fields. 

The pace of the game was noticeably slower than the top MPL clashes. The Queenstown side gave the impression of being futsal players, but apparently there is a marked difference in strength between their away side vs their home team. A sizeable part of the squad is unable to travel on any given weekend, due to the demands of employment in the Queenstown hospitality industry. As next week's match against Southland is to be played in Queenstown, if Caversham can get at least a point from their match against Dunedin Technical, the 3 southern teams for the SI League will be Dunedin Tech, Queenstown & Cavvy. If Cavvy lose, Roslyn could get up if they beat Green Island.

Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

What do people think about Dunedin Tech? They are top so presumably they're offering the best Southern hope in the South Island league?

Phoenix Academy
64
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270
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over 14 years
Marquee
1.2K
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5.5K
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over 13 years
Phoenix Academy
64
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270
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over 14 years

If Otago/Southland players spit the dummy over travel arrangements, this will be the death knell for a South Island League. Mainland should then aim toward a 6 team, 4 round league to attempt concentrate the playing strength and bridge the gap between winter football and the ISPA Premiership.

Starting XI
650
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4.1K
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almost 17 years

If there's any changes or f#ckupz in terms of clubs pulling out it's an embarrassment on all concerned. Clubs and Federations. 

C'mon we're almost there!

Phoenix Academy
180
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480
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over 16 years

Steptoe wrote:

If Otago/Southland players spit the dummy over travel arrangements, this will be the death knell for a South Island League. Mainland should then aim toward a 6 team, 4 round league to attempt concentrate the playing strength and bridge the gap between winter football and the ISPA Premiership.

Not sure if you can call it 'spitting the dummy" when the goal posts were moved by an incompetent Football South. 

South Island league was proposed with the travel arrangements being flights. Clearly this is the best option in terms of providing the best platform to play football on the same day as travelling and in terms of minimising time spent away (issue for families and students a like).

Football South did not make any advance bookings or arrangements for flights so when booking them now, the cost is a lot higher and this does not suit them. The teams do not want to take the bus as it either means going up a day early or coming back the day after. Nor do they want to supplement the cost to fly. Nor should they have to.

Football South should take the responsibility for their poor planning and pay the costs, so that the quality of the league is high, its not just something that they have ticked off as having made an attempt at.  

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years

From what I am hearing around the traps in Chch, they just want to get on with playing the Southern league and don’t care if its by vans or flying as long as its the same for everyone. Would prefer to fly but to get a better competition going they are willing to drive like the old Southern league that was around for 25 odd years. 

Starting XI
650
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4.1K
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almost 17 years

Yes, we are deffo keen to get going. I understand what the Dunedin teams are saying in terms of changing the rules around driving/flying. 

I guess we are used to sometimes driving and sometimes flying to Nelson that it is what it is. 

Remember there is only 7 games, of which either 3 or 4 will be away. Some away games will be in your own city, so it might be only 2 or 3 times you're out. I think trips to Nelson from Dunedin or South should be on a plane, otherwise Chch can be done on a bus. For the Chch teams, everything can be done from a bus apart from Qtown or Invergiggle. That's my 2 cents. 

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years

It has been confirmed that there will be flights between Chch-Invercargill, Chch-Queenstown, Dunedin-Nelson and Invercargill-Nelson. 

Marquee
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over 13 years

Delta wrote:

It has been confirmed that there will be flights between Chch-Invercargill, Chch-Queenstown, Dunedin-Nelson and Invercargill-Nelson. 

Presumably individual clubs could still make a decision to fly Chch-Dndn or Chch-Nlsn at their own cost.

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years

Global Game wrote:

Delta wrote:

It has been confirmed that there will be flights between Chch-Invercargill, Chch-Queenstown, Dunedin-Nelson and Invercargill-Nelson. 

Presumably individual clubs could still make a decision to fly Chch-Dndn or Chch-Nlsn at their own cost.

Corre

Trialist
2
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8
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almost 6 years

Football South are doing a very good job with many of the areas under their umbrella, from the improvement overall in all Southern United Teams to the proposed Home of Football. One of the Southern United Teams is requiring considerable financial resources and they are struggling with a connection to the local premier competition. Whether it is that players are not playing in the local competition to resources not being available for travel. Overall FS and SU is a considerable improvement on what has been in the recent past.

Phoenix Academy
180
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480
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over 16 years

Football South are doing a very good job with many of the areas under their umbrella, from the improvement overall in all Southern United Teams to the proposed Home of Football. One of the Southern United Teams is requiring considerable financial resources and they are struggling with a connection to the local premier competition. Whether it is that players are not playing in the local competition to resources not being available for travel. Overall FS and SU is a considerable improvement on what has been in the recent past.

This not the right place for this discussion, but the majority of football south's issues are self inflicted. And most of their improvements have caused consequential problems, as you rightly pointed out. The issue around travel for the SIL is just another example. 

Starting XI
650
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4.1K
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almost 17 years
I'd appreciate if the draw could be released on Saturday evening in order to assist with travel plans. I mean they could release it now and just have a Qtown/Caversham option couldn't they? Thanks in advance
Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

Third Football South team will be decided tomorrow - personally I think Caversham will be better for the SI league but who knows if Queenstown can break Tech's unbeaten run. Have heard that Queenstown have a far, far better team for home games (of which it is), and Tech are without their first team goalkeeper and were lucky to escape with a draw on the weekend. The whole round has been drama filled so bring on the next few months!

Trialist
0
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14
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almost 6 years

fixtures have been released to the clubs. dont think they are publicly available online yet because the dates and times are negotiable between the playing clubs so the travel issues can be sorted. theres a few weeks with chatham cup that don't have fixtures scheduled so stuff can be moved around.

First Team Squad
69
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1K
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almost 17 years

Queenstown in. 

Starting XI
650
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4.1K
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almost 17 years
Chahoo! Let's go to Queenstown!!!!
Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

Question is now how many transfers from teams around the Dunedin region, as Tech the only Dunedin team in the SI League. Good for the Chch teams who get to go to Queenstown, their premier pitch is picturesque!

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Marquee
470
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over 14 years

Delta wrote:

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Assume you are referring to Aidan Barbour-Ryan who moved from Selwyn to Ferrymead Bays over a week ago.

Marquee
470
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over 14 years

Question is now how many transfers from teams around the Dunedin region, as Tech the only Dunedin team in the SI League. Good for the Chch teams who get to go to Queenstown, their premier pitch is picturesque!

At best only two Christchurch teams likely to play Quenstown at home.

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years

AllWhites82 wrote:

Delta wrote:

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Assume you are referring to Aidan Barbour-Ryan who moved from Selwyn to Ferrymead Bays over a week ago.

No a player from football south region to a mainland club. 

Marquee
470
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over 14 years

Delta wrote:

AllWhites82 wrote:

Delta wrote:

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Assume you are referring to Aidan Barbour-Ryan who moved from Selwyn to Ferrymead Bays over a week ago.

No a player from football south region to a mainland club. 

My error then, Aidan is based in Dunedin and travels weekly for games up here.

Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

Delta wrote:

AllWhites82 wrote:

Delta wrote:

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Assume you are referring to Aidan Barbour-Ryan who moved from Selwyn to Ferrymead Bays over a week ago.

No a player from football south region to a mainland club. 

Any idea which club this is? Must be either Caversham or Roslyn

Starting XI
650
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4.1K
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almost 17 years

Any idea when an official draw with kickoff times will be released? I've heard some games will be on a Satdy and some on a Sundy. 

Wanna book flights/accom and want to make sure we get the right day!

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years

Delta wrote:

AllWhites82 wrote:

Delta wrote:

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Assume you are referring to Aidan Barbour-Ryan who moved from Selwyn to Ferrymead Bays over a week ago.

No a player from football south region to a mainland club. 

Any idea which club this is? Must be either Caversham or Roslyn

The rumour doing the rounds is there is a few national league players wanting to play in the Southern league from teams that didn’t qualify. 

Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

Delta wrote:

Delta wrote:

AllWhites82 wrote:

Delta wrote:

Have heard a Mainalnd team have been looking at a Dunedin based player from a team that didn’t qualify 

Assume you are referring to Aidan Barbour-Ryan who moved from Selwyn to Ferrymead Bays over a week ago.

No a player from football south region to a mainland club. 

Any idea which club this is? Must be either Caversham or Roslyn

The rumour doing the rounds is there is a few national league players wanting to play in the Southern league from teams that didn’t qualify. 

Training at Dunedin Tech this coming week may be interesting then!

Trialist
2
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8
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almost 6 years

Have any Irishmen turned up at Culling, Turf or the Events Centre...? 

Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

Have any Irishmen turned up at Culling, Turf or the Events Centre...? 

Isn't this the question of the week! Haven't heard anything, but have heard that Tech no longer have Prattley and will lose McLennan at some point too - the question must be asked whether they can sustain a challenge without those two?

Marquee
1.2K
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over 13 years

is the full draw online anywhere? 

Phoenix Academy
120
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460
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almost 17 years

Think it's still being finalised, but sounds like a lot of matches to be played on Sundays

Trialist
22
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140
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over 6 years
Starting XI
650
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4.1K
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almost 17 years

sawu wrote:

Think it's still being finalised, but sounds like a lot of matches to be played on Sundays

Would love a copy of the draw too, especially kickoff times and days. Kickoff is in 7 days!

First Team Squad
69
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1K
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almost 17 years
Trialist
5
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85
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almost 6 years

Dunedin Tech sign Southern United players Coughlan, Ledwith, O'keefe and Last. Massive statement of intent.

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