The men’s regional league has been restructured, paving the way for the inclusion of 10 clubs from the United Soccer 1 federation and an additional club, Matamata Swifts AFC, from the Waikato Bay of Plenty Football region.

The league expansion comes after clubs from the United Soccer 1 federation (who spent the last two years playing in their own competition after being withdrawn from the previous incarnation of a Northern Regional League) sought to join the mix of clubs playing in the top regional league covering the area of the North Island from Northland to Taupo.

The 2010 competition will kick off in mid-March with an initial two-tier system – an 18-team premier league and a 16-team first division – in which each club will play the others once.

Based on their finishing position from that first stage, the clubs then split out into one of four sections and will complete the season over a seven to nine round stretch which will reveal Premier League, first division and second division champions.

From that point, the finishing order of the teams will determine their placing in a more traditional three-division competition for the beginning of the 2011 season with the process of promotion and relegation into and from the league still to be finalised.

The six highest-placed finishers from the 2009 United Soccer 1 Premiership have been invited to begin life in the initial premier league tier of the 2010 Lotto NRFL while the next four clubs from that competition will join Matamata Swifts AFC in the first division.

Each club’s participation will be confirmed after Auckland Football, who will again run the Lotto NRFL from their offices at Mt Smart Stadium, receive entry documents from the invited clubs.

The revised competition also includes a mirrored reserve league with each club’s reserve side following their first team throughout the season, regardless of which section of the league a club’s top side find themselves in during 2010.

Auckland Football Federation CEO David Parker says the expanded league is a great outcome not only logistically but especially when you consider its place in the New Zealand Football development chain.

“We’ve always said we want the Lotto NRFL to be the strongest possible competition on and off the field,” Parker said.

“The introduction of clubs from the United Soccer 1 federation not only boosts the playing strength and depth of our competition but also enhances our reputation as the top regional league in the country.

“One of the hurdles that we had to overcome in including the clubs from United Soccer 1 was determining where and how they should enter the league.

“The solution we’ve arrived at after consultation with our clubs provides an exciting league meaning every game is vital as clubs look to measure themselves on the pitch against the region’s top talent with positioning in the 2011 league a target for all involved.

“The ultimate reason for the Lotto NRFL competition is as a step on the pathway towards the higher level football in the NZFC and beyond. We believe our three-federation league strengthens and streamlines that exciting journey for our players, coaches and referees.”

United Soccer 1 chairman Michael Anderson says the move into the Lotto NRFL competition is something the new board of the federation backed from the outset.

“After talking with the clubs in our region and listening to feedback from many sources, we decided to act quickly and consequently sought to join the Lotto NRFL competition as soon as possible.

“We look forward to playing our part in what we believe will be a strong and vibrant competition in 2010 and beyond.”

Acting general manager for Waikato Bay of Plenty Football Cameron Mitchell, himself a player with 2009 Lotto NRFL Premier League champions Melville United, says his federation is proud to have been part of the first two seasons of the Lotto NRFL competition and echoes Parker’s view of a streamlined league being best for all concerned.

“We’ve always been of the belief that a three-federation regional league is the best way forward for our game at senior level and we’re excited to be part a 2010 competition which makes that desire a reality,” Mitchell said.

“We’re delighted to be able to continue our contribution to the Lotto NRFL and extend it further this season with the introduction of our own federation champions; Matamata Swifts AFC.”

Meanwhile, the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League remains in the same league format as last season with the possibility of a triple round robin depending on the number of entries from clubs across the three federations.

Clubs invited for Lotto NRFL men's competition 2010 - phase 1 (club federation)