Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier
 |
|
| Country |
 New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Relegation to | Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Chatham Cup |
| Current champions |
Eastern Suburbs AFC (2015) |
| Most championships | Bay Olympic (4), Takapuna AFC (4) |
| TV partners |
Prime (New Zealand) FTN – Family Television Network TVNZ (Highlights only) Sky Network Television (Playoffs only) |
| Website | Auckland Football Federation |
2015 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier
The Northern Region Football League, or Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier for sponsorship reasons, is a professional/semi-professional New Zealand association football (soccer) league competition that is run by the Auckland Football Federation. The NRFL is at the First level of New Zealand Football, along with the franchise-based ASB Premiership, and includes football clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, New Zealand. It is open to clubs from the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty provinces.
In the years 1965–1969, before the launch of a National Soccer League, the Northern League was the highest level competition available to the clubs in the northern region. When the National Soccer League was created in 1970, the Northern League became one of its feeder leagues.
In 1997 and 1998, when the National Soccer League operated as an invitation-only summer league, the Northern League again became the highest level club competition available to the clubs from the northern provinces.
With the demise of the club-based National Soccer League in 2004, the Northern League, now known as Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Men's Premier, became part of the highest level of football league competition in New Zealand for the third time in its history. The league runs between the New Zealand autumn and winter months (April to October), while the ASB Premiership runs between the New Zealand spring and summer months (November to April).
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