The Wellington Phoenix women’s reserves team will play five home matches during its maiden National League Championship season.
New Zealand Football has announced the draws for the women’s and men’s national leagues, which both start on Saturday week (September 23).
The Phoenix women’s reserves will travel to Auckland to visit Ellerslie AFC in their opening match before returning home to play Southern United at Petone Memorial on Sunday, October 1.
The Katie Barrott coached team will host reigning champions Eastern Suburbs the following week at Fraser Park and will also play beaten Kate Sheppard Cup finalists Wellington United at their home base in round five a fortnight later.
Auckland United will visit Fraser Park in round seven, while Central Football will make the visit to the capital in the final round on Sunday, November 19 to play the women’s reserves at a yet to be determined venue.
The Phoenix men’s reserves, who finished runners-up in the 2023 Central League, will host reigning champions Auckland City in a blockbuster opening round match at Fraser Park on Saturday, September 23.
After a couple of matches on the road they’ll return home in round four to play Central League qualifiers Napier City Rovers.
Chris Greenacre’s side will also entertain Northern League runners-up Eastern Suburbs and Lower Hutt neighbours Petone FC at Fraser Park in rounds six and eight before rounding out the round-robin at Central League champions Wellington Olympic on Sunday, November 19.
The top two sides from the men’s and women’s leagues will play in the National League Championship grand finals on Sunday, November 26.
Women’s 2023 National League Championship (home games in bold):
Round 1 – Saturday, September 23 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Ellerslie AFC – 2pm
Round 2 – Sunday, October 1 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Southern United – Petone Memorial – 1pm
Round 3 – Saturday, October 7 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Eastern Suburbs – Fraser Park – 3:30pm
Round 4 – Saturday, October 14 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Western Springs – 1:30pm
Round 5 – Saturday, October 21 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Wellington United – Fraser Park – 5pm
Round 6 – Saturday, October 28 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Canterbury United Pride – 2pm
Round 7 – Sunday, November 5 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Auckland United – Fraser Park – 4pm
Round 8 – Saturday, November 11 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Waterside Karori – 4pm
Round 9 – Sunday, November 19 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Central Football – TBC – 2pm
Men’s 2023 National League Championship (home games in bold):
Round 1 – Saturday, September 23 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Auckland City – Fraser Park – 4:00pm
Round 2 – Saturday, September 30 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Christchurch United – 12:30pm:
Round 3 – Sunday, October 8 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Manurewa AFC – 3:00pm
Round 4 – Saturday, October 14 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Napier City Rovers – Fraser Park – 3:30pm
Round 5 – Saturday, October 21 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Cashmere Technical – 12pm
Round 6 – Sunday, October 29 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Eastern Suburbs – Fraser Park – 2:00pm
Round 7 – Sunday, November 5 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Auckland United – 3:00pm
Round 8 – Sunday, November 12 – Wellington Phoenix reserves vs Petone FC – Fraser Park – 2:00pm
Round 9 – Sunday, November 19 – Wellington Phoenix reserves @ Wellington Olympic – 2:00pm