The Zone Football League is an Australian amateur soccer league based in Northern New South Wales administered jointly by Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football; sub-federations respectively of Northern NSW Football. The league is the third tier of football in the NNSWF. First division was known NNSW Interdistrict Division One prior to 2011, NNSW Zone Football Premier League (2011–2023) and renamed Zone Football League in 2024.
Covering almost 33,000 square kilometres, across more than 10 Local Government Areas, football clubs are scattered across the Hunter Region.
History Graded Interdistrict competitions have survived alongside the 2 Premier Divisions of local Northern NSW Football for decades.
The 2011 season commenced with 10 teams Cardiff City, Cooks Hill United, Dudley Redhead, Mayfield, Morisset, New Lambton, Swansea, Thornton Park and University in the 1st division competition.
After the 2011 season, Thornton Park (now Thornton Redbacks FC) were elected for promotion to NSW State League Division 1, Kahibah was relegated with Warners Bay and Plattsburg Maryland taking their places in 2012.
The competition briefly dropped to a 7 team competition in 2020, before resuming to a 10 team competition. 2023 saw the expansion of the Zone League 1 from 10 to 12 teams among a greater restructure of the Zone Football Leagues.
From 2024 there will be promotion and relegation between NNSW State League Division 1 and Zone Football League 1 and promotion and relegation between all Zone Leagues.
In 2025 expressions of interest were sought for a women's Zone Football League to be established. In March 2026 the seven founding clubs of the inaugural 2026 Women's Zone Football League were announced. Cooks Hill United FC, Greta Branxton FC, Lochinvar Rovers FC, New Lambton FC, Northumberland United, Southern United FC and University of Newcastle FC.
Format Teams have a first grade side, reserve grade side and third grade side. The regular season takes place, with each team playing each other once at home and once away. The team that finishes first at the end of the regular season is crowned premiers and promoted, the team who finishes last are relegated.
The top four teams contest the Finals Series. For the semi-finals, 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd. The winner of each semi-final progresses straight to the Grand Final where the winner of that game is crowned champions.
Clubs The following clubs will compete in the Zone Football League for the 2026 season.
Division One ClubNickname(s)FoundedLGAGroundLocationCardiff CityTigers1998Lake MacquarieEvans ParkCardiffKotara SouthTigersNewcastleNesbitt ParkKotaraMayfield United S Tigers1922NewcastleMayfield ParkMayfieldNewcastle OlympicWarriors1976NewcastleIslington OvalIslingtonNewcastle SunsSuns1997NewcastleMyers ParkBroadmeadowNorthumberland UnitedCrabs2023NewcastleHeaton ParkJesmondStockton SharksNewcastleCorroba OvalStocktonSwanseaSwans1950Lake MacquarieChapman OvalSwanseaThorntonRedbacks1978MaitlandThornton ParkThorntonUniversity of NewcastleThe Students1962NewcastleRay Watt OvalCallaghanWarners BayPanthersLake MacquarieJohn Street OvalWarners BayWestlakesWildcats1963Lake MacquarieFishburn FieldRathmines Italics indicate the club has a team in a higher division.
Division Two ClubNickname(s)FoundedLGAGroundLocationBolwarra LornBushrangers1974MaitlandBolwarra OvalBolwarraCooks Hill UnitedCookers1997NewcastleNational ParkNewcastle WestGreta BranxtonWildcats1969CessnockMiller ParkEast BranxtonLambton Jaffas JuniorsJaffas1957NewcastleHarry Edwards OvalLambtonMerewether AdvanceRoosters1894NewcastleJesmond ParkJesmondMinmiWanderers1884NewcastleMinmi FieldMinmiNelson BayMarlins1980Port StephensTomaree Sports ComplexNelson BayNew Lambton JuniorsGolden EaglesNewcastleNovocastrian ParkNew LambtonNorth UnitedWolves2000MaitlandLorn ParkLornSouth MaitlandPhoenix2021MaitlandRobins OvalSouth MaitlandSouthern UnitedOspreys2022Mid CoastBoronia ParkForster
Division Three ClubNickname(s)FoundedLGAGroundLocationBarnsley UnitedBulldogs1962Lake MacquarieTaylor ParkBarnsleyBellbirdBombersCessnockCarmichael ParkBellbirdCharlestown Hammers1900Lake MacquarieCharlestown OvalCharlestownFletcherSaints2015NewcastleFederal ParkWallsendGarden SuburbKingfishers1964Lake MacquarieLance York OvalGarden SuburbKurri KurriRoosters1904CessnockBiralee OvalKurri KurriMaitland JuniorsMagpies1957MaitlandFieldsend OvalMetfordMedowieCrybabies1979Port StephensYulong OvalMedowieMerewether UnitedSea Eagles1953NewcastleMyamblah CrescentMerewetherMusswellbrookEagles1924MusswellbrookVictoria Park SportsgroundMusswellbrookRutherfordDragons1967MaitlandNorm Chapman OvalRutherfordSouthern Lakes UnitedHurricanes2011Lake MacquarieCooranbong Sports ComplexCooranbong
Women's ClubNickname(s)FoundedLGAGroundLocationCooks HillCookers1997NewcastleNational ParkNewcastle WestGreta Branxton Wildcats1969CessnockMiller ParkEast BranxtonLochinvarRovers1975MaitlandLochinvar Sports ComplexLochinvarNew Lambton The EaglesNewcastleNovocastrian ParkNew LambtonNorthumberland UnitedCrabs2023NewcastleHeaton OvalJesmondRaymond TerraceLions1957Port StephensKing ParkRaymond TerraceSouthern UnitedOspreys2022Mid CoastBoronia ParkForsterUniversity of NewcastleStudents1962NewcastleRay Watt OvalCallaghanWarners BayPanthersLake MacquarieJohn Street OvalWarners Bay
Winners
2012–2023 In 2012, two more divisions were added. In 2023, the third division was removed.
+ChampionsSeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three2012Cooks Hill UnitedGarden SuburbWestlakes WildcatsStockton Junior2013Uni MensWallsendCharlestown AzzurriBeresfield2014Cooks Hill UnitedBeresfieldRaymond TerraceKurri Kurri2015BeresfieldWarners BayRaymond TerraceNew Lambton2016Newcastle SunsRaymond TerraceHamilton OlympicArgenton United2017BeresfieldRaymond TerraceHunter SimbaHamilton Azzurri2018Newcastle SunsRaymond TerraceHunter SimbaBolwarra Lorn2019SwanseaCooks Hill UnitedHamilton OlympicMinmi2020—20212022Dudley RedheadNewcastle OlympicSouth MaitlandNewcastle Croatia2023Newcastle SunsNewcastle CroatiaSouthern United—
+PremiersSeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three2012Warners BayBarnsleyRaymond TerraceUni Mens2013Uni MensKahibahCharlestown City BluesHunter Simba2014New Lambton EaglesWarners BayCharlestown City BluesHunter Simba2015BeresfieldCooks Hill UnitedRaymond TerraceWallsend2016Mayfield UnitedCharlestown JuniorWestlakes WildcatsArgenton United2017Newcastle SunsBarnsleyArgenton UnitedMaitland2018Mayfield UnitedWestlakes WildcatsKahibahBolwarra Lorn2019Mayfield UnitedWestlakes WildcatsKahibahMinmi2020Cardiff CityWallsendNorth United2021Mayfield UnitedNew LambtonMinmi WanderersLake Macquarie2022Newcastle SunsNewcastle OlympicSouth MaitlandHamilton Azzurri2023Newcastle SunsHamilton AzzurriSouthern United—
2024–present In 2024, the Newcastle Zone League renamed its league and divisions: the Premier Division became Zone League One, Division One became Zone League Two, and Division Two became Zone League Three.
In 2026, the Newcastle Zone League created the Zone Football League Women's competition. +PremiersChampionsSeasonZL1ZL2ZL3ZL1ZL2ZL32024Dudley UnitedNewcastle CroatiaLambton Jaffas JrsNewcastle SunsNewcastle CroatiaNelson Bay2025Newcastle CroatiaCroudace Bay UtdGreta BranxtonNewcastle CroatiaCroudace Bay UtdGreta Branxton2026Newcastle OlympicBolwarra LornCharlestown JuniorKotara SouthBolwarra LornGarden Suburb +Premiers Champions SeasonZLWZLW2026Cooks Hill UnitedCooks Hill United
Past seasons Source:
2022 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS 1 Newcastle Suns 181233 2651 25392Dudley Redhead United 18104428 5628 343Warners Bay 18111612 4129 344Mayfield United 188738 3022 315Hamilton Azzurri 18918-4 3640 286Cardiff City 187563 3532 267Kotara South 186571 3837 238Cooks Hill United 187011-9 3544 219Westlakes WildcatsP 183114-41 1960 1010Swansea FC 182313-24 2852 9Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted, italics = another team in higher division 2021 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1Mayfield United 18116124 3713 392Newcastle Suns 18115226 4418 383Dudley Redhead United 1895420 3818 324Swansea 189456 3024 315Hamilton Azzurri 188557 2821 296Cardiff City 18468-11 3344 187Warners Bay 184410-13 2134 168Beresfield 184410-17 2744 169Kotara South 183510-17 2441 1410Cooks Hill United 182610-25 3257 12Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted, italics = another team in higher division 2020* (affected by COVID-19) POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1Cardiff City 1282211 3322 262Swansea 1273211 3019 243Hamilton AzzurriP 126337 2821 214Newcastle Suns 125252 3129 175Cooks Hill UnitedP 12444-1 2627 166Mayfield United 12408-3 2629 127Berefield 121011-27 1441 3Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted, italics = another team in higher division 2019 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1Mayfield United 18143153 629 452Dudley Redhead 18143150 599 453Swansea 18140436 6428 424Kotara South 189098 3830 275Newcastle Suns 1874717 5336 256Beresfield 18729-19 4362 237Warners Bay 186210-14 3347 208Raymond TerraceP 186111-33 2659 199Cardiff City 183312-18 2644 1210Barnsley 181017-80 1494 3Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted 2018 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1Mayfield United 18135036 5519 442Newcastle Suns 18131421 5332 403Dudley Redhead 18123321 4221 394Kotara South 1894523 4623 315Swansea 18846-2 3032 286Warners Bay 187011-9 3140 217Cardiff City 186210-12 2941 208Beresfield 183312-31 2758 129BarnsleyP 183213-23 2952 1110Jesmond 183213-24 2549 11Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted 2017 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1Newcastle Suns 18141356 8024 432Beresfield 1895422 5028 323Swansea 189459 3021 314Dudley Redhead 188558 2618 295Kotara SouthP 18828-1 3031 266Mayfield United 18729-4 2832 237JesmondP 18729-16 3147 238Cardiff City 18648-3 3639 229Warners Bay 184311-35 2459 1510University 183213-36 2763 11Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted 2016 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1Mayfield United 18122424 4925 382Dudley Redhead 18111618 4931 343University 189279 3937 294Newcastle Suns 188552 3836 295Cardiff City 189272 3331 296Beresfield 188378 4436 277New Lambton Eagles 18747-6 3036 258Swansea 18738-3 2730 249Morisset UnitedP 186111-15 3348 1910Garden Suburb 180315-32 1345 3Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted 2015 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1BeresfieldP 18143140 6525 452Newcastle SunsP 18101710 4939 313Swansea 189459 4132 314Cardiff City 1885514 4127 295New Lambton Eagles 188372 3836 276University 1874713 4734 257Mayfield United 18819-8 3341 258Dudley Redhead 187382 4139 249Garden SuburbP 18369-27 3360 1510Barnsley 180216-55 1570 2Table updated 22 January 2023, P = promoted 2014 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1New Lambton Eagles 18142227 3619 442Mayfield 18133218 4426 423WallsendP 1885513 3724 294Cooks Hill United 189278 3830 295Barnsley United 187476 4034 256Dudley Redhead 18729-2 3840 237Swansea 187110-6 3137 228University 18549-1 2627 199KahibahP 182511-23 1336 1110Cardiff City 183213-30 1747 11Table updated 20 November 2014, P = promoted 2013 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS1University 18106227 4114 362Cooks Hill United 18105329 5223 353Dudley Redhead 189 545 2722 324Cardiff City 188 558 3931 295Mayfield 187 561 3231 266Swansea 185 58-12 1830 207Barnsley UnitedP 185 491 2423 198Plattsburg Maryland 184 68-10 2737 189New Lambton Eagles 184 59-21 1940 1710Warners Bay 181 89-28 1038 11Table updated 30 July 2014, P = promoted 2012 POS TEAM P W D L GD GF GA PTS 1 Warners BayP 18 14 2 2 32 48 16 44 2 Swansea 18 12 2 4 20 41 21 38 3 Cooks Hill United 18 9 5 4 10 32 22 32 4 New Lambton Eagles 18 9 2 7 8 36 28 29 5 Cardiff City 18 8 2 8 4 40 36 26 6 Plattsburg MarylandP 18 8 0 10 6 42 36 24 7 Mayfield 18 7 3 8 -4 34 30 24 8 Dudley Redhead 18 6 3 9 -6 36 42 21 9 University 18 5 4 9 -4 32 36 19 10 Morisset 18 0 1 17 -74 17 91 1Table updated 4 July 2013, P = promoted