The 2025 Zone Football League season is approaching its climax with the return of promotion and relegation and the historic connection of the football pyramid to make it one of the most anticipated seasons in memory.
The Zone Football League, including the Zone League One, Zone League Two and Zone League Three competitions, is administered by the Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football member zones.
NNSWF and the three member zones announced in 2023 that the men’s Hunter football pyramid would be connected from NPL Men’s NNSW and HIT106.9 Northern League One competitions to Zone League One, Two and Three, with the return of promotion and relegation from 2024.
Zone Football League One
Newcastle Croatia have continued to shine in Zone League One, remaining six points clear of Newcastle Suns at the top of the table.
Croatia have downed the Suns both times they have met in 2025 with a 4-2 victory in round one and more recently a 6-0 win at Myers Park in round 12. The club has only lost one game in first grade and have not been defeated since the start of April.
Croatia remains in the box seat for promotion to HIT106.9 Northern League One with six games remaining.
University of Newcastle FC are a further six points behind the Suns, though they have a game in hand. They will be hungry going into the remainder of the season after recently defeating Hamilton Azzurri 8-1.
At the other end of the table, Azzurri look in most danger of the drop as they sit in the relegation zone.
Though they will be buoyed by the fact Westlakes FC are just three points clear, with Stockton FC a further point away.
Zone Football League Two
Croudace Bay FC continue to soar at the top of Zone League Two, seven points clear of North United Wolves, and are yet to drop a point this season.
Croudace Bay have the chance to further extend their lead being the only side in the top four with a game in hand.
The Wolves will look to defeat the Crabs for the first time this season when they go head-to-head next Wednesday after narrowly going down 3-2 in round six.
Mayfield United JSFC sit bottom of the pile in Zone League Two though the Tigers are on equal points with New Lambton Junior FC but are behind on goal difference.
The battle to avoid relegation will reach boiling point when the two sides face each other for the second time in round 18.
Zone Football League Three
Greta Branxton FC and Kurri Kurri FC continue to battle for promotion after 16 rounds in Zone Football Three.
Greta Branxton sits at the top of the table, three points clear of Kurri Kurri in second.
Medowie FC continue to fight for second spot as they sit in third place seven points behind Kurri Kurri.
Greta Branxton won the first meeting between the sides 3-2 in round five, while Kurri Kurri had bragging rights when they were victorious 4-0 in their second meeting.
But with both teams having a game in hand, the fight for promotion could go until the very end.
NPL Men’s NNSW
While the fight for the premiership has heated up between Edgeworth Eagles and Broadmeadow Magic, the race to avoid relegation has also intensified.
New Lambton FC remain in the most danger, sitting in last place with seven points with the prospect of automatic relegation to HIT106.9 Northern League one now looking likely.
New Lambton have been competitive in recent weeks but have been unable to secure a much-needed win. They went down by one goal in round 18 and round 19 before securing a point against Belmont Swansea United in round 20.
Adamstown Rosebud are seven points clear of the automatic drop but, if they were to finish 11th, would have to navigate the Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs for the second year in a row to remain in NPL Men’s NNSW next season.
HIT106.9 Northern League One
Kahibah FC sit seven points clear at the top of the table after 16 rounds of HIT106.9 Northern League One and look likely to secure automatic promotion.
While Kahibah can almost touch promotion, there is still a real battle to reach the Promotion/Relegation Play-offs.
Toronto Awaba are in the box seat with 34 points, with Singleton Strikers (22), Dudley Redhead United (22), West Wallsend SFC (19), Lake Macquarie City FC (19) and Thornton Redbacks (19) vying for the final two spots.
South Cardiff FC and Wallsend FC are most at risk of relegation. South Cardiff have 14 points while Wallsend have 15 points.
But Cessnock City Hornets are sat in eighth only two points ahead of last-placed South Cardiff.
