The 2024 Zone Football League regular season has ended with three clubs being promoted and two relegated.
Dudley United, Newcastle Croatia FC and Lambton Jaffas Juniors were each promoted from their respective competitions, while Minmi FC and Mayfield United JSFC were relegated.
Northern NSW Football, Newcastle Football, Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football announced last year that the men’s Hunter football pyramid would be connected for the first time from the NPL Men’s NNSW and HIT106.9 Northern League One competitions through to Zone League One, Two and Three, allowing for the return of promotion and relegation.
“Congratulations to HIT106.9 Northern League One club Belmont Swansea United and Zone Football League clubs Dudley United, Newcastle Croatia FC and Lambton Jaffas Juniors on gaining promotion in their respective competitions,” Northern NSW Football General Manager Football Operations Manager Liam Bentley said.
“This year has been an exciting season of football across our region in reconnecting NNSWF’s premier competitions with the Zone League Football competitions.
“There is now a fully functioning football pyramid in northern NSW for the first time which allows aspirational clubs to move up to higher levels based on sporting performance.”
In Zone League One, Dudley United was promoted to HIT106.9 Northern League One for 2025.
It all came down to the final round of the season, with Newcastle Suns in the driver’s seat to secure the premiership and promotion two points ahead of Dudley.
But the Suns fell at the final hurdle going down 3-2 to Newcastle Olympic which saw Dudley come out on top with a 2-0 win over Kotara South FC.
At the other end of the table, Minmi FC finished in last position and was relegated to Zone League Two.
Zone League Two club Newcastle Croatia FC was promoted into Zone League One after a dramatic showdown on the final weekend of the regular season.
It was a battle between first and second place for the premiership and promotion between Croatia and Stockton Sharks that saw Croatia secure top spot with a 4-1 victory at home.
Mayfield United JSFC was relegated to Zone League Three after South Maitland FC snuck off the bottom of the table after winning their rescheduled fixture against Merewether Advance SFC on Wednesday night.
In Zone League Three, Lambton Jaffas Junior FC secured promotion into Zone League Two on goal difference.
They edged out second-place Kurri Kurri FC by 15 goals with a dominant 10-0 victory over Southern Lakes United in the final round of the competition.
Lake Macquarie City FC finished at the bottom of the table but will remain in the competition as there is no relegation.
In NPL Men’s NNSW competition, Broadmeadow Magic was crowned premiers, while Lake Macquarie City FC was relegated to HIT106.9 Northern League One.
Adamstown Rosebud finished the season in 11th position on the table and is fighting for their survival in the promotion/relegation play-offs to remain in the NPL Men’s NNSW next season.
They will take on 106.9 Nothern League One side West Wallsend SFC in the second leg of a two-leg play-off series, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the play-off final.
HIT106.9 side Belmont Swansea United secured automatic promotion to the NPL Men’s NNSW next season after finishing 12 points clear of Kahibah FC in second place.
Kahibah FC, Toronto Awaba FC and West Wallsend SFC all finished in the top four to qualify for the promotion/Relegation Play-Offs with Adamstown Rosebuds.
Wallsend FC finished the season at the bottom of the table with eight points. But because there are only nine teams in HIT106.9 Northern League One, there will be no relegation from the competition in 2024.
Find out more about promotion/relegation HERE.
