FOOTBALL: A 10-team men’s Federation League is scheduled to kick off the 2021 season in April after last year’s Covid-disrupted competition. The only change is the addition of Gisborne Thistle to the federation league programme after they finished runners-up in the Pacific premiership last year. It is designed to weed out clubs judged not to be up to competing in the Central Conference should they top the Federation League and become eligible for promotion. But there was never much doubt the federation title was going to be captured by either Whanganui Athletic or New Plymouth Rangers. Palmerston North Marist lurked near the top but couldn’t achieve the breakthrough victory they needed.

Source: Stuff February 08, 2021 01:18 UTC