The 2020 Women's Premiership (currently known as the ISPS Handa Women's Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the eighteenth season of the league, New Zealand's top level women's football league since its establishment in 2002. Seven teams again were involved in the season representing the different regions in New Zealand. The league after consultation and feedback from stakeholders, was reverted to a single round-robin format, with the two highest-placed sides progressing to a one-off grand final.[1]Canterbury United Pride was again the team to beat, as they were looking at a threepeat, having played in every final since 2013, won five out of seven of those finals, including the last two years.[2]
After an unbeaten regular season, Canterbury United Pride capped it off by completing the threepeat, beating 2nd place Capital Football 4–0 in the final.[3]
Source: NZ Football Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions Notes:
^Auckland Football forfeited three matches (losing 9 points) for fielding an ineligible player in their Round 1, 2 and 3 games against Central Football, Canterbury United Pride and Capital Football and the results recorded as 3–0 wins for the opposition.[9]
New Zealand women's football league matches will take place from 31 October to 20 December with the draw reverting to a single-round robin competition with the top two teams progressing to the one-off final.[1]
Bye: WaiBOP
*Auckland Football beat Central Football 9–1 however it was ruled by NZ Football that they had fielded an ineligible player so forfeited the result. This meant the win was awarded as a 3–0 result to Central[9]
Bye: Northern Lights
*Auckland Football beat Canterbury United Pride 4–1 however it was ruled by NZ Football that they had fielded an ineligible player so forfeited the result. This meant the win was awarded as a 3–0 result to Canterbury[9]
Bye: Central Football
*Auckland Football beat Capital Football 3–1 however it was ruled by NZ Football that they had fielded an ineligible player so forfeited the result. This meant the win was awarded as a 3–0 result to Capital[9]
^ a b"2020 ISPS Handa Women's Premiership launches". New Zealand Football. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
^ a b c d e f g hVoerman, Andrew (30 October 2020). "Questions hang over national women's football league as three-peat quest begins". Stuff. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
^Rollo, Phillip (20 December 2020). "Canterbury United Pride win third straight national women's league final". Stuff.
^"NRF-Club Partnerships Set for 2020 NWL Season". Northern Region Football. Retrieved 9 October 2020.[permanent dead link]
^"Staff Changes for 2020". Capital Football. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
^"2019 Pride Staff". Mainland Football. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
^"Big pre-season needed for Southern United women". Otago Daily Times. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
^ a b c d e f"Statement on ISPS Handa Women's Premiership". New Zealand Football. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
^@CapFootball (7 November 2020). "79'" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^"From the Dugout - Matchweek 4, 2020 ISPS Handa Women's Premiership". New Zealand Football. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
^"From the Dugout - ISPS Handa Men's and Women's Premierships Matchweeks 4 and 6". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
External links
Official website Archived 21 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine