The National League regional phase wrapped up, and the National League Championship just a few days away, it is time to acknowledge some of the best individual performances across the season by naming the Northern, Central and South League MVPs, as well as the three Golden Boot winners from the competitions.

Northern League

MVP – Derek Tieku (Hamilton Wanderers)
Golden Boot – Derek Tieku and Ryan De Vries (Auckland City FC)

Congratulations to Derek Tieku of Hamilton Wanderers, who has won the National League regional phase MVP this year. The forward scored 19 goals this season, only matched by Auckland City FC’s Ryan De Vries who is jointly awarded the Golden Boot with Tieku.

Tieku has added to his impressive 2022 season, where he again won the MVP and top scorer award with 17 goals. This year he added two more and helped Hamilton Wanderers to a 6th place finish.

Central League

MVP – Matthew Brazier (Petone)

Golden Boot – Matthew Brazier (Petone)

Petone’s Matthew Brazier enjoyed a stellar season in the capital, scoring 18 goals to help secure his side’s spot in the National League Championship.

The 26-year-old only signed for Petone at the start of the season but made an immediate impact following his move from Green Island, finding the net three times more than his closest rival in the Central League Golden Boot race.
 

 

Southern League

MVP – Garbhan Coughlan (Cashmere Technical)

Golden Boot – Sam Philip (Christchurch United)

Always one of the top performers in the Southern League, Garbhan Coughlan enjoyed another great season in the yellow and green of Cash Tech, helping his side again qualify for the National League Championship.

Coughlan scored a phenominal 28 goals in the league, but amazingly it wasn’t enough to win the Golden Boot race. That title was claimed by free-scoring Christchurch United’s Sam Philip who netted 29 times to be the top scorer not just in the Southern League but the overal regional phase as well. United will be hoping that form continues as the kick-off the Championship this weekend as one of the sides with an eye on the title.

Article added: Thursday 21 September 2023