National League football will come to Wembley Park in 2023 following Whanganui Athletic being admitted to join the Central League. 

The move comes following Whanganui Athletic successfully achieving National League Club Licencing standards as required for the competition.

The club were put forward by Capital Football, in conjunction with Central Football, for the Central League following Wellington United’s decision to withdraw from competing in the National League.

Whanganui Athletic qualified for the competition by winning the Central Federation League and finishing as runners-up in the Central League play-off against Stop Out. Both Stop Out and Whanganui Athletic will now join the competition in 2023. 

Whanganui Athletic’s inclusion sees the Central League now represent another Central Football Federation region, joining Hawkes Bay’s Napier City Rovers. 

Article added: Wednesday 07 December 2022