It is under a month until the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, so we thought we’d take a look at which players aged 20 or under have played the most in the National League season so far…

[Stats from before the 28-30 April games]

Top 10 players under 20, by minutes played, in the Northern League

1. Joseph Knowles 540 minutes played

The 18-year-old Eastern Suburbs goalkeeper has impressed with his recent selection for the OFC U-19 Championships and continues to build momentum by being one of the two U-20s players in the Northern League to play maximum minutes. 

= Regan Diver 540 minutes played

Western Springs’ 19-year-old keeper has played maximum minutes and helped his team to 4 wins so far this season. 

3. Brendan Quilter-Phipps 535 minutes played

Quilter-Phipps, who plays as a center back for Melville United, has played full minutes in all but one of the 6 games played so far this season. 

4. Ry Mcleod 524 minutes played

The 18-year-old right back has played in every game for Melville United, while only missing 15 minutes of time on the pitch so far.

5. Mirko Brinkmann 510 minutes played

18-year-old Mirko Brinkmann has played an impressive 510 minutes for Hamilton Wanderers in midfield this season. 

6. Jason Kay 449 minutes played

The 19-year-old West Coast Rangers centre-back has been on the pitch every game so far this season. 

7. Matthew Thomas 441 minutes played

With a goal to his name already and having started all but one game so far this season, Thomas has been a big contributor to Western Springs current 4th place position in the table. 

8. Ethan Richards 426 minutes played

The midfielder has played in every game so far this season alongside fellow Melville United youngsters Mcleod and Quilter-Phipps. 

9.  Everton O’Leary 413 minutes played

The right-back has already contributed to Birkenhead United’s goal tally for the season. After missing the first match, he has played in every game since and was part of the U-20s side in February for the warm-up tournament in Indonesia. 

10. Keagan Thompson 409 minutes played

The 18-year-old attacker has scored for Melville United and started in every game so far this season. 


Top 10 players under 20, by minutes played, in the Central League

1. Brooklyn Browne 450 minutes played

The Stop-Out keeper has not missed a single minute of football for the 6th placed side. 

= Coran Perks 450 minutes played

Petone FC’s defensive minded Coran Perks has played in every single game, with maximum minutes for the 19-year-old.  

= Jack De Groot 450 minutes played

The 18-year-old goalkeeper has spent every minute of every game between the sticks for Miramar Rangers, picking up 2 clean-sheets along the way. 

= Oscar Boyce 450 minutes played

18-year-old Boyce has played every minute in goal for Petone FC so far this season. 

= Oscar Mason 450 minutes played

Mason has not missed a minute as Napier City Rovers starting keeper, as well as being one of the players selected for the OFC U-19 Championships in 2022. 

= Sebastian Barton-Ginger 450 minutes played
 

Sebastian Barton-Ginger playing for New Zealand at the OFC U-19 Championships | Copyright Photosport

18-year-old Miramar Rangers winger Barton-Ginger has been crucial for the 2nd placed sides push for Championship qualification. He was also part of the OFC U-19 Championships side. 

7.  Lucas Jelley 432 minutes played

18-year-old Stop Out midfielder Lucas Jelley has almost played maximum minutes this season. 

8. Ryan Lee 406 minutes played

The 16-year-old right-back has played the full 90 in all but one game this season for North Wellington FC. 

9. Billy Check 388 minutes played

19-year-old right-back Billy Check has played in 5 games this season for Petone FC and has played the full 90 on 3 different occasions for the 7th placed side. 

10. Ryen Lawrence 378 minutes played

The 20-year-old forward scored an important goal to give Miramar Rangers the victory over Napier City Rovers in Round 3. 


Top 10 players under 20, by minutes played, in the Southern League

1. Alexander Boomer 450 minutes played
 

Alexander Boomer facing Auckland City in the Chatham Cup | Copyright Photosport

19-year-old goalkeeper Alexander Boomer has played all 5 games and completed all available minutes for 3rd placed Dunedin City Royals so far this season. 

= Jago Godden 450 minutes played

Christchurch United’s 19-year-old defensive midfielder has played all available minutes as the team pushes to return to the Championship. 

= Jake Hale 450 minutes played

17-year-old defender Jake Hale has proved to be indispensable at the back playing maximum minutes this season for 5th placed Coastal Spirit. 

4. Oliver Cosgrove 450 minutes played

The 19-year-old right-back Oliver Cosgrove has not missed a single minute for Selwyn United so far this season. 

5. Scott McKay 430 minutes played

Another Selwyn United youngster who hasn’t missed a match for his club is Scott McKay, the 20-year-old midfielder has not only played every single minute this season but also scored.  

6. Samuel Hanley 417 minutes played

Yet another young player from Selwyn United is Samuel Hanley, with the 20-year-old midfielder starting every game this season.

7. Riley Grover 406 minutes played

Christchurch United’s 19-year-old defender Riley Grover has played in all matches, completing the full 90 on 3 occasions and recording an impressive 4 clean sheets in 5 games so far this season. 

8. Nikolas Fairley 378 minutes played

19-year-old FC Twenty 11 winger Nikolas Fairley has played maximum minutes in 3 out of 5 matches so far this season, scoring in his most recent outing against Coastal Spirit. 

9. Liam Coleman 368 minutes played

Rounding off Selwyn United’s young starters is forward Liam Coleman. Playing a role in every game so far this season and a scoring, it has been an good start to the season for the 20-year-old. 

10. Finn Mounty 360 minutes played

After the missing the first match of the season, 19-year-old goalkeeper Finn Mounty has gone on to play every single minute of every game so far for FC Twenty 11. 

Article added: Saturday 29 April 2023