National Premier Leagues NSW
 | |
| Founded | 2013 2000–2012 (as NSW Premier League) 1992–2000 (as Super League) 1983–1991 (as Division One) 1978–1982 (as Super League) 1956–1977 (as Division One) |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Relegation to | NPL NSW 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | FFA Cup Waratah Cup |
| Current premiers | Sydney United 58 FC (2016) |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2016 Football NSW season | |
The National Premier Leagues NSW a semi-professional soccer competitions in New South Wales, Australia, the other being the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW organised by Northern NSW Football. The league is a subdivision of the second tier National Premier Leagues (NPL), which sits below the national A-League. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the organising body in New South Wales. Prior to becoming a subdivision of the NPL in 2013, the league was previously known as the NSW Premier League.
As of 2012, all matches have been filmed and a weekly highlights package has been made available online, while the Grand Final has been streamed live through Football NSW since 2013.
History
Origins
Since 1956, a top divisional New South Wales based league has been contested annually in various forms, with its early days remembered as Division One. The league, jointly with other state based leagues, were the highest tiers of soccer in Australia until the formation of a national league, the National Soccer League (NSL), in 1977. Prior to NSL, the Ampol Cup also ran concurrently as a state based cup competition. In 1977 Division One officially changed its name to NSW State League, however reverted to NSW Division One by 1983. The league continued to be contested throughout the winter months and included another name change in 1992 to the NSW Super League. During the 1980s and 1990s, Melita Eagles and Blacktown City FC were dominate in the league winning nine championships between them.
Foundations
At the end of 2000, the top football divisions were revamped with the highest level of football being named the Premier League and being played over summer to align with the then top tier of football in Australia (NSL). The second highest NSW league was named the Winter Super League and played throughout 2001. The 2004–05 season saw the return of the New South Wales NSL giants in Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, Wollongong Wolves and Marconi Stallions.[1] This was the result of another overhaul of the entire national league structure. The NSL was abolished and the A-League took its place at the top of the soccer hierarchy in Australia. As this competition significantly reduced the teams from New South Wales to just three (Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets) these clubs were forced to return to the state leagues. The NSW Premier League continued to be run over summer throughout this period but after the 2004–05 season reverted to a winter competition from 2006.
In 2008 the whole New South Wales men's, women's and youth competitions were reconstructed to align youth teams with their respective senior clubs along with women's teams.
Development
In 2013 the FFA announced another re-structure, this time to tier 2 level of soccer in Australia. This saw the top league in each state united under a single banner called the National Premier Leagues, with the NSW Premier League rebranded as the National Premier Leagues NSW.[2] Bonnyrigg White Eagles became the inaugural champions of this competition after defeating Rockdale City Suns 1–0 in the final. Sydney United 58 FC were crowned premiers after placing first in the standing at the end of the regular season, earning the right to compete in the inaugural National Premier Leagues Finals. Sydney United went on to win this tournament defeating Tasmanian side South Hobart FC 2–0 in the final. In 2014, premiers Bonnyrigg White Eagles failed to reach the grand final and Blacktown City FC were crowned champions. They defeated Sydney Olympic 2–1 after extra time.
Name Changes
| Seasons | Title |
|---|---|
| 1956–1977 | Division 1 |
| 1978–1982 | State League |
| 1983–1991 | NSW Division One |
| 1992–2000 | NSW Super League |
| 2000–2012 | NSW Premier League |
| 2013–present | National Premier Leagues NSW |
| Source: OzFootball | |
Competition format
League
There are 22 Rounds in total with each team playing each other twice; home and away.
NPL national finals
At the completion of the league series, the NPL NSW top of the table, joins the winners from the other NPL subdivisions in a national eight team finals series. The national final series consists of a three round knock-out series based on geographically close subdivision champions playing each other, culminating in a grand final.
NPL NSW finals
The top five sides at the end of the season compete in the Championship Series. The Championship Series consists of six games, whereby the five teams competing are whittled down to just two. The teams are seeded upon their entry into the Championship Series according to their final position on the ladder. The final two teams compete in the Grand Final, where a NSW Premier League Champion is decided.
- First Week – Preliminary Semi-Final – 2nd vs 3rd + Elimination Semi-Final – 4th vs 5th
- Second Week – Major Semi-Final – 1st vs Winner PSF + Minor Semi-Final – Loser PSF vs Winner ESF
- Third Week – Preliminary Final – Loser of MJF vs Winner of MNS
- Final Week – Grand Final – Winner of MJF vs Winner of PF
Clubs
The following 12 clubs are competing in the National Premier Leagues NSW for the 2016 season.
| Club | Location | Grounds | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| APIA Leichhardt Tigers | Leichhardt | Lambert Park | 7,000 |
| Blacktown City | Blacktown | Lily Homes Stadium | 7,500 |
| Blacktown Spartans | Rooty Hill | Blacktown International Sportspark | 2,000 |
| Bonnyrigg White Eagles | Bonnyrigg | Bonnyrigg Sports Club | 10,000 |
| Hakoah Sydney City East | Eastgardens | Hensley Athletic Field | 1,000 |
| Manly United | Dee Why | Cromer Park | 5,000 |
| Parramatta | Sefton | Melita Stadium | 10,000 |
| Rockdale City Suns | Rockdale | Bicentennial Park South | 5,000 |
| Sutherland Sharks | Miranda | Seymour Shaw Park | 5,000 |
| Sydney Olympic | Belmore | Belmore Sports Ground | 25,000 |
| Sydney United 58 | Edensor Park | Sydney United Sports Centre | 12,000 |
| Wollongong Wolves | Wollongong | WIN Stadium | 23,750 |
Seasons
- 1 1996 season divided into two stages. Stage 1: Premiers (Adamstown), Runners-Up (Sutherland)
- 2 1996 season divided into two stages. Stage 2: Premiers (Parramatta), Runners-Up (Sutherland)
Bold indicates Federation Double winners – i.e. League Championship and League Premiership OR League Championship and Federation/Waratah Cup OR League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup
Bold and Underlined indicates Federation Treble winners – i.e. League Championship, League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup winners
Honours
All-time honour board
This list includes all champions and premiers since the inaugural league of 1957. Grand finals have occurred during all seasons of the league over this time. As the 1996 season was split into two stages there was no official premier for the season. In total, there have been 58 champions and 57 premiers.
Teams in bold compete in the National Premier Leagues NSW as of 2015 season.
| Club | Regular season premierships | Finals series championships | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Winning seasons | Champions | Winning Grand finals | |
| Blacktown City | 8 | 1988, 1993, 2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007, 2015 | 8 | 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2016 |
| Sydney United 58 | 8 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2009, 2013, 2016 | 4 | 1977, 1982, 1983, 2006 |
| Parramatta FC | 6 | 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2001–02 | 6 | 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2002 |
| Bonnyrigg White Eagles | 6 | 1992, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2012, 2014 | 4 | 1992, 2001, 2013, 2015 |
| Hakoah Sydney City East FC | 5 | 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 | 4 | 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968 |
| APIA Leichhardt Tigers | 4 | 1964, 1965, 1967, 1975 | 5 | 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2003 |
| Prague | 4 | 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963 | 1 | 1959 |
| St George FC | 3 | 1962, 1972, 1976 | 5 | 1967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1981 |
| Safeway United | 3 | 1958, 1966, 1969 | 1 | 1963 |
| Canterbury-Marrickville | 2 | 1957, 1985 | 2 | 1958, 1960 |
| Bankstown City Lions | 2 | 1994, 2004–05 | 4 | 1993, 1994, 2004, 2005 |
| Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 1991, 2008 | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2009 |
| South Coast Wolves | 1 | 1987 | 2 | 1987, 2008 |
| Sydney Olympic | 1 | 2011 | 2 | 1980, 2011 |
| Manly United | 1 | 1995 | 1 | 1995 |
| Inter Monaro | 1 | 1984 | 1 | 1979 |
| Wollongong United | 1 | 1990 | 1 | 1990 |
| Belconnen Blue Devils | 1 | 2003–04 | ||
| Marconi Stallions | 3 | 1972, 1973, 2012 | ||
| Auburn | 1 | 1957 | ||
| Rockdale City Suns | 1 | 1984 | ||
| Ryde | 1 | 1970 | ||
References
- ^ "2004/05 Premier League Season Review".
- ^ "FFA launches National Premier Leagues". Football Federation Australia. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
External links
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