1981 Adelaide City FC season

Adelaide City
1981 season
Manager	Bob D'Ottavi
Stadium	Hindmarsh Stadium ; Olympic Sports Field
National Soccer League	7th
NSL Cup	Semi-finals
Top goalscorer	League: Dave Mitchell (9); All: Dave Mitchell (12)
Highest home attendance	6,328; vs. Kingsway Olympic ; (22 March 1981); NSL Cup
Lowest home attendance	2,200; vs. Sydney City ; (15 February 1981); National Soccer League; 2,200; vs. Preston Makedonia ; (17 May 1981); National Soccer League
Average home league attendance	3,198
Biggest win	5–1; vs. Blacktown City (A); (12 April 1981); National Soccer League
Biggest defeat	0–3; vs. APIA Leichhardt (A); (3 June 1981); National Soccer League; 1–4; vs. Wollongong City (A); (9 August 1981); National Soccer League; 0–3; vs. Preston Makedonia (A); (23 August 1981); National Soccer League
	← 1980 1982 →

Last updated November 30, 2025

The 1981 season was the fifth in the National Soccer League for Adelaide City Football Club. In addition to the domestic league, they also participated in the NSL Cup. Adelaide City finished 7th in their National Soccer League season, and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the NSL Cup.

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	AUS	Peter Marshall
2	DF	SCO	Bobby Rusell
3	DF	AUS	Bugsy Nyskohus
4	DF	AUS	John Besir
5	DF	AUS	David Jones
8	MF	AUS	John Perin
9	MF	AUS	Gary Marocchi
10	FW	AUS	John Nyskohus
11	FW	AUS	Dave Mitchell
12	MF	AUS	Brian Northcote
13	MF	AUS	Sergio Melta


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
14	FW	AUS	Peter Rankin
15	FW	AUS	Greg Buch
16	MF	AUS	Charlie Villani
20	GK	SCO	Steve Peressin
—	DF	NZL	Glen Dods
—	FW	ENG	Justin Fashanu (on loan from Norwich City)
—	DF	AUS	Chris Manou
—	DF	AUS	Chris Miller
—	GK	AUS	Jack Przybylski
—	FW	AUS	Luciano Signore

Competitions

Overall record

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
National Soccer League	15 February 1981	13 September 1981	Matchday 1	7th	30	13	6	11	46	42	+4	043.33
NSL Cup	8 February 1981	29 July 1981	First round	Semi-finals	4	3	0	1	8	5	+3	075.00
Total					34	16	6	12	54	47	+7	047.06

Source: Competitions

National Soccer League

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Relegation
1	Sydney City (C)	30	19	5	6	59	30	+29	43
2	South Melbourne	30	13	13	4	41	27	+14	39
3	Brisbane City	30	12	11	7	37	25	+12	35
4	APIA Leichhardt	30	12	11	7	39	33	+6	35
5	Canberra City	30	13	7	10	41	32	+9	33
6	Brisbane Lions	30	11	11	8	41	33	+8	33
7	Adelaide City	30	13	6	11	46	42	+4	32
8	Heidelberg United	30	12	7	11	48	40	+8	31
9	Sydney Olympic	30	11	9	10	46	46	0	31
10	Newcastle KB United	30	11	8	11	41	41	0	30
11	Wollongong City	30	8	12	10	35	39	−4	28
12	Preston Makedonia	30	9	7	14	39	41	−2	25
13	Footscray JUST	30	9	7	14	32	48	−16	25
14	Marconi Fairfield	30	9	7	14	23	45	−22	25
15	Blacktown City (R)	30	6	9	15	32	47	−15	21	Relegated to the 1982 NSW State League
16	West Adelaide	30	5	4	21	26	57	−31	14

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
30	13	6	11	46	42	+4	45	9	2	4	22	13	+9	4	4	7	24	29	−5

Source: worldfootball.net

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	11	12	13	14	15	10	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A
Result	L	D	L	L	W	D	W	W	W	L	D	W	W	W	L	W	W	W	W	L	L	D	D	D	L	W	L	W	L	L
Position	12	12	14	15	11	12	10	8	6	8	8	8	8	7	5	5	4	3	1	3	5	4	4	4	5	3	6	5	6	7
Points	0	1	1	1	3	4	6	8	10	10	11	13	15	17	17	19	21	23	25	25	25	26	27	28	28	30	30	32	32	32

Source: worldfootball.net
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Win Draw Loss

15 February 19811	Adelaide City	0–1	Sydney City	Adelaide
		Report	Kosmina 49'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 2,200^[1] Referee: Bobby Kerr

22 February 19812	Canberra City	0–0	Adelaide City	Canberra
16:00 AEDT		Report		Stadium: Bruce Stadium Attendance: 2,642 Referee: Bob Mee

1 March 19813	Adelaide City	0–1	Marconi Fairfield	Adelaide
		Report	Jankovics 63'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 2,300 Referee: Don Campbell

8 March 19814	Sydney Olympic	3–1	Adelaide City	Sydney
	Jennings 69' Koussas 75' Laing 89'	Report	Ankudinoff 27' (o.g.)	Stadium: St George Stadium Attendance: 4,254 Referee: Peter Rampley

15 March 19815	Adelaide City	3–1	Heidelberg United	Adelaide
	Villani 8' B. Nyskohus 78' J. Nyskohus 89' (pen.)	Report	Cole 11'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 3,576 Referee: Graham Neal

29 March 19816	Footscray JUST	1–1	Adelaide City	Melbourne
	Cozzella 28'	Report	Mitchell 59'	Stadium: Schintler Reserve Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Evan Venios

5 April 19817	Adelaide City	3–2	Brisbane Lions	Adelaide
	Russell 4' Mitchell 8' Marocchi 17'	Report	Bryce 13' Hermiston 77'	Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,200 Referee: Jim Rossis

12 April 19818	Blacktown City	1–5	Adelaide City	Sydney
	Cuk 24'	Report	Mitchell 4', 76' J. Nyskohus 30' Russell 60' Northcote 66'	Stadium: Gabbie Stadium Attendance: 2,348 Referee: Doug Rennie

19 April 19819	Adelaide City	4–1	Newcastle KB United	Adelaide
	Nyskohus 13', 63' (pen.) Villani 58' Russell 65'	Report	Kamasz 27'	Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,100 Referee: Bobby Kerr

3 May 198111	Adelaide City	1–2	Wollongong City	Adelaide
	Mitchell 34'	Report	Fontana 44' McBreen 72'	Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,100 Referee: Stewart Mellings

10 May 198112	South Melbourne	0–0	Adelaide City	Melbourne
		Report		Stadium: Middle Park Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Chris Bambridge

17 May 198113	Adelaide City	1–0	Preston Makedonia	Adelaide
	J. Nyskohus 26'	Report		Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 2,200 Referee: Graham Neal

24 May 1981 14	West Adelaide	0–3	Adelaide City	Adelaide
		Report	Marocchi 32' Russell 40' Northcote 71'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 6,328 Referee: Jim Fearn

31 May 198115	Adelaide City	1–0	Brisbane City	Adelaide
	Mitchell 81'	Report		Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,300 Referee: Don Campbell

3 June 198110	APIA Leichhardt	3–0	Adelaide City	Sydney
	Soper 65', 90' Bradley 80'	Report		Stadium: Lambert Park Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Jim Reeves

7 June 198116	Adelaide City	1–0	Canberra City	Adelaide
	Jones 89'	Report		Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,289 Referee: Jim Rossis

14 June 198117	Marconi Fairfield	1–4	Adelaide City	Sydney
15:00 AEST	Jankovics 50'	Report	Mitchell 1' Villani 20' Marocchi 39' Northcote 45'	Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 3,241 Referee: Tim Davies

21 June 198118	Adelaide City	3–1	Sydney Olympic	Adelaide
	Melta 20' Mitchell 36' Fashanu 62'	Report	K. Wilson 53' (pen.)	Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Graham Neal

28 June 198119	Heidelberg United	1–2	Adelaide City	Melbourne
	Cole 51'	Report	Northcote 10' J. Nyskohus 49' (pen.)	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Bob Mee

5 July 198120	Adelaide City	1–3	Footscray JUST	Adelaide
	J. Nyskohus 59'	Report	Ilioski 15' Cozzella 82', 84'	Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,300 Referee: Don Campbell

12 July 198121	Brisbane Lions	2–1	Adelaide City	Brisbane
	Ferris 57' Williamson 83'	Report	Melta 52'	Stadium: Richlands Stadium Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Col Amos

19 July 198122	Adelaide City	0–0	Blacktown City	Adelaide
		Report		Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,700 Referee: Bobby Kerr

26 July 198123	Newcastle KB United	2–2	Adelaide City	Newcastle
	Drinkwater 66' Heys 87'	Report	Fashanu 5' Melta 21'	Stadium: Newcastle International Sports Centre Attendance: 4,787 Referee: Dave Nugent

2 August 198124	Adelaide City	0–0	APIA Leichhardt	Adelaide
		Report		Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,100 Referee: Chris Bambridge

9 August 198125	Wollongong City	4–1	Adelaide City	Wollongong
	Bertogna 3' Fleming 10' McBreen 44' Lathan 48'	Report	Northcote 65'	Stadium: Wollongong Showground Attendance: 3,879 Referee: Tony Boskovic

16 August 198126	Adelaide City	2–0	South Melbourne	Adelaide
	Northcote 61' Perin 80' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 5,100 Referee: Peter Rampley

23 August 198127	Preston Makedonia	3–0	Adelaide City	Melbourne
	Ollerton 15' (pen.) Lucchesi 42' Brown 73'	Report		Stadium: B.T. Connor Reserve Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Evan Venios

30 August 1981 28	Adelaide City	2–1	West Adelaide	Adelaide
	J. Nyskohus 14' Melta 19'	Report	Smythe 50'	Stadium: Olympic Sports Field Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Stewart Mellings

6 September 198129	Brisbane City	3–1	Adelaide City	Brisbane
	Jones 42' (o.g.) Kelso 63' P. Wilkinson 69'	Report	Jones 26'	Stadium: Spencer Park Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Jim Fearn

13 September 198130	Sydney City	5–3	Adelaide City	Sydney
	Souness 1', 7' (pen.) Barnes 17' Mullen 50' Patikas 87'	Report	Melta 4' Mitchell 6' Jones 56' (pen.)	Stadium: ES Marks Athletics Field Attendance: 2,106 Referee: Peter Rampley

NSL Cup

Win Draw Loss

8 February 1981 First round	Adelaide City	4–2	Adelaide Croatia	Adelaide
	Mitchell 17' Marocchi 19' B. Nyskohus 76' Northcote 80'	Report	Williams 60' Caggiano 64'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: ^[2]

22 March 1981 Second round	Adelaide City	3–2	Kingsway Olympic	Adelaide
	Mitchell 22', 55' Villani 35'	Report	(unknown) ?', ?'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 6,328 Referee: Bobby Kerr

17 June 1981 Quarter-finals	Heidelberg United	0–1	Adelaide City	Melbourne
		Report	Fashanu 87'	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Tony Boskovic

29 July 1981 Semi-finals	West Adelaide	1–0	Adelaide City	Adelaide
	Bozanic 62'	Report		Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 6,200 Referee: Barry Harwood

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.^[3]^[2]

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	National Soccer League		NSL Cup		Total
No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Peter Marshall	15	0	2	0	17	0
2	DF		Bobby Russell	30	4	4	0	34	4
3	DF		Bugsy Nyskohus	30	1	4	1	34	2
4	DF		John Besir	1	0	1	0	2	0
5	DF		David Jones	29	3	4	0	33	3
8	MF		John Perin	26	1	2	0	28	1
9	MF		Gary Marocchi	28+1	3	4	1	33	4
10	FW		John Nyskohus	30	8	3	0	33	8
11	FW		Dave Mitchell	25	9	4	3	29	12
12	MF		Brian Northcote	23+2	6	1+2	1	28	7
13	MF		Sergio Melta	26+3	5	2	0	31	5
14	FW		Peter Rankin	0+8	0	1	0	9	0
15	FW		Greg Buch	1+4	0	1	0	6	0
16	MF		Charlie Villani	22+2	3	4	1	28	4
20	GK		Steve Peressin	2+3	0	2+1	0	8	0
—	DF		Glen Dods	9+2	0	1	0	12	0
—	FW		Justin Fashanu	6	2	1+1	1	8	3
—	DF		Chris Manou	6+2	0	1	0	9	0
—	DF		Chris Miller	3+4	0	1+1	0	9	0
—	GK		Jack Przybylski	13+1	0	0	0	14	0
—	FW		Luciano Signore	5+3	0	1+1	0	10	0

Disciplinary record

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.

Rank	No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	National Soccer League			NSL Cup			Total
Rank	No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player
1	8	MF		John Perin	3	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	2
2	5	DF		David Jones	3	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	1
3	—	FW		Justin Fashanu	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1
4	12	MF		Brian Northcote	6	0	0	1	0	0	7	0	0
5	16	MF		Charlie Villani	4	0	0	2	0	0	6	0	0
6	13	MF		Sergio Melta	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
7	10	FW		John Nyskohus	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
8	3	DF		Bugsy Nyskohus	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
8	9	MF		Gary Marocchi	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
10	2	DF		Bobby Russell	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	11	FW		Dave Mitchell	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
	—	DF		Glen Dods	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total					30	0	4	4	0	0	34	0	4

Clean sheets

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.

Rank	No.	Goalkeeper	NSL	NSL Cup	Total
1	1	Peter Marshall	6	1	7
2	—	Jack Przybylski	2	0	2
3	20	Steve Peressin	1	0	1
Total			9	1	10

References

↑ Stock, Greg. "1981 National Soccer League Results". OzFootball.
1 2 Stock, Greg. "1981 National Soccer League Cup Results". OzFootball.net.
↑ "Adelaide City 1981 Squad". ozfootball.net.

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[1] Stock, Greg. "1981 National Soccer League Results". OzFootball.

[NSLCup-2] 1 2 Stock, Greg. "1981 National Soccer League Cup Results". OzFootball.net.

[3] "Adelaide City 1981 Squad". ozfootball.net.

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