1995–96 National Soccer League

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

NSL 1995-96
League National Soccer League
Sport Soccer
Duration1995–96
Number of teams12
NSL season
Champions Melbourne Knights
Minor premiers Marconi-Fairfield
Top scorer Damian Mori (31)
National Soccer League seasons

The 1995–96 A-League season was the first year of a rebranded Australian National Soccer League (NSL) and the twentieth since the national league began in 1977. The competition was variously known as the A-League and the Ericsson Cup (as part of a sponsorship arrangement) at the time.

Contents

Background

After an attempt to reduce the number of NSL teams from 14 to 12, the Australian Soccer Federation announced that a new competition known as the A-League would operate in parallel to the NSL. [1] After a series of legal challenges, the A-League became the sole national league with largely the same composition of teams as the previous NSL season. The change was seen at the time as a rebranding rather than a new competition. Prior to the season beginning, the league announced a sponsorship agreement with Ericsson that was supposed to last until 2000, though was terminated a year early in mid-1999. The sponsorship led to the league being renamed the Ericsson Cup, though the A-League and NSL names were still used in various forms. [2] [3] [4]

The commencement of the season was delayed as relegated teams Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United obtained court injunctions to prevent the league going ahead. Eventually the injunction was lifted in the Federal Court of Australia to allow the league to start, albeit several weeks late. [5] [6]

Changes from 1994–95

Parramatta Eagles, Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United were excluded from the national league, while Newcastle Breakers returned after a one-season absence. The Canberra Cosmos entered the league for the first time. [7]

Sydney Olympic signed a deal with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to become known as UTS Olympic. [8]

After using penalty shootout to break ties in 1994–95, the draw returned for league play in 1994–95.

Overview

The league was composed of 12 teams. After 33 rounds, Marconi-Fairfield were crowned minor premiers. In the final series, Marconi-Fairfield and the Melbourne Knights contested the 1996 A-League Grand Final, with Melbourne Knights prevailing 2–1. [9] [10]

Teams

Prior to the start of the season, the Newcastle Breakers withdrew from the competition citing financial difficulties. The withdrawal of the Breakers left 13 teams, meaning each team had two byes for the season. [11] [12]

Australia location map.svg
Arrows 12x12 w.svg
Adelaide City
Arrows 12x12 e.svg
Brisbane Strikers
Arrows 12x12 w.svg
Morwell Falcons
Arrows 12x12 e.svg
West Adelaide
Arrows 12x12 n.svg
Wollongong City
Arrows 12x12 e.svg
Melbourne
Arrows 12x12 e.svg
Sydney
TransparentPlaceholder.png
Melbourne teams:
Melbourne Knights
South Melbourne
Sydney teams:
Marconi-Fairfield
UTS Olympic
Sydney United
Location of teams in 1995–96 season
TeamHome cityHome ground
Adelaide City Adelaide Hindmarsh Stadium
Brisbane Strikers Brisbane Suncorp Stadium
Canberra Cosmos Canberra Bruce Stadium
Morwell Falcons Morwell Falcons Park
Marconi-Fairfield Sydney Marconi Stadium
Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Stadium
Newcastle Breakers Newcastle Breakers Stadium
South Melbourne Melbourne Olympic Park
Lakeside Stadium
Sydney United Sydney Edensor Park
UTS Olympic Sydney Leichhardt Oval
West Adelaide AdelaideHindmarsh Stadium
Wollongong City Wollongong Brandon Park

Regular season

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Marconi Fairfield 3317975835+2360Qualification for the Finals series
2 Melbourne Knights (C)3317885028+2259
3 UTS Olympic 3317885541+1459
4 Brisbane Strikers 33176105435+1957
5 Adelaide City 3315996540+2554
6 Sydney United 33141274733+1454
7 West Adelaide 33165124943+653
8 South Melbourne 33144155056646
9 Canberra Cosmos 338111448611335
10 Morwell Falcons 33981635653035
11 Wollongong City 33552331633220
12 Newcastle Breakers 33452435774217
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

Finals series

Elimination finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalGrand final
1 Melbourne Knights 12(3) Melbourne Knights 2
2 Marconi Fairfield 02(2) Marconi Fairfield 1
Marconi Fairfield 4
3 UTS Olympic 00(0)
Adelaide City 1
5 Adelaide City 21(3)
Adelaide City 1
Sydney United 0
4 Brisbane Strikers 01(1)
6 Sydney United 22(3)

Grand Final

Melbourne Knights 2 1 Marconi-Fairfield
Marth Soccerball shade.svg58'
Cervinski Soccerball shade.svg74'
(report) Harper Soccerball shade.svg78'
Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 14,258
Referee: Eddie Lennie

Individual awards

Notes

  1. Schwab, Laurie (6 August 1995). "New League Announced". The Age. Retrieved 6 September 2022. The federation would, in accordance with its articles of association, launch a new competition called the Soccer Australia A League, to kick off on 30 September.
  2. Cockerill, Michael (16 December 1999). "Eve of extinction". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 42. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. Cockerill, Michael (5 October 1995). "A-plus: Hill nets five-year sponsor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  4. Cockerill, Michael (5 September 1995). "Stalled A-League gets key support". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. Cockerill, Michael (20 September 1995). "Court clears deck for A-teams". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  6. Cockerill, Michael (1 October 1995). "A-League far from the big league". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015. Following an exhaustive and acrimonious legal process in which the lawyers (as usual) were the only winners, a revamped national competition - to be known as the A-League - will kick-off next weekend.
  7. Schwab, Laurie (6 September 1995). "Soccer's chiefs cross line in bid for change". The Age. p. 36. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. Schwab, Laurie (8 October 1995). "Olympic sets its sights". The Age. p. 69. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. "4-1 win secures Marconi grand final spot". The Age. 19 May 1995. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015. Minor premier Marconi will now meet defending champion Melbourne Knights in the grand final in Melbourne next Sunday in their fifth clash this season.
  10. Cockerill, Michael (26 May 1996). "It's two in a row for Knights". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015. MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 2 (A Marth 58th A Cervinski 75th) bt MARCONI 1 (A Harper 80th). Referee: E Lennie. Crowd: 14,258 at Olympic Park. For once the game matched the occasion as the Melbourne Knights confirmed their favouritism with a stylish 2-1 win over Marconi-Fairfield in yesterday's A-League grand final.
  11. Schwab, Laurie (18 October 1994). "NSL kicking uphill from start". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  12. Cockerill, Michael (18 October 1994). "Soccer puts a brave face on unsponsored league kick-off". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Schwab, Laurie (21 May 1996). "Mori tops soccer poll by record 186 votes". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

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References