National Premier Leagues NSW

Last updated

National Premier Leagues NSW
National Premier Leagues NSW.png
Founded2013;12 years ago (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)
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
State Flag of New South Wales.svg NSW
Confederation AFC
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid 2
Relegation to Football NSW League
Domestic cup(s)National
Australia Cup
State
Waratah Cup
Current champions Marconi Stallions (2024)
Current premiers NWS Spirit (2025)
Most premierships Sydney United 58
Blacktown City (8 titles each)
Broadcaster(s) YouTube
Website www.nplnsw.com.au
Current: 2025 NPL NSW

The National Premier Leagues NSW is a semi-professional soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, one of the two organising bodies in New South Wales (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. Prior to becoming a subdivision of the NPL in 2013, the league was previously known as the NSW Premier League.

Contents

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, formed the highest tier of soccer in Australia until the creation of a national league, the National Soccer League (NSL), in 1977. Before NSL, the Ampol Cup also ran concurrently as a state-based cup competition. In 1979 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 dominant in the league winning nine championships between them.

Foundations

At the end of the 2000 season, the top soccer divisions were revamped with the highest level of soccer being named the Premier League and being played over the summer to align with the then top tier of soccer 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 the 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

SeasonsTitle
1956–1977Division 1
1978–1982State League
1983–1991NSW Division One
1992–2000NSW Super League
2000–2012NSW Premier League
2013–presentNational Premier Leagues NSW
Source: OzFootball

Competition format

League

There are 30 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.

Clubs

ClubSeasonsLocationGroundsCapacity
APIA Leichhardt 12 Leichhardt Lambert Park 7,000
Blacktown City 12 Blacktown Lily Homes Stadium 7,500
Central Coast Mariners Academy 3 Lisarow Pluim Park2,000
Manly United 12 Dee Why Cromer Park 5,000
Marconi Stallions 10 Bossley Park Marconi Stadium 9,000
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5 Mount Druitt Popondetta Park1,000
NWS Spirit 3 Macquarie Park Christie Park 2,000
Rockdale Ilinden 12 Rockdale Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre 5,000
St George City 3 Penshurst Penshurst Park1,000
St George FC 3 Banksia Barton Park Sports Complex 450 [3]
Sutherland Sharks FC 11 Miranda Seymour Shaw Park 5,000
Sydney FC Youth 8 Rockdale Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre 5,000
Sydney Olympic 12 Belmore Belmore Sports Ground 20,000
Sydney United 58 12 Edensor Park Sydney United Sports Centre 12,000
Western Sydney Wanderers Youth 3 Rooty Hill Wanderers Football Park 3,000
Wollongong Wolves 12 Wollongong
Berkeley
WIN Stadium
Macedonia Park
23,750
3,000


National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1 Honours

SeasonRegular seasonFinals series NPL finals series representation
Premiers
(number of titles)
Runners-upChampions
(number of titles)
ScoreFinalists
2013 Sydney United 58 FC (7) Sutherland Sharks FC Bonnyrigg White Eagles (3)1–0 Rockdale City Suns Sydney United 58 FCChampions
2014 Bonnyrigg White Eagles (6) Blacktown Spartans Blacktown City (7)2–1 Sydney Olympic Bonnyrigg White Eagles – Runners-up
2015 Blacktown City (8) APIA Leichhardt Tigers Bonnyrigg White Eagles (4)2–0 Blacktown City Blacktown CityChampions
2016 Sydney United 58 FC (8) Blacktown City Blacktown City (8)3–0 Sydney United 58 FC Sydney United 58 FCChampions
2017 APIA Leichhardt Tigers (5) Blacktown City Manly United (2)0–0 (4–3 (p)) APIA Leichhardt Tigers APIA Leichhardt Tigers – Semi-finalists
2018 Sydney Olympic (3) APIA Leichhardt Tigers Sydney Olympic (3)3–1 APIA Leichhardt Tigers Sydney Olympic – Semi-finalists
2019 Wollongong Wolves (2) APIA Leichhardt Tigers APIA Leichhardt Tigers (6)2–1 Sydney United 58 FC Wollongong WolvesChampions
2020 Rockdale City Suns (1) Wollongong Wolves Sydney United 58 FC (5)3–3 (4–2 ( p )) Rockdale City Suns Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. [4]
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. [5]
2022 Sydney Olympic (3) Manly United Blacktown City 2–0 Manly United Not held
2023 APIA Leichhardt (6) Rockdale Ilinden Not held
2024 Rockdale Ilinden (2) Marconi Stallions Rockdale Ilinden 0–3 Marconi Stallions
SeasonPremiersRunners-upChampionsScoreFinalists Australian Championship representation
2025 NWS Spirit NWS Spirit
Notes

Honours pre-NPL (1957–2012)

SeasonCompetitionRegular seasonFinals series
Premiers
(number of titles)
Runners-upChampions
(number of titles)
ScoreFinalists
1957 Division One Canterbury-Marrickville Auburn Auburn 4–3 Canterbury-Marrickville
1958 Division One Corrimal United Canterbury-Marrickville Canterbury-Marrickville 2–1 Auburn
1959 Division One Prague APIA Leichhardt Prague 3–2 APIA Leichhardt
1960 Division One Prague (2) APIA Leichhardt Canterbury-Marrickville (2)5–2 Prague
1961 Division One Prague (3) Canterbury-Marrickville Hakoah 4–1 Canterbury-Marrickville
1962 Division One Budapest Hakoah Hakoah (2)4–2 Budapest
1963 Division One Prague (4) APIA Leichhardt South Coast United 4–0 APIA Leichhardt
1964 Division One APIA Leichhardt St George-Budapest APIA Leichhardt 7–2 St George-Budapest
1965 Division One South Coast United St George-Budapest APIA Leichhardt (2)2–0 St George-Budapest
1966 Division One APIA Leichhardt (2) Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (3)2–1 APIA Leichhardt
1967 Division One APIA Leichhardt (3) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest 5–2 APIA Leichhardt
1968 Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Pan-Hellenic Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (4)4–2 Pan-Hellenic
1969 Division One South Coast United (3) St George-Budapest APIA Leichhardt (3)3–2 St George-Budapest
1970 Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (2) St George-Budapest YUGAL Ryde4–0 St George-Budapest
1971Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (3) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest (2)3–2 Western Suburbs
1972Division One St George-Budapest (2) Marconi-Fairfield Marconi-Fairfield 1–0 St George-Budapest
1973Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (4) Marconi-Fairfield Marconi-Fairfield (2)2–1 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs
1974Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (5) APIA Leichhardt St George-Budapest (3)4–2 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs
1975Division One APIA Leichhardt (4) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest (4)1–0 APIA Leichhardt
1976Division One St George-Budapest (3) APIA Leichhardt APIA Leichhardt (4)1–0 St George-Budapest
1977 [a] Division One Croatia Sydney APIA Leichhardt Croatia Sydney 2–0 Auburn
1978Division One Croatia Sydney (2) Sutherland Shire Sutherland Shire 1–1
2–1 (replay)
Croatia Sydney
1979State League Croatia Sydney (3) Inter Monaro Inter Monaro 2–1 Sutherland Shire
1980State League Melita Eagles Sydney Olympic Sydney Olympic 4–0 Melita Eagles
1981State League Croatia Sydney (4) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest (5)1–0 Croatia Sydney
1982State League Croatia Sydney (5)Riverwood Croatia Sydney (2)2–1 Sutherland Shire
1983NSW Division One Melita Eagles (2) Croatia Sydney Croatia Sydney (3)1–1 (a.e.t.)
0–0 (replay)
4–3 ( p )
Melita Eagles
1984NSW Division One Inter Monaro Rockdale Ilinden Rockdale Ilinden 3–2 Inter Monaro
1985NSW Division One Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic (2)Fairy Meadow Melita Eagles 4–0Fairy Meadow
1986NSW Division One Melita Eagles (3) Manly Warringah Sutherland Shire (2)2–1 Melita Eagles
1987NSW Division One Wollongong City Canberra City Wollongong City 2–1 Canberra City
1988NSW Division One Blacktown City Melita Eagles Melita Eagles (2)0–0
7–6 ( p )
Blacktown City
1989NSW Division One Melita Eagles (4) Canberra Croatia Melita Eagles (3)2–0 Canberra Croatia
1990NSW Division One Wollongong Macedonia Canberra Croatia Wollongong Macedonia 2–0 Canberra Croatia
1991NSW Division One Sutherland Sharks Blacktown City Blacktown City 3–0 Canberra Metro
1992NSW Super League Avala Manly Warringah Dolphins Avala 2–0 Blacktown City
1993NSW Super League Blacktown City (2) Bankstown City Bankstown City 1–0 Blacktown City
1994NSW Super League Bankstown City Canterbury-Marrickville Bankstown City (2)3–1 Canterbury-Marrickville
1995NSW Super League Manly Warringah Dolphins Blacktown City Manly Warringah Dolphins 1–0 Blacktown City
1996NSW Super League - Stage 1 [b] Adamstown Rosebud Sutherland Sharks Parramatta Eagles (4)1–1
5–3 ( p )
Adamstown Rosebud
NSW Super League - Stage 2 [b] Parramatta Eagles
1997NSW Super League Parramatta Eagles (5) APIA Leichhardt Parramatta Eagles (5)3–1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
1998NSW Super League Bonnyrigg White Eagles (2) Blacktown City Blacktown City (2)1–0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
1999NSW Super League Bonnyrigg White Eagles (3) Blacktown City Blacktown City (3)5–1 Parramatta Eagles
2000NSW Super League Blacktown City (3) Bonnyrigg White Eagles Blacktown City (4)2–1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
2000–01 NSW Premier League Blacktown City Demons (4) Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC Bonnyrigg White Eagles (2)3–1 Blacktown City Demons
2001–02 NSW Premier League Parramatta Eagles (6) Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC Parramatta Eagles (6)1–0 Blacktown City Demons
2002–03 NSW Premier League Blacktown City Demons (5) APIA Tigers APIA Leichhardt Tigers (5)3–1 Blacktown City Demons
2003–04 NSW Premier League Belconnen Blue Devils St. George Saints Bankstown City Lions (3)2–0 Belconnen Blue Devils
2004–05 NSW Premier League Bankstown City Lions (2) Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC Bankstown City Lions (4)3–1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC
2006 NSW Premier League Blacktown City (6) Bankstown City Lions FC Sydney United (4)4–0 Blacktown City Demons FC
2007 NSW Premier League Blacktown City (7) Bankstown City Lions FC Blacktown City (5)3–1 Bankstown City Lions FC
2008 NSW Premier League Sutherland Sharks (2) Wollongong FC Wollongong FC (2)4–2 Sutherland Sharks FC
2009 NSW Premier League Sydney United (6) Marconi Stallions FC Sutherland Sharks (3)4–1 Marconi Stallions
2010 NSW Premier League Bonnyrigg White Eagles (4) Blacktown City Demons FC Blacktown City FC (6)1–0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
2011 NSW Premier League Sydney Olympic Sydney United FC Sydney Olympic (2)2–0 Sydney United
2012 NSW Premier League Bonnyrigg White Eagles (5) Sydney Olympic FC Marconi Stallions (3)2–0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Source: SoccerAust
Notes

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.

ClubRegular season premiershipsFinals series championships
PremiersWinning seasonsChampionsWinning grand finals
Blacktown City 81988, 1993, 2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007, 201581991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2016
Sydney United 58 [c] 81977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2009, 2013, 2016 51977, 1982, 1983, 2006, 2020
Parramatta FC [d] 61980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2001–02 61985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2002
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 61992, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2012, 2014 41992, 2001, 2013, 2015
APIA Leichhardt 61964, 1965, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2023 61964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2003, 2019
Hakoah Sydney City East [e] 51968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 197441961, 1962, 1966, 1968
Prague 41959, 1960, 1961, 196311959
St George FC [f] 31962, 1972, 197651967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1981
Sydney Olympic 32011, 2018, 2022 31980, 2011, 2018
South Coast United [g] 31958, 1966, 196911963
Bankstown City Lions 21994, 2004–0541993, 1994, 2004, 2005
Sutherland Sharks 21991, 200831978, 1986, 2009
Canterbury-Marrickville 21957, 198521958, 1960
Wollongong Wolves [h] 21987, 201921987, 2008
Rockdale Ilinden [i] 2 2020, 2024 11984
Manly United 1199521995, 2017
Inter Monaro 1198411979
Wollongong United 1199011990
Belconnen Blue Devils 12003–04
Marconi Stallions 41972, 1973, 2012, 2024
Auburn11957
Yugal-Ryde 11970

Broadcasting

As of 2025, all matches are broadcast on the Football NSW YouTube channel, with highlights rolls for the games also being released at the end of each round. These broadcasts also now feature commentary, which is recorded live at the ground.

See also

Notes

  1. Introduction of the National Soccer League
  2. 1 2 1996 season divided into two stages.
  3. Includes titles as Croatia Sydney
  4. Includes titles as Melita Eagles and Parramatta Eagles
  5. Includes titles as Hakoah and Hakoah Eastern Suburbs
  6. Includes titles as Budapest and St George-Budapest
  7. Includes titles as Corrimal United
  8. Includes titles as Wollongong City
  9. Includes titles as Rockdale City Suns

References

  1. "2004/05 Premier League Season Review".
  2. "FFA launches National Premier Leagues". Football Federation Australia. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  3. "Barton Park Officially Open". bayside.nsw.gov.au. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  4. "Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled". The World Game . SBS. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. "Football NSW Cancel 2021 National Premier Leagues Season". Football NSW. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.