Sapphire Cup

Last updated

Sapphire Cup
Founded2023
Region New South Wales
Number of teams162 (in 2022)
Website Sapphire Cup
Soccerball current event.svg 2023 Sapphire Cup

The Sapphire Cup is a women's knockout cup competition in New South Wales, run by the governing body of football Football NSW. Teams competing in the competition come from the female National Premier League and NSW League One competitions, as well as clubs from senior women's clubs of semi-professional and amateur competitions from across the state. The competition is held during the Women's National Premier League season.

Contents

History

Ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup which was to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the governing body of football in New South Wales, Football NSW announced a new women's knock out cup tournament, that would replicate the men's Waratah Cup [1] The name of the competition was a nod to the historical roots of women's football in NSW, named after the NSW Sapphires who represented New South Wales between 1996 and 2004 in the Women's National Soccer League, which was the precursor competition to the professional A-League Women. [2]

It was announced by Football Australia that starting in 2024, the winners of the Sapphire Cup will have the opportunity to qualify for the Women's Australia Cup, which will run parallel to the men's competition. The winner of the women's Australia Cup will have the opportunity to participate in the AFC Women's Club Championship. [3]

The first Sapphire Cup final will be contested by two Sydney-based teams, APIA Leichhardt and Northern Tigers who compete in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women's competition. [4] APIA Leichhardt would take the inaugural title, defeating Northern Tigers 2-1 at Leichhardt Oval. [5]

Honours

CompetitionYearWinnersScoreRunners-up
Sapphire Cup 2023 APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2-1 Northern Tigers FC

All-time Honours Board

ClubChampionsClubRunners-up
APIA Leichhardt 2023 Northern Tigers 2023

Related Research Articles

The National Premier Leagues NSW is a semi-professional soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the organising body in New South Wales. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Olympic FC</span> Football club

Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club, based in Belmore, Sydney, New South Wales, that plays in the National Premier Leagues NSW. The club was founded as Pan-Hellenic Soccer Club in 1957 by Greek immigrants. In 1977, the club changed its name to Sydney Olympic and became a founding member of the Phillips Soccer League, later named the National Soccer League (NSL), the inaugural national football league of Australia, remaining a member of the competition until its demise in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marconi Stallions FC</span> Football club

Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian semi-professional football club based in Fairfield, Sydney, New South Wales. The club has been crowned Australian champion four times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">APIA Leichhardt FC</span> Australian soccer club

APIA Leichhardt Football Club, also known simply as APIA, is a semi-professional soccer club based in the suburb of Leichhardt in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1954 as APIA Leichhardt, by Italian Australians. APIA, winner of the national Australian championship of 1987, is currently a member of the NPL NSW. APIA Leichhardt are one of just three winners of the 1960s Australia Cup that are still active, the other being Caroline Springs George Cross FC and Hakoah Sydney City East FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blacktown City FC</span> Football club

Blacktown City Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Blacktown, New South Wales. Founded in 1953, the club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW. Blacktown City's home ground is Landen Stadium in the suburb of Seven Hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leichhardt Oval</span> Stadium in Lilyfield, New South Wales, Australia

Leichhardt Oval is a rugby league and soccer stadium in Lilyfield, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers National Rugby League (NRL) team, along with Campbelltown Stadium and Western Sydney Stadium. Prior to its merger with the Western Suburbs Magpies, it was the longtime home of the Balmain Tigers, who used the ground from 1934–1994 and 1997–1999. It was named after Ludwig Leichhardt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franco Parisi (soccer)</span> Australian soccer player

Franco Parisi is an Australian football manager and former player. He is currently the Head Coach for NPL NSW club APIA Leichhardt. Regarded as a club legend, Parisi made over 300 appearances during his time as a player for APIA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer in New South Wales</span>

Soccer in New South Wales is a popular participation and spectator sport. It is organised and managed on a state level by two separate governing bodies; Football NSW and Northern New South Wales Football which are affiliated at a national level to Football Federation Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Gibbs</span> Australian soccer player

Joseph Arthur Gibbs is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays for Blacktown City in the NPL NSW.

The Waratah Cup is a knockout cup competition in New South Wales, run by the governing body of football in NSW, Football NSW. Teams competing in the Waratah Cup come from the National Premier Leagues NSW, NSW League One, NSW League Two, and numerous other semi professional & amateur association clubs within New South Wales. The Cup is held during the NPL NSW seasons. Since 2014 preliminary rounds of the Waratah Cup have been used to determine the NSW entrants to the national FFA Cup competition, now known as the Australia Cup.

The Australia Cup was an annual knockout soccer competition in men's domestic Australian soccer. First played during the 1962 season, it is the first national soccer competition in Australia.

The 2013 Waratah Cup was the 11th season of the Waratah Cup knockout competition, the main domestic cup competition in New South Wales.

Robert Stanton is a former Australian football (soccer) player and current head coach of Newcastle Jets's A-league side. He primarily played as a defender.

The Football NSW 2017 season was the fifth season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consisted of four divisions across the state of New South Wales. The Premiers of the NPL NSW Men's 1 qualified for the national finals, playing-off to decide the champion of the 2017 National Premier Leagues.

The 2017 Waratah Cup was the 15th season of Football NSW's knockout competition. The Preliminary Rounds are now a part of the FFA Cup competition. The 5 winners from the FFA Cup preliminary Seventh Round qualified for the Waratah Cup, as well as the reigning National Premier Leagues champion.

The Football NSW 2018 season was the sixth season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consisted of four divisions across the state of New South Wales. The Premiers of the NPL NSW Men's 1 qualified for the national finals, playing-off to decide the champion of the 2018 National Premier Leagues.

The 2018 Waratah Cup was the 16th season of Football NSW's knockout competition. The Preliminary Rounds are now a part of the FFA Cup competition. The 5 winners from the FFA Cup preliminary Seventh Round qualified for the Waratah Cup.

The Football NSW 2019 season was the seventh season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consists of four divisions across the state of New South Wales.

Adrian Vlastelica is an Australian footballer currently playing for Sydney United 58 in the NPL NSW.

The 2023 NPL NSW Men's is the eleventh season of soccer in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues and the first season under the revised competition format. The season began on 3 February 2023 and is scheduled to conclude on 27 August.

References

  1. Stavroulakis, Mark. "FOOTBALL NSW ANNOUNCES NSW SAPPHIRE CUP". Football NSW. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. "Football NSW to capitalise on World Cup with exciting new venture". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  3. Lewis, Samantha (10 March 2023). "Football Australia to launch Women's Australia Cup in 2024 as part of Women's World Cup legacy". ABC News. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  4. Stavroulakis, Mark. "HISTORY TO BE MADE AS LEICHHARDT OVAL SET TO HOST THE SAPPHIRE AND WARATAH CUP FINALS". Football NSW. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  5. "APIA LEICHHARDT CROWNED INAUGURAL SAPPHIRE CUP CHAMPIONS". Football NSW. Retrieved 27 September 2023.