Western Premier League

Last updated

Western Premier League
Founded1994 (reformed in 2020)
CountryAustralia
Number of clubs6
Level on pyramid 5
Current championsMacquarie United (Dubbo) (8th title)
(2025)
Current premiersBathurst 75 (10th title)
(2025)
Current: 2025 Western Premier League season

The Western Premier League is a regional Australian association football league, comprising teams from the Central West region of New South Wales. The competition is run under the Western NSW Football body, an associate of Football NSW - a member federation of Football Australia. It fits below the national A-League and NSW wide divisions including National Premier Leagues NSW, being level 5 league in the Australian league system.

Contents

History

The Western Premier League was founded in 1994 as the Central West Soccer League, with East Dubbo United taking out the inaugural championship, defeating Bathurst 75 on penalties 4–3 in the grand final, after the score was locked at 2-all at the end of extra-time.

The competition ran from 1994 until the end of 2012 before collapsing after Westside Panthers and Dubbo Bulls all pulled out in quick succession, leaving just three teams in the competition. [1] The competition was later revived ahead of the 2020 season, with nine teams initially entering the first WPL season in eight years, [2] later reduced to seven teams by July when the season commenced after a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Format

As of the 2023 season, the competition consists of nine teams from around the Central West region of New South Wales. Each team will play each other twice, to form a 18-round, round robin format. The current finals format is yet to be determined, but it will concluded with a grand final to determine the champion, usually held at the ground of the highest-ranked team.

Current clubs and location

The following clubs will participate in the 2023 Western Premier League:

Western Premier League
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
30km
19miles
Red pog.svg
Bathurst 75
Red pog.svg
Parkes Cobras
Red pog.svg
Panorama
Red pog.svg
Orange Waratahs
Red pog.svg
Macquarie United
Red pog.svg
Dubbo Bulls
Locations of the 2023 WPL clubs.
ClubLocationGroundFoundedChampionsChampions years
Bathurst 75 Bathurst Proctor Park197581996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2023, 2024
Dubbo Bulls Dubbo Hans Claven Oval
Victoria Park
Apex Oval
200542010, 2011, 2012, 2020
Macquarie United (Dubbo) Dubbo Hans Claven Oval
Victoria Park
Apex Oval
20130
Orange Waratahs Orange Waratah Sports Ground196751995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2022
Panorama Bathurst Proctor Park20120
Parkes Cobras Parkes Woodward Oval
Harrison Park
20200

Former clubs

ClubLocationFoundedChampionsChampions yearsCurrent status
Barnstoneworth United Orange 19980Orange & District Football Association
Bathurst City Red Tops Bathurst 19620Bathurst District Football
Bathurst City Colts Bathurst 0Disbanded
Canobolas Rangers Orange 11999Orange & District Football Association
Cowra Wildcats Cowra 0Disbanded
East Dubbo United Dubbo 198411994Dubbo & District Football Association
Lithgow City Rangers Lithgow 19700Bathurst District Football
Lithgow Workmen's Lithgow 19820Bathurst District Football
Macquarie United (Bathurst) Bathurst 19840Bathurst District Football
Mudgee Wolves Mudgee 0Bathurst District Football
Orana Spurs Dubbo 199212001Dubbo & District Football Association
Orange CYMS Orange 19750Orange & District Football Association
Oxford United Bathurst 0Disbanded
SASS Strikers Dubbo 19830Dubbo & District Football Association
Westside Panthers Dubbo 197932004, 2008, 2009Dubbo & District Football Association
Young Rebels Young 0Disbanded

Grand final results

Key to list of winners
*Match went to extra time
Match decided via a penalty shoot-out after extra time
Winning team won the Double (Grand final and minor premiership)
Western Premier League grand finals
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners–upVenueVenue's city/townMinor premiersTeams
1994East Dubbo United2–2 Bathurst 75 Marjorie Jackson Oval Lithgow 6
1995Orange Waratahs1–0Canobolas RangersAlec Lamberton Field Bathurst 7
1996 Bathurst 75 3–0Macquarie United (Bathurst)Waratah Sports Ground Orange Bathurst 75 6
1997 Bathurst 75 1–0Orange CYMSAlec Lamberton Field Bathurst Bathurst 75 6
1998 Bathurst 75 3–0Orange WaratahsWaratah Sports Ground Orange Bathurst 75 7
1999Canobolas Rangers3–0Orange CYMSJack Brabham Park Orange Orange Waratahs8
2000Orange Waratahs3–1Orange CYMSWaratah Sports Ground Orange Orange Waratahs8
2001Orana Spurs2–1East Dubbo UnitedLady Cutler Oval Dubbo East Dubbo United8
2002 Bathurst 75 3–2Westside PanthersLady Cutler Oval Dubbo Westside Panthers8
2003 Bathurst 75 0–0Canobolas RangersAlec Lamberton Field Bathurst Bathurst 75 8
2004Westside Panthers1–0 Bathurst 75 Lady Cutler Oval Dubbo Westside Panthers7
2005 Bathurst 75 1–0Dubbo BullsAlec Lamberton Field Bathurst Bathurst 75 6
2006Orange Waratahs0–0 Bathurst 75 Alec Lamberton Field Bathurst Bathurst 75 7
2007Orange Waratahs1–0 Bathurst 75 Alec Lamberton Field Bathurst Bathurst 75 7
2008Westside Panthers3–3 Bathurst 75 Lady Cutler Oval Dubbo Westside Panthers7
2009Westside Panthers3–3Orange WaratahsJack Brabham Park Orange Orange Waratahs6
2010Dubbo Bulls1–1Orange WaratahsLady Cutler Oval Dubbo Orange Waratahs6
2011Dubbo Bulls3–1Westside PanthersLady Cutler Oval Dubbo Dubbo Bulls5
2012Dubbo Bulls3–1Orange WaratahsWaratah Sports Ground Orange Dubbo Bulls5
Competition disbanded between 2013-2019
2020 Dubbo Bulls 2–1 Macquarie United (Dubbo) Apex Oval Dubbo Macquarie United (Dubbo)7
2021
Season cancelled after 17 rounds due to COVID-19 lockdown. No title awarded. [3]
9
2022 Orange Waratahs 2–1 Panorama Waratah Sports Ground Orange Orange Waratahs11
2023 Bathurst 75 2–1Barnstoneworth UnitedProctor Park Bathurst Bathurst 75 8
2024 Bathurst 75 3–0Dubbo BullsProctor Park Bathurst Bathurst 75 7
2025Macquarie United (Dubbo)3–2 Bathurst 75 Victoria Park Dubbo Bathurst 75 6

Performance by club

There are seven clubs who have won the Western Premier League title.

Teams in bold compete in the Western Premier League as of the 2022 season.

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning yearsRunners-up years
Bathurst 75 851996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2023, 20241994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2025
Orange Waratahs541995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 20221998, 2009, 2010 2012
Dubbo Bulls422010, 2011, 2012, 20202005, 2024
Westside Panthers322004, 2008, 20092002, 2011
Canobolas Rangers1219991995, 2003
East Dubbo United1119942001
Macquarie United (Dubbo)1120252020
Orana Spurs102001
Orange CYMS031997, 1999, 2000
Macquarie United (Bathurst)011996
Panorama012022
Barnstoneworth United012023

Lower grades

Reserve Grade

  • 1994 - Lithgow Workmen's
  • 1995 - Canobolas Rangers
  • 1996 - Bathurst 75
  • 1997 - Bathurst 75
  • 1998 - Bathurst 75
  • 1999 - Canobolas Rangers
  • 2000 - East Dubbo United
  • 2001 - Bathurst 75
  • 2002 - Bathurst 75
  • 2003 - Orange Waratahs
  • 2004 - Orana Spurs
  • 2005 - Orange Waratahs
  • 2006 - Bathurst 75
  • 2007 - Canobolas Rangers
  • 2008 - Orange Waratahs
  • 2009 - Westside Panthers
  • 2010 - Dubbo Bulls
  • 2011 - Orange Waratahs
  • 2012 - Dubbo Bulls

Under 18s

  • 1995 - Canobolas Rangers
  • 1996 - Cowra Wildcats
  • 1999 - Lithgow City Rangers
  • 2001 - Dubbo SASS
  • 2002 - Dubbo SASS
  • 2003 - Orana Spurs
  • 2004 - Bathurst 75
  • 2005 - Orange Waratahs
  • 2006 - Dubbo Bulls
  • 2007 - Westside Panthers
  • 2008 - Westside Panthers
  • 2009 - Orana Spurs
  • 2010 - Lithgow Workmen's
  • 2011 - Dubbo Bulls
  • 2012 - Dubbo Bulls

References