National Premier Leagues NSW

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National Premier Leagues NSW
Founded2013
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)
Country Australia
StateNew South Wales NSW
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid2
Relegation toNSW League One Men
Domestic cup(s)Australia Cup
Waratah Cup
Current premiersAPIA Leichhardt (2023)
TV partnersNPL.TV
YouTube
Websitewww.nplnsw.com.au
Current: 2024 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, the organising body 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.

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Seasons Title
1956–1977 Division 1
1978–1982 State League
1983–1991 NSW Division One
1992–2000 NSW Super League
2000–2012 NSW Premier League
2013–present National Premier Leagues NSW
Source: OzFootball

Competition format[edit]

League[edit]

There are 30 Rounds in total with each team playing each other twice; home and away.

NPL national finals[edit]

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[edit]

The following clubs were competing in the National Premier Leagues NSW for the 2024 season.

Club Seasons Location Grounds Capacity
APIA Leichhardt 11 Leichhardt Lambert Park 7,000
Blacktown City 11 Blacktown Lily Homes Stadium 7,500
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 Lisarow Pluim Park 2,000
Hills United FC 1 Rouse Hill Russell Reserve
Landen Stadium
1,000
7,000
Manly United 11 Dee Why Cromer Park 5,000
Marconi Stallions 9 Bossley Park Marconi Stadium 9,000
NWS Spirit 2 Macquarie Park Christie Park 2,000
Rockdale Ilinden 11 Rockdale Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre 5,000
St George City 2 Peakhurst Peakhurst Park 1,000
St George FC 2 Banksia St George Stadium
Ilinden Sports Centre
15,000
5,000
Sutherland Sharks 10 Miranda Seymour Shaw Park 5,000
Sydney FC Youth 7 Glenwood Valentine Sports Park 4,000
Sydney Olympic 11 Belmore Belmore Sports Ground 20,000
Sydney United 58 11 Edensor Park Sydney United Sports Centre 12,000
Western Sydney Wanderers Youth 2 Rooty Hill Wanderers Football Park 3,000
Wollongong Wolves 11 Wollongong WIN Stadium 23,750

National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1 Honours[edit]

Season Regular season Finals series NPL Finals Representation
Premiers
(number of titles)
Runners-up Champions
(number of titles)
Score Finalists
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 Wollongong Wolves Sydney United 58 FC (5) 3–3 (4–2 (p)) Rockdale City Suns [a]
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[4]
2022 Sydney Olympic (3) Manly United Blacktown City 2-0 Manly United [b]

Notes:

  • Bold indicates Federation Double winners – i.e. League Championship and League Premiership OR League Championship and Federation/Waratah Cup OR League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup
  • Bold and Underlined indicates Federation Treble winners – i.e. League Championship, League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup winners

Honours pre-NPL (1957–2012)[edit]

Season Competition Regular season Finals series
Premiers
(number of titles)
Runners-up Champions
(number of titles)
Score Finalists
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 Ryde 4–0 St George-Budapest
1971 Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (3) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest (2) 3–2 Western Suburbs
1972 Division One St George-Budapest (2) Marconi-Fairfield Marconi-Fairfield 1–0 St George-Budapest
1973 Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (4) Marconi-Fairfield Marconi-Fairfield (2) 2–1 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs
1974 Division One Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (5) APIA Leichhardt St George-Budapest (3) 4–2 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs
1975 Division One APIA Leichhardt (4) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest (4) 1–0 APIA Leichhardt
1976 Division One St George-Budapest (3) APIA Leichhardt APIA Leichhardt (4) 1–0 St George-Budapest
1977 Introduction of the National Soccer League
1977 Division One Croatia Sydney APIA Leichhardt Croatia Sydney 2–0 Auburn
1978 Division One Croatia Sydney (2) Sutherland Shire Sutherland Shire 1–1
2–1 (replay)
Croatia Sydney
1979 State League Croatia Sydney (3) Inter Monaro Inter Monaro 2–1 Sutherland Shire
1980 State League Melita Eagles Sydney Olympic Sydney Olympic 4–0 Melita Eagles
1981 State League Croatia Sydney (4) St George-Budapest St George-Budapest (5) 1–0 Croatia Sydney
1982 State League Croatia Sydney (5) Riverwood Croatia Sydney (2) 2–1 Sutherland Shire
1983 NSW Division One Melita Eagles (2) Croatia Sydney Croatia Sydney (3) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
0–0 (replay)
4–3 (p)
Melita Eagles
1984 NSW Division One Inter Monaro Rockdale Ilinden Rockdale Ilinden 3–2 Inter Monaro
1985 NSW Division One Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic (2) Fairy Meadow Melita Eagles 4–0 Fairy Meadow
1986 NSW Division One Melita Eagles (3) Manly Warringah Sutherland Shire (2) 2–1 Melita Eagles
1987 NSW Division One Wollongong City Canberra City Wollongong City 2–1 Canberra City
1988 NSW Division One Blacktown City Melita Eagles Melita Eagles (2) 0–0
7–6 (p)
Blacktown City
1989 NSW Division One Melita Eagles (4) Canberra Croatia Melita Eagles (3) 2–0 Canberra Croatia
1990 NSW Division One Wollongong Macedonia Canberra Croatia Wollongong Macedonia 2–0 Canberra Croatia
1991 NSW Division One Sutherland Sharks Blacktown City Blacktown City 3–0 Canberra Metro
1992 NSW Super League Avala Manly Warringah Dolphins Avala 2–0 Blacktown City
1993 NSW Super League Blacktown City (2) Bankstown City Bankstown City 1–0 Blacktown City
1994 NSW Super League Bankstown City Canterbury-Marrickville Bankstown City (2) 3–1 Canterbury-Marrickville
1995 NSW Super League Manly Warringah Dolphins Blacktown City Manly Warringah Dolphins 1–0 Blacktown City
1996 NSW Super League Adamstown Rosebud1
Parramatta Eagles2
Sutherland Sharks1, 2 Parramatta Eagles (4) 1–1
5–3 (p)
Adamstown Rosebud
1997 NSW Super League Parramatta Eagles (5) APIA Leichhardt Parramatta Eagles (5) 3–1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
1998 NSW Super League Bonnyrigg White Eagles (2) Blacktown City Blacktown City (2) 1–0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
1999 NSW Super League Bonnyrigg White Eagles (3) Blacktown City Blacktown City (3) 5–1 Parramatta Eagles
2000 NSW 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 FC (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
1 1996 season divided into two stages. Stage 1: Premiers (Adamstown), Runners-up (Sutherland)
2 1996 season divided into two stages. Stage 2: Premiers (Parramatta), Runners-up (Sutherland)

Bold indicates Federation Double winners – i.e. League Championship and League Premiership OR League Championship and Federation/Waratah Cup OR League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup
Bold and Underlined indicates Federation Treble winners – i.e. League Championship, League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup winners

All-time honour board[edit]

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.

Club Regular season premierships Finals series championships
Premiers Winning seasons Champions Winning grand finals
Blacktown City 8 1988, 1993, 2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007, 2015 8 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2016
Sydney United 58 8 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2009, 2013, 2016 5 1977, 1982, 1983, 2006, 2020
Parramatta FC 6 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2001–02 6 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2002
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 6 1992, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2012, 2014 4 1992, 2001, 2013, 2015
APIA Leichhardt 6 1964, 1965, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2023 6 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2003, 2019
Hakoah Sydney City East FC 5 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 4 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968
Prague 4 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963 1 1959
St George FC 3 1962, 1972, 1976 5 1967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1981
Sydney Olympic 3 2011, 2018, 2022 3 1980, 2011, 2018
Safeway United 3 1958, 1966, 1969 1 1963
Bankstown City Lions 2 1994, 2004–05 4 1993, 1994, 2004, 2005
Sutherland Sharks 2 1991, 2008 3 1978, 1986, 2009
Canterbury-Marrickville 2 1957, 1985 2 1958, 1960
Wollongong Wolves 2 1987, 2019 2 1987, 2008
Manly United 1 1995 2 1995, 2017
Inter Monaro 1 1984 1 1979
Wollongong United 1 1990 1 1990
Rockdale City Suns/Rockdale Ilinden 1 2020 1 1984
Belconnen Blue Devils 1 2003–04
Marconi Stallions 3 1972, 1973, 2012
Auburn 1 1957
YUGAL Ryde 1 1970

Broadcasting[edit]

As of 2012, all matches have been filmed and a weekly highlights package has been made available online, while the grand final has been streamed live through Football NSW since 2013.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2004/05 Premier League Season Review".
  2. ^ "FFA launches National Premier Leagues". Football Federation Australia. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled". The World Game. SBS. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Football NSW Cancel 2021 National Premier Leagues Season". Football NSW. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ NPL finals series cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[3]
  2. ^ Not held

External links[edit]