Football NSW

Football New South Wales
AbbreviationFNSW
Formation1 April 2007; 17 years ago (2007-04-01)[1]
(1957; 67 years ago (1957) as New South Wales Federation of Soccer Clubs)
TypeState Sporting Association
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersValentine Sports Park
Location
Region served
New South Wales, Australia
Parent organisation
Football Australia
Websitehttp://www.footballnsw.com.au

Football NSW is the governing body for soccer in the Australian state of New South Wales, with the exception of the northern regions of NSW (the governing body for which is Northern New South Wales Football). Football NSW is a member of the national governing body, Football Australia. Football NSW's premier football competition is the National Premier Leagues NSW. The premier futsal competition is the Futsal Premier League. Prior to 1 April 2007, Football NSW was known as Soccer NSW.[2]

History

[edit]

The first soccer association was founded in New South Wales in 1882 as the "South British Football Soccer Association". It was succeeded in 1898 by the "New South Wales British Football Association" and eventually in 1921 by the "Australian Soccer Football Association". The first state league in New South Wales was formed in 1928 and by 1943 a new association was formed to oversee the game in New South Wales specifically, called "New South Wales Soccer Football Association". This was formed into a company in 1945.[3][4]

By 1957 many clubs in New South Wales were left disgruntled by the way the game was run by the NSW Soccer Football Association due to numerous factors. Some migrant communities had created their own clubs when they were faced with closed doors by already established suburban clubs.[5] After a meeting led by Hakoah president, Walter Sternberg in his Bellevue Hill home, a new association was born, called the "NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs". This federation effectively took control over the game from the former NSW Soccer Football Association.[3][5][4]

The events of 1957 also led to a change in management nationally. With the Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) suspended by FIFA over player poaching disputes and the creation of Federations in other states, the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF) was created in 1961 to replace the old association. However, the ASF only gained control of operations from the ASFA after they sent a £5000 bond to FIFA in 1963.[4]

In 1995, "Soccer Australia" replaced the "Australian Soccer Federation" and so the governing body of New South Wales became "Soccer NSW".[4]

Soccer NSW remained in control of the game for a decade until another national change took place in 2005 when Soccer Australia changed its name to "Football Federation Australia".[4] Soccer NSW however, did not officially change its name to "Football NSW" until 1 April 2007.[1]

Headquarters

[edit]
Valentine Sports Park

The headquarters of Football NSW are located at Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood. Valentine Sports Park is a multipurpose sporting complex which caters for various groups, as well as individuals. The complex consists of twin, triple and quad rooms accommodating up to 180 people, 5 playing fields, lecture rooms, indoor sports hall, 20 metre outdoor pool, sports medicine centre and a dining room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It also contains the offices of the Football NSW staff.

Football

[edit]

The majority of Football NSW's time goes into the football competitions they oversee and run. Football NSW oversees the running of numerous representative youth, Men's & Women's association football leagues and cups, a number of which are non-amateur. They also oversee the countless club and amateur competitions run by the affiliated associations around the state. For a detailed rundown of the various leagues and systems run in New South Wales see Football (soccer) in New South Wales.

Futsal

[edit]

Football NSW is also the governing body for Futsal is New South Wales. There are two representative leagues named the "Futsal Premier League" (Known as the SELECT Futsal Premier League for sponsorship reasons) and the "Futsal Premier League 2" (Known as the SELECT FPL2). Originally there was only one representative league with 16 teams. In the 06/07 season the competition was cut into 2 separate divisions of 8 teams each. In the 07/08 season the top 8 clubs in the club championship (aggregate points of all teams) from that season were put in the First Division while the last 8 were put in the second division. Now in 18/19 there is 8 premier league teams and 8 premier league 2 teams.

Football NSW Leagues clubs

[edit]

Below are listed the Men's all member clubs of Football NSW for the National Premier Leagues competitions and Football NSW League One and Two for 2023.

National Premier Leagues NSW NSW League One NSW League Two
Club Founded In current league since Club Founded In current league since Club Founded In current league since
APIA Leichhardt 1954 1993 Bankstown City Lions 1960 2023 Bankstown United 2016 2019
Blacktown City 1953 1990 Blacktown Spartans 2002 2017 Camden Tigers 1961 2023
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2008 2023 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1968 2019 Central Coast United 2017 2024
Hills United 1989 2024 Bulls FC Academy 1952 2024 Fraser Park FC 1961 2023
Manly United 1992 2004 Canterbury Bankstown 1886 2023 Gladesville Ryde Magic 1953 2010
Marconi Stallions 1956 2018 Dulwich Hill 1968 2023 Hawkesbury City 1975 2023
NWS Spirit 2004 2023 Dunbar Rovers 1991 2023 Hurstville ZFC 1970 2023
Rockdale Ilinden 1969 2010 Hakoah Sydney City East 1939 2020 Inner West Hawks 1978 2014
St George City 1924 2023 Inter Lions 1983 2023 Mounties Wanderers 1978 2024
St George FC 1961 2024 Macarthur Rams 1984 2023 Newcastle Jets Youth 2008 2023
Sutherland Sharks 1930 2006 Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1970 2024 Parramatta FC 1956 2023
Sydney FC Youth 2008 2017 Nepean FC 2011 2024 Prospect United 1970 2023
Sydney Olympic 1957 2004 Northern Tigers 2002 2004 South Coast Flame 2017 2023
Sydney United 58 1957 2004 Rydalmere Lions 1979 2023 Sydney University 1946 2016
Western Sydney Wanderers Youth 2012 2023 SD Raiders 2012 2020 Western Rage 1990 2023
Wollongong Wolves 1980 2004 University of NSW 1948 2024

League system

[edit]

The men's soccer pyramid in New South Wales comprises 4 levels below the A-League Men, with promotion and relegation between the top 3 levels. It also includes the Sydney Amateur League, which is not officially a part of the league system. In total, there are 259 clubs/teams across 28 divisions in South Australia.

The women's soccer pyramid in New South Wales comprises 3 levels below the A-League Men, with promotion and relegation between the top 2 levels.

Men's pyramid

[edit]

State

[edit]
Level Leagues
National State
2 1 National Premier Leagues NSW
16 clubs
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1.5
3 2 NSW League One
16 clubs
↑ promote 1.5, ↓ relegate 1.5
4 3 NSW League Two
16 clubs
↑ promote 1.5, no relegation
5 4 New South Wales Regional Leagues
543 teams from 2 divisions
no promotion
Metropolitan Districts
388 clubs from 6 districts
Regional Branches
155 clubs from 3 Branches

Metropolitan

[edit]
Level Metropolitan Districts
National State Metro
5 4 1
Far North
54 clubs from 2 districts
North
50 teams from 2 districts
East
67 teams from 3 districts
West
81 teams from 3 districts
South
85 teams from 3 districts
Far South
51 teams from 2 districts
Central Coast Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 2
Northern Suburbs Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Gladesville Hornsby Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Manly Warringah Premier League
11 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Bill Brackenbury Cup (Canterbury)
7 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Eastern Suburbs Premier League
8 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
St George Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Blacktown Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Granville X-League
9 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Nepean Waratah League
9 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Bankstown Premier League
9 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Macarthur M-League
8 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Southern Districts Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Illawarra Premier League
12 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
Sutherland Premier League
10 teams
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1

Regional

[edit]
Level Regional Branches
National State Reg
5 4 1
Riverina
54 clubs from 4 associations
Southern
50 teams from 5 associations
Western
72 clubs from 6 associations
Albury-Wodonga Division One
12 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Griffith District First Grade
6 teams
no promotion, no relegation
South West Slopes
5 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Pascoe Cup (Wagga Wagga)
10 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Eurobodalla
6 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Shoalhaven District
12 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Highlands All-Age
5 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Southern Tablelands All-Age
5 clubs
no promotion, no relegation
Far South Coast
8 teams
no promotion, no relegation
Western Premier League
8 teams
no promotion, no relegation
6 5 2
Bathurst District
19 clubs
no promotion, no relegation
Dubbo & District
16 clubs
no promotion, no relegation
Lachlan
13 clubs
no promotion, no relegation
Lithgow
5 clubs
no promotion, no relegation
Orange
13 clubs
no promotion, no relegation
Western Plains
7 clubs
no promotion, no relegation

Women's pyramid

[edit]

State

[edit]
Level Leagues
National State
2 1 National Premier Leagues NSW Women's
14 clubs
no promotion, ↓ relegate 1
3 2 NSW League One Women's
14 clubs
↑ promote 1, no relegation
4 3 New South Wales Regional Leagues
no promotion
Metropolitan Districts Regional Branches

Metropolitan

[edit]
Level Metropolitan Districts
National State Metro
4 3 1
Far North
2 districts
North
2 districts
East
3 districts
West
3 districts
South
3 districts
Far South
2 districts
Central Coast Premier League Northern Suburbs Division One Gladesville Hornsby Premier League Manly Warringah Premier League Grace Martin Trophy (Canterbury) Eastern Suburbs Championship St George Premier Women's League Blacktown All-Age One Granville Ladies Premier League Nepean All-Age One Bankstown All-Age One Macarthur All-Age One Southern Districts All-Age One South Coast All-Age One Sutherland All-Age A

Associations and Branches

[edit]

As one of two state governing body for football in New South Wales, Football NSW oversees all aspects of the sport within the southern part of the state. At a local level, Football NSW works with 15 regional-based constituent association members which oversee in all aspects of the sport within their respected region. Three Football NSW branches also exist in a similar capacity.[6]

Branches[9]

Past League Winners

[edit]

The sections below list previous league winners. League winners are listed as first place in the standings at the end of the regular section, not winners of the finals series (when held).

1957–1958

[edit]

The first season of the newly formed Soccer NSW began with two divisions. Canterbury-Marrickville were the inaugural premiers of Division One.

Season Division One Division Two
1957 Canterbury-Marrickville Villawood
1958 Corrimal United Budapest (East),
Pan-Hellenic (West)

1959–1962

[edit]

After two seasons, a third division was added.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three
1959 Sydney Prague Neerlandia Toongabbie
1960 Sydney Prague Pan-Hellenic Sydney Croatia
1961 Sydney Prague SSC Yugal Melita Eagles
1962 Budapest Croatia Sydney Cabramatta

1963–1970

[edit]

Division Three disbanded to form lower grade Amateur Leagues.

Season Division One Division Two
1963 Prague Corinthian BESC
1964 A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Polonia-North Side
1965 South Coast United Corinthian BESC
1966 A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Polonia-North Side
1967 A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Manly Warringah
1968 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Auburn
1969 South Coast United Marconi Fairfield
1970 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Western Suburbs

1971–1976

[edit]

Amateur Leagues/Inter suburban leagues reformed to create another Division Three.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three
1971 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Sutherland Shire Bankstown City FC
1972 St George-Budapest Granville Parramatta Rosebery Rhodes
1973 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Canterbury-Marrickville Riverside Rapid
1974 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs Granville Parramatta Northern Districts
1975 A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Manly Warringah Toongabbie
1976 St George-Budapest Riverside Avala Ku-Ring-Gai

1977–1978

[edit]

Another division was then added in 1977, creating four divisions.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three Division Four
1977 Croatia Sydney Melita Eagles Blacktown United Lane Cove United
1978 Croatia Sydney Ku-Ring-Gai Nepean Corinthian Baulkham Hills

1979–1982

[edit]

The top four divisions were renamed for a few seasons.

Season State League Division One Division Two Division Three
1979 Croatia Sydney St George-Budapest Bathurst '75 North Bankstown
1980 Melita Eagles Marconi Fairfield Guildford County Liverpool Albion
1981 Croatia Sydney SSC Yugal Dee Why Swans Kingsford Hellenic
1982 Croatia Sydney Ku-Ring-Gai Artarmon Bondi Marine

1983–1988

[edit]

State League reverted to Division One naming, while Division Three disbanded back to lower Inter Urban leagues, leaving three premier divisions.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three
1983 Melita Eagles Rockdale Ilinden Bathurst '75
1984 Inter Monaro Fairy Meadow SC Campbelltown City
1985 Canterbury-Marrickville Wollongong Macedonia Kingsford Hellenic
1986 Melita Eagles SSC Yugal Granville Chile
1987 Wollongong City Polonia Granville Chile
1988 Blacktown City Avala Dulwich Hill

1989–1991

[edit]

Division Four was re-introduced.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three Division Four
1989 Melita Eagles Sydney Macedonia Roseberry Portugal Petersham Luisitanos
1990 Wollongong Macedonia Southern Districts FA Port Hacking-Greenisland Arncliffe
1991 Sutherland Sharks Waverley FC Lemnos Allstars Western District

1992–2000

[edit]

Again the premier division was renamed, this time to the "Super League". Lower divisions were renamed accordingly from Division One.

Season Super League Division 1 Division 2 Division 3
1992 Avala Cyprus United Belmore Hercules Spanish Club
1993 Blacktown City FC Mt Druitt Town Rangers North Ryde St Johns Parks
1994 Bankstown City FC Macarthur Rams Southern Minotaurs University of NSW
1995 Manly Warringah Dolphins Belmore Hercules Penrith Panthers FC Greystanes
1996 Adamstown Rosebud (Stage 1),
Parramatta Eagles (Stage 2)
Sydney Cosmos Greystanes Gladesville United
1997 Parramatta Eagles Hurstville City Minotaurs AC United Glebe Wanderers
1998 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Fairfield Bulls Hadjuk Wanderers Sydney University
1999 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Manly Warringah Dolphins Fraser Park Dragons White City
2000 Blacktown City FC Fairfield Bulls Greystanes Prairiewood United

2000–2012

[edit]

2000 saw another shake-up of the league structures. The Super League was brought forward to become a summer competition and be aligned with the National Soccer League (NSL). It was called the "Premier League". Division One was then changed to the "Winter Super League", starting and finishing in 2001. Divisions Two and Three were renamed States League 1 and 2 respectively, and were also conducted over the winter of 2001. During the demise of the NSL and rise of the A-League, the Premier League reverted to playing over winter for the 2006 season. This meant there was approximately nine months break between competitions.

Season Premier League Super League State League 1 State League 2
2000–01 Blacktown City FC Bankstown City FC Sydney University Western Sydney Lions
2001–02 Parramatta FC Rockdale City Suns Wanderers Cedars FC Bossy Liverpool
2002–03 Blacktown City FC Sydney Crescent Star Northern Tigers Camden Tigers
2003–04 Belconnen Blue Devils Manly Warringah Dolphins Nepean Association Inter Lions
2004–05 Bankstown City FC FC Bossy Liverpool Fairfield City Lions Springwood SSC
2006 Blacktown City FC Rockdale City Suns Mt Druitt Town Rangers University of NSW
2007 Blacktown City FC Northern Tigers Bankstown Berries Greenisland (North),
Hurstville City Minotaurs (South)
2008 Sutherland Sharks Bonnyrigg White Eagles Spirit FC Balmain Tigers (North),
Camden Tigers (South)
2009 Sydney United Rockdale City Suns Dulwich Hill FC Camden Tigers
2010 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Parramatta FC Hills Brumbies Fairfield Bulls
2011 Sydney Olympic Blacktown Spartans Mounties Wanderers Northbridge FC
2012 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Northern Tigers Gladesville Ryde Magic Hakoah Sydney City East FC

2013–2015

[edit]

Another overhaul of the league structure occurred with the introduction of the nationwide National Premier Leagues. State Federations were required to name their premier leagues as such. For Football NSW, the meant the "Premier League" was to be called "National Premier Leagues NSW" instead. The "Super League" also had to follow suit, becoming the "National Premier Leagues NSW 2". State Leagues remained the same.

Season NPL NSW NPL NSW 2 State League 1 State League 2
2013 Sydney United St George Saints Balmain Tigers FC Stanmore Hawks
2014 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Parramatta FC Hakoah Sydney City East Hurstville FC
2015 Blacktown City FC Spirit FC North Shore Mariners Dunbar Rovers

2016–2019

[edit]

Another minor change occurred for the 2016 season, with State League 1 adopting the "NPL NSW 3 moniker", thus State League 2 was reverted to simply State League.

Season NPL NSW NPL NSW 2 NPL NSW 3 State League
2016 Sydney United Sydney FC Youth Hills Brumbies St George FA
2017 APIA Leichhardt Tigers Marconi Stallions Rydalmere Lions Bankstown United
2018 Sydney Olympic Mt Druitt Town Rangers St George FA Central Coast United
2019 APIA Leichhardt Tigers Hills United SD Raiders Fraser Park

2020–2021

[edit]

After a further review, there was another restructure which came into effect in the 2020 season, with the branding of an NPL4 competition.[10]

Season NPL NSW NPL NSW 2 NPL NSW 3 NPL NSW 4
2020 Rockdale City Suns Central Coast Mariners Academy Rydalmere Lions Fraser Park
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[11]

2022

[edit]

The 2022 season saw more changes as the NPL 2, NPL 3 and NPL 4 competitions were renamed to League One, League Two and League Three respectively.[12]

Season NPL NSW NSW League One NSW League Two NSW League Three
2022 Sydney Olympic Central Coast Mariners Academy Inter Lions Newcastle Jets Youth

2023–present

[edit]

The 2023 season saw another change as the NSW League Three competition was disbanded in favour of three larger leagues.

Season NPL NSW NSW League One NSW League Two
2023 APIA Leichhardt Hills United UNSW

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "About". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  2. ^ [1] Archived 21 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b "1958 NSW Yearbook" (PDF). ozfootball.net. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Timeline of Australian Football". migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b Les Murray (9 July 2017). "The Revolution of 1957 and What the FFA Can Learn Today". theworldame.sbs.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Associations". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Football NSW Metro Associations". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Football NSW Regional Associations". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Football NSW Branches". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  10. ^ "COMPETITION STRUCTURES FOR NPL MEN'S, YOUTH AND SAP FOR THE 2020 SEASON". Football NSW. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Football NSW Cancel 2021 National Premier Leagues Season". Football NSW. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Changes of names to Football NSW competitions". Football NSW. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
[edit]