NSW Premier League

NSW Premier League is the top tier league of Men’s Football in NSW. The NSW Premier League competition consists of 12 teams competing in a round-robin structure where each side plays one another twice; upon completion a Premier is crowned.

The top five sides by the end of the season compete in the Championship Series. The Championship Series consists of six games, whereby the five teams competing are whittled down to just two. The teams are seeded upon their entry into the Championship Series according to their final position on the ladder. The final two teams compete in the Grand Final, where a NSW Premier League Champion is decided.

Teams competing in the NSW Premier League are listed below

APIA Tigers
Bankstown City
Blacktown City FC
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Marconi Stallions
Manly United FC
Rockdale City Suns
South Coast Wolves
Sutherland Sharks
Sydney Olympic
Sydney United
West Sydney Berries

NSW Premier Youth League

The NSW Premier Youth League is the top tier Youth league competition for boy’s football in NSW.

The competition consists of 12 teams in three (3) age groups U/13, U/16, U/18 and 13 teams in two (2) age groups U14, U15 competing in a round-robin structure where each side plays one another twice; upon completion a Premier is crowned.

Teams competing in the NSW Premier Youth League Competition are as follows

APIA Tigers
Bankstown City
Blacktown City Demons
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Marconi Stallions
Manly United FC
Project 22 (U/14, U/15)
Rockdale City Suns
South Coast Wolves
Sutherland Sharks
Sydney Olympic
Sydney United
West Sydney Berries

Please Click Here for Project 22 Schedule of Matches

NSW Premier League - A Brief History

2000/01

The inaugural NSW Premier League season kicks-off on November 3rd 2000 with ten clubs in a summer format. The opening match of the eighteen round home and away season sees Socceroo Chris Kalantzis score the winning goal in St George’s 2-1 win over local rivals Canterbury-Marrickville.

By seasons end, Blacktown City win the inaugural Premiership trophy under coach Brian Brown, losing just three matches along the way. The Demons were unable to secure the NSW Premier League Championship with Bonnyrigg White Eagles upstaging the Premiers 3-1 in the Grand Final.

All ten sides retain their NSW Premier League status and are joined by Bankstown City and Fairfield Bulls who finished first and second in the inaugural Winter Super League.

2001/02

With the league expanded to twelve teams, Parramatta Eagles coach Tam Finlayson won 17 of their 22 league games to take the Premiership trophy. In the semi-finals, the Eagles were unstoppable and knocked over Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the Major Semi-Finals to face defending champions Blacktown City in the season decider. The other finalists, Belconnen and Leichhardt Tigers aren’t in the hunt with the Eagles taking the Premiership/Championship double by virtue of a 1-0 win over the Demons. Relegated at seasons end is wooden-spooners Sutherland, replaced by Winter Super League champions Rockdale City Suns.

2002/03

Blacktown City and Coach Brian Brown add yet another Premiership trophy to their bulging cabinet, winning the league by a whopping five points. A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers and Bonnyrigg White Eagles finish second and third with Belconnen and Parramatta Eagles rounding out the top five.

In a remarkable final series, the Demons make it through to the Grand Final where they beat Bonnyrigg 8-7 on penalties to face A.P.I.A. Leichhardt in the season decider. In front of a jam packed Lambert Park, the Les De Celis coached A.P.I.A. side writes its name in the record books with an emphatic 3-1 defeat of Blacktown on the back of a hat-trick from Socceroo Zlatko Arambasic.

The celebrations go way into the night as the Tigers faithful celebrate their first state league trophy since 1976. Finishing bottom of the table is Fairfield Bulls who are relegated and replaced by Sydney Crescent Star who win an historic Winter Super League Championship/Premiership double.

2003/4

Bankstown City Lions win their first Grand Final since 1994, knocking over a plucky Belconnen 2-0 at Marconi Stadium. In front of a crowd of 5,000, the Lions fight their way from third position, beating Premiers Belconnen twice during the final series including a 4-3 win in extra-time.

The Waratah Cup final in May is a huge success with Sydney Crescent Star defeating Bonnyrigg in golden goal extra-time with a strike from substitute Hans Sevgin. Sydney Crescent Star makes it an historic season by becoming the first promoted team to make the NSW Premier League semi-finals in their first season, finishing a gallant fifth.

Sadly, it’s the end of the road for one of the NSW Premier League’s foundation clubs – Canterbury-Marrickville who pick up the wooden spoon after a neck and neck race with Central Coast. They are replaced by Manly-Warringah United who win the 2004 Winter Super League Premiership by four points.

2004/5

The 2004/5 Premier League season was expanded from twelve to sixteen teams after Football Federation Australia disbanded the old National Soccer League. Returning to the Premier League were Marconi, Sydney United, Sydney Olympic and Wollongong Wolves who gave the league a much needed boost in popularity and interest.

After leading the competition for all bar the last three weeks of the season, Sydney United slipped to fourth, allowing Bankstown City Lions to take the Premiership trophy. It fell to Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Bankstown City Lions to decide the Grand Final. The Lions emerged victorious 3-1 in a largely one-sided contest sending the Championship trophy home to Jensen Park for a second
consecutive year.

2006

Season 2006 was the year of the Demons as they took three of the four trophies on offer. A ten team Premier League saw the Demons take the Johnny Warren Cup, Waratah Cup and Premiership trophies all in coach Aytek Genc’ first season in charge. Their only blemish was a 4-0 defeat in the Grand Final which saw Sydney United triumph in front of a bumper crowd at Marconi Stadium.

After leading the competition at the halfway point of the season, Marconi fell in a heap to finish third and were bundled out of the semi-finals by eventual champions Sydney United while second placed Bankstown City fell in the Preliminary Final. At the other end of the table it was Waratah Cup Runners-Up A.P.I.A. Leichhardt who finished with the wooden spoon.

2007

Blacktown City Demons reasserted themselves as the team of the NSW Premier League when they took out both the Premiership and NSW Championship. Having faced stiff opposition from rivals Bankstown City, the Demons, with ten men, ran out 3-1 winners in the 2007 Grand Final played out at CUA Stadium in front of a record six thousand plus crowd.

Coach of the Year Aytek Genc saw his side soar seven points clear in capturing the Premiership which also saw Tolgay Ozbey claim his second Golden Boot award.

The Waratah Cup was played which is equivalent to England’s ‘FA Cup’, whereby the Wollongong Wolves defeated Manly United 3-2.

The Premier League did have a dramatic finish as Manly United took up the final NSW Championship Series spot on the final day of the regular season after defeating A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers 1-0 thanks to a goal from Roberto Hamad. This ensured Phil Moss’ squad fourth place, while the Tigers were bundled out of the Finals Series race after being in the top four for the majority of 2007. On the topic of Manly, Moss’ star striker Robbie Cattanach claimed all the plaudits for winning the Golden Medal award for the second time in three seasons. However, it was the Demons year, going on to claim their third straight Premiership, as well as the elusive Championship trophy.

2008

It was a year of mixed fortunes in the NSW Premier League as the Sutherland Sharks finally won some silverware as they took out the 2008 NSW Premier League Premiership. The Premiership went down to the wire and both the Sharks and Wollongong FC finished up with 44 points after the season but Brian Brown’s men had a superior goal difference.

The stage was set for the NSW Grand Final played at CUA Stadium in front of a healthy crowd, but it was Wollongong who proved triumphant on the day as they defeated their arch-rivals 4-2 in what was one of the most exciting finals in the history of the competition.

Sharks promising young midfielder Brendan Gan had a memorable year as he took out the prestigious Gold Medal Award and was also rewarded for his efforts by winning a contract with Sydney FC’s National Youth League side. A.P.I.A Tigers star striker Robbie Younis took out the Golden Boot award as the Adelaide United star finished up with 21 goals for the year while fellow teammate Matthew Nash grabbed his second NSW Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year award.

The Waratah Cup for 2008 was also heralded a huge success which saw the Bankstown City Lions crowned eventual winners after they defeated Sydney Olympic 3-1 in front of a boisterous crowd at Seymour Shaw.

Overall, 2008 was a year the NSW Premier League will be remembered for producing as many as 15 players for both the A-League and National Youth League with the margin set to rise in 2009.

2009

Following a year of heartache for the Sharks, Sutherland found redemption after winning both the NSW Championship Series and Waratah Cup in season 2009. Even though the regular season was largely dominated by Sydney United, Sutherland stole all the headlines with a spectacular run during the back end of the season.

Sydney United, with club legend Ante Milicic at the helm, were the team to beat throughout season 2009 dropping only two games on the way to the NSW Premier League Premiership and were heavy favourites to take out the Grand Final.

A Preliminary Semi Final victory away to the Marconi Stallions saw Sutherland paired up with Sydney United in the Major Semi Final for a place in the 2009 NSW Championship Series Grand Final. Three goals in the final fifteen minutes of the match saw Sutherland claw their way back from two goals down and secure a place in the Grand Final. Sudden death football never seemed to sit well with Sydney United after being bundled out of the Finals Series in the Preliminary Final courtesy of a 4-2 thumping at the hands of local rivals Marconi Stallions. This result ensured the Stallions a place in the 2009 NSW Championship Series Grand Final.

The Sharks inevitably ran away with the match in the Grand Final winning 4-1 in what was an excellent exhibition of football. Sutherland Sharks winger Blake Powell won the inaugural Robbie Slater Medal.

Sutherland Sharks also dominated the individual honours with striker Brad Boardman capping off a wonderful year by winning the Gold Medal Award. Sydney Olympic striker Matthew Mayora was awarded the Golden Boot whilst Sydney United shot stopper Vedran Janjetovic was award 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year.

Adding to the overwhelming success of 2009, Sutherland Sharks also won the 2009 Waratah Cup after a pulsating match against Manly United at Seymour Shaw. An extra time goal to Nick Stavroulakis proved to be the difference maker.

NSW Premier League History

Previous Gold Medal Winners
2000/2001 – Steve Lazzari (Belconnen Blue Devils)
2001/2002 – Daniel Macor (Belconnen Blue Devils)
2002/2003 – James Monie (Central Coast Coasties)
2003/2004 – Ilija Prenzoski (Belconnen Blue Devils)
2004/2005 – Robbie Cattanach (Belconnen Blue Devils)
2006 – Tolgay Ozbey (Blacktown City Demons)
2007 – Robbie Cattanach (Manly United)
2008 – Brendan Gan (Sutherland Sharks)
2009 – Bradley Boardman (Sutherland Sharks)

Previous Grade 20 Player of the Year Winners
2000/2001 – Marc Falzon (Central Coast Coasties), Matias Gulle (Canterbury Marrickville) & Carlo Musumeci (Sutherland Shire)
2001/2002 – Phillip Badolato (Fairfield Bulls)
2002/2003 – Milorad Simonovic (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
2003/2004 – Ben Gough (Parramatta Eagles)
2004/2005 – Adam D’Apuzzo (Marconi Stallions)
2006 – Ken Chun (Marconi Stallions)
2007 – Chris Bedzo (Blacktown City Demons) & Glen Trifiro (Marconi Stallions)
2008 – Daniel Rezo (Sydney United)
2009 – Steven Veleski (Sydney United)

Previous Goalkeeper of the Year Winners
2000/2001 – Darren Moore (Central Coast Coasties)
2001/2002 – Jason Holmes (Parramatta Eagles)
2002/2003 – John Crawley (Blacktown City Demons)
2003/2004 – John Crawley (Blacktown City Demons)
2004/2005 – Clint Bolton (A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers)
2006 – Ivan Necevski (Blacktown City Demons)
2007 – Matthew Nash (A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers)
2008 – Matthew Nash (A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers)
2009 – Vedran Janjetovic (Sydney United)

Previous Coach of the Year Winners
2000/2001 – Brian Brown (Blacktown City Demons)
2001/2002 – Tam Finlayson (Parramatta Eagles)
2002/2003 – Brian Brown (Blacktown City Demons)
2003/2004 – Chris Tanzey (Belconnen Blue Devils)
2004/2005 – Chris Tanzey (Belconnen Blue Devils)
2006 – Aytek Genc (Blacktown City Demons)
2007 – Aytek Genc (Blacktown City Demons)
2008 – Brian Brown (Sutherland Sharks)
2009 – Ante Milicic (Sydney United)

Previous Leading Goalscorer Winners
2000/2001 – Steve Lazzari (Belconnen Blue Devils) & Darren Iocca (Fairfield Bulls)
2001/2002 – Jim Aschner (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
2002/2003 – James Monie (Central Coast Coasties)
2003/2004 – Matthew Borg (Bankstown City Lions)
2004/2005 – Adam Kwasnik (Blacktown City Demons)
2006 – Tolgay Ozbey (Blacktown City Demons)
2007 – Tolgay Ozbey (Blacktown City Demons)
2008 – Robert Younis (A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers)
2009 – Matthew Mayora (Sydney Olympic)

Previous Referee of the Year Winners
2000/2001 – Greg Leverton
2001/2002 – Nick Asargiotis
2002/2003 – Greg Leverton
2003/2004 – Jonathan Streater
2004/2005 – Srbere Delovski
2006 – Peter Vrtkovski
2007 – Srbere Delovski
2008 – Jonathan Streater
2009 – Peter Vrtkovski

Previous First Grade Premiers
2000/2001 – Blacktown City Demons
2001/2002 – Parramatta Eagles
2002/2003 – Blacktown City Demons
2003/2004 – Belconnen Blue Devils
2004/2005 – Blacktown City Demons
2006 – Blacktown City Demons
2007 – Blacktown City Demons
2008 – Sutherland Sharks
2009 – Sydney United

Previous First Grade Champions
2000/2001 – Bonnyrigg White Eagles
2001/2002 – Parramatta Eagles
2002/2003 – A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers
2003/2004 – Bankstown City Lions
2004/2005 – Bankstown City Lions
2006 – Sydney United
2007 – Blacktown City Demons
2008 – Wollongong FC
2009 – Sutherland Sharks