# Football SA Federation Cup

The Football South Australia Federation Cup, more commonly known as the Federation Cup and referred to as the Australia Cup South Australian preliminary rounds until the semi-finals, is an annual knockout cup competition in South Australia, run by the state's governing body, Football South Australia. The competition is the second longest-running cup competition in the country, only behind the Football West State Cup, first contested eight years earlier. The competition includes all clubs from the top three tiers of South Australian soccer, as well as numerous clubs from level four and outside the pyramid.
Since 2014, the Federation Cup has been incorporated as one of the qualification tournaments to determine participants in the national Australia Cup. Initially, only the winner would qualify, but since 2020, both finalists advance. Adelaide City are the most successful club in the competitions history, winning the competition a total of 18 times, including a run of five in a row from 1969 through to 1973. Campbelltown City are the current champions, winning their third title in the 2024 final against Modbury Jets.

## History

In July 1907, the Webb-Harris Cup was presented by Messrs. Charles Webb and J Harris as an annual competition with the stipulation that the first team to win the tournament three times would become the outright winners. The first edition consisted of six teams: Cambridge, North Adelaide, Norwood, Port Adelaide, South Adelaide and West Adelaide, and was won by Cambridge, who defeated Hindmarsh 2–0 in the inaugural final. Hindmarsh won the 1908 and 1909 finals, defeating Port Adelaide and Sturt, and Cambridge won the 1910 and 1911 finals, becoming outright winners in the competition's fifth year. After becoming the permanent owners of the trophy, the Cambridge club presented it to the South Australian British Football Association for it to be contested perpetually and to be known as the Cambridge Cup.
From 1926 until 1954, the cup was presented by Victorian clothing brand Pelaco, as the Cambridge club had folded years prior. In 1955, South Australian tabloid newspaper The Advertiser took over presentation rights. In 1961, eight clubs broke away from the federation and contested their own version of the cup, known as the Jaxen Cup. Following the reamalgamation of the South Australian Soccer Federation, the cup was renamed as the Federation Cup, and has since had different sponsors, including Willis, P.G.H., Dairy Vale, Mutual Community, West End, Best Pavers, Top Corner and Coca-Cola.
Since 2014, the competition has also decided the South Australian representatives in the Australia Cup. Adelaide City qualified for the inaugural season of the competition after defeating rivals West Adelaide 4–1 in the final. Since 2020, the two finalists have qualified for the Australia Cup after South Australia earned a second slot due to an increase in preliminary round participants.

## Format

The competition is a single-elimination tournament. Depending on the number of teams that enter the competition, it may begin from various stages. The first round of the competition includes all teams excluding the 11 eligible National Premier Leagues South Australia teams, unless necessary. The teams who are drawn last receive byes to the second round. All teams play from the second round onwards. The semi-final and final are played at a neutral venue, as decided by Football South Australia.
The 2024 competition began from the 2024 Australia Cup third preliminary round, with 52 teams participating, and the 11 eligible National Premier Leagues South Australia teams entering in the following round.
2024 Format :
| Federation Cup | Australia Cup | No. of teams |
| First round | Third preliminary round | 52 |
| Second round | Fourth preliminary round | 32 |
| Third round | Fifth preliminary round | 16 |
| Quarter-finals | Sixth preliminary round | 8 |
| Semi-finals | Seventh preliminary round | 4 |
| Final | — | 2 |

## Eligible teams

All Football South Australia affiliate clubs are required to participate in the competition. Teams outside of FSA competitions may apply to enter. Adelaide United Youth are ineligible to participate, as youth teams cannot play in the Australia Cup preliminary rounds.
    Football South Australia affiliate clubs
* National Premier Leagues South Australia
* State League 1 South Australia
* State League 2 South Australia
    Non-affiliate clubs
* South Australian Regional Leagues
* South Australian Amateur Soccer League

## Venues

All matches are played at the venue of the home team, who is always the team that is drawn first. The semi-finals and final are played on a neutral ground, which since 2022, has been the State Centre for Football. Excluding 2015 and 2021, which used The Parks Football Centre as the neutral venue, the cup final was historically played at Hindmarsh Stadium.
From 2025 onwards, if a Football South Australia affiliate club is drawn against a non-affiliate club, the latter will host the fixture, unless the match is to be played at a neutral venue.

## List of finals

| No. | Year | Cup Name | Date | Winner(s) | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
| 1 | 1907 | Webb-Harris | 24 August | Cambridge | 2–0 | Hindmarsh | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 2 | 1908 | Webb-Harris | 15 August | Hindmarsh | 4–1 | Port Adelaide | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 3 | 1909 | Webb-Harris | 28 August | Hindmarsh | 4–1 | Sturt | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 4 | 1910 | Webb-Harris | 8 October | Cambridge | | South Adelaide | |
| 5 | 1911 | Webb-Harris | 12 August | Cambridge | 2–0 | Port Adelaide | Alberton Oval |
| 6 | 1912 | Cambridge | 7 September | Adelaide | 2–1 | Tandanya | Jubilee Oval |
| 7 | 1913 | Cambridge | 6 September | Adelaide | 3–0 | Hindmarsh | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 8 | 1914 | Cambridge | 19 September | Adelaide | 2–1 | Hindmarsh | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 9 | 1915 | Cambridge | 4 September | Hindmarsh | 4–1 | Cheltenham | Park 18 |
| | 1916–18 | No competition due to World War I | No competition due to World War I | No competition due to World War I | No competition due to World War I | No competition due to World War I | No competition due to World War I |
| 10 | 1919 | Cambridge | 23 August | Hindmarsh Sturt | 1–1 | — | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 11 | 1920 | Cambridge | 4 September | Cheltenham | 2–1 | South Adelaide | Hawthorn Oval |
| 12 | 1921 | Cambridge | 17 September | South Adelaide | 3–2 | Cheltenham | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 13 | 1922 | Cambridge | 16 September | Cheltenham | 1–0 | Sturt | Kensington Oval |
| 14 | 1923 | Cambridge | 13 October | Prospect | 2–1 (rep.) | South Adelaide | Jubilee Oval |
| 15 | 1924 | Cambridge | 18 October | Holdens United | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Prospect | Camden Oval |
| 16 | 1925 | Cambridge | 19 September | West Torrens | 3–1 | Sturt | Jubilee Oval |
| 17 | 1926 | Pelaco | 25 September | Port Adelaide | 2–1 | Sturt | Jubilee Oval |
| 18 | 1927 | Pelaco | 1 October | West Torrens | 4–3 | West Adelaide | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 19 | 1928 | Pelaco | 15 September | West Torrens | 2–1 | West United | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 20 | 1929 | Pelaco | 14 September | West Torrens | 3–2 | Railways | Mortlock Park |
| 21 | 1930 | Pelaco | 13 September | Railways | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Port Adelaide | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 22 | 1931 | Pelaco | 3 October | Lancashire | 4–2 (rep.) | Port Adelaide | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 23 | 1932 | Pelaco | 1 October | Lancashire | 2–0 | Railways | Jubilee Oval |
| 24 | 1933 | Pelaco | 16 September | Port Adelaide | 2–1 | West Torrens | Hart Street Reserve |
| 25 | 1934 | Pelaco | 15 September | Port Thistle | 3–2 | West Torrens | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 26 | 1935 | Pelaco | 14 September | Kingswood | 4–2 | Port Thistle | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 27 | 1936 | Pelaco | 12 September | Sturt | 4–2 | Port Adelaide | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 28 | 1937 | Pelaco | 11 September | Sturt | 3–2 | Port Thistle | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 29 | 1938 | Pelaco | 24 September | Birkalla Rovers | 2–0 | Kingswood | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 30 | 1939 | Pelaco | 30 September | West Torrens | 2–0 | Birkalla Rovers | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 31 | 1940 | Pelaco | 28 September | West Torrens | 5–1 | South Adelaide | Hindmarsh Oval |
| 32 | 1941 | Pelaco | 27 September | Sturt | 3–1 | Birkalla Rovers | Hindmarsh Oval |
| | 1942 | No competition due to World War II | No competition due to World War II | No competition due to World War II | No competition due to World War II | No competition due to World War II | No competition due to World War II |
| 33 | 1943 | Pelaco | 25 September | Northumberland & Durham | 2–1 | British Tube Mills | Mortlock Park |
| 34 | 1944 | Pelaco | 16 September | Birkalla Rovers | 2–1 | Northumberland & Durham | Allenby Gardens Reserve |
| 35 | 1945 | Pelaco | 29 September | Port Adelaide | 3–2 | Birkalla Rovers | Allenby Gardens Reserve |
| 36 | 1946 | Pelaco | 28 September | West Torrens | 4–3 | Kingswood | Railway Oval |
| 37 | 1947 | Pelaco | 11 October | Cumberland United | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Port Adelaide | Rowley Park |
| | 1948–49 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 38 | 1950 | Pelaco | 7 October | Birkalla Rovers | 4–1 | Port Adelaide | Mortlock Park |
| 39 | 1951 | Pelaco | 29 September | Birkalla Rovers | 1–0 | Juventus | Mortlock Park |
| 40 | 1952 | Pelaco | 27 September | Polonia Adelaide | 3–1 | Beograd Woodville | Norwood Oval |
| 41 | 1953 | Pelaco | 3 October | Juventus | 4–3 | Prospect United | Alberton Oval |
| 42 | 1954 | Pelaco | 9 October | Polonia Adelaide | 3–1 | Juventus | Mortlock Park |
| 43 | 1955 | The Advertiser | | Juventus | 2–1 | Polonia Adelaide | |
| 44 | 1956 | The Advertiser | | USC Lion | 3–2 | Cumberland United | |
| 45 | 1957 | The Advertiser | | Juventus | 5–1 | USC Lion | |
| 46 | 1958 | The Advertiser | 27 September | Juventus | 1–0 | Polonia Adelaide | |
| 47 | 1959 | The Advertiser | | Juventus | 1–0 | Adelaide Croatia | Norwood Oval |
| 48 | 1960 | The Advertiser | | Adelaide Croatia | 4–0 | Cumberland United | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 49 | 1961 | The Advertiser (SASFA) Jaxen (SASL) | 7 October (SASFA) 30 September (SASL) | Victoria (SASFA) USC Lion (SASL) | 2–1 3–2 | Enfield City (SASFA) Orange (SASL) | |
| 50 | 1962 | Federation | | Adelaide Croatia | 2–1 | Burnside Budapest | |
| 51 | 1963 | Federation | 14 September | Adelaide Juventus | 5–1 | West Adelaide Hellas | |
| 52 | 1964 | Federation | 24 October | West Adelaide Hellas | 6–2 (rep.) | Polonia Adelaide | |
| 53 | 1965 | Federation | 25 September | Adelaide Juventus | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Enfield City | Olympic Sports Field |
| 54 | 1966 | Federation | 24 September | Polonia Adelaide | 1–0 | Victoria | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 55 | 1967 | Federation | 23 September | West Adelaide Hellas | 3–0 | Adelaide Juventus | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 56 | 1968 | Federation | 28 September | Polonia Adelaide | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Adelaide Juventus | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 57 | 1969 | Federation | 20 September | Adelaide Juventus | 4–1 | USC Lion | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 58 | 1970 | Federation | 29 August | Adelaide Juventus | 3–2 | West Adelaide Hellas | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 59 | 1971 | Federation | 18 September | Adelaide Juventus | 1–0 | West Adelaide Hellas | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 60 | 1972 | Federation | 2 September | Adelaide Juventus | 2–0 | West Adelaide Hellas | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 61 | 1973 | Willis | 1 September | Adelaide Juventus | 1–0 | West Adelaide Hellas | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 62 | 1974 | Willis | 7 September | Adelaide Croatia | 4–3 | Cumberland United | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 63 | 1975 | Willis | 6 September | Polonia Adelaide | 2–0 | USC Lion | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 64 | 1976 | Willis | 18 September | Adelaide Juventus | 4–0 | Campbelltown City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 65 | 1977 | Willis | 3 September | Adelaide Croatia | 1–0 | Campbelltown Budapest | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 66 | 1978 | Federation | 2 September | Cumberland United | 3–0 | Campbelltown Budapest | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 67 | 1979 | Federation | 9 September | Port Adelaide | 2–0 | Eastern Districts Azzurri | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 68 | 1980 | Federation | 27 September | Beograd Woodville | 4–0 | Enfield Victoria | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 69 | 1981 | Federation | | Eastern Districts Azzurri | 3–0 | Polonia Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 70 | 1982 | Federation | | Adelaide Croatia | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Para Hills | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 71 | 1983 | P.G.H. | 17 September | Beograd Woodville | 1–0 | Salisbury United | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 72 | 1984 | P.G.H. | | Eastern Districts Azzurri | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Campbelltown City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 73 | 1985 | P.G.H. | 7 September | Campbelltown City | 3–2 (rep.) | Cumberland United | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 74 | 1986 | P.G.H. | 6 September | Eastern Districts Azzurri | 0–0 (5–4 (p)) | Para Hills | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 75 | 1987 | P.G.H. | 5 September | West Torrens Birkalla | 1–0 | Campbelltown City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 76 | 1988 | P.G.H. | | Adelaide Croatia | 3–2 | Polonia Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 77 | 1989 | P.G.H. | 2 September | Modbury Jets | 2–0 | Para Hills | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 78 | 1990 | P.G.H. | 31 August | Adelaide Croatia | 4–2 | West Adelaide Hellas | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 79 | 1991 | P.G.H. | | Adelaide Croatia | 1–0 | Salisbury United | |
| 80 | 1992 | Federation | | Adelaide Croatia | 3–1 | Eastern Districts Azzurri | |
| 81 | 1993 | Federation | | White City Woodville | 1–0 | Olympians | |
| 82 | 1994 | Dairy Vale | | Campbelltown City | 3–0 | Salisbury United | |
| 83 | 1995 | Dairy Vale | | Adelaide Blue Eagles | 4–2 (a.e.t.) (rep.) | Port Adelaide Lion | |
| 84 | 1996 | Mutual Community | | White City Woodville | 3–0 | Croydon Kings | |
| 85 | 1997 | Mutual Community | 9 June | Adelaide Blue Eagles | 2–1 | West Torrens Birkalla | Thebarton Oval |
| 86 | 1998 | Mutual Community | 7 June | Adelaide Blue Eagles | 3–1 | Adelaide Raiders | |
| 87 | 1999 | West End | 17 October | West Adelaide | 2–1 | Elizabeth City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 88 | 2000 | West End | 22 July | Croydon Kings | 1–1 (7–6 (p)) | North Eastern MetroStars | Marden Sports Complex |
| 89 | 2001 | West End | 1 September | Playford City Patriots | 3–0 | Adelaide Blue Eagles | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 90 | 2002 | West End | 26 June | Adelaide Galaxy | 3–0 | Croydon Kings | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 91 | 2003 | Federation | 5 July | Adelaide Raiders | 5–2 | North Eastern MetroStars | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 92 | 2004 | Federation | 2 October | North Eastern MetroStars | 5–2 | Modbury Jets | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 93 | 2005 | Federation | 20 August | White City Woodville | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Adelaide Raiders | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 94 | 2006 | Federation | 24 September | Adelaide City | 4–1 | Adelaide Blue Eagles | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 95 | 2007 | Best Pavers | 25 August | Adelaide City | 1–0 | North Eastern MetroStars | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 96 | 2008 | Best Pavers | 23 August | North Eastern MetroStars | 1–0 | Adelaide City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 97 | 2009 | Top Corner | 15 August | Cumberland United | 0–0 (5–4 (p)) | Campbelltown City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 98 | 2010 | Federation | 21 August | Adelaide Blue Eagles | 3–2 | North Eastern MetroStars | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 99 | 2011 | Coca-Cola | 20 August | Western Strikers | 1–1 (6–5 (p)) | Adelaide Blue Eagles | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 100 | 2012 | Coca-Cola | 25 August | North Eastern MetroStars | 3–1 | Para Hills Knights | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 101 | 2013 | Coca-Cola | 10 August | Adelaide City | 1–1 (5–4 (p) | White City Woodville | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 102 | 2014 | Coca-Cola | 31 June | Adelaide City | 4–1 | West Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 103 | 2015 | Federation | 28 June | Croydon Kings | 2–0 | Adelaide City | The Parks Football Centre |
| 104 | 2016 | Federation | 25 June | North Eastern MetroStars | 1–0 | Adelaide Comets | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 105 | 2017 | Federation | 24 June | North Eastern MetroStars | 2–0 | Adelaide City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 106 | 2018 | Federation | 11 June | Adelaide Comets | 2–1 | Croydon Kings | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 107 | 2019 | Federation | 22 June | Adelaide Olympic | 3–2 | Adelaide City | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| | 2020 | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia |
| 108 | 2021 | Federation | 14 July | Adelaide Olympic | 2–1 | Adelaide City | The Parks Football Centre |
| 109 | 2022 | Federation | 16 July | Adelaide City | 5–0 | Modbury Jets | State Centre for Football |
| 110 | 2023 | Federation | 24 June | North Eastern MetroStars | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Campbelltown City | State Centre for Football |
| 111 | 2024 | Federation | 6 July | Campbelltown City | 3–0 | Modbury Jets | State Centre for Football |
| 112 | 2025 | Federation | 12 July | | | | |
* ↑ Hindmarsh and Sturt shared the cup in 1919, with both teams holding it for 6 months each, as they were unable to organise a replay.

## Statistics
### Teams

Most successful teams :
| Rank | Team | Wins | Last |
| 1 | Adelaide City | 18 | 2022 |
| 2 | Adelaide Croatia Raiders | 10 | 2003 |
| 3 | Adelaide Blue Eagles | 7 | 2010 |
| 3 | West Torrens | 7 | 1946 |
| 5 | Croydon FC | 6 | 2015 |
| 5 | North Eastern MetroStars | 6 | 2023 |
| 5 | West Torrens Birkalla | 6 | 2002 |
| 8 | FK Beograd | 5 | 2005 |
| 9 | Hindmarsh | 4 | 1919 |
| 9 | Port Adelaide | 4 | 1979 |
| 9 | Sturt-Orange | 4 | 1941 |
Most finals appearances :
| Rank | Team | Apps | Last |
| 1 | Adelaide City | 27 | 2022 |
| 2 | Croydon FC | 15 | 2018 |
| 3 | Adelaide Croatia Raiders | 13 | 2005 |
| 4 | Adelaide Blue Eagles | 12 | 2011 |
| 4 | Port Adelaide | 12 | 1995 |
| 6 | Campbelltown City | 10 | 2024 |
| 6 | North Eastern MetroStars | 10 | 2023 |
| 6 | West Adelaide | 10 | 2014 |
| 6 | West Torrens Birkalla | 10 | 2002 |
| 10 | Sturt-Orange | 9 | 1941 |

### Venue

Finals hosted :
| Rank | Venue | No. | Last |
| 1 | Hindmarsh Stadium | 64 | 2019 |
| 2 | Jubilee Oval | 5 | 1932 |
| 2 | Mortlock Park | 5 | 1954 |
| 4 | State Centre for Football | 3 | 2024 |
| 5 | Alberton Oval | 2 | 1953 |
| 5 | Allenby Gardens Reserve | 2 | 1945 |
| 5 | Norwood Oval | 2 | 1959 |
| 5 | Olympic Sports Field | 2 | 1965 |
| 5 | The Parks Football Centre | 2 | 2021 |
| Unknown | Unknown | 16 | |
* ↑ Includes Hindmarsh Oval.
* ↑ Includes Kensington Oval.