# National Premier Leagues Northern NSW

The National Premier Leagues Northern NSW (NPL NNSW) is a semi-professional soccer competition in Northern New South Wales. The competition is conducted by Northern NSW Football, one of two organizing bodies in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier Leagues NSW organized by Football NSW). The league is a subdivision of the second tier National Premier Leagues (NPL), which sits below the national A-League. Prior to 2014, the league was known as the Northern NSW State Football League (1998-2013) and Northern First Division (1959-1997).

## History

After Sydney clubs broke away from the NSW Football Association in 1958, the Northern NSW Soccer Federation was created by Newcastle and Coalfields clubs.
A 12 team Northern First Division was established with: Adamstown, Awaba, Blacksmith Rangers, Cardiff, Cessnock, Charlestown United, Lake Macquarie, Mayfield United, Merewether Advance, Newcastle Austral, Wallsend and West Wallsend.
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.
In 1960 the league was downsized to 10 teams with the relegation of Charlestown United and Merewether Advance to Division 2.
In 1969 the league increased to 12 teams with Cardiff and Cessnock promoted from Division 2 and no relegations that season.
Between 1982 and 1991 the league fluctuated in size between 10 and 12 teams and settled at 10 teams in 1992 until 2009.
For the 2009 season it was decided by NNSW to downsize the league to 8 teams to improve the quality and give local players a chance to enter the A-league through the competition. Highfields Azzurri and Lake Macquarie City were both demoted to the Northern NSW State League. Clubs were assessed on a set criterion which included facilities/ground (30%), financial status (25%), management (20%), playing strength/coaching staff (15%) and development program (10%). An independent body, chaired by former NSW gaming minister Richard Face, was assigned to make the decision.
In 2012 the competition increased to 10 teams with the inclusion of the Newcastle Jets Youth and the promotion of Charlestown City Blues.
In 2017 the competition increased to 11 teams with Lake Macquarie promoted from the Northern League One.
The 2020 season, contracted back to 10 teams after Newcastle Jets Youth moved into the NPL New South Wales structure, playing in the Sydney-based competition.
In 2022 the competition increased back to 11 teams with the promotion of Cooks Hill United, from Northern League One.
In 2023 the competition increased to 12 teams with the promotion of New Lambton, from Northern League One.

## Format

The competition consists of twelve teams from around the Lower Hunter. As part of the NPL NNSWF participation conditions, in addition to the First Grade, clubs also field a reserves team and Premier Youth League teams.
The regular season takes place over 22 rounds, with each team playing each other at home and away. The team that finishes first at the end of the regular season are Premiers. The top 5 teams at the end of the regular season qualify for a finals series, with the winner of the Grand final being crowned as the NPL NNSW Champions. An example of the finals series format is shown below from the 2024 season.
| Qualifying final | Qualifying final | Qualifying final | Major semi-final | Major semi-final | Major semi-final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| | | | 1 | Broadmeadow Magic | 2 | | | | 1 | Broadmeadow Magic (p) | 2 (4) |
| | | | 2 | Edgeworth FC | 0 | | | | 2 | Edgeworth FC | 2 (3) |
| 2 | Lambton Jaffas | 0 | | | | 2 | Edgeworth FC | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Edgeworth FC | 2 | Minor semi-final | Minor semi-final | Minor semi-final | 3 | Charlestown Azzurri | 1 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Lambton Jaffas | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Charlestown Azzurri | 2 | 5 | Charlestown Azzurri | 4 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Newcastle Olympic | 0 | | | | | | | | | |

## Promotion and relegation

In 2024 promotion and relegation between the NPL and Northern League One was re-introduced.
The team finishing last (12th) of the NPL will be automatically relegated to Northern League One.
The team finishing second last (11th) will enter the promotion and relegation playoffs which will follow the following format:
* Playoff Semi-final 1 (played over 2 home and away legs): NPL 11th v Northern League One 4th
* Playoff Semi-final 2 (played over 2 home and away legs): Northern League One 2nd v Northern League One 3rd
* Playoff Final (played as a single leg): Winner of Playoff Semi-final 1 v Winner of Playoff Semi-final 2
The winner of the Playoff Final will be included in the NPL for the following season, with the losing team competing in Northern League One.

## Clubs

The following 12 clubs will compete in the NPL NNSW for the 2025 season.
| Club | Nickname(s) | Founded | LGA | Ground | Location | Capacity |
| Adamstown Rosebud | Buds | 1889 | Newcastle | Adamstown Oval | Adamstown | 2,500 |
| Belmont Swansea United | Belswans | 1935 | Lake Macquarie | Blacksmiths Oval | Blacksmiths | |
| Broadmeadow Magic | Magic | 1966 | Newcastle | Magic Park | Broadmeadow | 3,500 |
| Charlestown Azzurri | Azzurri | 1963 | Lake Macquarie | Lisle Carr Oval | Whitebridge | 3,000 |
| Cooks Hill United | Cookers | 1997 | Newcastle | Fearnley Dawes Athletic Centre / No.2 Sportsground | Newcastle West | 750 |
| Edgeworth | Eagles | | Lake Macquarie | Jack McLaughlan Oval | Edgeworth | 5,000 |
| Lambton Jaffas | Jaffas | 1957 | Newcastle | Arthur Edden Oval | Lambton | 2,000 |
| Maitland | Magpies | 1961 | Maitland | Cooks Square Park | East Maitland | 1,500 |
| New Lambton | Golden Eagles | | Newcastle | Alder Park | New Lambton | 1,000 |
| Newcastle Olympic | Warriors | 1976 | Newcastle | Darling Street Oval | Hamilton | 1,000 |
| Valentine | Phoenix | 1994 | Lake Macquarie | CB Complex | Valentine | 1,000 |
| Weston Bears | Bears | 1907 | Cessnock | Rockwell Automation Park | Weston | 4,000 |

## Honours
### NNSW NPL

| Season | Premiers | Champions | Score | Runners Up |
| 2014 | Newcastle Jets Youth | Lambton Jaffas | 2-0 | Weston Bears |
| 2015 | Edgeworth Eagles | Edgeworth Eagles | 2-0 | Hamilton Olympic |
| 2016 | Edgeworth Eagles | Edgeworth Eagles | 2-1 | Broadmeadow Magic |
| 2017 | Edgeworth Eagles | Lambton Jaffas | 2-0 aet | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 2018 | Edgeworth Eagles | Broadmeadow Magic | 3-0 | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 2019 | Maitland | Edgeworth Eagles | 2-0 | Maitland |
| 2020 | Edgeworth Eagles | Edgeworth Eagles | 1-0 | Maitland |
| 2021 | Lambton Jaffas | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia |
| 2022 | Maitland | Lambton Jaffas | 1-0 | Maitland |
| 2023 | Lambton Jaffas | Lambton Jaffas | 2-1 | Broadmeadow Magic |
| 2024 | Broadmeadow Magic | Broadmeadow Magic | 2-2 4-3p | Edgeworth Eagles |

### Northern First Division (1959 – 1997)

| Season | Premiers | Champions | Score | Runners Up |
| 1959 | Wallsend | Wallsend | 4-0 | West Wallsend |
| 1960 | Cessnock | Cessnock | 2-0 | Wallsend |
| 1961 | Awaba | Adamstown Rosebud | 2-0 | Lake Macquarie City |
| 1962 | Adamstown Rosebud | Lake Macquarie City | 5-0 | Awaba |
| 1963 | Wallsend | Awaba | 4-1 aet | Wallsend |
| 1964 | Lake Macquarie City | Awaba | 4-2 | Wallsend |
| 1965 | Wallsend | Wallsend | 3-1 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1966 | Adamstown Rosebud | Austral United | 2-1 aet | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1967 | Austral United | Lake Macquarie City | 6-2 aet | Austral United |
| 1968 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | 4-2 | Lake Macquarie City |
| 1969 | Hamilton Azzuri | Austral United | 3-2 | Weston Bears |
| 1970 | Adamstown Rosebud | Belmont Swansea United | 4-3 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1971 | Weston Bears | Weston Bears | 5-0 | Wallsend |
| 1972 | Weston Bears | Weston Bears | 3-0 | Toronto Awaba |
| 1973 | Weston Bears | Weston Bears | 4-1 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1974 | New Lambton South | Weston Bears | 3-2 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1975 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | 2-1 aet | Weston Bears |
| 1976 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | 3-0 | Wallsend |
| 1977 | Weston Bears | Weston Bears | 1-0 | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 1978 | Edgeworth Eagles | Edgeworth Eagles | 2-0 | Weston Bears |
| 1979 | Edgeworth Eagles | Highfields Azzuri | 3-2 | Weston Bears |
| 1980 | Maitland | Maitland | 5-1 | Highfields Azzuri |
| 1981 | Highfields Azzuri | Highfields Azzuri | 2-1 | Maitland |
| 1982 | Lake Macquarie City | Weston Bears | 2-0 | West Wallsend |
| 1983 | Central Coast | Weston Bears | 3-0 | Central Coast |
| 1984 | Cardiff | Weston Bears | 0-0 7-5p | West Wallsend |
| 1985 | Belmont-Swansea United | West Wallsend | 2-1 | Belmont-Swansea United |
| 1986 | West Wallsend | Belmont-Swansea United | 0-0 4-2p | West Wallsend |
| 1987 | Adamstown Rosebud | Austral United | 3-2 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1988 | Adamstown Rosebud | West Wallsend | 2-1 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1989 | Adamstown Rosebud | Weston Bears | 1-0 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1990 | Adamstown Rosebud | Weston Bears | 1-1 4-3p | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1991 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | 1-1 5-4p | Weston Bears |
| 1992 | Highfields Azzuri | West Wallsend | 2-1 | Wickham Park Croatia |
| 1993 | Highfields Azzuri | Highfields Azzuri | 3-0 | Lake Macquarie City |
| 1994 | Highfields Azzuri | Highfields Azzuri | 2-1 | Wickham Park Croatia |
| 1995 | Highfields Azzuri | Weston Bears | 5-0 | Wallsend |
| 1996 | Weston Bears | Highfields Azzuri | 3-2 | Weston Bears |
| 1997 | Broadmeadow Magic | Highfields Azzuri | 3-1 | Broadmeadow Magic |

### Northern NSW State League (1998 – 2013)

| Season | Premiers | Champions | Score | Runners Up |
| 1998 | Edgeworth Eagles | Hamilton Olympic | 2-1 | Broadmeadow Magic |
| 1999 | Edgeworth Eagles | Hamilton Olympic | 4-0 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 2000 | Edgeworth Eagles | Hamilton Olympic | 3-0 | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 2001 | Broadmeadow Magic | Hamilton Olympic | 2-0 | Highfields Azzuri |
| 2002 | Edgeworth Eagles | Highfields Azzuri | 1-0 aet | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 2003 | Broadmeadow Magic | Edgeworth Eagles | 2-1 | Broadmeadow Magic |
| 2004 | Weston Bears | Broadmeadow Magic | 3-1 | Weston Bears |
| 2005 | Broadmeadow Magic | Broadmeadow Magic | 2-1 | South Cardiff |
| 2006 | Edgeworth Eagles | Lake Macquarie City | 4-1 | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 2007 | Lake Macquarie City | Hamilton Olympic | 1-0 | Edgeworth Eagles |
| 2008 | Broadmeadow Magic | Broadmeadow Magic | 0-0 4-3p | Highfields Azzuri |
| 2009 | Edgeworth Eagles | Hamilton Olympic | 2-1 | Valentine Phoenix |
| 2010 | Weston Bears | Edgeworth Eagles | 4-2 | Weston Bears |
| 2011 | Broadmeadow Magic | Broadmeadow Magic | 4-4 4-3p | South Cardiff |
| 2012 | Hamilton Olympic | Broadmeadow Magic | 4-1 | Hamilton Olympic |
| 2013 | Broadmeadow Magic | Broadmeadow Magic | 4-1 | Lambton Jaffas |

### Titles (1959 - Present)

| Premiers | Premiers | Champions | Champions | Runners Up | Runners Up |
| Edgeworth Eagles | 13 | Weston Bears | 11 | Adamstown Rosebud | 10 |
| Adamstown Rosebud | 11 | Broadmeadow Magic | 7 | Weston Bears | 9 |
| Broadmeadow Magic | 8 | Edgeworth Eagles | 7 | Edgeworth Eagles | 8 |
| Weston Bears | 7 | Highfields Azzuri | 7 | Wallsend | 6 |
| Highfields Azzuri | 5 | Hamilton Olympic | 6 | Broadmeadow Magic | 5 |
| Lake Macquarie City | 3 | Adamstown Rosebud | 5 | West Wallsend | 4 |
| Maitland | 3 | Lambton Jaffas | 4 | Highfields Azzuri | 3 |
| Wallsend | 3 | Austral United | 3 | Lake Macquarie City | 3 |
| Lambton Jaffas | 2 | Lake Macquarie City | 3 | Hamilton Olympic | 2 |
| Austral United | 1 | West Wallsend | 3 | South Cardiff | 2 |
| Awaba | 1 | Awaba | 2 | Wickham Park Croatia | 2 |
| Belmont-Swansea United | 1 | Wallsend | 2 | Austral United | 1 |
| Cardiff | 1 | Belmont Swansea United | 1 | Awaba | 1 |
| Cessnock | 1 | Cessnock | 1 | Belmont-Swansea United | 1 |
| Hamilton Azzuri | 1 | Maitland | 1 | Lambton Jaffas | 1 |
| Hamilton Olympic | 1 | | | Maitland | 1 |
| New Lambton South | 1 | | | Toronto Awaba | 1 |
| Newcastle Jets Youth | 1 | | | Valentine Phoenix | 1 |
| West Wallsend | 1 | | | | |

### NPL Finals Representation

| 2014 | Weston Workers – Quarter Finalist |
| 2015 | Edgeworth Eagles – Quarter Finalist |
| 2016 | Edgeworth Eagles – Runners up |
| 2017 | Edgeworth Eagles – Semi Finalist |
| 2018 | Edgeworth Eagles – Quarter Finalist |
| 2019 | Maitland FC – Semi Finalist |
| 2020 | Cancelled Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 | Cancelled |
| 2022 | Not Held |
| 2023 | Not Held |
| 2024 | Not Held |