# Northern NSW Football

Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) is the governing federation for soccer in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is a Federation Member of the national governing body, Football Australia (FA). The Federation's origins date back to the formation of the Northern District British Football Association on 26 June 1887. To align with the international football identity, the federation was re-branded to Northern NSW Football on 25 October 2006.

## Formation and Early History

The Northern British Football Association was formed at a meeting of clubs at the Criterion Hotel, Newcastle on Sunday 26 June 1887.
The clubs which formed the association were Minmi Rangers (1886), Hamilton Athletic (1886), Greta Blue Bells (1887), Carrington Black Watch (1887), Wallsend Rovers (1887) and Glebe Black Watch, later renamed Burwood United (1887).
It was part of the NSW Football Association before Sydney clubs broke away in 1958, leading to the creation of the Northern NSW Soccer Federation by Newcastle and Coalfields clubs.
In 1959, 12 teams Northern First Division Competition was established with: Adamstown, Awaba, Blacksmith Rangers, Cardiff, Cessnock, Charlestown United, Lake Macquarie, Mayfield United, Merewether Advance, Newcastle Austral, Wallsend and West Wallsend.

## Organisational Changes

In 1980, the Northern NSW Soccer Federation Ltd was registered as a company, and in 2006, it was rebranded to Northern NSW Football due to internal restructuring.

## Membership structure

NNSWF is the governing body for football in the northern regions of New South Wales and have seven member zones responsible for 208 football clubs.
The Zones are:
* Football Far North Coast
* Football Mid North Coast
* Hunter Valley Football
* Macquarie Football
* Newcastle Football
* North Coast Football
* Northern Inland Football

## Competitions and Leagues

NNSW Men's Promotion and Relegation :
| Level | League(s)/Division(s) |
| 1 | NPL NNSW 12 clubs ↓ 1.5 relegations |
| 2 | Northern League One 10 clubs ↑ 1.5 promotions ↓ 1 relegations |
| 3 | Zone League One 12 clubs ↑ 1 promotions ↓ 1 relegations |
| 4 | Zone League Two 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotions ↓ 1 relegations |
| 5 | Zone League Three 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotions |

### National Premier Leagues Northern NSW

The National Premier Leagues Northern NSW (NPL NNSW), is the premier competition in Northern NSW involving 12 clubs from within the Hunter Region. The competition consists of 1st Grade & Reserve Grade.

### Northern League One

The Northern League One is the second highest division in the NNSW league system involving 10 clubs from within the Hunter Region. The competition consists of 1st Grade & Reserve Grade.

### Zone Leagues

The Zone Leagues consist of three divisions Zone League One with 12 clubs, Zone League Two with 10 clubs and Zone League Three with 10 clubs.

### NPL Women's NNSW

The NPL Women's NNSW competition started in 2022 and is the premier women’s competition in Northern NSW involving 7 clubs from within the Hunter Region.

### Regional Super League

The NNSW Regional Super League was established in 2025 to create more competitive opportunities for regional clubs and players, provide a sustainable pathway for talented regional players and increase player retention and engagement.
The NNSW Regional Super League features teams from three of NNSWF’s regional member zones.
The 2025 men’s NNSW Regional Super League:
Inverell FC, Armidale City Westside FC, Woolgoolga United FC, Northern Storm FC, Urunga FC, Port United FC, Macleay Valley Rangers FC and Port Saints FC.
The 2025 women’s NNSW Regional Super League:
Tamworth FC, Oxley Vale Attunga FC, Armidale City Westside FC, Coffs City United FC, Urunga FC, Port United FC, Macleay Valley Rangers FC and Lake Cathie FC.

### NNSWF Premier Youth League

The NNSWF Premier Youth League has been designed to enhance the talented player pathway, enable more competitive football for young players and facilitate more games of like versus like for Under 18's, Under 16's, Under 15's, Under 14's and Under 13's.
All Premier Competitions clubs that meet the criteria, including regional football programs Mid Coast FC, North Coast Football and Northern Inland Academy of Sport Football Club (NIAS FC) are involved.
At the start of the season, the top four clubs from PYL B will join the eight clubs in PYL A to establish PYL 1.
The bottom four clubs in PYL B will join the eight clubs from PYL C to form PYL 2, prior to splitting into PYL A, B and C again halfway through the season.

### Junior Development League

The Junior Development League provides a pathway for talented junior players from U9’s to U12’s in the best possible learning environment. Clubs competing in the National Premier Leagues or the Northern League One competitions and regional football programs Mid Coast FC, North Coast Football and NIAS are involved.
The Junior Development League is non-competitive and focuses instead on individual skill development.

#### 2025 Junior Development League - approved clubs

| Boys | Boys | Girls | Girls |
| Club | JDL Status | Club | JDL Status |
| Cooks Hill United | Gold | Lake Macquarie City | Gold |
| Lambton Jaffas | Gold | Valentine | Gold |
| Valentine | Gold | Adamstown Rosebud | Silver |
| Belmont Swansea United | Silver | Broadmeadow Magic | Bronze |
| Broadmeadow Magic | Silver | Charlestown Azzurri | Bronze |
| Central Coast United | Silver | Kahibah | Bronze |
| Edgeworth | Silver | Maitland | Bronze |
| Lake Macquarie City | Silver | Newcastle Olympic | Bronze |
| Singleton Strikers | Silver | New Lambton | Bronze |
| South Cardiff | Silver | | |
| Adamstown Rosebud | Bronze | | |
| Charlestown Azzuri | Bronze | | |
| Kahibah | Bronze | | |
| Maitland | Bronze | | |
| New Lambton | Bronze | | |
| Newcastle Olympic | Bronze | | |
| Northern Inland Rangers | Bronze | | |
| Toronto Awaba | Bronze | | |
| West Wallsend | Bronze | | |
| Weston | Bronze | | |
| Wallsend | Bronze (TBC) | | |

## Past winners
### Newcastle and Northern District - 1886 to 1927

| Season | Premiers | Champions | Score | Runners Up | Cup Winner |
| 1886 | Hamilton Athletic | Minmi Rangers | 1-0 | Hamilton Athletic | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup) |
| 1887 | Minmi Rangers | No Finals held | | | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup) |
| 1888 | Minmi Rangers | No Finals held | | | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup) |
| 1889 | Minmi Rangers | No Finals held | | | Wallsend Rovers |
| 1890 | Burwood United | Minmi Rangers | 2-1 | Burwood United | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup) |
| 1891 | Minmi Rangers | No Finals held | | | Burwood United (Ellis Cup) |
| 1892 | Minmi Rangers | No Finals held | | | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup & Gardiner Cup) |
| 1893 | Minmi Rangers | No Finals held | | | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup) |
| 1894 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | | | Adamstown Rosebud (Ellis Cup) |
| 1895 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | | | Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup) |
| 1896 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | 5-1 | Merewether Advance | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1897 | Wallsend Rovers | West Wallsend | 1-0 | Wallsend Rovers | – |
| 1898 | West Wallsend | West Wallsend | 2-0 | Minmi Rangers | Minmi Rangers |
| 1899 | West Wallsend | West Wallsend | 1-0 | Adamstown Rosebud | West Wallsend |
| 1900 | Wallsend Rovers | WallsendRovers | 5-2 | West Wallsend | West Wallsend(Ellis & Gardiner Cups) |
| 1901 | | No Finals held | | | West Wallsend (Ellis & Gardiner Cups) |
| 1902 | West Wallsend | No Finals held | | | – |
| 1903 | Wallsend Royals | Wallsend Royals | 3-1 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1904 | West Wallsend | No Finals held | | | – |
| 1905 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | 7-3 | Adamstown Shamrocks | – |
| 1906 | Merewether Advance | Adamstown Rosebud | 2-1 | Merewether Advance | – |
| 1907 | Pelaw Main | Pelaw Main | | | Adamstown Rosebud (Gardiner Cup) Broadmeadow R.A (Ellis Cup) |
| 1908 | Adamstown Rosebud | No Finals held | | | Adamstown Rosebud (Ellis Cup) |
| 1909 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | | | Adamstown Rosebud (Gardiner Cup) |
| 1910 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | | | – |
| 1911 East | Merewether Advance | Cessnock | 2–1 | Merewether Advance | |
| 1911 West | Wallsend Mazeppa | Wallsend Mazeppa | 2–0 | Minmi Starlights | |
| 1912 | Cessnock | Cessnock | 1-0 | West Wallsend | – |
| 1913 | Merewether Advance | West Wallsend | 2-1 | Merewether Advance | Merewether Advance (Ellis Cup) |
| 1914 | Merewether Advance | Merewether Advance | 3-0 | West Wallsend | Merewether Advance (Knockout Cup) |
| 1915 | Merewether Advance | Merewether Advance | 2–1 | Cessnock | Merewether Advance (Kerr Cup) |
| 1916 | Weston | Weston Bears | | | – |
| 1917 | Wallsend Rovers / Weston Albion | Wallsend Rovers | 2-0 | Weston Albion | – |
| 1918 | Wallsend Rovers | Wallsend Rovers | 4-0 | Adamstown Rosebud | West Wallsend (Kerr Cup) |
| 1919 | West Wallsend | West Wallsend | 4-1 | Hamilton | West Wallsend (Kerr Cup) |
| 1920 | West Wallsend | Adamstown Rosebud | 1-0 | Wallsend Rovers | West Wallsend (Kerr Cup) |
| 1921 | West Wallsend | West Wallsend | 2-0 | Cessnock | West Wallsend (Gardiner Cup), Wallsend Royals (Kerr Cup) |
| 1922 | West Wallsend | West Wallsend | 4-2 | Cessnock | West Wallsend (Kerr Cup) |
| 1923 | Wallsend Rovers | Weston Bears | 3-1 | Adamstown Rosebud | West Wallsend (Gardiner Cup), Cessnock (Kerr Cup) |
| 1924 | Cessnock | West Wallsend | 3-1 | Wallsend Rovers | West Wallsend (Gardiner Cup & Kerr Cup) |
| 1925 | West Wallsend | Cessnock | 2-1 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud (Kerr Cup) |
| 1926 | West Wallsend | Cessnock | 1-0 | West Wallsend | Adamstown Rosebud (Kerr Cup) |
| 1927 | Cessnock | Cessnock | 2-0 | Adamstown Rosebud | Cessnock (Kerr Cup) |

### NSW State League - 1928 to 1958

| Season | Premiers | Champions | Score | Runners Up |
| 1928 | West Wallsend | New Lambton | 1-0 | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1929 | Cessnock | Abedare | 2–0 | Weston |
| 1930 | Adamstown Rosebud | No Final Series | | |
| 1931 | Weston (North) Leichhardt Annandale (South) | Weston Bears | | |
| 1932 | Wallsend (North) Concord (South) | Wallsend | | |
| 1933 | Wallsend (North) St. George (South) | Wallsend | | |
| 1934 | Adamstown Rosebud | No Final Series | | |
| 1935 | Adamstown Rosebud | Adamstown Rosebud | | |
| 1936 | Weston Bears | Weston Bears | | |
| 1937 | Goodyear | Goodyear | | |
| 1938 | Goodyear | Wallsend | | |
| 1939 | Goodyear | Metters | | |
| 1940 | Metters | Adamstown Rosebud | | |
| 1941 | Metters | Wallsend | | |
| 1942 | Wallsend (North) Leichhardt-Annandale (South) | Wallsend | | |
| 1943 | Wallsend | Wallsend | | |
| 1944 | Metters | Wallsend | | |
| 1945 | Wallsend (North)     Canterbury-Bankstown (South) | Canterbury-Bankstown | | |
| 1946 | West Wallsend (North) Leichhardt-Annandale (South) | Leichhardt-Annandale | | |
| 1947 | Lake Macquarie City (North) Leichhardt-Annandale (South) | Lake Macquarie City | | |
| 1948 | Adamstown Rosebud (North) Leichhardt-Annandale (South) | Adamstown Rosebud | | |
| 1949 | Leichhardt-Annandale | Leichhardt-Annandale | | |
| 1950 | Leichhardt-Annandale | Leichhardt-Annandale | | |
| 1951 | Wallsend | Wallsend | | |
| 1952 | Wallsend (North) Granville (South) | Granville | | |
| 1953 | East Lakes (North) Granville (South) | Wallsend | | |
| 1954 | Cessnock (North) Corrimal Rangers (South) | Cessnock | | |
| 1955 | Cessnock (North) Corrimal Rangers (South) | Corrimal Rangers | | |
| 1956 | Cessnock (North) Leichhardt-Annandale (South) | Cessnock | | |
| 1957 | Corrimal Rangers | Wallsend | | |
| 1958 | E.P.T. (Electrical Power Transmission) | Leichhardt-Annandale | | |

### Northern First Division - 1959 to 1997

| Season | Premiers | Champions | Score | Runners Up | Cup Winner |
| 1959 | Wallsend | Wallsend | 4-0 | West Wallsend | |
| 1960 | Cessnock | Cessnock | 2-0 | Wallsend | Wallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup) |
| 1961 | Awaba | Adamstown Rosebud | 2-0 | Lake Macquarie City | Wallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup) |
| 1962 | Adamstown Rosebud | Lake Macquarie City | 5-0 | Awaba | Lake Macquarie City (Ampol Cup), Cessnock (Craven) |
| 1963 | Wallsend | Awaba | 4-1 aet | Wallsend | Wallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup), Austral United (Craven) |
| 1964 | Lake Macquarie City | Awaba | 4-2 | Wallsend | Wallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup), Austral United (Craven) |
| 1965 | Wallsend | Wallsend | 3-1 | Adamstown Rosebud | Lake Macquarie City FC (Ampol Cup), Wallsend Rovers (Crave) |
| 1966 | Adamstown Rosebud | Austral United | 2-1 aet | Adamstown Rosebud | Austral United (Ampol Cup), Toronto Awaba (Craven) |
| 1967 | Austral United | Lake Macquarie City | 6-2 aet | Austral United | Belmont Swansea (Ampol Cup & Craven) |
| 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 | |

### NNSW State League - 1998 to 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 |

### National Premier Leagues NNSW - 2014 to present

| 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 | Not Played | - | Not Played |
| 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 |