# National Premier Leagues NSW

The National Premier Leagues NSW is a semi-professional soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, one of the two organizing bodies in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW organised by Northern NSW Football). The league is a subdivision of the second tier National Premier Leagues (NPL), which sits below the national A-League. Prior to becoming a subdivision of the NPL in 2013, the league was previously known as the NSW Premier League.

## History
### Origins

Since 1956, a top divisional New South Wales based league has been contested annually in various forms, with its early days remembered as Division One. 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. Before NSL, the Ampol Cup also ran concurrently as a state-based cup competition. In 1979 Division One officially changed its name to NSW State League, however, reverted to NSW Division One by 1983. The league continued to be contested throughout the winter months and included another name change in 1992 to the NSW Super League. During the 1980s and 1990s, Melita Eagles and Blacktown City FC were dominant in the league winning nine championships between them.

### Foundations

At the end of the 2000 season, the top soccer divisions were revamped with the highest level of soccer being named the Premier League and being played over the summer to align with the then top tier of soccer in Australia (NSL). The second highest NSW league was named the Winter Super League and played throughout 2001. The 2004–05 season saw the return of the New South Wales NSL giants in Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, Wollongong Wolves and Marconi Stallions. This was the result of another overhaul of the entire national league structure. The NSL was abolished and the A-League took its place at the top of the soccer hierarchy in Australia. As this competition significantly reduced the teams from New South Wales to just three (Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets) these clubs were forced to return to the state leagues. The NSW Premier League continued to be run over summer throughout this period but after the 2004–05 season reverted to a winter competition from 2006.
In 2008 the whole New South Wales men's, women's and youth competitions were reconstructed to align youth teams with their respective senior clubs along with women's teams.

### Development

In 2013 the FFA announced another re-structure, this time to the tier 2 level of soccer in Australia. This saw the top league in each state united under a single banner called the National Premier Leagues, with the NSW Premier League rebranded as the National Premier Leagues NSW. Bonnyrigg White Eagles became the inaugural champions of this competition after defeating Rockdale City Suns 1–0 in the final. Sydney United 58 FC were crowned premiers after placing first in the standing at the end of the regular season, earning the right to compete in the inaugural National Premier Leagues Finals. Sydney United went on to win this tournament defeating Tasmanian side South Hobart FC 2–0 in the final. In 2014, premiers Bonnyrigg White Eagles failed to reach the grand final and Blacktown City FC were crowned champions. They defeated Sydney Olympic 2–1 after extra time.

### Name Changes

| Seasons | Title |
| 1956–1977 | Division 1 |
| 1978–1982 | State League |
| 1983–1991 | NSW Division One |
| 1992–2000 | NSW Super League |
| 2000–2012 | NSW Premier League |
| 2013–present | National Premier Leagues NSW |
| Source: OzFootball ||

## Competition format
### League

There are 30 Rounds in total with each team playing each other twice; home and away.

### NPL national finals

At the completion of the league series, the NPL NSW top of the table joins the winners from the other NPL subdivisions in a national eight team finals series. The national final series consists of a three-round knock-out series based on geographically close subdivision champions playing each other, culminating in a grand final.

## Clubs

The following clubs were competing in the National Premier Leagues NSW for the 2025 season.
| Club | Seasons | Location | Grounds | Capacity |
| APIA Leichhardt | 12 | Leichhardt | Lambert Park | 7,000 |
| Blacktown City | 12 | Blacktown | Lily Homes Stadium | 7,500 |
| Central Coast Mariners Academy | 3 | Lisarow | Pluim Park | 2,000 |
| Manly United | 12 | Dee Why | Cromer Park | 5,000 |
| Marconi Stallions | 10 | Bossley Park | Marconi Stadium | 9,000 |
| Mt Druitt Town Rangers | 5 | Mount Druitt | Popondetta Park | 1,000 |
| NWS Spirit | 3 | Macquarie Park | Christie Park | 2,000 |
| Rockdale Ilinden | 12 | Rockdale | Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre | 5,000 |
| St George City | 3 | Penshurst | Penshurst Park | 1,000 |
| St George FC | 3 | Banksia | Barton Park Sports Complex | 450 |
| Sutherland Sharks FC | 11 | Miranda | Seymour Shaw Park | 5,000 |
| Sydney FC Youth | 8 | Rockdale | Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre | 5,000 |
| Sydney Olympic | 12 | Belmore | Belmore Sports Ground | 20,000 |
| Sydney United 58 | 12 | Edensor Park | Sydney United Sports Centre | 12,000 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers Youth | 3 | Rooty Hill | Wanderers Football Park | 3,000 |
| Wollongong Wolves | 12 | Wollongong Berkeley | WIN Stadium Macedonia Park | 23,750 3,000 |

## National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1 Honours

| Season | Regular season | Regular season | Finals series | Finals series | Finals series | NPL Finals Representation |
| Season | Premiers (number of titles) | Runners-up | Champions (number of titles) | Score | Finalists | NPL Finals Representation |
| 2013 | Sydney United 58 FC (7) | Sutherland Sharks FC | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (3) | 1–0 | Rockdale City Suns | Sydney United 58 FC – Champions |
| 2014 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (6) | Blacktown Spartans | Blacktown City (7) | 2–1 | Sydney Olympic | Bonnyrigg White Eagles – Runners-up |
| 2015 | Blacktown City (8) | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (4) | 2–0 | Blacktown City | Blacktown City – Champions |
| 2016 | Sydney United 58 FC (8) | Blacktown City | Blacktown City (8) | 3–0 | Sydney United 58 FC | Sydney United 58 FC – Champions |
| 2017 | APIA Leichhardt Tigers (5) | Blacktown City | Manly United (2) | 0–0 (4–3 (p)) | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | APIA Leichhardt Tigers – Semi-finalists |
| 2018 | Sydney Olympic (3) | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | Sydney Olympic (3) | 3–1 | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | Sydney Olympic – Semi-finalists |
| 2019 | Wollongong Wolves (2) | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | APIA Leichhardt Tigers (6) | 2–1 | Sydney United 58 FC | Wollongong Wolves – Champions |
| 2020 | Rockdale City Suns (1) | Wollongong Wolves | Sydney United 58 FC (5) | 3–3 (4–2 (p)) | Rockdale City Suns | — |
| 2021 | 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. | 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 | Sydney Olympic (3) | Manly United | Blacktown City | 2–0 | Manly United | — |
| 2023 | APIA Leichhardt (6) | Rockdale Ilinden | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | Rockdale Ilinden (2) | Marconi Stallions | Rockdale Ilinden | 0–3 | Marconi Stallions | — |

### Notes

* Bold indicates team won more than one of the three trophies in a season

## Honours pre-NPL (1957–2012)

| Season | Competition | Regular season | Regular season | Finals series | Finals series | Finals series |
| Season | Competition | Premiers (number of titles) | Runners-up | Champions (number of titles) | Score | Finalists |
| 1957 | Division One | Canterbury-Marrickville | Auburn | Auburn | 4–3 | Canterbury-Marrickville |
| 1958 | Division One | Corrimal United | Canterbury-Marrickville | Canterbury-Marrickville | 2–1 | Auburn |
| 1959 | Division One | Prague | APIA Leichhardt | Prague | 3–2 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1960 | Division One | Prague (2) | APIA Leichhardt | Canterbury-Marrickville (2) | 5–2 | Prague |
| 1961 | Division One | Prague (3) | Canterbury-Marrickville | Hakoah | 4–1 | Canterbury-Marrickville |
| 1962 | Division One | Budapest | Hakoah | Hakoah (2) | 4–2 | Budapest |
| 1963 | Division One | Prague (4) | APIA Leichhardt | South Coast United | 4–0 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1964 | Division One | APIA Leichhardt | St George-Budapest | APIA Leichhardt | 7–2 | St George-Budapest |
| 1965 | Division One | South Coast United | St George-Budapest | APIA Leichhardt (2) | 2–0 | St George-Budapest |
| 1966 | Division One | APIA Leichhardt (2) | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (3) | 2–1 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1967 | Division One | APIA Leichhardt (3) | St George-Budapest | St George-Budapest | 5–2 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1968 | Division One | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs | Pan-Hellenic | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (4) | 4–2 | Pan-Hellenic |
| 1969 | Division One | South Coast United (3) | St George-Budapest | APIA Leichhardt (3) | 3–2 | St George-Budapest |
| 1970 | Division One | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (2) | St George-Budapest | YUGAL Ryde | 4–0 | St George-Budapest |
| 1971 | Division One | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (3) | St George-Budapest | St George-Budapest (2) | 3–2 | Western Suburbs |
| 1972 | Division One | St George-Budapest (2) | Marconi-Fairfield | Marconi-Fairfield | 1–0 | St George-Budapest |
| 1973 | Division One | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (4) | Marconi-Fairfield | Marconi-Fairfield (2) | 2–1 | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs |
| 1974 | Division One | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (5) | APIA Leichhardt | St George-Budapest (3) | 4–2 | Hakoah Eastern Suburbs |
| 1975 | Division One | APIA Leichhardt (4) | St George-Budapest | St George-Budapest (4) | 1–0 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 1976 | Division One | St George-Budapest (3) | APIA Leichhardt | APIA Leichhardt (4) | 1–0 | St George-Budapest |
| 1977 | Division One | Croatia Sydney | APIA Leichhardt | Croatia Sydney | 2–0 | Auburn |
| 1978 | Division One | Croatia Sydney (2) | Sutherland Shire | Sutherland Shire | 1–1 2–1 (replay) | Croatia Sydney |
| 1979 | State League | Croatia Sydney (3) | Inter Monaro | Inter Monaro | 2–1 | Sutherland Shire |
| 1980 | State League | Melita Eagles | Sydney Olympic | Sydney Olympic | 4–0 | Melita Eagles |
| 1981 | State League | Croatia Sydney (4) | St George-Budapest | St George-Budapest (5) | 1–0 | Croatia Sydney |
| 1982 | State League | Croatia Sydney (5) | Riverwood | Croatia Sydney (2) | 2–1 | Sutherland Shire |
| 1983 | NSW Division One | Melita Eagles (2) | Croatia Sydney | Croatia Sydney (3) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) 0–0 (replay) 4–3 (p) | Melita Eagles |
| 1984 | NSW Division One | Inter Monaro | Rockdale Ilinden | Rockdale Ilinden | 3–2 | Inter Monaro |
| 1985 | NSW Division One | Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic (2) | Fairy Meadow | Melita Eagles | 4–0 | Fairy Meadow |
| 1986 | NSW Division One | Melita Eagles (3) | Manly Warringah | Sutherland Shire (2) | 2–1 | Melita Eagles |
| 1987 | NSW Division One | Wollongong City | Canberra City | Wollongong City | 2–1 | Canberra City |
| 1988 | NSW Division One | Blacktown City | Melita Eagles | Melita Eagles (2) | 0–0 7–6 (p) | Blacktown City |
| 1989 | NSW Division One | Melita Eagles (4) | Canberra Croatia | Melita Eagles (3) | 2–0 | Canberra Croatia |
| 1990 | NSW Division One | Wollongong Macedonia | Canberra Croatia | Wollongong Macedonia | 2–0 | Canberra Croatia |
| 1991 | NSW Division One | Sutherland Sharks | Blacktown City | Blacktown City | 3–0 | Canberra Metro |
| 1992 | NSW Super League | Avala | Manly Warringah Dolphins | Avala | 2–0 | Blacktown City |
| 1993 | NSW Super League | Blacktown City (2) | Bankstown City | Bankstown City | 1–0 | Blacktown City |
| 1994 | NSW Super League | Bankstown City | Canterbury-Marrickville | Bankstown City (2) | 3–1 | Canterbury-Marrickville |
| 1995 | NSW Super League | Manly Warringah Dolphins | Blacktown City | Manly Warringah Dolphins | 1–0 | Blacktown City |
| 1996 | NSW Super League - Stage 1 | Adamstown Rosebud | Sutherland Sharks | Parramatta Eagles (4) | 1–1 5–3 (p) | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1996 | NSW Super League - Stage 2 | Parramatta Eagles | Sutherland Sharks | Parramatta Eagles (4) | 1–1 5–3 (p) | Adamstown Rosebud |
| 1997 | NSW Super League | Parramatta Eagles (5) | APIA Leichhardt | Parramatta Eagles (5) | 3–1 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles |
| 1998 | NSW Super League | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (2) | Blacktown City | Blacktown City (2) | 1–0 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles |
| 1999 | NSW Super League | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (3) | Blacktown City | Blacktown City (3) | 5–1 | Parramatta Eagles |
| 2000 | NSW Super League | Blacktown City (3) | Bonnyrigg White Eagles | Blacktown City (4) | 2–1 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles |
| 2000–01 | NSW Premier League | Blacktown City Demons (4) | Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (2) | 3–1 | Blacktown City Demons |
| 2001–02 | NSW Premier League | Parramatta Eagles (6) | Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC | Parramatta Eagles (6) | 1–0 | Blacktown City Demons |
| 2002–03 | NSW Premier League | Blacktown City Demons (5) | APIA Tigers | APIA Leichhardt Tigers (5) | 3–1 | Blacktown City Demons |
| 2003–04 | NSW Premier League | Belconnen Blue Devils | St. George Saints | Bankstown City Lions (3) | 2–0 | Belconnen Blue Devils |
| 2004–05 | NSW Premier League | Bankstown City Lions (2) | Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC | Bankstown City Lions (4) | 3–1 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC |
| 2006 | NSW Premier League | Blacktown City (6) | Bankstown City Lions FC | Sydney United (4) | 4–0 | Blacktown City Demons FC |
| 2007 | NSW Premier League | Blacktown City (7) | Bankstown City Lions FC | Blacktown City (5) | 3–1 | Bankstown City Lions FC |
| 2008 | NSW Premier League | Sutherland Sharks (2) | Wollongong FC | Wollongong FC (2) | 4–2 | Sutherland Sharks FC |
| 2009 | NSW Premier League | Sydney United (6) | Marconi Stallions FC | Sutherland Sharks (3) | 4–1 | Marconi Stallions |
| 2010 | NSW Premier League | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (4) | Blacktown City Demons FC | Blacktown City FC (6) | 1–0 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles |
| 2011 | NSW Premier League | Sydney Olympic | Sydney United FC | Sydney Olympic (2) | 2–0 | Sydney United |
| 2012 | NSW Premier League | Bonnyrigg White Eagles (5) | Sydney Olympic FC | Marconi Stallions (3) | 2–0 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles |

### Notes

* Bold indicates Federation Double winners – i.e. League Championship and League Premiership OR League Championship and Federation/Waratah Cup OR League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup winners
* Bold and Underlined indicates Federation Treble winners – i.e. League Championship, League Premiership and Federation/Waratah Cup winners

### All-time honour board

This list includes all champions and premiers since the inaugural league of 1957. Grand finals have occurred during all seasons of the league over this time. As the 1996 season was split into two stages there was no official premier for the season.
| Club | Regular season premierships | Regular season premierships | Finals series championships | Finals series championships |
| Club | Premiers | Winning seasons | Champions | Winning grand finals |
| Blacktown City | 8 | 1988, 1993, 2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007, 2015 | 8 | 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2016 |
| Sydney United 58 | 8 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2009, 2013, 2016 | 5 | 1977, 1982, 1983, 2006, 2020 |
| Parramatta FC | 6 | 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2001–02 | 6 | 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2002 |
| Bonnyrigg White Eagles | 6 | 1992, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2012, 2014 | 4 | 1992, 2001, 2013, 2015 |
| APIA Leichhardt | 6 | 1964, 1965, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2023 | 6 | 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2003, 2019 |
| Hakoah Sydney City East | 5 | 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 | 4 | 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968 |
| Prague | 4 | 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963 | 1 | 1959 |
| St George FC | 3 | 1962, 1972, 1976 | 5 | 1967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1981 |
| Sydney Olympic | 3 | 2011, 2018, 2022 | 3 | 1980, 2011, 2018 |
| South Coast United | 3 | 1958, 1966, 1969 | 1 | 1963 |
| Bankstown City Lions | 2 | 1994, 2004–05 | 4 | 1993, 1994, 2004, 2005 |
| Sutherland Sharks | 2 | 1991, 2008 | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2009 |
| Canterbury-Marrickville | 2 | 1957, 1985 | 2 | 1958, 1960 |
| Wollongong Wolves | 2 | 1987, 2019 | 2 | 1987, 2008 |
| Rockdale Ilinden | 2 | 2020, 2024 | 1 | 1984 |
| Manly United | 1 | 1995 | 2 | 1995, 2017 |
| Inter Monaro | 1 | 1984 | 1 | 1979 |
| Wollongong United | 1 | 1990 | 1 | 1990 |
| Belconnen Blue Devils | 1 | 2003–04 | | |
| Marconi Stallions | | | 4 | 1972, 1973, 2012, 2024 |
| Auburn | | | 1 | 1957 |
| Yugal-Ryde | | | 1 | 1970 |

## Broadcasting

As of 2012, all matches have been filmed and a weekly highlights package has been made available online, while the grand final has been streamed live through Football NSW since 2013.