National Soccer League (Australia)
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The National Soccer League, or NSL, was the former national soccer competition in Australia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The league was established in 1977 and was arguably the first truly national "football" competition in Australia, since regular nationwide/interstate club competitions in Australian Rules Football and Rugby League had not been established at that time. It is currently being replaced by the A-League.
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Background
The league may best be described as "semi-professional", with many players holding down day jobs and salaries considerably lower than those in the AFL or major rugby competitions, let alone those of the best-known players in Europe. The standard is generally comparable with second- or third-tier European leagues. In later years of the NSL, most members of the Australian national football team plied their trade in Europe, though many had played in the NSL on their way to European clubs.
Structure
The competition structure changed many times throughout the NSL's history. In later years it comprised a regular season followed by a knock-out cup competition played by the top 6 teams, with the championship decided by a Grand Final, though other systems were occasionally used. This structure is similar to that of Major League Soccer in the United States, and to the major leagues of other popular football codes in Australia.
History
Many of the clubs formed from various European migrant communities, and still draw much of their support base from them, despite edicts from the governing body in the 1990s forcing the clubs to drop national or ethnic names and logos.
The league and clubs struggled financially for many years. The league's administration was widely regarded as incompetent. There had been talk of a Super League-style break away competition while the league itself was on the verge of collapse.
The 2003/2004 season Grand Final, played on 4th April 2004 between Paramatta Power and Perth Glory, was the final game of the National Soccer League.
A new league (Hyundai A-League) will commence in August 2005. It will comprise 8 teams competing in a triple round robin tournament ending with a Top 4 playoff and Grand Final in February 2006. The administrators of the sport hope the new competition will usher in a new era of professionalism and development for the sport in Australia.
2003-04 Teams
- Adelaide United F.C. - http://www.adelaideunited.com.au - SA
- Brisbane Strikers (originally Brisbane United) - www.brisbanestrikers.com - QLD
- Football Kingz (formerly Auckland Kingz) - http://www.footballkingz.co.nz - NZ
- Marconi Stallions (formerly Marconi Fairfield) - www.marconifc.com - NSW
- Melbourne Knights (formerly Croatia, Melbourne Croatia, Melbourne CSC) - http://www.melbourneknights.com.au - VIC
- Newcastle United - http://www.newcastleunited.com.au - NSW
- Northern Spirit - NSW
- Paramatta Power - NSW
- Perth Glory - http://www.perthglory.com.au - WA
- South Melbourne (formerly South Melbourne Hellas, South Melbourne Lakers) - http://www.smfc.com.au - VIC
- Sydney Olympic (formerly Pan-Hellenic, UTS Olympic, Olympic Sharks) - http://www.sydneyolympic.com.au/ - NSW
- Sydney United (formerly Sydney Croatia, Sydney CSC) - http://www.sydneyunited.com.au - NSW
- Wollongong Wolves (formerly Wollongong City) - http://www.wollongongwolves.com.au - NSW
Champions in previous seasons
| Season | Winner |
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| 2003-04 | Perth Glory |
| 2002-03 | Perth Glory |
| 2001-02 | Olympic Sharks |
| 2000-01 | Wollongong Wolves |
| 1999-00 | Wollongong Wolves |
| 1998-99 | South Melbourne |
| 1997-98 | South Melbourne |
| 1996-97 | Brisbane Strikers |
| 1995-96 | Melbourne Knights |
| 1994-95 | Melbourne Knights |
| 1993-94 | Adelaide City |
| 1992-93 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1991-92 | Adelaide City |
| 1990-91 | South Melbourne |
| 1989-90 | Olympic Sharks |
| 1989 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1988 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1987 | Leichhardt |
| 1986 | Adelaide City |
| 1985 | Brunswick |
| 1984 | South Melbourne |
| 1983 | St. George |
| 1982 | Sydney City |
| 1981 | Sydney City |
| 1980 | Sydney City |
| 1979 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1978 | Adelaide Sharks |
| 1977 | Sydney City |
External Links
- Official Australian Soccer Association site (http://www.socceraustralia.com.au/)
- Official A-League site (http://www.a-league.com.au/)