National Premier Leagues
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| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Divisions | ACT Premier League FFSA Premier League NSW Premier League NPL Queensland T-League |
| Number of teams | 2013: 58 (from 5 divisions) 2014: 118 (from 9 divisions)[1] |
| Levels on pyramid | 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | FFA Cup |
| Website | Football Australia |
 2013 National Premier Leagues |
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The National Premier Leagues, or the NPL (formerly known by the working title of Australian Premier League) is a national football (soccer) competition in Australia, overseen by Football Federation Australia (FFA), in partnership with its state-based member federations. The NPL will form the second tier of football in Australia, underpinning the A-League.[2] The inaugural season of the NPL, to begin in March 2013, will include teams from five different State and Regional federations: Football Queensland, Football NSW, Football Federation South Australia, Football Federation Tasmania, and Capital Football.[3]
All bar four of the FFA's member federations will join the NPL in 2013, with Football West, Football Federation Victoria and Northern New South Wales Football due to join in 2014,[4] and Football Federation Northern Territory is expected to "adopt a partial model" at some time in the future. When all eight states and territories are part of the competition, there will be 118 clubs in the NPL.[1]
History
In October 2010, Football Federation Australia (FFA) commenced a National Competition Review, its main objective being to review the current structure of football competitions in Australia, and to monitor and improve elite player development.[5] By May 2012 the results of the National Competition Review were released. In it, a proposal to re-brand and revitalise state-based competitions in Australia.[6]
On 13 February 2013 the establishment of the National Premier Leagues was announced. As a direct outcome of the National Competition Review, the league would rebrand the premier league in each state under a single banner.[2] Originally named Australian Premier League but due to a violation of naming rights held by Lawn Bowls Australia the original name was scrapped and replaced with National Premier Leagues.[7] FFA looking to introduce a promotion and relegation structure between the first tier A-League and second tier National Premier League from 2022.[8]
Competition format
The NPL competition in each state and territory will be run by the Member Federation, with a national play-off at the end of each winter season.[2] Each Member Federation, or 'conference' will contain various numbers of teams, and will play a full season with no inter-conference matches (an identical format to the individual State Leagues that preceded the NPL). The champions of each conference involved will enter a Play-off Tournament at season's end, with the Winners named the National Premier Leagues Champions.[9]
Depending on the State Federation in charge, teams may be relegated from the NPL to a third-tier league in the same state (and vice versa), but there is currently no way for a team to be promoted to the first tier of Australian Football, the A-League.
Clubs
Bold denotes club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues.
References
- ^ a b http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/gallop-aims-for-aussie-fa-cup/story-fn63e0vj-1226577434849
- ^ a b c "National Premier Leagues". footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/ffa-launches-national-premier-leagues/60728
- ^ http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/252498,second-division-by-2022.aspx
- ^ Siokos, Anthony (28 May 2012). "Analysis: Review gives FFA clear signal of how they must spread the love". Sport Business Insider. Sports Business Insider Group. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
- ^ "FFA releases outcomes of National Competitions Review". footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ "Wolves could move into A-League under new changes". illawarramercury.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ "Australian Premier League Announced". sportingpulse.com. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "FFA unveils National Premier Leagues". FourFourTwo Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
External links
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