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National Premier Leagues Capital Football

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National Premier Leagues
Capital Football 1
Founded2013 (11 years ago) (2013)
1992–2012 (as Premier League)
1952–1991 (as Division One)
Country Australia
StateAustralian Capital Territory ACT
New South Wales NSW
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs8
Level on pyramid2
Relegation toCapital Premier League
Domestic cup(s)Australia Cup
Federation Cup
Current championsCanberra Croatia (2024)
Current premiersGungahlin United (2024)
Most championshipsCanberra Olympic
Canberra Croatia (3 titles)
WebsiteNPL Capital Football 1
Current: 2024 NPL Capital Football

The National Premier Leagues Capital Football 1 (also known as NPL ACT 1 or simply NPL1) is a soccer competition contested by clubs affiliated to Capital Football. The league is the highest level (level 1) competition in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) region. It is a subdivision of the National Premier Leagues and sits in Level 2 in the overall Australian league system.[1][2]

History

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After the 2006 season, the tournament was reorganised based on criteria mandating a development pathway within clubs, where each club is required to field a squad in the reserves and Under-18 divisions. Nine teams contested in the Premier League in 2007, cutting Gungahlin Juventus, White Eagles and reigning premier Cooma Tigers from the top tier.[3]

The same nine teams remained in the Premier League for 2008 and 2009. The pathway system was expanded to include a Premier U16 competition, with all nine clubs required to field a team from their club or an affiliated club. Capital Football initially revoked the licence of Queanbeyan City for the 2009 season, citing a non-compliance with the developmental and administrative standards expected for the league.[4] However, Queanbeyan were reinstated on appeal and following the presentation of further evidence demonstrating these standards could be met.[5]

At the close of the 2009 season, the licences of all participating clubs were reviewed and expressions of interest sought for new additional entrants to the competition for 2010–2012.

In November 2014 Woden Weston FC was incorporated with the intention to merge the elite levels of Woden Valley FC and Weston Molonglo FC into one club, to compete in the National Premier Leagues in 2015 and beyond. The new merged club was officially launched on 20 February 2015, with colours for their new strip sourced from both clubs (black from Weston Creek and red from Woden Valley).[6]

In 2016 the league was expanded to 10 teams with the addition of the Canberra United Academy (CUA) team.[7] The decision by Capital Football to include the CUA in the top division of ACT soccer was met with opposition by other clubs in the league, citing concern with the prospect of losing their best young players to the Academy.[8] Along with the addition of the CUA, other clubs were concerned with lack of action taken on making the Presidents of the NPL clubs voting members of the Capital Football board. A possible rebel league was mooted, and it was believed there had already been contact made with the Referees' Association and potential sponsorship lined up by the NPL clubs.[9]

2016 also saw the establishment of the Capital Football Charity Shield to be played between the Federation Cup winners and NPL league champions before the start of the regular NPL season, as a charity fund-raiser.[10] The inaugural Capital Football Charity Shield match was contested on 18 March 2016 between Canberra FC (2015 League premiers) and Gungahlin United (2015 Federation Cup winners) at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.[11]

7 November 2016, Capital Football announced the introduction of Riverina Rhinos for the men's and boy's National Premier Leagues Capital Football for 2017. Riverina has replaced the controversial Canberra United Academy, who have been amalgamated with the FFA Centre of Excellence, maintaining a ten team league.[12]

18 March 2017, Canberra Olympic won the first piece of ACT soccer silverware for the 2017 season with an emphatic 5–2 victory over Tigers FC at Gungahlin Enclosed oval to claim the second edition of the ACT Charity Shield. The match raised $1500 for charity CanTeen Australia with both clubs and Capital Football each contributing $500. Joshua Gulevski and Stephen Domenici both scored braces for Olympic while a long range goal from Robbie Cattanach clinched the high scoring victory for last season's league and final double winners.[13]

Competition format

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NPL1 Teams play a league season, followed by a finals series for the top 4 clubs. Clubs are required to field teams in all age groups (1st Grade and Under-20s).

A cup competition is contested by Premier League teams and other teams from the region, known as the Westfield FFA Cup Qualifiers, for which the winner is awarded the Federation Cup. The winners of the Federation Cup gain entry into the national FFA Cup competition.

Promotion and relegation

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In 2019, the NPL ACT 2 competition was formed. The bottom team from NPL 1 competition was relegated for the 2020 season.[14][15]

Clubs

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2024 season

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The following clubs are competing in the 2024 season.

2024 NPL 1
Club Location State Home grounds Founded Joined league 2023 Position
Canberra Croatia Deakin ACT Deakin Stadium 1958 2013 4th
Canberra Olympic O'Connor ACT O'Connor Enclosed 1955 2013 3rd
Tigers FC Cooma ACT Nijong Oval 1952 2013 6th
Gungahlin United Gungahlin ACT Gungahlin Enclosed Oval 1963 2015 2nd
HNK O'Connor Knights O'Connor ACT O'Connor Enclosed 1997 2022 1st
Monaro Panthers Queanbeyan NSW Riverside Stadium 1967 2013 5th
Tuggeranong United Greenway ACT Greenway Enclosed 1976 2013 7th
Yoogali SC Griffith NSW SolarMad Stadium 2014 2024 1st *Promoted from CPL 2023

Former Premier League or NPL clubs

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Club Location State Home ground Founded Last season
ANU FC Acton ACT ANU Willows Oval 1962 2010
Belconnen United McKellar ACT McKellar Park 1970 2022
Burns FC Kambah ACT Kambah 1925 1967
Canberra City Hackett ACT Hackett 2 1977 2014
Canberra United Academy McKellar ACT McKellar Park 2015 2016
Canberra White Eagles Phillip ACT Woden Park 1992 2006
FFA Centre of Excellence Bruce ACT Australian Institute of Sport 1981 2017
Goulburn Strikers Goulburn NSW Strikers Park 2001 2011
Narrabundah FC Narrabundah ACT Narrabundah 2 1976 1987
Queanbeyan City Queanbeyan NSW Riverside Stadium 1966 1989
Riverina Rhinos Griffith NSW SolarMad Stadium 2014 2019
West Canberra Wanderers Pearce ACT Melrose High School (Canberra) 2014 2023
Weston Creek Waramanga ACT Waramanga Playing Fields 1971 2002

Honours

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NPL seasons (2013–present)

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A snapshot of each NPL Capital Football 1 season since the formation of the NPL in 2013.

Season Competition Regular season ACT Finals NPL Finals
League Premiers League Runners-Up Champions Score Finalists Representative Position
2013 NPL CF Canberra FC Belconnen United Canberra Olympic 2–0 Canberra FC Canberra FC QF
2014 NPL CF Cooma Tigers Belconnen United Belconnen United 3–3 (3–2 (p)) Canberra FC Cooma Tigers QF
2015 NPL CF Canberra FC Tigers FC Canberra Olympic 3–1 Canberra FC Canberra FC QF
2016 NPL CF Canberra Olympic Tigers FC Canberra Olympic 3–1 Canberra FC Canberra Olympic QF
2017 NPL CF Canberra Olympic FFA COE Belconnen United 2–1 Canberra Olympic Canberra Olympic QF
2018 NPL CF Canberra FC Canberra Olympic Canberra FC 2–1 Canberra Olympic Canberra FC QF
2019 NPL CF 1 Canberra Olympic Tigers FC Gungahlin United 5–0 Tigers FC Canberra Olympic QF
2020 NPL CF 1 No Premier declared.1 Canberra Croatia 3–1 Gungahlin United [a]
2021 NPL CF 1 Tigers FC Canberra Croatia not held.[b]
2022 NPL CF 1 Canberra Croatia Gungahlin United Monaro Panthers 2–1 Canberra Croatia [c]
2023 NPL CF 1 HNK O'Connor Knights Gungahlin United Canberra Croatia 1–1 (6–5 (p)) HNK O'Connor Knights
2024 NPL CF 1 Gungahlin United Canberra Croatia Canberra Croatia 4–3 Canberra Tigers

NPL/Pre-NPL (1952–2012) all-time record

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National Premier Leagues Capital Football honours since introduction in 2013.

Honours
Club Premierships Wins Premiership Years Championships Wins Championship Years Shields Wins Shield Years Total
Canberra Croatia
4
2013, 2015, 2018, 2022
3
2018, 2020, 2023
4
2016, 2019, 2021, 2023
11
Canberra Olympic
3
2016, 2017, 2019
3
2013, 2015, 2016
2
2017, 2018
8
Belconnen United
2
2014, 2017
2
Tigers FC
2
2014, 2021
2
Gungahlin United
1
2019
1
Monaro Panthers
1
2022
1
2022
2
HNK O'Connor Knights
1
2023
1

A snapshot of each ACT top division season between 1952 and 2012 before the NPL started in 2013.[18][19]

Season Competition Regular season Finals
League Premiers League Runners-Up Champions Score Finalists
1952 Division One Season standings & results unknown
1953 Division One Season standings & results unknown
1954 Division One Napad Napad 6–2 Hollandia
1955 Division One Napad Roma Hollandia 2–1 Canberra United[d]
1956 Division One Balkan Canberra United No Finals Series held
1957 Division One Bohemians Canberra United Burns No Finals Series held
1958 Division One Bohemians Wistula Olympic 3–1 Bohemians
1959 Division One Bohemians FTC Hungaria No Finals Series held
1960 Division One FTC Hungaria Olympic No Finals Series held
1961 Division One FTC Hungaria Olympic FTC Hungaria 2–1 Olympic
1962 Division One SC Hope Kosciusko[20] SC Hope 7–3 Kosciusko
1963 Division One SC Hope Queanbeyan No Finals Series held
1964 Division One Juventus Cooma United Juventus 2–2, 4–3 Cooma United
1965 Division One Juventus Cooma United Juventus 4–3 SC Hope
1966 Division One SC Hope Juventus SC Hope 1–1 (5–4 (p)) Juventus
1967 Division One Juventus Croatia Deakin Croatia Deakin 2–1 Cooma United
1968 Division One Juventus Inter Monaro Juventus 1–1
3–1[e]
Croatia Deakin
1969 Division One Croatia Deakin Queanbeyan Macedonia Final abandoned
1970 Division One Juventus Queanbeyan Macedonia Juventus 3–1 Turner Eagles
1971 Division One Griffith United Inter Monaro No Finals Series held
1972 Division One Juventus Croatia Deakin No Finals Series held
1973 Division One Croatia Deakin Juventus No Finals Series held
1974 Division One West Woden Juventus Croatia Deakin No Finals Series held
1975 Division One Downer Olympic Croatia Deakin West Woden Juventus 2–0 Croatia Deakin
1976 Division One West Woden Juventus Inter Monaro West Woden Juventus 2–1 Croatia Deakin
1977 Division One Inter Monaro West Woden Juventus Inter Monaro 3–2 West Woden Juventus
1978 Division One West Woden Juventus Croatia Deakin Croatia Deakin 3–2 West Woden Juventus
1979 Division One Croatia Deakin West Woden Juventus Croatia Deakin 3–2 Canberra City Roos
1980 Division One Downer Olympic Croatia Deakin West Woden Juventus 3–2 Downer Olympic
1981 Division One Luso[f] Narrabundah Luso 1–0 Narrabundah
1982 Division One Belconnen United JM United[g] Belconnen United 7–0 Downer Olympic
1983 Division One Kambah United (City)
West Woden Juventus (Country)
Narrabundah (City)
Downer Olympic (Country)
West Woden Juventus 5–4 Canberra Croatia
1984 Division One Canberra United (City)
West Woden Juventus (Country)
Concordia Phillip (City)
Croatia Deakin (Country)
West Woden Juventus 3–2 Croatia Deakin
1985 Division One West Woden Juventus Croatia Deakin Belconnen United 3–2 Canberra City Olympians
1986 Division One Croatia Deakin Juventus Juventus 2–1 Belconnen United
1987 Division One Croatia Deakin Belconnen United Croatia Deakin 4–1 Belconnen United
1988 Division One Croatia Deakin CCAE Croatia Deakin 5–3 CCAE
1989 Division One CCAE Canberra Croatia Canberra City Concordia 3–2 Canberra Croatia
1990 Division One Belconnen United Canberra City Belconnen United 1–1 (3–1 (p)) Canberra City
1991 Division One Tuggeranong United Olympic Tuggeranong United 1–0 Olympic
1992 Premier League AIS Tuggeranong United Tuggeranong United 2–0 Belconnen United
1993 Premier League Olympic Southern Cross Olympic 3–3 (5–4 (p)) Southern Cross
1994 Premier League Canberra Deakin Tuggeranong United Olympic 3–1 Tuggeranong United
1995 Premier League Canberra Deakin Shamrock Rovers Canberra Deakin 3–2 Juventus
1996 Premier League Belconnen United Canberra Deakin Belconnen United 1–0 Canberra Deakin
1997 Premier League Belconnen United Canberra Olympic Canberra Olympic 4–0 Canberra Deakin
1998 Premier League Belconnen United Monaro Panthers Belconnen United 2–0 Canberra Olympic
1999 Premier League Capital City Suns Weston Creek Royals[h] Monaro Panthers 1–0 Capital City Suns
2000 Premier League Gungahlin Juventus Belconnen United Belconnen United 1–0 Gungahlin Juventus
2001 Premier League Canberra Deakin Gungahlin Juventus Gungahlin Juventus 2–1 Canberra Deakin
2002 Premier League Canberra Deakin Gungahlin Juventus Belconnen United 2–1 Canberra Olympic
2003 Premier League Canberra Deakin Canberra Olympic Canberra Deakin 1–0 Canberra Olympic
2004 Premier League Canberra Deakin Gungahlin Juventus Canberra Deakin 4–1 Gungahlin Juventus
2005 Premier League Canberra Deakin O'Connor Knights Canberra Deakin 1–0 O'Connor Knights
2006 Premier League Canberra Olympic Belconnen United Cooma Tigers 2–1 Canberra Olympic
2007 Premier League Canberra FC Belconnen United Canberra FC 5–4 Belconnen United
2008 Premier League Canberra FC Canberra Olympic Belconnen United 4–1 Canberra FC
2009 Premier League Canberra FC Belconnen United Canberra FC 2–1 Belconnen United
2010 Premier League Canberra FC Belconnen United Canberra FC 6–0 Belconnen United
2011 Premier League Canberra FC Canberra Olympic Canberra FC 8–5 Canberra Olympic
2012 Premier League Belconnen United Cooma Tigers Cooma Tigers 2–1 Belconnen United

Pre-NPL all-time record

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Pre-NPL era Division 1 honours since 1952.

Premierships
Club Premierships Years
Canberra FC
20
1962, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
West Woden Juventus
12
1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1983
1984, 1985
Belconnen United
6
1982, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2012
Canberra Olympic
5
1975, 1980, 1993, 1994, 2006
Bohemians
3
1957, 1958, 1959
FTC Hungaria
2
1960, 1961
Napad
2
1954, 1955
Tuggeranong United
2
1983, 1991
AIS
1
1992
Balkan
1
1956
Burns FC
1
1984
Capital City Suns
1
1999
Griffith United
1
1971
Gungahlin United
1
2000
Luso
1
1981
Monaro Panthers
1
1977
UCU Pumas
1
1989
Championships
Club Championships Years
Canberra FC
15
1962, 1966, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1988, 1995, 2003, 2004
2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
West Woden Juventus
10
1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986
Belconnen United
8
1982, 1985, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2008
Canberra Olympic
4
1958, 1993, 1994, 1997
Monaro Panthers
2
1977, 1999
Tigers FC
2
2006, 2012
Tuggeranong United
2
1991, 1992
Canberra City
1
1989
Gungahlin United
1
2001
Hollandia
1
1955
Luso
1
1981
Napad
1
1954

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ NPL finals series cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[16]
  2. ^ ACT finals series cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[17]
  3. ^ Not held
  4. ^ Burns Football Club – the oldest surviving soccer club in Canberra, established in 1925
  5. ^ won on replay
  6. ^ Became Majura-Luso before folding in 1985
  7. ^ A joint partnership between Juventus and Inter Monaro that was dissolved after 7 matches; West Woden Juventus completed the season
  8. ^ Now known as Weston Molonglo FC and associated with Woden-Weston FC

References

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  1. ^ "NPL Home". National Premier Leagues. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  2. ^ Gibbs, Russ (9 February 2015). "PS4 NPL Capital Football 2015 Preview". PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Clubs on notice to lift game or be cut loose". Canberra Times. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2007. [dead link]
  4. ^ "Queanbeyan City's PL Licence Reviewed". Capital Football. October 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Queanbeyan City Reinstated in Premier League". Capital Football. December 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009. [dead link]
  6. ^ Gaskin, Lee (08 March 2015) "Woden-Weston FC hoping to channel Western Sydney Wanderers in National Premier League debut". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Academy". Capital Football. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  8. ^ Gaskin, Lee (25 November 2015). "Soccer: Canberra National Premier League clubs voice concerns at representative team". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  9. ^ Polkinghorne, David (11 February 2016). "Rebel league an option in Canberra NPL disagreement with Capital Football". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Champions and Cup Winners to Meet in Inaugural Charity Shield". Capital Football. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  11. ^ Gaskin, Lee (17 March 2016). "ACT National Premier League: Charity Shield gives new-look Gungahlin United perfect test". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  12. ^ "PS4 NPL Structure & Teams". Capital Football. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  13. ^ Helmers, Caden (19 March 2017). "Canberra Olympic pick up where they left off with win over Cooma Tigers in Capital Football Charity Shield". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  14. ^ Tiernan, Eamonn (3 August 2018). "NPL clubs slam Capital Football for introducing NPL2". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  15. ^ "2019 National Premier Leagues Declaration of Leagues". Capital Football. 27 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled". The World Game. SBS. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  17. ^ "CAPITAL FOOTBALL WINTER COMPETITION UPDATE". Capital Football. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  18. ^ "ACT Division One Premiers list". www.socceraust.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  19. ^ "ACT Division One Champions list". www.socceraust.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  20. ^ "History of Canberra Croatia FC". Canberra Croatia FC. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
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