National Premier Leagues Western Australia

Football league

National Premier Leagues Western Australia

Founded| 1896
Country| Australia
Number of clubs| 12
Level on pyramid| 2
Relegation to| State League 1
Domestic cup(s)| Football West State Cup
Australia Cup
Current champions| Olympic Kingsway (2024)
Current premiers| Olympic Kingsway (2024)
Most championships| Perth SC (Azzurri, Italia) (25 titles)
Broadcaster(s)| Streamer TV
Website| Football West NPL
Current: 2025 NPL Western Australia

The National Premier Leagues Western Australia (NPL WA) is a regional Australian semi-professional soccer league comprising teams from Western Australia. As a subdivision of the National Premier Leagues, the league is the highest level of the Western Australian league system (Level 2 of the overall Australian league system). The competition is administered by Football West, the governing body of the sport in the state. In 2014, the league – formerly known as the Football West State League Premier Division – was rebranded into what exists today.

## History

[edit]

NPL WA traces its origin to the formation of a league by the Perth British Football Association in 1896.[1] By the 1950s, the association was known as the Western Australian Soccer Football Association (WASFA). In, 1960 eight teams formed their own association, the Soccer Federation of Western Australia (SFWA). The WASFA and SFWA ran rival leagues between 1960 and 1962 before the SFWA prevailed.[2] Ahead of the 1991 season, 11 SFWA clubs broke away, forming the Soccer Administration of Western Australia (SAWA). The SAWA ran the rebel Professional Soccer League (PSL) in parallel with the SFWA first division until merging before the 1993 season to form the Professional Soccer Federation of Western Australia (PSF).[3][4]

Several of the clubs currently playing in the league were formed as the soccer arm of cultural associations of recently migrated Australians, with certain teams having associations with particularly nationalities e.g. Swan Italian Club (now Swan United), Bayswater Inter (now Bayswater City) and Perth Italia (now Perth SC) with Italian Australians, Morley Windmills with Dutch Australians, Floreat Athena with Greek Australians, Benfica United with Portuguese Australians, Inglewood Kiev (now Inglewood United) with Ukrainian Australians, North Perth Croatia (now Western Knights) with Croatian Australians, Spearwood Dalmatinac (now part of Cockburn City) with Yugoslavian Australians, Carramar Shamrock Rovers and East Perth FC with Irish Australians, Dianella White Eagles with Serbian Australians and Stirling Macedonia with Macedonian Australians. In 1994 clubs were forced by the sport's governing body to remove all references to ethnicities from their names, which resulted in several forced name changes. Some clubs reverted back to their former names after 2019, when the National Club Identity Policy was revoked. More recently, new clubs have begun to be based geographically, such as with Armadale SC and Cockburn City.

The West Australian National Training Centre included a team for the 2011–2013 seasons. They did not play for competition points, and were mostly used for development of the upcoming youth players.

## Format

[edit]

In 2013 Football Federation of Australia introduced the new second tier competition for football in Australia, the National Premier Leagues. In 2014 Football West then reorganised the former State Premier League into the National Premier Leagues Western Australia conference and the State League (Division One and Division Two). The NPL WA competition fields a Senior first team, as well as youth teams from U12 to U20 age groups. The Perth Glory FC Youth team competes in the Senior category and has additional age restrictions.[5]

Promotion and relegation between the NPL and the State League Division 1 became possible for the first time at the end of the 2015 season, provided the winner of the State Division 1 met Football West's promotion requirements.[5] Two teams were promoted after the 2016 season to expand the league into a 14 team competition.[6] After a further competition review the 2019 NPLWA season returned to a twelve-team competition.[7] In 2020, promotion and relegation was suspended for the season, due to the impacts on the competition from the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[8]

## Clubs

[edit]

The following 13 clubs will compete in the 2025 NPL WA season.

Club  | Location  | Ground  | Capacity

|
|
|

Armadale SC | Armadale | Alfred Skeet Oval  | 500
Balcatta | Balcatta | Grindleford Reserve  | 1,000
Bayswater City | Bayswater | Frank Drago Reserve  | 5,000
Fremantle City | Fremantle | Hilton Park  | 1,000
Floreat Athena | Leederville | Litis Stadium | 5,000
Olympic Kingsway | Madeley | Kingsway Sporting Complex  | 2,500
Perth Glory Youth | Queens Park | Sam Kerr Football Centre | 2,000
Perth RedStar | Joondalup | RedStar Arena  | 2,500
Perth SC | West Perth | Dorrien Gardens | 4,000
Sorrento FC | Duncraig | Percy Doyle Reserve | 5,000
Stirling Macedonia | Balcatta | Macedonia Park | 5,000
Western Knights | Mosman Park | Nash Field  | 1,000
Morley-Windmills SC | Morley | Wotton Reserve  | 200

## Honours

[edit]

Year | Premiership | Champions | NPL Finals Representation

|
|
|

2014 | Bayswater City | Bayswater City | Bayswater City – Quarter Finalist
2015 | Bayswater City[a] | – | Bayswater City – Runners up
2016 | Perth SC | Perth SC | Perth SC – Semi Finalist
2017 | Bayswater City | Bayswater City | Bayswater City – Quarter Finalist
2018 | Perth SC | Perth SC | Perth SC – Quarter Finalist
2019 | Perth SC | Perth SC | Perth SC – Semi Finalist
2020 | —[b] | ECU Joondalup[c]
Floreat Athena[d] | —[e]
2021 | Perth SC | Perth SC | —[f]
2022 | Floreat Athena | Perth RedStar
2023 | Perth RedStar | Stirling Macedonia
2024 | Olympic Kingsway | Olympic Kingsway

## Honours pre-NPL (1896–2013)

[edit]

| Year | Premiers

|

1896 | Fremantle Wanderers
1897 | Fremantle Wanderers
1898 | Civil Service[a]
1899 | Fremantle Wanderers
1900 | Fremantle Wanderers
1901 | Fremantle Wanderers
1902 | Perth[a]
1903 | Fremantle
1904 | Fremantle Corinthians[a]
1905 | Perth
1906 | Rangers[a]
1907 | Rangers
1908 | City United
1909 | Training College[a]
1910 | Claremont
1911 | Rangers[g]
1912 | Claremont
1913 | Perth City United
1914 | Thistle
1915 | Thistle
1916 | jointly Claremont and Thistle
1917–1918 | No competition due to World War 1
1919 | Claremont
1920 | Perth City United[a]
1921 | Thistle
1922 | Perth City United[a]
1923 | Claremont[a]
1924 | Perth City
1925 | Thistle
1926 | Fremantle Caledonian
1927 | Fremantle Caledonian[a]
1928 | Victoria Park[a]
1929 | Victoria Park
1930 | Northern Casuals
1931 | Victoria Park
1932 | Northern Casuals
1933 | Caledonian
1934 | Victoria Park
1935 | Victoria Park
1936 | Victoria Park
1937 | Victoria Park[a]
1938 | Victoria Park
1939 | Victoria Park[g]
1940 | East Claremont
1941 | Caledonian[a]
1942–1944 | No competition due to World War 2
1945 | Jolly Rogers[a]
1946 | Caledonian[g]
1947 | Caledonian[h]
1948 | North Perth[h]
1949 | Caledonian
1950 | Perth City
1951 | South Perth
1952 | North Perth
1953 | Azzurri[a]
1954 | Perth City
1955 | North Perth
1956 | North Perth
1957 | Swan Athletic
1958 | East Fremantle Tricolore
1959 | Azzurri
1960 | WASF : Azzurri
WASFA : North Perth-Osborne
| Year | Premiers | Champions
(or Top Four/Top Five Cup)

|
|

1961 | WASF : Windmills
WASFA : Swan Valley[a] | East Fremantle Tricolore
1962 | WASF : Azzurri
WASFA : Perth City-Inglewood | Morley Windmills
1963 | East Fremantle Tricolore | Azzurri
1964 | East Fremantle Tricolore[a] | North Perth-Osborne
1965 | East Fremantle Tricolore | Swan Athletic[i]
1966 | Cracovia | Azzurri[i]
1967 | Azzurri[a] | Azzurri[i]
1968 | Azzurri | Kiev
1969 | Azzurri | East Fremantle Tricolore
1970 | East Fremantle Tricolore | East Fremantle Tricolore[i]
1971 | Azzurri | Bayswater United
1972 | East Fremantle Tricolore | Azzurri
1973 | Windmills | –
1974 | Ascot | Azzurri
1975 | Azzurri | Floreat Athena
1976 | Azzurri | Azzurri
1977 | Athena | –
1978 | Olympic Kingsway | Olympic Kingsway
1979 | Spearwood Dalmatinac | Olympic Kingsway
1980 | Olympic Kingsway | Olympic Kingsway
1981 | Perth Azzurri[a] | Forrestfield United
1982 | Spearwood Dalmatinac[a] | Spearwood Dalmatinac
1983 | West Perth Macedonia | West Perth Macedonia
1984 | West Perth Macedonia | Floreat Athena
1985 | West Perth Macedonia | –
1986 | Spearwood Dalmatinac | Stirling Macedonia
1987 | Stirling Macedonia | –
1988 | Floreat Athena | Floreat Athena
1989 | Floreat Athena | Perth Italia
1990 | Floreat Athena[a] | Perth Italia
1991 | Floreat Athena | Perth Italia
1992 | Perth Italia | Stirling Macedonia
1993 | Perth Italia | Perth Italia
1994 | Stirling Macedonia | Stirling Macedonia
1995 | Stirling Macedonia | Stirling Macedonia
1996 | Inglewood Falcons | Stirling Macedonia
1997 | Floreat Athena | –
1998 | Western Knights | Western Knights
1999 | ECU Joondalup | Sorrento
2000 | Fremantle City | Perth SC
2001 | Sorrento | Perth SC
2002 | Perth SC | Perth SC
2003 | Perth SC | Perth SC
2004 | Western Knights | Western Knights
2005 | Perth SC | –
2006 | Sorrento | –
2007 | Floreat Athena[a] | –
2008 | Sorrento | Perth SC
2009 | Western Knights | Perth SC
2010 | Western Knights | Perth SC
2011 | Balcatta | Perth SC
2012 | Bayswater City | Sorrento
2013 | Stirling Lions | Bayswater City

References :[10][11]

## See also

[edit]

* National Premier Leagues WA Women

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v undefeated league season
2. ^ Premiership not awarded.
3. ^ NPL Season Champions.
4. ^ Top Four Cup Grand Final Champions.
5. ^ NPL finals series cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[9]
6. ^ Not held
7. ^ a b c after championship playoff
8. ^ a b after zone playoff
9. ^ a b c d round-robin format

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "British Association". Inquirer and Commercial News. Perth. 20 May 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
2. ^ "WASFA Records". footballwa.net. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
3. ^ "1991 Results". footballwa.net. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
4. ^ "1992 Results". footballwa.net. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
5. ^ a b "Home Page | Football West". 19 February 2020.
6. ^ "NPLWA expansion for 2017". www.footballwest.com.au. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
7. ^ "NPLWA Review Report to guide future". www.footballwest.com.au. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
8. ^ "Bayswater-Perth to kick off revamped season". Football West. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
9. ^ "Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled". The World Game. SBS. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
10. ^ Kreider, R.N. (2012) Paddocks to Pitches. The Definitive History of Western Australian Football. Published by SportsWest Media
11. ^ "Competitions at Football West".

## External links

[edit]

* Football West website

* v
* t
* e

2025 National Premier Leagues Western Australia

* Armadale
* Balcatta Etna
* Bayswater City
* Floreat Athena
* Fremantle City
* Perth RedStar
* Olympic Kingsway
* Perth Glory Youth
* Perth SC
* Sorrento
* Stirling Macedonia
* Western Knights

* v
* t
* e

National Premier Leagues

Seasons|

* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Grand Finals|

* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

Member Federations|

* ACT
* NSW
* Northern NSW
* Queensland
* SA
* Tasmania
* Victoria
* WA

Women's NPL competitions|

* NPL Women's
* ACT
* NSW Women's
* Northern NSW
* Queensland
* SA
* Victoria Women
* WA Women

Associated competitions|

* A-League Men
* A-League Women
* Y-League
* Australia Cup
* Australian Championship

Awards|

* John Kosmina Medal

* v
* t
* e

Soccer in Australia

* Football Australia

National teams|

| Men's|

* Senior
* B
* U-23
* U-20
* U-17
* Futsal
* Beach
* Paralympic

|

Women's|

* Senior
* B
* U-23
* U-20
* U-17
* Futsal

League competitions|

| Men's|

* A-League Men
* National Premier Leagues
* Australian Championship

|

Women's|

* A-League Women
* National Premier Leagues Women's

Cup competitions|

* Australia Cup

Others|

* Youth soccer
* Defunct leagues
* Defunct cups
* Professional Footballers Australia
* Women's soccer in Australia
* History of soccer in Brisbane, Queensland

Lists|

* Appearances (300+)
* Clubs
* Honours won
* Champions
* Men
* Women
* Clubs in international competitions
* Goals (100+)
* Record home attendances
* Stadiums by capacity

* Venues
* Competitions
* Records and statistics

* v
* t
* e

Soccer in Western Australia

Football West

NPL Western Australia|

* Armadale SC
* Balcatta Etna
* Bayswater City
* Fremantle City
* Floreat Athena
* Olympic Kingsway
* Perth SC
* Perth Glory
* Perth RedStar
* Stirling Macedonia
* Sorrento FC
* Western Knights

State League Division 1|

* Curtin University
* Dianella White Eagles
* Gosnells City
* Gwelup Croatia
* Inglewood United
* Joondalup City
* Kalamunda City
* Kingsley Westside FC
* Mandurah City
* Murdoch University Melville FC
* Subiaco AFC
* UWA-Nedlands FC

State League Division 2|

* Ashfield SC
* Balga SC
* Canning City
* Carramar Shamrock Rovers SC
* Cockburn City
* East Perth
* Forrestfield United
* Quinns FC
* Rockingham City
* Swan United
* Wembley Downs SC
* Wanneroo City

Amateur League Premier Division|

* Emerald
* Jaguar FC
* Joondalup United (Amateurs)
* Kelmscott Roos SC
* Kwinana United
* Maddington White City
* Morley-Windmills
* North Beach
* North Perth United
* Peel United
* South Perth United
* Quinns FC (Amateurs)
* South West Phoenix

NPL Western Australia Women|

* Balcatta FC
* Football West NTC U-19
* Fremantle City
* Murdoch University Melville FC
* Perth SC
* Perth RedStar
* Subiaco AFC
* UWA-Nedlands FC

Other teams|

* WA state team
* Perth Kangaroos
* Bassendean Caledonian
* Joondalup United
* Cracovia SC
* Football West NTC

League seasons|

* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

WA State Cup|

* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

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