National Premier Leagues 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]

National Premier Leagues
Capital Football 1
Founded2013 (2013)
1992–2012 (as Premier League)
1952–1991 (as Division One)
Country Australia
StateAustralian Capital Territory ACT
New South Wales NSW
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid2
Relegation toCapital Premier League
Domestic cup(s)Australia Cup
Federation Cup
Current championsMonaro Panthers (2022)
Current premiersCanberra Croatia (2022)
Most championshipsCanberra Olympic (3 titles)
WebsiteNPL Capital Football 1
Current: 2023 Season

History

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

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

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

2023 season

The following clubs are competing in the 2023 season.

2023 NPL1 ACT based clubs
2023 NPL1 NSW based clubs
2023 NPL 1
Club Location State Home grounds Founded Joined league 2022 Position
Canberra Croatia Deakin ACT Deakin Stadium 1958 2013 1st
Canberra Olympic O'Connor ACT O'Connor Enclosed 1955 2013 5th
Tigers FC Bruce/Ainslie ACT AIS 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 4th
Monaro Panthers Queanbeyan NSW Riverside Stadium 1967 2013 3rd
Tuggeranong United Greenway ACT Greenway Enclosed 1976 2013 1st *Promoted from CPL 2022
West Canberra Wanderers Pearce ACT Melrose High School (Canberra) 2014 2014 7th

Former Premier League or NPL clubs
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
Weston Creek Waramanga ACT Waramanga Playing Fields 1971 2002

Honours

NPL seasons (2013–present)

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 PremiersLeague Runners-Up ChampionsScoreFinalists RepresentativePosition
2013NPL CF Canberra FCBelconnen United Canberra Olympic2–0Canberra FC Canberra FCQF
2014NPL CF Cooma TigersBelconnen United Belconnen United3–3 (3–2 (p))Canberra FC Cooma TigersQF
2015NPL CF Canberra FCTigers FC Canberra Olympic3–1Canberra FC Canberra FCQF
2016NPL CF Canberra OlympicTigers FC Canberra Olympic3–1Canberra FC Canberra OlympicQF
2017NPL CF Canberra OlympicFFA COE Belconnen United2–1Canberra Olympic Canberra OlympicQF
2018NPL CF Canberra FCCanberra Olympic Canberra FC2–1Canberra Olympic Canberra FCQF
2019NPL CF 1 Canberra OlympicTigers FC Gungahlin United5–0Tigers FC Canberra OlympicQF
2020NPL CF 1 No Premier declared.1 Canberra Croatia3–1Gungahlin United—[lower-alpha 1]
2021NPL CF 1 Tigers FCCanberra Croatia not held.[lower-alpha 2]—[lower-alpha 1]
2022NPL CF 1 Canberra CroatiaGungahlin United Monaro Panthers2–1Canberra Croatia —[lower-alpha 3]

NPL all-time record

National Premier Leagues Capital Football honours since introduction in 2013.

Honours
ClubPremierships WinsPremiership YearsChampionships WinsChampionship YearsShields WinsShield YearsTotal
Canberra Croatia
4
2013, 2015, 2018, 2022
2
2018, 2020
2
2016, 2019
7
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

Pre-NPL Honours

Pre-NPL seasons (1952–2012)

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 PremiersLeague Runners-Up ChampionsScoreFinalists
1952Division One Season standings & results unknown
1953Division One Season standings & results unknown
1954Division One Napad Napad6–2Hollandia
1955Division One NapadRoma Hollandia2–1Canberra United[lower-alpha 4]
1956Division One BalkanCanberra United No Finals Series held
1957Division One BohemiansCanberra United Burns No Finals Series held
1958Division One BohemiansWistula Olympic3–1Bohemians
1959Division One BohemiansFTC Hungaria No Finals Series held
1960Division One FTC HungariaOlympic No Finals Series held
1961Division One FTC HungariaOlympic FTC Hungaria2–1Olympic
1962Division One SC HopeKosciusko[20] SC Hope7–3Kosciusko
1963Division One SC HopeQueanbeyan No Finals Series held
1964Division One JuventusCooma United Juventus2–0Cooma United
1965Division One JuventusCooma United Juventus4–3SC Hope
1966Division One SC HopeJuventus SC Hope1–1 (5–4 (p))Juventus
1967Division One JuventusCroatia Deakin Croatia Deakin2–1Cooma United
1968Division One JuventusInter Monaro Juventus1–1
3–1[lower-alpha 5]		Croatia Deakin
1969Division One Croatia DeakinQueanbeyan Macedonia Final abandoned
1970Division One JuventusQueanbeyan Macedonia Juventus3–1Turner Eagles
1971Division One Griffith UnitedInter Monaro No Finals Series held
1972Division One JuventusCroatia Deakin No Finals Series held
1973Division One Croatia DeakinJuventus No Finals Series held
1974Division One West Woden JuventusCroatia Deakin No Finals Series held
1975Division One Downer OlympicCroatia Deakin West Woden Juventus2–0Croatia Deakin
1976Division One West Woden JuventusInter Monaro West Woden Juventus2–1Croatia Deakin
1977Division One Inter MonaroWest Woden Juventus Inter Monaro3–2West Woden Juventus
1978Division One West Woden JuventusCroatia Deakin Croatia Deakin3–2West Woden Juventus
1979Division One Croatia DeakinWest Woden Juventus Croatia Deakin3–2Canberra City Roos
1980Division One Downer OlympicCroatia Deakin West Woden Juventus3–2Downer Olympic
1981Division One Luso[lower-alpha 6]Narrabundah Luso1–0Narrabundah
1982Division One Belconnen UnitedJM United[lower-alpha 7] Belconnen United7–0Downer Olympic
1983Division One Kambah United (City)
West Woden Juventus (Country)		Narrabundah (City)
Downer Olympic (Country)		 West Woden Juventus5-4Canberra Croatia
1984Division One Canberra United (City)
West Woden Juventus (Country)		Concordia Phillip (City)
Croatia Deakin (Country)		 West Woden Juventus3–2Croatia Deakin
1985Division One West Woden JuventusCroatia Deakin Belconnen United3–2Canberra City Olympians
1986Division One Croatia DeakinJuventus Juventus2–1Belconnen United
1987Division One Croatia DeakinBelconnen United Croatia Deakin4–1Belconnen United
1988Division One Croatia DeakinCCAE Croatia Deakin5–3CCAE
1989Division One CCAECanberra Croatia Canberra City Concordia3–2Canberra Croatia
1990Division One Belconnen UnitedCanberra City Belconnen United1–1 (3–1 (p))Canberra City
1991Division One Tuggeranong UnitedOlympic Tuggeranong United1–0Olympic
1992Premier League AISTuggeranong United Tuggeranong United2–0Belconnen United
1993Premier League OlympicSouthern Cross Olympic3–3 (5–4 (p))Southern Cross
1994Premier League Canberra DeakinTuggeranong United Olympic3–1Tuggeranong United
1995Premier League Canberra DeakinShamrock Rovers Canberra Deakin3–2Juventus
1996Premier League Belconnen UnitedCanberra Deakin Belconnen United1–0Canberra Deakin
1997Premier League Belconnen UnitedCanberra Olympic Canberra Olympic4–0Canberra Deakin
1998Premier League Belconnen UnitedMonaro Panthers Belconnen United2–0Canberra Olympic
1999Premier League Capital City SunsWeston Creek Royals[lower-alpha 8] Monaro Panthers1–0Capital City Suns
2000Premier League Gungahlin JuventusBelconnen United Belconnen United1–0Gungahlin Juventus
2001Premier League Canberra DeakinGungahlin Juventus Gungahlin Juventus2–1Canberra Deakin
2002Premier League Canberra DeakinGungahlin Juventus Belconnen United2–1Canberra Olympic
2003Premier League Canberra DeakinCanberra Olympic Canberra Deakin1–0Canberra Olympic
2004Premier League Canberra DeakinGungahlin Juventus Canberra Deakin4–1Gungahlin Juventus
2005Premier League Canberra DeakinO'Connor Knights Canberra Deakin1–0O'Connor Knights
2006Premier League Canberra OlympicBelconnen United Cooma Tigers2–1Canberra Olympic
2007Premier League Canberra FCBelconnen United Canberra FC5–4Belconnen United
2008Premier League Canberra FCCanberra Olympic Belconnen United4–1Canberra FC
2009Premier League Canberra FCBelconnen United Canberra FC2–1Belconnen United
2010Premier League Canberra FCBelconnen United Canberra FC6–0Belconnen United
2011Premier League Canberra FCCanberra Olympic Canberra FC8–5Canberra Olympic
2012Premier League Belconnen UnitedCooma Tigers Cooma Tigers2–1Belconnen United

Pre-NPL all-time record

Pre-NPL era Division 1 honours since 1952.

Premierships
ClubPremiershipsYears
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
ClubChampionshipsYears
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

Notes
  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
  1. "NPL Home". National Premier Leagues. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  2. Gibbs, Russ. "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.
  4. "Queanbeyan City's PL Licence Reviewed". Capital Football. October 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  5. "Queanbeyan City Reinstated in Premier League". Capital Football. December 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  6. Gaskin, Lee (08 March 2015) "Woden-Weston FC hoping to channel Western Sydney Wanderers in National Premier League debut". Sydney Morning Herald. 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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