The saga of Capital Football's banishment of regional football
It's been yet another disappointing removal of Riverina from football pathways, after Capital Football have elected to remove Griffith's Yoogali Soccer Club from the NPL Men's competition from 2026, and Wagga City Wanderers from the CPL Men's competition as well. Wagga City's youth academy (U13-U18) were granted an exemption to continue in the NPL Boy's competition from 2026.
It astounds me that Capital Football has elected to make this move. In 2017, they appeared as a saviour for football in the Riverina. The Riverina Rhinos - a representative team for the Griffith and District Football Association - were accepted into NPL2. This role was completed again in 2019 when they accepted Wagga City Wanderers into NPL2 following their banishment from NSW State League 3 following the restructure by Football NSW.
In fact, across the 2017 and 2018 football seasons, three of the four association's in Football NSW's Riverina Branch all had a representative senior mens team competing within the NPL Pyramid. The kicker? All three clubs were competing in three different states:
It astounds me that Capital Football has elected to make this move. In 2017, they appeared as a saviour for football in the Riverina. The Riverina Rhinos - a representative team for the Griffith and District Football Association - were accepted into NPL2. This role was completed again in 2019 when they accepted Wagga City Wanderers into NPL2 following their banishment from NSW State League 3 following the restructure by Football NSW.
In fact, across the 2017 and 2018 football seasons, three of the four association's in Football NSW's Riverina Branch all had a representative senior mens team competing within the NPL Pyramid. The kicker? All three clubs were competing in three different states:
- South West Slopes - senior clubs generally compete under the Football Wagga Wagga umbrella
- Albury-Wodonga - Murray United in Victoria's NPL2
- Wagga Wagga - Wagga City Wanderers in NSW's State League 3
- Griffith - Riverina Rhinos in Capital Football's NPL1
- Next page: Griffith's footballing pedigree
