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NPL 2025

Waratah Cup Semi Finals

APIA Leichhardt Tigers vs Northern Tigers
Sydney United vs Blacktown City or SD Raiders

Dates TBC
 
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And just like Ange said "the third season was better than the second" :) Nice memories .... jumped the fence and stormed the pitch with the rest of the madmen... where have we all gone ?....... How time flies..
@melbcityguy
What sweet sweey memories you have made us revisit, damn you (lol)... its dumbfounding how anyone could ever have moved away from this club, even in the hard challenging times!

If nothing it lends credence to the idea that try as they have they could never kill us off ....... bc you cant "buy" memories like that!
 

'Huge mistake': Capital Football stands by controversial shake-up of Canberra soccer as club speaks out

Melanie Dinjaski

By Melanie Dinjaski
Updated May 30 2025 - 6:28pm, first published 5:34pm

Capital Football is set to overhaul the soccer landscape in the Canberra region, but one club that faces being suddenly banished from the top men's competition warned that the major changes proposed risk hurting the sport's growth and overall success, not improving it.

"I don't know why anyone with the future of the game in mind could stand by what they're proposing," Yoogali Soccer Club coach Luke Santolin told The Canberra Times.

"They're trying to hope that this sticks, but it won't work, and it's a huge mistake. This is why we're protesting it with the emotion that we are.

"I believe there's movement in club-land - it's not just us in isolation - but obviously we feel the strongest about it because our future is directly at risk."

WHAT WAS THE REPORT?​

Capital Football's recently released final report on its National Premier League review had recommendations that sent shockwaves throughout clubs.

There were many changes recommended but one of the most controversial was that Riverina clubs would no longer be included in the NPL or any other Capital Football competitions, significantly impacting clubs like Yoogali that currently compete in NPL Men first grade.

In addition, the report suggested the men's Capital Premier League competition - a whole grade below NPL Men - would be completely scrapped.

The top men's competition would instead be expanded to 10 teams over 18 rounds, with a six-team finals series over three weeks and a new pre-season competition against Illawarra Premier League sides.

With Yoogali booted, that means three teams from the CPL are proposed to be promoted for the 2026 NPL Men season, with club submissions due on June 2.

Yoogali in action last year against Canberra Olympic. Picture by Liam Warren

Yoogali in action last year against Canberra Olympic. Picture by Liam Warren


It was also proposed a player payment cap for NPL Men and Women, a new promotion-relegation play-off for both leagues, and for Capital Football to engage Football Australia to develop its own NPL criteria.

NPL Girls recommendations included an increase to a 28-round season for the eight team competition, up from 21 this year, with four finals series over two weeks, and age groups were simplified to under-14s, under-16s and under-18s, with no more under-15s, broadening the player pool. The 10-team NPL Boys would also be increased by one round to 27.

Other proposed changes included a new representative weekend for juniors and first grade, and for the skills acquisition program to add under-11s and under-12s next year.

The report claimed that since the last review four years ago, "risks and issues associated with the current competition structure" had been identified, and the most recent probe was designed to find "areas for improvement that will enhance the league structure, including development and pathway opportunities for participants and players to ensure the sustainability of elite football".

Capital Football said the review was conducted by a board-appointed four-person committee that included two directors, and considered findings from a survey that was sent out to all club presidents and technical directors. The sporting body claims it met with these figures in August last year and February this year to discuss proposed changes.

Three club representatives from Tigers FC, Weston Molonglo and Majura FC were also invited to have a "war games discussion" to challenge the review findings.

"This month saw the release of the NPL Competition Review, which has generated significant discussion across the football community," Capital Football chief executive Samantha Farrow said in a statement to this masthead.

"While we acknowledge the diversity of views, the review has been developed with the best interests of football in mind, with a focus on long-term sustainability and growth of the game in our region."

YOOGALI AMONG CLUBS IMPACTED​

Yoogali Soccer Club is located in Griffith, right in the heart of the Riverina region. Established in 1954, when the club earned promotion from the CPL to the NPL Men in 2023, it committed to the four-hour drive each way to play Canberra teams, and the squad proved to be a competitive addition last season.

Now after beating off rivals to avoid relegation from the NPL, Yoogali stands to be suddenly dumped from the Capital Football competition next season, as three CPL teams are promoted, and the men's side is left with no option of the same level to play in.

"We're being treated like a dirty nappy... 'Throw it in a bin, we're done with that'," NPL Men coach at Yoogali, Santolin said.

"It sends us into a tailspin. They're not just kicking us out of a competition that we've invested so much in, there's also not another competition for us to fall into - certainly not a comparable one.

"There is such disregard for Yoogali and Wagga City Wanderers that it almost feels personal, because on every other level, we are fulfilling our obligations and I think contributing a lot of positive elements to the leagues."

Yoogali has submitted a formal letter to Capital Football protesting the recommendations of the report and urged it to "put the brakes" on implementing any changes.

"There's enough opposition to the review to probably warrant Capital Football hitting the brakes, at least for the rest of this season until they can provide a plan that has the support of the clubs, and can also show that it's going to achieve the desired outcomes, which is to improve the quality and participation, and grow the game," Santolin said.

"Let's build something brilliant. This is shrinking the league, not growing it.

"When they invited Riverina teams it was because they had a closed, Canberra-centric NPL and the quality wasn't moving in the right direction," he added.

"Once there's no direct promotion and relegation there's less incentive for clubs.

"You'll find the best players will scatter, maybe in Sydney.

Canberra Croatia celebrate winning the NPL grand final. Picture by Keegan Carroll

Canberra Croatia celebrate winning the NPL grand final. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"It's not just the Riverina clubs affected, too. There's a few historic Canberra clubs that are facing the wilderness in CPL, like Canberra Juventus, Canberra White Eagles, and ANU.

"They've been trying to build to promotion to the NPL and now they could be banished to the community leagues. The minute you're in the community leagues, good luck attracting any quality players.

"The review does not describe the National Premier League. It described a competition, but not a Premier League."

Capital Football has set a deadline of June 15 for exemption applications, with exemption approvals announced on July 7. Clubs in the NPL or aiming to be promoted must meet Capital Football criteria by September 1.
 
Watched two NPL games this week - catching two second halves.

The first was bottom of the table Clarence Zebras v second placed Launceston City. Have coached and played with CZ.

Given CZ are bottom of the table, the Tas NPL has improved. LU won 3-0, with a LU player sent off, before I arrived and a second LU player was dismissed late in the game.

Was talking to a top Tas NPL player of a few seasons ago, whose Dad was coaching CZ. I did a C Licence with him. Given CZ are bottom of the table, they played some decent football in the back two thirds of the pitch, but struggled to penetrate LU's defensive third. When CZ did, they were profligate around goal.

LU's desperate last line defending was good.

Pleasingly, both teams made the pitch bigger in possession - stretching the formation out, then condensing it in BPO.

The off the ball running to support the ball carrier, was proactive. Hence both teams kept possession for sustained periods in their build ups. I was told LU play the best football in the league, but had quite a few imports.

Enjoyed the game immensely.
 
Had some time today, so ventured 7 kilometres over to South Hobart, whilst having both Hobart Olympic and Clarence Zebras within 2 kms of home.

SH played Glenorchy Knights. The former are top on the table - I think? GK are supposedly high up too.

However, the standard was disappointing. I saw too much poor decision-making, dumb decision-making, poor control, miscommunication, lack of cohesion, too few balls played on the deck, too much play in the transitions or contested ball phase - and - profligate shooting from South, who had numerical advantage with a GK player sent off.

A number of players were too one footed and one side of the body dominant, plus too many players were too slow to move into positions to support the ball carrier. Moreover, so many players played longer balls up the pitch to a teammate tightly marked, or even outnumbered.

Instead they could have maintained easier possession with a ball passed to a free teammate in a diagonal passing lane a lot closer to him, and in sufficient space. The build up could have still progressed, but more patiently and slowly.

Saw some skilful dribbling and ball carrying from the Right Wingers in both teams.

South central striker, Nick Morton, needs to practice using his left foot better. South won 3-0.
 
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Thought I'd get in early.

Pre season starts next month for most clubs and the transfer rumour mill has already kicked off.

You can catch all the live matches free on these channels
Mate, great work establishing this thread!

Thanks a bunch, Beretta.

You might be the top assimilated Football Anarchist on this forum. You might have to proffer some advice to a few of your fellow Anarchists in how to conduct themselves constructively on G and G.
 
Weekend results – May 30 to June 2.

NPL ACT round 8:
Gungahlin United 2 Tuggeranong United 4
Cooma Tigers 2 Monaro Panthers 2
Canberra Croatia 9 O'Connor Knights 1
Yoogali 0 Queanbeyan City 1

NPL NSW round 17:
Sutherland Sharks 0 Manly United 1
NWS Spirit 4 Blacktown City 1
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 5 Central Coast Mariners 0
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 Sydney Olympic 1
St George City 1 Wollongong Wolves 1
Marconi Stallions 2 Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1
Sydney United 3 Sydney FC 2
Rockdale Ilinden 3 St George Saints 1

NPL NNSW round 14:
Broadmeadow Magic 4 New Lambton 0
Lambton Jaffas 0 Edgeworth Eagles 2
Cooks Hill United v Weston Bears – postponed
Belmont Swansea United 2 Valentine 1
Charlestown Azzurri 3 Newcastle Olympic 2
Maitland 3 Adamstown Rosebud 1

NPL Queensland round 12:
Lions FC 3 Gold Coast Knights 1
Wynnum Wolves 2 Gold Coast United 2
Brisbane Roar 1 Peninsula Power 4
Moreton City Excelsior 4 Brisbane City 3
St George Willawong v Eastern Suburbs – postponed
Olympic FC v Sunshine Coast Wanderers – postponed

NPL South Australia round 12:
North Eastern MetroStars 4 Campbelltown City 0
Adelaide City 2 FK Beograd 4
West Torrens Birkalla 0 Para Hills Knights 1
Adelaide Comets 0 Modbury Jets 0
Playford City Patriots 1 Croydon Kings 3
Adelaide United 0 Adelaide Croatia Raiders 0

NPL Tasmania round 9:
Launceston United 0 Riverside Olympic 3
Devonport Strikers 1 Kingborough Lions 2
Clarence Zebras 0 Launceston City 3
South Hobart 3 Glenorchy Knights 0

NPL Victoria round 16:
Heidelberg United 2 St Albans Saints 2
Dandenong City 1 Dandenong Thunder 2
Oakleigh Cannons 4 Port Melbourne Sharks 1
Hume City 3 Green Gully Cavaliers 2
Avondale FC 5 Melbourne Knights 1
Altona Magic 0 Preston Lions 2
South Melbourne 4 Melbourne Victory 2

NPL Western Australia round 10:
Armadale 1 Stirling Macedonia 6
Balcatta 1 Perth Glory 3
Bayswater City 2 Fremantle City 0
Olympic Kingsway 6 Perth SC 0
Perth RedStar 3 Floreat Athena 1
Western Knights 0 Sorrento 0
 
Upcoming fixtures – June 6 to June 9.

NPL ACT – no games due to Australia Cup involvement

NPL NSW round 18,

Friday June 6th:
7.30pm Sydney FC v St George City

Saturday June 7th:
4.00pm Sutherland Sharks v Western Sydney Wanderers
5.00pm Mt Druitt Town Rangers v St George Saints
5.30pm NWS Spirit v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
7.00pm Wollongong Wolves v Sydney Olympic

Sunday June 8th:
3.00pm Blacktown City v Central Coast Mariners
3.00pm Marconi Stallions v Rockdale Ilinden
3.00pm Sydney United v Manly United

NPL NNSW catch up round fixtures,

Friday June 6th:
8.00pm Newcastle Olympic v Belmont Swansea United

Saturday June 7th:
2.30pm Adamstown Rosebud v Charlestown Azzurri

NPL Queensland round 13,

Saturday June 7th:
7.00pm Eastern Suburbs v Brisbane City
7.00pm Moreton City Excelsior v Olympic FC

Sunday June 8th:
3.00pm Brisbane Roar v Lions FC
4.00pm Sunshine Coast Wanderers v Peninsula Power
5.00pm Gold Coast Knights v Wynnum Wolves
5.00pm St George Willawong v Gold Coast United

NPL South Australia round 13,

Friday June 6th:
8.00pm (7.30pm Adelaide) Adelaide City v North Eastern MetroStars

Saturday June 7th:
3.30pm (3.00pm Adelaide) Campbelltown City v West Torrens Birkalla
3.00pm (2.30pm Adelaide) Croydon Kings v Modbury Jets
3.30pm (3.00pm Adelaide) Para Hills Knights v Playford City Patriots
5.30pm (5.00pm Adelaide) Adelaide United v Adelaide Comets

Monday June 9th:
3.30pm (3.00pm Adelaide) Adelaide Croatia Raiders v FK Beograd

NPL Tasmania – no games due to Australia Cup qualifying final weekend.

NPL Victoria round 17,

Friday June 6th:
7.30pm Green Gully Cavaliers v Port Melbourne Sharks
8.30pm Hume City v Dandenong City
8.30pm Preston Lions v Heidelberg United
8.30pm St Albans Saints v South Melbourne

Saturday June 7th:
7.00pm Dandenong Thunder v Altona Magic

Sunday June 8th:
7.00pm Melbourne Knights v Oakleigh Cannons

Monday June 9th:
5.00pm Melbourne Victory v Avondale FC

NPL Western Australia round 11,

Saturday June 7th:
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Floreat Athena v Western Knights
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Olympic Kingsway v Fremantle City
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Perth Glory v Perth SC
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Perth RedStar v Balcatta
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Sorrento v Armadale
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Stirling Macedonia v Bayswater City
 
Upcoming fixtures – June 6 to June 9.

NPL ACT – no games due to Australia Cup involvement

NPL NSW round 18,

Friday June 6th:
7.30pm Sydney FC v St George City

Saturday June 7th:
4.00pm Sutherland Sharks v Western Sydney Wanderers
5.00pm Mt Druitt Town Rangers v St George Saints
5.30pm NWS Spirit v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
7.00pm Wollongong Wolves v Sydney Olympic

Sunday June 8th:
3.00pm Blacktown City v Central Coast Mariners
3.00pm Marconi Stallions v Rockdale Ilinden
3.00pm Sydney United v Manly United

NPL NNSW catch up round fixtures,

Friday June 6th:
8.00pm Newcastle Olympic v Belmont Swansea United

Saturday June 7th:
2.30pm Adamstown Rosebud v Charlestown Azzurri

NPL Queensland round 13,

Saturday June 7th:
7.00pm Eastern Suburbs v Brisbane City
7.00pm Moreton City Excelsior v Olympic FC

Sunday June 8th:
3.00pm Brisbane Roar v Lions FC
4.00pm Sunshine Coast Wanderers v Peninsula Power
5.00pm Gold Coast Knights v Wynnum Wolves
5.00pm St George Willawong v Gold Coast United

NPL South Australia round 13,

Friday June 6th:
8.00pm (7.30pm Adelaide) Adelaide City v North Eastern MetroStars

Saturday June 7th:
3.30pm (3.00pm Adelaide) Campbelltown City v West Torrens Birkalla
3.00pm (2.30pm Adelaide) Croydon Kings v Modbury Jets
3.30pm (3.00pm Adelaide) Para Hills Knights v Playford City Patriots
5.30pm (5.00pm Adelaide) Adelaide United v Adelaide Comets

Monday June 9th:
3.30pm (3.00pm Adelaide) Adelaide Croatia Raiders v FK Beograd

NPL Tasmania – no games due to Australia Cup qualifying final weekend.

NPL Victoria round 17,

Friday June 6th:
7.30pm Green Gully Cavaliers v Port Melbourne Sharks
8.30pm Hume City v Dandenong City
8.30pm Preston Lions v Heidelberg United
8.30pm St Albans Saints v South Melbourne

Saturday June 7th:
7.00pm Dandenong Thunder v Altona Magic

Sunday June 8th:
7.00pm Melbourne Knights v Oakleigh Cannons

Monday June 9th:
5.00pm Melbourne Victory v Avondale FC

NPL Western Australia round 11,

Saturday June 7th:
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Floreat Athena v Western Knights
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Olympic Kingsway v Fremantle City
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Perth Glory v Perth SC
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Perth RedStar v Balcatta
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Sorrento v Armadale
5.00pm (3.00pm Perth) Stirling Macedonia v Bayswater City
8.30 kick off on a Friday night in St Albans ... oh boy... :(

Preston v Bergers will be match of the round..... and then some.
 
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