After what has been one of the toughest implementations of the National Premier League in the country, Victoria is finally on its way to creating a new elite league.
Last week, the Football Federation of Victoria (FFV) announced 30 clubs that will get licences in the new League. They include Greek sponsored clubs Oakleigh Cannons, Bentleigh Greens, Northcote City, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne Sharks.
Clubs South Melbourne and Northcote City were some of the biggest objectors to the first NPL program, and launched an a large boycott from more than 50 clubs calling the FFV to review its program. That lead the clubs to take the FFV to the Supreme Court to force them to review the program, and even resulted in the Football Federation of Australia intervening.
The new competition structure of the NPL will be announced on February 20 (with a draft structured released today that can be viewed at http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Competitions/Info…
Fixtures will be released on Wednesday 26 February and NPL Rules of Competition on Tuesday 4 March.
The 30 clubs that will be taking part in this year’s first season of the NPL are as follows:
• Avondale Heights
• Ballarat Red Devils
• Bendigo Amateur Soccer League
• Bentleigh Greens
• Box Hill United
• Brunswick City
• Dandenong City
• Dandenong Thunder
• Eastern Lions
• FC Bulleen Lions
• Goulburn Valley Suns
• Green Gully Cavaliers
• Heidelberg United
• Hume City
• Kingston City
• Melbourne Knights
• Moreland Zebras
• North Geelong Warriors
• Northcote City
• Oakleigh Cannons
• Pascoe Vale
• Port Melbourne Sharks
• Richmond
• South Melbourne
• Springvale White Eagles
• St Albans Saints
• Sunshine George Cross
• Surf Coast
• Werribee City
• Whittlesea Ranges
Liam Bentley, FFV’s former Competitions Manager will be the Head of NPL Victoria.
All of the successful clubs will be required to confirm their participation February 19.
