As the A-League stagnates, the National Premier League is in an arms race

Cockerill

Victory too good for United in Melbourne

Forget the debate about whether a salary cap is good or bad for the A-League. The real arm's race has already taken off. It's in the semi-pro ranks of the National Premier Leagues, where competitions in NSW and Victoria in particular are gearing up for day when they might get the chance to join the A-League in their own right. That's what the FFA Cup has done. It's stirred the beast. There's no going back from here.

As the FFA heavies gird their loins for a bitter fight with the A-League owners over how the game's shop window needs to be run, action is speaking a lot louder than words below the waterline. Depending on who you talk to, $1,000-per game payments are fast becoming the norm in NSW and Victoria - and there are some ex-A-League players commanding double that. Not bad for a three-nights-per-week training schedule if you've become a squaddie in the A-League.

"It's crazy," says one leading Sydney-based administrator. "There's no money in winning the league, but a lot of clubs still don't want to be left behind. I'd say the bigger clubs are now spending around $450-500,000 on average on their senior teams. That's three-times the budgets of four or five years ago. The FFA Cup has been the spark. It's got everyone excited again."

There's an assumption it's only the ex-NSL heavyweights - desperate to position themselves at the front of the queue if and when there's a national second division with promotion to the A-League - who are splashing the cash. Not true. Some district/association clubs are known to be matching them in the spending spree. And it's not just the top tier of the NPL system which has opened the chequebook. Four-times Australian champions Marconi Stallions, who have dropped to the second-tier, are rumoured to be the biggest spenders in NSW as they chase promotion. With the reserve teams of Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers in their league, even the biggest budget offers the Stallions no guarantees.

While the FFA Cup - and the chance for a high-profile money-spinning television tie against an A-League club - has re-invigorated the semi-pro game, there have been other signposts of progress. Significantly, belatedly, many of these clubs have finally worked out how to access taxpayer funding to bring their facilities up to scratch. The matchday experience is improving.

There's also been a dramatic growth in media profile thanks to the various new platforms offered by the internet. Live-streaming of matches, panel shows and upgrading of websites have all helped create more interest, and some of the numbers have been surprisingly strong. As yet that interest hasn't transitioned to the grandstand, but although average crowds across Australia are still generally measured in the hundreds, it's not uncommon to see four-figure attendances for the marquee fixtures often involving the ex-NSL clubs. Grand finals, especially in Melbourne and Sydney, can draw 8-10,000.

Catalyst for change: The FFA Cup has shown the quality of the NPL.
Catalyst for change: The FFA Cup has shown the quality of the NPL. Photo: Cameron Spencer
What's happening, of course, doesn't necessarily please the FFA. A big part of the FFA's move to 'join' the various state competitions under the NPL banner four years ago was an attempt to control costs, especially under-the-table payments. A Player Points System (PPS) was introduced to try and influence recruiting - favouring the promotion of juniors at the expense of older journeymen. In some cases it has changed the mindset, but as the competitive juices start flowing again, the market has spoken.

Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily. Some clubs spending well beyond their means may go perilously close to the wall. But if there's one thing the game does have it's resilience. The NPL system is full of clubs who almost went out of business only to rise again.

In an ideal world, everyone would act sensibly. In the football world, that's a mirage. Me? I'm just delighted there's a fresh enthusiasm about this level of the game. Sooner rather than later, the FFA has to provide meaningful incentives, but in the meantime NPL clubs across the country are generating their own momentum.

With some state leagues already underway for 2017 - and the glamour NSW competition kicking off in two weeks - it will be interesting to see how many jaundiced A-League fans, bored by the prospect of another 10-team season, start gravitating to the NPL to get their fix. The stadiums are getting better, the players are better-known, the standard is improving (as we've seen in the FFA Cup), and many of the clubs have stories to tell. It may not the best football we have, but it's real.

NSW NPL opening round fixtures:

SATURDAY, March 11: Sutherland Sharks v Manly United (Seymour Shaw Park); Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sydney Olympic (Bonnyrigg Sports Club); Parramatta FC v Wollongong Wolves (Melita Stadium); Sydney FC v Rockdale City (Lambert Park). SUNDAY, March 12: Hakoah Sydney City v Blacktown City (Hensley Athletic Field); Sydney United v APIA-Leichhardt (Edensor Park).

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/as-the-aleague-stagnates-the-national-premier-league-is-in-an-arms-race-20170225-gulfgf.html

Yeah huge difference in the "npl" in the last 5 years. There some fair cash being thrown around in the second divisions too. The mindset of the a-league people needs to change. Not just players but coaches too that shine in the npl are more than good enough for the a-league. At the moment clubs basically only sign 18 year olds or younger. But there are so many npl players that come into their own in the early and even mid 20s that far surpass some of the players signed by a-league clubs as teenagers. 

Hopefully the stronger NPL clubs push for their own 'National/First Division' in the near future.

I've definitely been a lot more excited for the NPLs than the A-League at this point in time.

Well as strong club like smfc are on 2 or 3 pts out of 12 and face Heidelberg  next week at the burgers ground.

the npl is going backwards... pascoe vale used focacca style bread for the cevapi last night. UTTER DISGRACE

Last night's games all ended in a draw . Say no to boring draws . We need to do what the mls did back in the day 😀😊

hockey style shootouts?

The next step id love to bridge the gap is to regionalise qualification for A League sides in the FFA cup.
That way they have to earn their rightful place in the last 32.

Some may say it takes the gloss off the later rounds with derbies but I disagree.
All A League clubs have friendlies already against local opposition in pre season so this is no different it's just more publicity and more benefits for grassroots football.

I think the NPL has risen in stature in the past 3-4 years. Given that A League clubs now have youth sides in the NPL it's given further interest in these leagues.
With the introduction of the FFA cup it's also given an insight on 'boutique stadia' and a real matchday experience with die hard fans and cultured food. All of this and the increased use of social media has given the game a small shot in the arm at local level.

Legit pretty excited about the Victorian state leagues this season, although this has been helped by my club being accepted into State League 5 this season (mon the Ducks). But yeah, I'm pretty excited about all levels of the football tier in Victoria these days, it is very exciting days. It does seem that a lot of clubs have started to get their shit together and not wait for the FFA to do something about their malaise. Wouldn't surprise me that, if the A-League continues with its' stagnation, that the best clubs in NSW and Victoria (initially) unite and form a 'rebel' summer league.

NPL clubs paying the kind of money suggested in this article is coming from charging ridiculous fees for juniors to play the game.

By the look of grounds like Edensor Park and Marden(adelaide) I'm a strong advocate that these would be sufficient for smaller professional clubs.

I think alot of clubs like Green Gully etc with the banks/hills around the ground, if a HAL criteria was set at say AFC standards(min 5,000 fixed seats.) that alot of these clubs wouldn't think twice about terrace seating there hills. Somers St Grandstand already holds 3000 seats so they would technically only need to put terrace seating on end.

Spending has increased big time since the ffa cup come along, to the point where clubs are recruiting specifically for this purpose.

Npl Victoria is shaping up as the most even season yet, we have only picked up 1 point from a possible 9 (all be it away from home) and it doesn't seem like many weak teams are in it this season.

Whilst no club will admit this, all would pretty much take a mid table league position and a deep cup run...that might have to be our aim as well if the first few rounds are anything to by.

I really don't get your point, nobody mentioned specific clubs.

 

I watched a video on fb earlier of SMFC on stage at the Greek Festival in Melbourne and I'm fairly certain SM made mention of this that the Cup was where their attention was this season.. something along those lines.. 

Incorrect..  Entry to the NPL carries mandated levels of service for the kids, and limits to the number of players that can be signed up - the days of youth players being fleeced to pay senior wages are gone.

Far more interesting when you punish those who fail. 

I think he means that if the likes of SMFC are struggling it shows how much the other clubs must be spending.

A-League clubs and NPL imo should have the same player rules. 5 visa players.

It's stupid to allow A-League clubs to play 5 visa players in the cup when NPL teams can only have 2. The other solution would be to only allow A-League clubs 2 visa players for that tournament.

Yeah ok, that makes sense.

It just goes to show what would happen if you incentivize football. Now imagine if there was pro/rel thrown in the mix. What we need to do is unleash the shackles on football. The only restrictions we should be placing is just leaving the 5 imports rule, other than that it just should be open slather. One  day we will follow the FIFA football model and we will all breathe a sigh of relief. 

Correct, which is ridiculous, i see that sm has lost all hunger for league football this year, multiple championships with no hope of getting higher can do that. We essentially have the same team as last season...the cup is the closest thing to getting promoted that the npl has, its the big ticket. If only the league had that incentive as well the game would go to another level.

South is throwing it all on the cup this year, mid table league finish most likely...if youre gonna put it all on the cup you better make it! Our problem is everyone else wants it just as bad as us..even spent more as well.

The Npl championship is a pretty massive thing too though. Sydney united can say they are the best club outside the aleague, edgeworth the 2nd best etc.

@ fans

Both Strikers in the semi and ACity in the 1/4 only lost by 1 goal in Sydney. Edge worth lost by 3.

You can't say they are the best. Or second best.

The draw is unfair.

I have no connection to Victoria at all but I follow the Vic NPL because of the FFA Cup and the exposure it gave those teams. The improved online presence of the clubs is the major factor, why is it so much easier for those overseas to follow a state league than the HAL?

Tuco - you're right (although edgeworth had a tough draw beating bentleigh greens) it's a knockout which always involves luck, but still it's a huge thing. Do you think an end of season round robin would be better?

I don't think they should have it at all.

FFA should be looking to increase the FFA Cup and give automatic entry to all the winners.

16 x $2,500  x 8  (U/9's-U/16's)

this is a good news story
it would be nice if the number of training sessions per week could eventually be increased

Grazor - Not many people are going to agree to train x4 a week and work full time. 3x a week is hard enough lots of good players drop out because that is too much. Need to be more professional teams.

Pretty much.  The traditional  big clubs like smfc and Knights have spent but the promoted clubs like Avondale heights have spent more .