|
aussie scott21
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
NPL clubs take centre stage with finals time a chance to promote A-League claimsIf the A-League is ever going to expand then it is the clubs of the National Premier Leagues who will be foremost amongst the candidates for inclusion in either the top division or a new second tier league. And it doesn't get much bigger for many NPL clubs than it does this weekend with grand finals taking place in Victoria and NSW, the two biggest states and the two most competitive NPL divisions  Bentleigh Greens clash with Heidelberg United in 2016. They do battle again this weekend in the NPL Victoria Grand Final. Photo: Peter Psarros, Smile For PeterThe NPL play off in Victoria pits regular season champions Heidelberg United against recent title holders Bentleigh Greens, while in NSW it is Apia Leichhardt who will face off against Manly United. For the Bergers, who play out at the old Olympic Village site which once was a warm up and training venue for the athletes at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, the next seven days are perhaps the biggest in the club's history. On Sunday they make the short journey across town to Lakeside, South Melbourne's ground and the premier NPL Victoria venue, to face the Greens. Four days later they are expecting a big crowd at their Village home for the visit of Adelaide United in an FFA Cup quarter final. And next weekend they must travel to Perth for the first game of the NPL Champions League - a competition which pits the winners of all the state NPL titles against each other - to face Bayswater City from WA. Three cut throat games in six days would be a big ask for a team as well resourced and professional as Melbourne Victory, but for a team of part timers whose players work in day jobs in sales, construction and trades, its an enormous challenge. That they are up for it is not in doubt says Heidelberg's long serving coach George Katzakis, who has been at the club for a decade now - a rarity in the volatile world of NPL soccer, where clubs routinely hire and fire coaches after three or four bad results in succession. "All these big games in quick succession does test our strength in depth - particularly when we face A-League opposition like Adelaide who this time last year were coming into a new season as defending champions. "It also means we have to rest and rotate players and change the starting line up, which doesn't help continuity. It makes the medical and conditioning staff very important, but we want to compete at the highest level and we are definitely doing that this season." Not only did Heidelberg win the minor premiership - by a comfortable six points from South Melbourne and Avondale - but they won the Victorian equivalent of the FFA Cup, the Dockerty Cup and are now shooting to make it a treble with a Grand Final win on Sunday. In addition they are now two wins away from making the FFA Cup final, a feat that would be an unprecedented achievement for a non A League club, and have the adventure of the NPL championships as another exciting test. "Its probably been the best season ever for the club. The league campaign was great, and the FFA Cup win when we knocked out Perth Glory showed what we can do against better quality opposition. "Its fantastic for my players to get the chance to play at as high a level as they can and show what they can do." Katzakis has been in charge at Olympic Village for 10 years and ex-Socceroo goalkeeper Jeff Olver, a former Heidelberg player in the days when the Bergers were part of the old NSL, has been his assistant for most of that time. "Its been quite a transition and support from the board has been excellent. We could have gone the other way and perhaps drifted down to be a state league club if results hadn't been good, but good support from the board and the president has helped us stabilise and build." Benteligh finished fourth during the regular season and came through their own testing fixture pile up (they played Western Sydney Wanderers in an FFA Cup match before fronting against South Melbourne in an NPL semi final three days later) to reach the Grand Final, disposing of South on penalties after extra time. Katzakis knows that there is no place for complacency on Sunday. "Bentleigh are a good side, and I think the best two teams have made it to the final. Its going to be a close contest."
NPL clubs take centre stage with finals time a chance to promote A-League claims
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
aussie scott21
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+xwonder what Brisbane City will do - already said no to a B-League and no to p/r they mights be as welcome as a fart in a space suit They have now joined AAFC as Brisbane City FC. That Robert C guy says they can afford relegation from A-League as FC Brisbane City but he is more concerned for Australian football. He has a big heart. They are an NPL club so even though the A-League bid is makes arrogant statements on social media, they should be accepted. South Melbourne would drop AAFC pretty qick if they got the A-League nod. Anyone would. Everyone would say they can make it if given the opportunity but the reality if operation costs are diabolical. The second tier without such restrictions will flourish and is going to harm the A-League as it is being run atrociously. I am not against FFA to run a 2nd div. It is their right and perhaps the only way to get sanctioned. They need to embrace the idea and see its potential instead of all focus on how to get more money from the A-League.
|
|
|
|
|
TheSelectFew
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 30K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+xwonder what Brisbane City will do - already said no to a B-League and no to p/r they mights be as welcome as a fart in a space suit They have now joined AAFC as Brisbane City FC. That Robert C guy says they can afford relegation from A-League as FC Brisbane City but he is more concerned for Australian football. He has a big heart. They are an NPL club so even though the A-League bid is makes arrogant statements on social media, they should be accepted. South Melbourne would drop AAFC pretty qick if they got the A-League nod. Anyone would. Everyone would say they can make it if given the opportunity but the reality if operation costs are diabolical. The second tier without such restrictions will flourish and is going to harm the A-League as it is being run atrociously.
|
|
|
|
|
aussie scott21
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
+xwonder what Brisbane City will do - already said no to a B-League and no to p/r they mights be as welcome as a fart in a space suit They have now joined AAFC as Brisbane City FC. That Robert C guy says they can afford relegation from A-League as FC Brisbane City but he is more concerned for Australian football. He has a big heart. They are an NPL club so even though the A-League bid is makes arrogant statements on social media, they should be accepted. South Melbourne would drop AAFC pretty qick if they got the A-League nod.
|
|
|
|
|
bohemia
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 8.3K,
Visits: 0
|
+xI applaud their ambition, but let's see the model AAFC come up with for a 2nd Division before we start picking clubs. Apia Leichhardt Tigers Football Club has had the most Socceroos and National Team players, of any other Football Club in Australia.
This is a fact. Nope. Both Marconi and Sydney Olympic have had more, a point that I made directly to APIA and asked them to check the list. They weren't able to come up with any additional names, and interestingly didn't have a list of their own to prove their 'fact'. www.thepeckingorder.com.au/blog/australian-clubs-and-their-socceroo-hall-of-fame/ Interesting list, but what qualifies as being "at" a club? Alvin Ceccoli never played a game for Adelaide United.
|
|
|
|
|
aussieshorter
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 2.2K,
Visits: 93
|
I applaud their ambition, but let's see the model AAFC come up with for a 2nd Division before we start picking clubs. Apia Leichhardt Tigers Football Club has had the most Socceroos and National Team players, of any other Football Club in Australia.
This is a fact. Nope. Both Marconi and Sydney Olympic have had more, a point that I made directly to APIA and asked them to check the list. They weren't able to come up with any additional names, and interestingly didn't have a list of their own to prove their 'fact'. www.thepeckingorder.com.au/blog/australian-clubs-and-their-socceroo-hall-of-fame/
____________________________________________________________________________ TPO Rankings - the FIFA World Rankings for Australian football clubs 
|
|
|
|
|
FullBack4
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 697,
Visits: 0
|
wonder what Brisbane City will do - already said no to a B-League and no to p/r they mights be as welcome as a fart in a space suit
|
|
|
|
|
aussie scott21
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
"The Club's Board of Management 18 months ago, resolved unanimously to submit a significant and professional application, to be one of the mooted and proposed member of a, 14 Club B-League."
???
AAFC only formed ca 6 months ago and have not released a league plan/formula. Unless FFA are doing something undercover, which they arent.
This is just a statement about stadium move and intention to join a 2nd division.
2nd best bid? sticking it to SU58
|
|
|
|
|
bigpoppa
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 1.6K,
Visits: 0
|
Or promotion to A-League coming from B-League so we end up with 12 & 12..
Wonder if it'll be a mixture of existing NPL clubs and some of the Curren regional bids. (Tasmania, Geelong, Canberra)
|
|
|
|
|
Waz
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
It is fantastic, and we know they've talked to the AAPFC, so a top flight of 14 teams as well?
|
|
|
|
|
SoccerLogic
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 652,
Visits: 0
|
+xAnybody see APIA Leichhardts post on Facebook last night? Interesting.. Copy and paste belowGrand Final Announcement :A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.As you are all aware, the Club has a very strong and burning ambition to attain, B-League status.The reality is that the B-League will be a reality, and will happen very very soon.The Club's Board of Management 18 months ago, resolved unanimously to submit a significant and professional application, to be one of the mooted and proposed member of a, 14 Club B-League.We are proud of the fact that throughout NPL1 Clubs and Football circles in Australia, that our Club is perceived as the Number 1 B-League applicant in NSW, and the top 2 in Australia. Our Historic Club and famous Football brand, is deserving and warrants such esteemed recognition, and deservedly so.Apia Leichhardt Tigers Football Club has had the most Socceroos and National Team players, of any other Football Club in Australia.This is a fact .For a B-League application to be successful the Club would require the magnificent Leichhardt Oval, as our B-League home ground, in a National Competition. Lambert Park, our superb boutique football complex, would remain as the Club's administrative headquarters and the home of our NPL 1 PS4 Senior Mens Competition.As well, Lambert Park will be the base for our Womens and Girl's Elite teams.They will be joined by our NSW Premier youth league squads .Also in conjunction with our skills acquisition squads, on top of our junior 7's and 8's Elite Development Program, teams.To cap all of this off, Lambert Park, will also house our exploding grassroots junior section, with a forecast by 2020, to topple a staggering 2500 registered players. And finally on a year to year basis Lambert Park will continue to provide a football facility based on today's statistics ( 2017 ) of a 468 six a side teams, with a staggering registration numbers, hovering around 4275 annually, registered players making our Club, not only the biggest sanctioned football NSW soccer sixes in the State, but the largest in the Country. Your hard working Club Board of Management, now only a matter of days away from our first Grand Final appearance, in 14 years, require your unconditional passion, support and attendance, this coming Sunday at 4:00pm, at Leichhardt Oval, this being for 4 reasons.Reason 1 : Our teams magnificent playing performances in 2017, not withstanding, the Clubs recent devastating FFA Cup loss, but the playing squad, deserves and warrants our appreciation for such an outstanding season, to date.Reason 2 : This Grand Final is being played in our heartland, Leichhardt Oval. Reason 3 : As the 2017 League Champions, the Club has now qualified for the National Premier league Australian Championship, the winner of which, will autamatically qualify for the final 32, of the prestigious FFA CUP, in 2018Finally and most importantly reason number 4 : That being your mega support on Sunday, will send a strong and significant message, to your Clubs volunteer driven Board of Directors, to maintain the fire in their belly to achieve B-League status, with NO stone left unturned, and as all eyes will be focussed on Leichhardt Oval at 4:00pm, by the FFA, The National Association of Football Clubs, The NSW State Government and most importantly the newly elected 15 Councillors of the Inner West Council, who ultimately will decide whether or not our Club is deserving of, utilising Leichhardt Oval, as our home base, for B-League participation.I urge you all, to achieve all of the above, we need to collectively, pack Leichhardt Oval this Sunday at 4:00pm, to the rafters.Thank you. All Roads Lead to Leichhardt Oval. FORZA APIA. This is fantastic! 14 team B-League would be great!! Pro-rel with State would be better of course, but clearly not part of the plans considering the mention of continued presence in the State NPL.
|
|
|
|
|
bigpoppa
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 1.6K,
Visits: 0
|
Anybody see APIA Leichhardts post on Facebook last night? Interesting..
Copy and paste below
Grand Final Announcement :
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
As you are all aware, the Club has a very strong and burning ambition to attain, B-League status.
The reality is that the B-League will be a reality, and will happen very very soon.
The Club's Board of Management 18 months ago, resolved unanimously to submit a significant and professional application, to be one of the mooted and proposed member of a, 14 Club B-League.
We are proud of the fact that throughout NPL1 Clubs and Football circles in Australia, that our Club is perceived as the Number 1 B-League applicant in NSW, and the top 2 in Australia.
Our Historic Club and famous Football brand, is deserving and warrants such esteemed recognition, and deservedly so.
Apia Leichhardt Tigers Football Club has had the most Socceroos and National Team players, of any other Football Club in Australia.
This is a fact .
For a B-League application to be successful the Club would require the magnificent Leichhardt Oval, as our B-League home ground, in a National Competition.
Lambert Park, our superb boutique football complex, would remain as the Club's administrative headquarters and the home of our NPL 1 PS4 Senior Mens Competition.
As well, Lambert Park will be the base for our Womens and Girl's Elite teams.
They will be joined by our NSW Premier youth league squads .
Also in conjunction with our skills acquisition squads, on top of our junior 7's and 8's Elite Development Program, teams.
To cap all of this off, Lambert Park, will also house our exploding grassroots junior section, with a forecast by 2020, to topple a staggering 2500 registered players.
And finally on a year to year basis Lambert Park will continue to provide a football facility based on today's statistics ( 2017 ) of a 468 six a side teams, with a staggering registration numbers, hovering around 4275 annually, registered players making our Club, not only the biggest sanctioned football NSW soccer sixes in the State, but the largest in the Country.
Your hard working Club Board of Management, now only a matter of days away from our first Grand Final appearance, in 14 years, require your unconditional passion, support and attendance, this coming Sunday at 4:00pm, at Leichhardt Oval, this being for 4 reasons.
Reason 1 : Our teams magnificent playing performances in 2017, not withstanding, the Clubs recent devastating FFA Cup loss, but the playing squad, deserves and warrants our appreciation for such an outstanding season, to date.
Reason 2 : This Grand Final is being played in our heartland, Leichhardt Oval.
Reason 3 : As the 2017 League Champions, the Club has now qualified for the National Premier league Australian Championship, the winner of which, will autamatically qualify for the final 32, of the prestigious FFA CUP, in 2018
Finally and most importantly reason number 4 :
That being your mega support on Sunday, will send a strong and significant message, to your Clubs volunteer driven Board of Directors, to maintain the fire in their belly to achieve B-League status, with NO stone left unturned, and as all eyes will be focussed on Leichhardt Oval at 4:00pm, by the FFA, The National Association of Football Clubs, The NSW State Government and most importantly the newly elected 15 Councillors of the Inner West Council, who ultimately will decide whether or not our Club is deserving of, utilising Leichhardt Oval, as our home base, for B-League participation.
I urge you all, to achieve all of the above, we need to collectively, pack Leichhardt Oval this Sunday at 4:00pm, to the rafters.
Thank you.
All Roads Lead to Leichhardt Oval.
FORZA APIA.
|
|
|
|
|
TheSelectFew
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 30K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+x+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div Also Breaking: Roberts1 posts are extremely similar to paulc. He is angry Preston arent involved. People who turn this into a ethnic thing are misguided Its about 2 things imo - Making clubs in the 1st division accountable for their results & (which in turn) makes the league more defensive.... which helps our defenders and attackers imo. At the moment you go down 1-0, 2-0 f it, may as well go down 3/4-0 trying to score. I also think it is a faster way to get more professional clubs. All of the above is spot on.
|
|
|
|
|
aussie scott21
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div Also Breaking: Roberts1 posts are extremely similar to paulc. He is angry Preston arent involved. People who turn this into a ethnic thing are misguided Its about 2 things imo - Making clubs in the 1st division accountable for their results & (which in turn) makes the league more defensive.... which helps our defenders and attackers imo. At the moment you go down 1-0, 2-0 f it, may as well go down 3/4-0 trying to score. I also think it is a faster way to get more professional clubs.
|
|
|
|
|
aussie scott21
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 19K,
Visits: 0
|
+xLooking forward to the model in October. I hope it is simple to follow and has promotion/relegation to the State Leagues. That wont happen. although 91 teams play not all have the ambition to play 2nd division. It will imo most likely be a 2 conference or single closed league without relegation. As a starting formula.
|
|
|
|
|
TheSelectFew
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 30K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+xLooking forward to the model in October. I hope it is simple to follow and has promotion/relegation to the State Leagues. And isn't split into conferences. This.
|
|
|
|
|
aussieshorter
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 2.2K,
Visits: 93
|
+xLooking forward to the model in October. I hope it is simple to follow and has promotion/relegation to the State Leagues. And isn't split into conferences.
____________________________________________________________________________ TPO Rankings - the FIFA World Rankings for Australian football clubs
|
|
|
|
|
SoccerLogic
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 652,
Visits: 0
|
Looking forward to the model in October. I hope it is simple to follow and has promotion/relegation to the State Leagues.
|
|
|
|
|
Pyramid Timmy
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 1.3K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+x+x+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div Also Breaking: Roberts1 posts are extremely similar to paulc. and the Roberts account that got banned, spooky I see triangles. And not the Ange triangles. I see pyramids 
|
|
|
|
|
TheSelectFew
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 30K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+x+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div Also Breaking: Roberts1 posts are extremely similar to paulc. and the Roberts account that got banned, spooky I see triangles. And not the Ange triangles.
|
|
|
|
|
Pyramid Timmy
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 1.3K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div Also Breaking: Roberts1 posts are extremely similar to paulc. and the Roberts account that got banned, spooky
|
|
|
|
|
TheSelectFew
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 30K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div Also Breaking: Roberts1 posts are extremely similar to paulc.
|
|
|
|
|
azzaMVFC
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 6.3K,
Visits: 0
|
+xWhat a stupid thread.Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team Breaking news: Second division plans canned as FFT poster Roberts claims nobody wants a 2nd div
|
|
|
|
Roberts1
|
|
Group: Banned Members
Posts: 246,
Visits: 0
|
What a stupid thread.
Nobody wants a 2nd div - other than a few fans from a dying former NSL team
|
|
|
|
|
TheSelectFew
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 30K,
Visits: 0
|
+xis there any progress on this, or was it all just talk? Ask on Twitter. Very active.
|
|
|
|
|
bigpoppa
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 1.6K,
Visits: 0
|
@fullback
Last update was they were working on a suitable model and will release details in October.
|
|
|
|
|
FullBack4
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 697,
Visits: 0
|
is there any progress on this, or was it all just talk?
|
|
|
|
|
Footballking55
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 3.2K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+x+xI love that the club has finally sorted itself out and is doing well but holy shit is Western Pride a terrible name. For what is the historical home of Football in SEQ, they deserved to at least put some thought in the name. Why not just Ipswich Football Club? Western Pride sounds terrible. Nothing wrong with that. Sounds tidy. Look I wouldnt even mind Ipswich Pride. But western? West of what? Where is west? Ipswich Knights and Ipswich City already existed when Western Pride was created so they probably wanted to differentiate themselves. 'Western' is supposed to reflect the fact that they are a club to represent the so called Western corridor (i.e. west of Brisbane). Yep, the same reason Toowoomba's airport is known as Brisbane West.
|
|
|
|
|
aussieshorter
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 2.2K,
Visits: 93
|
+x+x+xI love that the club has finally sorted itself out and is doing well but holy shit is Western Pride a terrible name. For what is the historical home of Football in SEQ, they deserved to at least put some thought in the name. Why not just Ipswich Football Club? Western Pride sounds terrible. Nothing wrong with that. Sounds tidy. Look I wouldnt even mind Ipswich Pride. But western? West of what? Where is west? Ipswich Knights and Ipswich City already existed when Western Pride was created so they probably wanted to differentiate themselves. 'Western' is supposed to reflect the fact that they are a club to represent the so called Western corridor (i.e. west of Brisbane).
____________________________________________________________________________ TPO Rankings - the FIFA World Rankings for Australian football clubs
|
|
|
|
|
bohemia
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 8.3K,
Visits: 0
|
+x+x+xI love that the club has finally sorted itself out and is doing well but holy shit is Western Pride a terrible name. For what is the historical home of Football in SEQ, they deserved to at least put some thought in the name. Why not just Ipswich Football Club? Western Pride sounds terrible. Nothing wrong with that. Sounds tidy. Look I wouldnt even mind Ipswich Pride. But western? West of what? Where is west? One of those bloody perth teams
|
|
|
|