History will be made next season when 12 clubs aiming to represent the State on the national stage will compete in WA’s new National Premier Leagues competition.
Football West today gave provisional approval for NPL inclusion next season to Perth Glory, Armadale, Balcatta, Bayswater City, Cockburn City, ECU Joondalup, Floreat Athena, Inglewood United, Perth, Sorrento, Stirling Lions and Subiaco.

WA’s inaugural NPL first team winner will play-off against top clubs from other States in a knock-out format to determine the Australian NPL champion club.

Glory’s inclusion represents an exciting opportunity for the game to strengthen ties with the Hyundai A-League club at the same time as increasing local football’s profile.

Football Federation Australia recommends all A-League clubs enter teams in their respective NPL competitions to enhance the development structure for their elite youth players.

Of the 11 other clubs, only Subiaco currently plays outside the current All Flags State Premier League. In an exciting initiative, the Division Two club has committed to playing its home games at one of Perth’s newest sporting facilities, the WA Athletics Stadium.

Football West Chairman Liam Twigger congratulated all clubs for the high standard of bids and encouraged unsuccessful applicants to continue towards the plans outlined in their submissions.

“The Board learnt the two things most apparent from the submissions and presentations were the level of professionalism shown in developing high-quality applications and presentations, and the extent to which the club committees and members have embraced the NPL and much of what it aims to deliver,” Mr Twigger said.

The strength of club applications for NPL WA has prompted Football West to consider bringing forward to 2015 expansion plans initially scheduled for 2016.

NPL WA will replace the All Flags State Premier League as the state’s top-tier competition with a State League First and Second Division to continue to operate below. NPL clubs will be required to appoint a technical director and enter teams in each age group from under-12 to under 16, and under-18, under-20 and senior first team.

A club’s inclusion in the 2014 NPL competition is subject to the signing of a Participation Agreement.

The NPL is a Football Federation Australia-driven initiative, which has been implemented to assist in creating a more consistent national structure for the country’s various State League competitions. It is intended to raise the standard of the game nationwide through structural reform, increased coaching standards and better community engagement.

This year, NPL competitions were started in Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and South Australia.

Initiates file downloadAttached is a document with further information.

For more, please visit www.nplwa.com.au or contact Football West Chief Executive Peter Hugg on 9422 6906 or peter.hugg@footballwest.com.au

STUNNED BUNBURY TO FIGHT NPL SNUB

Bunbury Forum Force are considering all their options after being omitted from the National Premier Leagues WA. Football West stunned the south west football community on Tuesday afternoon by revealing Bunbury were the only existing Premier Division team not to make the cut for the inaugural NPL season. Bunbury president Albert Nascimento is at a loss to explain exactly why his club were not granted entry to the NPL, which from next year replaces the State League as the top tier of football in Western Australia. “Our application wasn’t good enough – that’s the only reason we have been given,” Nascimento commented.

Bunbury representatives travelled to Perth yesterday to meet and discuss with Football West the possibility to bringing regional Western Australia into the NPL. “We put forward the option of adding two teams in Bunbury and Mandurah City,” Nascimento said. “Mandurah have great facilities and, like us, have a large catchment area with a lot of young players. We don’t have the facilities Mandurah have right now but building (at Hay Park) is commencing in November so they are on their way. Unfortunately, our proposal to Football West for a 14-team NPL didn’t go anywhere.”

The south west has a long history of producing quality footballers, including Perth Glory defender Josh Risdon. Bayswater City captain and State representative Patrick Quinn and Callum Richardson, who is part of the academy set-up at English club Burnley, came up through the ranks of Bunbury, while former Glory boy Doug Ithier and State defender Alan Armstrong also started out in the south west. “The NPL is all about development and in the south west we have three and a half thousand young players who’ve just had their career paths cut-off,” said Nascimento.

Nascimento is leaving no stone unturned in the fight to have Bunbury restored to the top flight. “I’ve contacted the presidents of each NPL club are they are not against having Bunbury in the league,” Nascimento said. “Our local member, John Castrilli, is fuming we have been left out. We’ve spoken with National Party member Colin Holt, who got us the grant to develop our home ground under the Royalties for Regions program, along with the minister for Sport and Recreation Terry Waldron and representatives from his office.” It is understood the State League Standing Committee will shortly convene a meeting to discuss the make-up of next year’s NPL.

29.8.2013

Promo and relegation in WA at all?

No it will be like QLD and Vic.

Never understand why it can't work.

There will be a second intake in 2015/2016. That'll be for a 2nd tier.

Are you sure Benjo? It seems it will just be an expansion of the current league.



Edited by Iridium1010: 30/8/2013 08:39:47 PM

Promo and relegation in WA at all?

I've just listened to a podcast and they're not sure how it will work yet, they talked about the possibility of just adding more teams to the current system, creating a 2nd div, or having two conferences.

A lot of state league people seem to be against the whole comp.