Football NSW has officially released the inaugural 2014 National Premier Leagues NSW Womens 1 competition draw for the new season kicking off on Sunday March 23.
Football NSW has officially released the inaugural 2014 National Premier Leagues NSW Womens 1 competition draw for the new season kicking off on Sunday March 23 across twenty-one rounds with eight clubs ready to battle it out for the Championship.
It-s been five months since the last ball was kicked in NSW-s top tier women-s competition when the Marconi Stallions completed the double defeating the Illawarra Stingrays in the 2013 Grand Final.
A new year, a new competition and a new belief.
As teams busily prepare for the new season, they will take part in a restructured league.
In 2013, a panel was introduced to complete a review on women-s football in NSW.
Football NSW found it essential to stay aligned with the FFA-s pathway for women-s football and to continue to achieve the best development for the game in the country by enhancing participant development and experience.
Therefore, a second tier of women-s football was in visioned to underpin the W-League.
This year-s new National Premier League NSW Womens 1 competition will contain eight clubs as opposed to the previous 12.
Each team will play each other three times.
The season kicks off on March 23 and round one see-s some exciting clashes that will entice any avid football fan to attend.
At Marconi Stadium, we will have the opportunity to watch a replay of the 2013 Grand Final between the Marconi Stallions and Illawarra Stingrays. The two sides led a titanic battle throughout the whole of last season with the Premiership taken to the wire. The two met again in the final where the Stallions reigned supreme but the Stingrays will look to set the record straight in what will be a blockbuster affair.
The Macarthur Rams had a good season last year and fell short of the grand final by one game. They-ll look to do better this season as they welcome the Blacktown Spartans who are raring to improve on last season-s campaign.
Manly United FC played some great football last season but missed out on a Top five spot by a mere two points. They take on rivals and neighbours Northbridge FC who were of a similar fate, finishing on the same number of points. This game is scheduled to take place at Cromer Park.
Two semi finalists from last season complete round one as the North West Sydney Koalas welcome Sydney University SFC to ELS Hall Park. The Koalas were fighting for the Premiership until the last few rounds but missed out on a top three finish. Sydney University took advantage of this and defeated the Koalas 2-0 in an entertaining elimination semi final.
As the beginning of the season draws nearer, the excitement continues to grow with the preseason cup set to kick off on the 23rd of February.
Women-s football is certainly on the rise and the cream of the crop of players will flock in what will be a memorable 2014 season for the top tier Women-s competition.