Football Federation Victoria (FFV) has updated the inaugural National Premier Leagues (NPL and NPL 1) 2014 fixtures.
Football Federation Victoria (FFV) has updated the inaugural National Premier Leagues (NPL and NPL 1) 2014 fixtures.
Rivals Heidelberg United and South Melbourne will open Round 1 of the NPL season at Olympic Village at 7.15pm on Thursday March 13, an hour before the kick-off time originally scheduled.
A night later, Melbourne Knights host reigning Victorian Premier League (VPL) champion Northcote City while Dandenong Thunder visits Port Melbourne in an opening round which stretches over four days.
Whittlesea Ranges will host Kingston City in the first NPL 1 match on Friday March 14, with the first round of NPL 1 to conclude with a Monday night fixture between Bulleen Lions and Moreland Zebras.
Goulburn Valley Suns begins its NPL campaign at home against Oakleigh Cannons in a Saturday night fixture on March 15 before hosting fellow regional club Ballarat Red Devils in Round 2.
The battle of the NPL-s two regional clubs will be one of the highlights of Round 2, along with the VPL Grand Final replay between Northcote City and Bentleigh Greens.
In another highlight of the NPL 2014, two rounds (Rounds 5 and 20) will be played on a Wednesday night for the first time in the history of Victoria-s premier football division.
NPL and NPL 1 will be played over 26 rounds and conclude on September 14 and September 28 respectively.
The national NPL 2014 Finals Series will be staged between the weeks of: September 20/21 - elimination finals September 27/28 - semi-finals October 4/5 - grand final
The NPL Premiers (first at the conclusion of the home and away season) of each Member Federation will qualify for the NPL Finals Series, with the Victorian NPL Premiers to meet the Tasmanian NPL Premiers in an away elimination final.
The winner of the NPL Finals Series will be crowned NPL Champions of Australia.