Nacional Tijuana
03 Jul 2003, 09:39 PM
Does the NSL have any leagues below it? I know there's no pro/rel, but that doesn't outright negate a 2nd and 3rd division (perhaps at the state level, rather than nationally, as NZ more or less does). If there is more to Aussie soccer than the NSL, is there an FA Cup equivalent down there?
Craig the Aussie
04 Jul 2003, 12:33 AM
Below the NSL (which plays in summer) are the State Federations - Victoria, New South Wales, Northern New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania & the Territories, Northern and Australian Capital.
Each has state leagues - usually run over winter. These leagues are basically amateur (at the top level very lowly paid semi-pro) and have pro/rel. South Australia for example has 2 divisions, New South Wales has about 6 I think. The quality of grounds they play at is greatly variable. Those in the first division are generally not bad - but certainly not national league quality. A 'crowd' of 1,000 is pretty high. They get very little publicity - just a line in the consolidated sports results section of the paper usually, alongside the lawn bowls and croquet.
Some of these clubs have more money than the NSL clubs though, due to having licenced supporters clubhouses, with bars, slot machines etc.
There are no national Cup competitions - some of the States do run them, but they are pretty minor affairs.
Auxodium
04 Jul 2003, 11:31 AM
I Western Australia they have 13 teams that are professional (on very small budgets) that compete in the Premier league (Future Glory used to compete but pulled out due to SWC refused them) They have the top 4 cup, and a knock out cup. These have big backing from local and successful Western Australian businesses. (Boral sponsors the T4 Cup.)
There used to be a 2nd division but it was too difficult to maintain. We are the size of europe and that is hard! :P