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Governing body for soccer in South Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Football South Australia (FSA) is the governing body of soccer in the state of South Australia. It was established in 2006 under the name Football Federation South Australia (FFSA), which succeeded the former organisation, the South Australian Soccer Federation (SASF).
| |
| Abbreviation | FSA |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | South Australian Soccer Federation |
| Formation | 2006 |
| Type | State Sporting Association |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | State Centre for Football, Gepps Cross |
| Location | |
Region served | South Australia, Australia |
President | Estelle Bowman (2023–)[1] |
CEO | Michael Carter (2008–)[1] |
Parent organisation | Football Australia |
| Funding | Football Australia Government of South Australia |
| Website | footballsa.com.au |
FSA oversees the highest levels of soccer in South Australia, as well as collaborating with regional competitions and amateur leagues, and organise the Football SA Federation Cup.
The first South Australian soccer organisation was the South Australian British Football Association (SABFA), which was founded in 1902. The inaugural official South Australian soccer competition took place in 1903, featuring three teams: North Adelaide, South Adelaide, and Woodville. In 1924, the association's name was changed to the South Australian Soccer Football Association (SASFA).[2]
In 1961, the association split into SASFA and the South Australian Soccer League (SASL), but the following year, merged to form the South Australian Soccer Federation (SASF), which continued to operate until 2006.[2]
In 2006 the Football Federation South Australia (FFSA) was established. In 2020, following the renaming of Football Federation Australia to Football Australia, South Australia's federation adopted the name Football South Australia.[3]
Football South Australia is affiliated with Football Australia, the national governing body.[3]
FSA oversees the highest levels of football in South Australia, including the National Premier Leagues South Australia, State League 1 South Australia, and State League 2 South Australia. They also work in conjunction with South Australia's regional competitions and amateur leagues. Many teams from these various leagues participate in the Federation Cup, which determines the South Australian representatives for the Australia Cup.[citation needed]
Football South Australia also manages the Junior Premier League (JPL) and Junior State League (JSL), providing opportunities for teams in age groups ranging from under 6s to under 17s to compete on Sundays.[citation needed]
FSA holds the annual African Nations Cup of South Australia in partnership with the African Communities Council of South Australia, which is held at the ServiceFM Stadium.[4]
Football SA National Training Centre (NTC) programs "aim is to provide talented boys and girls with the opportunity to develop their skills and ability through a game-related approach to training".[5] The FSA NTC teams have a high turnover owing to their nature as a training team for players, but the women's team reached their first ever grand final in 2023, after beating the Adelaide Comets.[6]
The Women's National Premier Leagues South Australia (WNPL)[6] represents the second tier of the sport, below A-League Women.
Port Adelaide Pirates are the oldest team still in existence in South Australia, being founded in 1903, and competing in the 1904 season.[citation needed]
In 1933, Birkalla Rovers were founded, which would later amalgamate with a West Torrens team to form West Torrens Birkalla. Alongside Adelaide University, these are the only South Australian clubs with history dating back to before World War II.[citation needed]
Following World War II, Australia was a particular hotspot for immigration by those who had been displaced by the war. These immigrants would found multiple clubs that have survived to the current day: Juventus in 1946, Beograd in 1949, Polonia in 1950, Croatia in 1952, Napoli in 1958 and Hellas in 1962. Other notable clubs founded during this period, now defunct, are: Burnside Budapest, which later merged with Campbelltown City to become Campbelltown Budapest; and Ukrainian SC Lion, which later merged with Port Adelaide to become Port Adelaide Lion, and now continue to participate in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League.[citation needed]
Adelaide City are the most successful club in history, having won 3 National Soccer League championships, 19 first division championships and 18 Federation Cups. Clubs can apply to enter the State League 2 competitions when a space is available, with the team being in one of the regional leagues or the amateur league.[citation needed]
The most recent[when?] teams to have joined being Pontian Eagles in 2020, Modbury Vista in 2017, Fulham United and Vipers FC both in 2016, the latter two having won promotion to State League 1.[citation needed]
| State League One South Australia[7] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Suburb | Home Ground | Founded | Joined | Chmp | Prem | Cup | Head coach |
| Adelaide Blue Eagles | Marden | Marden Sports Complex | 1958 | 1959 | 10 | 5 | 7 | Andrej Rastovac |
| Adelaide Cobras | Plympton | Pro Paint and Panel Oval | 1972 | 1989 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Robbie Ditroia |
| Adelaide Victory | Blair Athol | Rushworth Reserve | 2006 | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Rick Cerracchio |
| Cumberland United | Clarence Gardens | A.A. Bailey Reserve | 1943 | 1943 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Terry Westwood |
| Fulham United | West Beach | West Beach Parks Football Centre | 1970 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Tony Galanopoulos |
| Playford City Patriots | Edinburgh North | Ramsay Park | 1956 | 1958 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Ben Moore |
| Salisbury United | Burton | Steve Jarvis Park | 1954 | 1955 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Matt Gaston |
| Sturt Lions | Eden Hills | Karinya Reserve | 2003 | 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lino Fusco |
| Vipers FC | Angle Park | APEX Football Stadium | 2006 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maged Ibrahim |
| West Adelaide | West Beach | West Beach Parks Football Centre | 1962 | 1963 | 11 | 1 | 3 | Jim Tsekinis |
| Western Strikers | Royal Park | Carnegie South Reserve | 1980 | 2006 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Daniel Blanco |
| West Torrens Birkalla | Novar Gardens | Jack Smith Park | 1933 | 1933 | 6 | 2 | 1 | Daniel Paterson |
| State League Two South Australia[7] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Suburb | Home Ground | Founded | Joined | Chmp | Prem | Cup | Head coach |
| Adelaide Hills Hawks | Woodside | Hawks Nest | 1991 | 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Greg Videon |
| Adelaide University | North Adelaide | University Oval | 1935 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | Phil Stubbins |
| Eastern United | Athelstone | Athelstone Recreation Reserve | 2013 | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Gabriel Markaj |
| Gawler Eagles | Evanston Gardens | Karbeethan Reserve | 1978 | 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Andrew Burgess |
| Modbury Vista | Wynn Vale | Newspot Stadium | 1969 | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Jonathan Negus |
| Mount Barker United | Mount Barker | Summit Sport and Recreation Park | 1982 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Nathan Fleetwood |
| Noarlunga United | Morphett Vale | Wilfred Taylor Reserve | 1963 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Steve Reed |
| Northern Demons | Port Pirie | Byrne Park | 1951 | 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Michael Roros |
| Pontian Eagles | Paralowie | Yalumba Drive Reserve | 1992 | 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Jim Karatzis |
| Port Adelaide Pirates | Taperoo | Ngarrpadla Josie Agius Reserve | 1903 | 1904 | 5 | 2 | 4 | Steve Hughes |
| Seaford Rangers | Port Noarlunga South | Karingal Reserve | 1974 | 1978 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Andrew Shore |
| The Cove | Trott Park | Southern Sports Facility | 1983 | 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Carlos Cravo |
Junior Premier League and Junior State League clubs participate in junior soccer, with teams ranging from U6 to U17. The seniors participate in the Amateur League or Regional Leagues.
| Junior Premier/State Leagues[8] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team | Suburb | Home Ground |
| Adelaide Atletico | Paradise | Charles Campbell College |
| Adelaide Khukuri | Adelaide Parklands | Park 19 |
| Adelaide Thunder | Adelaide Parklands | Park 21 |
| Barossa United | Nuriootpa | Hoffman Oval |
| Elizabeth Grove | Elizabeth North | Dauntsey Road Reserve |
| Football SA NTC | Gepps Cross | ServiceFM Stadium |
| Ghan Kilburn City | Blair Athol | Blair Athol Reserve |
| Northern Wolves | Penfield | Eyre Sports Park |
| Parafield Gardens | Parafield Gardens | Bradman Oval |
| Plympton Bulldogs | Plympton Park | Plympton Sports and Recreation Club |
| Salisbury Inter | Salisbury North | Underdown Park |
| Southern Breakers | Port Elliot | Port Elliot Oval |
| Tea Tree Gully | Surrey Downs | Tilley Reserve |
| UniSA | Magill | Magill Sports Centre |
| West Beach | Lockleys | Lockleys Oval |
| Women's National Premier Leagues South Australia[7] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Suburb | Home Ground | Founded | Joined | Chmp | Prem | Cup | Head coach |
| Adelaide City | Oakden | Adelaide City Park | 11 | 2 | 7 | Tiarn Powell | ||
| Adelaide Comets | Gepps Cross | ServiceFM Stadium | 0 | 1 | 1 | Tom Monsigneur | ||
| Adelaide University | Gepps Cross | ServiceFM Stadium | 4 | 0 | 3 | Tony Sacca | ||
| Flinders United | St Marys | Women's Memorial Playing Field | 0 | 0 | 0 | Joel Porter | ||
| Football SA NTC | Gepps Cross | ServiceFM Stadium | 0 | 0 | 0 | Michele Lastella | ||
| Fulham United | West Beach | West Beach Parks Football Centre | 4 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Metro United | Klemzig | T.K. Shutter Reserve | 4 | 2 | 4 | Paul Morris | ||
| Salisbury Inter | Salisbury North | Underdown Park | 2 | 1 | 1 | Tony Scalzi | ||
| West Adelaide | West Beach | West Beach Parks Football Centre | 1 | 2 | 2 | Tracey Jenkins | ||
| West Torrens Birkalla | Novar Gardens | Jack Smith Park | 0 | 0 | 1 | Chris Goddard | ||
| Women's State League South Australia[7] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Suburb | Home Ground | Founded | Joined | Chmp | Prem | Cup | Head coach |
| Adelaide Hills Hawks | Woodside | Hawks Nest | 0 | 0 | 0 | Luke Hancock | ||
| Adelaide Jaguars | West Beach | West Beach Parks Football Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | Matthew Wardhaugh | ||
| Campbelltown City | Newton | Steve Woodcock Sports Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | Vince Pagnozzi | ||
| Croydon FC | Regency Park | Regency Oval | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mario Catalano | ||
| Elizabeth Grove | Elizabeth North | Dauntsey Reserve | 0 | 0 | 0 | Robert Dawber | ||
| Modbury Jets | Ridgehaven | Smith Partners Stadium | 1 | 0 | 2 | Luigi Pavia | ||
| Modbury Vista | Wynn Vale | Newspot Stadium | 1 | 0 | 0 | Duncan Soang | ||
| South Adelaide Panthers | O'Sullivan Beach | O'Sullivan Beach Sports Complex | 0 | 0 | 0 | Daniel Milovanovic | ||
| Sturt Lions | Eden Hills | Karinya Reserve | 0 | 0 | 0 | Nic Whiteside | ||
| The Cove | Marion | Club Marion | 0 | 0 | 0 | Carlos Carvo | ||
The soccer pyramid in South Australia comprises 4 levels below the A-League Men, with promotion and relegation between the top 3 levels. It also includes the South Australian Amateur Soccer League, which is not officially a part of the league system. In total, there are 259 men's clubs/teams across 28 divisions in South Australia, and 90 women's clubs/teams across 9 divisions.
| Level | Leagues | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | State | ||||||||
| 2 | 1 | National Premier Leagues South Australia 12 clubs no promotion, ↓ relegate 2 | |||||||
| 3 | 2 | State League 1 South Australia 12 clubs ↑ promote 2, ↓ relegate 2 | |||||||
| 4 | 3 | State League 2 South Australia 12 clubs ↑ promote 2, no relegation | |||||||
| 5 | 4 | South Australian Regional Leagues 100 teams from 12 divisions no promotion | |||||||
| Level | Leagues | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| National | State | ||
| 2 | 1 | Women's National Premier Leagues South Australia 10 clubs no promotion, ↓ relegate 1.5 | |
| 3 | 2 | Women's State League South Australia 10 clubs ↑ promote 1.5, no relegation | |
| — | — | Women's Community Leagues South Australia 70 teams from 7 divisions no promotion | |
| Community Division 1 10 teams | |||
| Community Division 2 11 teams | |||
| Community Division 3 10 teams | |||
| Community Division 4 North 9 teams |
Community Division 4 South 10 teams | ||
| Community Division 5 North 11 teams |
Community Division 5 South 9 teams | ||
Over the history of South Australian soccer, 26 different clubs have won the title. The most successful club is Adelaide City, with 19 titles to its credit, 7 of those coming since their return from the National Soccer League in 2004.
Clubs in bold currently play in the top division, and clubs in italics no longer compete in semi-professional competitions or are defunct.
| Club | Other names | Champions | Runners-up | Championship seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide City | Adelaide Juventus | 19 | 16 | 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1974, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2021, 2022 | 1950, 1952, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| West Adelaide | West Adelaide Hellas | 11 | 4 | 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2015 | 1967, 1972, 1974, 1988 |
| Adelaide Blue Eagles | Eastern Districts Azzurri | 10 | 6 | 1981, 1982, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011 | 1978, 1985, 2002, 2010, 2013, 2015 |
| Port Adelaide Pirates | Port Adelaide Port Thistle |
8 | 9 | 1911, 1912, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1937 | 1908, 1910, 1925, 1929, 1932, 1936, 1949, 1953, 1999 |
| West Torrens Birkalla | Birkalla Rovers Adelaide Galaxy |
7 | 11 | 1944, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1998 | 1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2006 |
| West Torrens[lower-alpha 2] | 7 | 6 | 1925, 1928, 1929, 1932, 1936, 1939, 1941 | 1927, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1945 | |
| Birkalla Rovers | 6 | 6 | 1944, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1952 | 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1948, 1961 | |
| Hindmarsh | 6 | 2 | 1905, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1913, 1924 | 1914, 1915 | |
| Campbelltown City | Campbelltown Budapest | 6 | 1 | 1986, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 | 1994 |
| Adelaide Croatia Raiders | Adelaide Croatia Adelaide Raiders |
5 | 9 | 1980, 1984, 1988, 1997, 2002 | 1965, 1969, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2005, 2007 |
| Croydon FC | Polonia Adelaide | 5 | 7 | 1955, 1975, 1977, 2014, 2017 | 1957, 1958, 1968, 1970, 1981, 1982, 1998 |
| North Adelaide | 5 | 4 | 1903, 1906, 1914, 1919, 1922 | 1905, 1920, 1921, 1924 | |
| Cheltenham | 4 | 2 | 1915, 1920, 1921, 1923 | 1913, 1922 | |
| Sturt | 3 | 6 | 1940, 1948, 1949 | 1919, 1926, 1928, 1937, 1941, 1947 | |
| Burnside Budapest | Budapest | 3 | 4 | 1960, 1961, 1962 | 1954, 1959, 1963, 1964 |
| North Eastern MetroStars | 3 | 3 | 2004, 2009, 2012 | 2003, 2008, 2014 | |
| FK Beograd | Beograd Begrad Woodville White City Woodville |
3 | 2 | 1979, 1983, 1993 | 1977, 1996 |
| Northumberland & Durham | 2 | 1 | 1938, 1943 | 1944 | |
| Cumberland United | 2 | 1 | 1978, 1999 | 1979 | |
| Kingswood | 2 | — | 1933, 1946 | ||
| Cambridge | 1 | 3 | 1910 | 1906, 1907, 1909 | |
| U.S.C. Lion | Lion-Grange | 1 | 2 | 1965 | 1956, 1960 |
| Salisbury United | 1 | 2 | 1985 | 1987, 1991 | |
| Woodville | 1 | — | 1904 | ||
| West Adelaide | 1 | — | 1930 | ||
| Victoria | 1 | — | 1961 | ||
| Adelaide United Youth | 1 | — | 2023 | ||
| Adelaide Comets | — | 4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 | ||
| South Adelaide | — | 3 | 1903, 1904, 1923 | ||
| Modbury Jets | — | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2023 | ||
| Railways | — | 2 | 1930, 1943 | ||
| Adelaide | — | 1 | 1912 | ||
| Windsor Athletic | Woodside United | — | 1 | 1951 | |
| Para Hills Knights | — | 1 | 1980 | ||
| Adelaide Olympic | Olympians | — | 1 | 2004 |
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