National Premier Leagues (NPL) 2020 action to commence
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) 2020 competitions kick-off this weekend in Queensland with six matches occurring on a super Saturday of football.
Two games will kick-off concurrently to commence the season with Brisbane Strikers hosting Gold Coast Knights at Perry Park and Peninsula Power taking on Magpies Crusaders at AJ Kelly Park at 6:30pm local time.
Four other fixtures will be played on Saturday evening before Olympic FC play Gold Coast United FC in Sunday’s sole encounter.
This weekend marks the start of nine months of NPL action nationwide, with clubs from eight of Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) Member Federations competing with the aim of reaching the NPL 2020 Finals Series.
Several former Hyundai A-League stars have joined NPL clubs across the nation for 2020, including former Johnny Warren Medallist and back-to-back Hyundai A-League golden boot winner Shane Smeltz who has signed for Gold Coast United in Queensland, and three-time Hyundai A-League Champion and FFA Cup winner Sebastian Ryall who has joined Sydney Olympic FC in the NPL NSW.
Women’s NPL action will also commence in Queensland, although the Round 1 schedule is still to be determined. There is set to be a large influx of players from the Westfield W-League who will join the Women’s NPL ranks once their national league commitments are complete.
FFA Chief Executive Officer James Johnson believes that the NPL competitions are a great breeding ground for future Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League players.
“The National Premier Leagues competitions across Australia provide great opportunities for players, coaches and administrators to develop,” Johnson said. “Many players have progressed through the NPL into Australia’s professional leagues, and the elite have earned selection for Australia’s national teams. There are many famous and aspirational clubs competing across the nation, and we wish all of the players, coaches, administrators, and volunteers a successful and enjoyable 2020 season.”
“As we continue the process of unbundling the Leagues, we are presented with an opportune moment to bring focus the NPL competitions. I personally look forward to the opportunity to be involved in discussions regarding how we can continue to develop the strength of men’s and women’s NPL competitions across Australia throughout 2020 and beyond, as the competitions represent a crucial link between the grassroots and professional levels of the game.”
2020 will be a milestone season for Football West, with the inaugural NPL Women’s season kicking off in Western Australia. Fixtures will be released soon via footballwest.com.au.
Nine of Australia’s Hyundai A-League Clubs will compete in NPL competitions in 2020, with Western United set to join the competition in 2021.
To stay up to date with NPL news, please visit www.nationalpremierleagues.com.au.
NPL Men’s Start Dates
| NPL Competition | Start Date | Opening Match(es) |
| Football Queensland | Saturday, 8 February 2020 | Brisbane Strikers v Gold Coast Knights FC at Perry Park (6:30pm)/Peninsula Power v Magpies Crusaders at AJ Kelly Park (6:30pm) |
| Football Victoria | Thursday, 13 February 2020 | Oakleigh Cannons FC v Avondale FC at Jack Edwards Reserve (7:45pm) |
| Football Federation South Australia | Friday, 21 February 2020 | Campbelltown City SC v Adelaide Blue Eagles at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre (7:30pm) |
| Football NSW | Saturday, 29 February 2020 | North Shore Mariners FC v APIA Leichhardt FC at Lambert Park (6:00pm) |
| Northern NSW Football | Friday, 20 March 2020 | Weston Workers FC v Valentine FC at Rockwell Automation Park (8:00pm) |
| Football Tasmania | Saturday, 21 March 2020 | Devonport Strikers v South Hobart at Valley Road (2:15pm)/Olympia FC Warriors v Riverside Olympic at Warrior Park (2:15pm) |
| Capital Football | Saturday, 28 March 2020 | Monaro Panthers v Canberra FC at Riverside Stadium (5:30pm) |
| Football West | TBC | TBC |
NPL Women’s Start Dates
| NPL Competition | Start Date | Opening Match(es) |
| Football NSW | Sunday, 8 March 2020 | Entire round kicks off simultaneously |
| Football Victoria | Saturday, 21 March 2020 | Calder United SC v Alamein FC at Keilor Park Rec Reserve (3:00pm) |
| Capital Football | Sunday, 5 April 2020 | Canberra Olympic FC v Belconnen United FC at O’Connor Enclosed 1 (12:45pm) |
| Football Federation South Australia | Thursday, 5 March 2020 | Adelaide Comets v Football SA NTC at Valo Sports Centre (6:15pm) |
| Football Queensland | TBC | TBC |
| Football West | TBC | TBC |
NPL 2020 Finals Series
- Draw details to be confirmed closer to the conclusion of the respective NPL seasons.
- Elimination Final matches are set to commence the weekend of Saturday, 19 September 2020.
- Wollongong Wolves from Football New South Wales (FNSW) were crowned NPL Champions of Australia in 2019.
- The NPL Champions 2020 will receive a direct slot in the Round of 32 of the FFA Cup 2021.
