2020 Western Premier League season explained

Competition:WPL
Season:2020
Winners:Dubbo Bulls (4th title)
Premiers:Macquarie United (Dubbo) (1st title)
League Topscorer:Jesse Spang 13 - (Macquarie United)
Biggest Home Win:Macquarie United 6–1 Panorama (8 August 2020)
Dubbo Bulls 5–0 Lithgow Workmen's (5 September 2020)
Macquarie United 5–0 Lithgow Workmen's (19 September 2020)
Biggest Away Win:Parkes Cobras 1–4 Dubbo Bulls (11 July 2020)
Dubbo Bulls 2–5 Macquarie United (23 July 2020)
Barnstoneworth United 2–5 Dubbo Bulls (26 July 2020)
Orana Spurs 1–4 Parkes Cobras (15 August 2020)
Orana Spurs 1–4 Macquarie United (22 August 2020)
Matches:42
Total Goals:166
Prevseason:2012
Nextseason:2021

The 2020 Western Premier League was the 20th season of the Western Premier League (WPL), the top football league in the Central West region of New South Wales. It was the first season of the competition since 2012. Dubbo Bulls were the three-time defending champions, having won the past three competitions in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The season kicked-off with three games on 11 July, with the Parkes Cobras-Orana Spurs match at Woodward Park in Parkes the first to get underway, marking the first WPL match in eight years. The season concluded with the grand final on 26 September. Dubbo Bulls claimed a fourth WPL title after defeating local rivals Macquarie United in the grand final 2–1 at Apex Oval.

Background and season summary

The previous iteration of the Western Premier League had originally folded at the end of 2012 season when Dubbo Westside and Dubbo Bulls FC all pulled out in quick succession, leaving just three teams in the competition. Talks continued towards the end of 2019 and in the early months of 2020 about reviving the competition[1] [2] before the competition's return was officially announced by Western NSW Football in February.[3]

Nine teams originally nominated for the competition - former champions Dubbo Bulls and Orange Waratahs, as well as Barnstoneworth United, Lithgow Workmen's, Macquarie United (Dubbo), Orana Spurs, Panorama, the newly-formed Parkes Cobras and South Dubbo Wanderers.[4] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Waratahs and Wanderers withdraw from the competition before a ball was kicked.[5] [6] With two teams withdrawing and with restrictions in place by Football NSW and the NSW Government, the competition could not kick-off in April, as originally planned, and restrictions threatened to cancel the WPL's return. But as restrictions were lifted, the WPL got the green light to return in July and it kicked-off on the fourth of that month with three matches on the same day.[7]

The first round of matches saw Parkes Cobras (a team formed specially for the WPL) host Orana Spurs at Woodward Oval, Macquarie United were away in Orange to face Barnstoneworth United and Dubbo Bulls would face Panorama at Lady Cutler Oval. Lithgow Workmen's had the bye. The Parkes-Orana match kicked-off at 3pm, 15 minutes before the game in Orange and an hour before the Bulls-Panorama match, meaning Cobras' 17th minute opener by Daniel Clarke was the first WPL goal in eight years.[8] All matches in the opening round ended in 1-all stalemates.[9]

The first wins of the 2020 WPL season came in the second round when Barnstoneworth United overcome Panorama 4–2 in Bathurst, Dubbo Bulls won 4–1 away at Parkes Cobras, and Lithgow Workmen's defeated Macquarie United 2–1.[10] [11] [12] At the halfway mark in the season, Macquarie United surprised many by leading the competition by two points over Lithgow Workmen's and Dubbo Bulls, in second and third respectively. The Paul Crain-coached Macquarie side had a team featuring a number of teenagers, carried over from its Dubbo and District Football Association A grade campaign from 2019.[13] Many expected the youthful side to finish last,[14] however, Macquarie would eventually finish the regular season in first place, claiming the Premiers' Plate, one point ahead of city rivals Dubbo Bulls in second.[15] [16]

In a fiery grand final, Dubbo Bulls claimed the title with a 2–1 winner over city rivals Macquarie United at Apex Oval.[17]

Teams

Home venues and locations

TeamLocationHome ground
Barnstoneworth UnitedOrangeJack Brabham Park
Dubbo BullsDubboLady Cutler Oval
Lithgow Workmen'sLithgowMarjorie Jackson Oval
Macquarie UnitedDubboHans Claven Oval
Orana SpursDubboLady Cutler Oval
PanoramaBathurstProctor Park
Parkes CobrasParkesWoodward Oval

Personal and kits

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerKit sponsor
Barnstoneworth UnitedRob DawsonJosh SummersonNikeN/A
Dubbo BullsJason SchinkScott Fox
Kobe Rapley
Lithgow Workmen'sMartin HunterBen SheehanKookaburra SportHuesker
Macquarie UnitedPaul Crain Rhys OsbornePumaCastlereagh Hotel
Orana SpursJared CorbySouth Dubbo Tavern
PanoramaRicky GuihotRyan PeacockNikeAgile Arbor Tree Services
Parkes CobrasMeaghan KempsonBrent TuckerParkes Services Club

Regular season

Results

Finals series

Grand final

Player stats

Top goal scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Jesse SpangMacquarie United13
2Ben SheehanLithgow Workmen's7
Gareth WilliamsDubbo Bulls
4Logan InwoodLithgow Workmen's6
Lachlan McHattonBarnstoneworth United
6Angus CusackOrana Spurs5
Blake MedlynParkes Cobras
Ryan PeacockPanorama
Justin PickeringMacquarie United
Jacob Soetens-ChidacPanorama

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref
Ben Sheehan Lithgow Workmen's Parkes Cobras 3–1 [18]
Jesse Spang Macquarie United Orana Spurs 4–1 [19]
Jake Grady Orana Spurs Barnstoneworth United 5–2 [20]
Lachlan McHatton Barnstoneworth United Parkes Cobras 4–2
Jesse Spang Macquarie United Orana Spurs 4–1 [21]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6467269/western-premier-league-football-still-faces-barriers-to-return/ Western Premier League revival won't happen next year
  2. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6408170/return-of-western-premier-league-soccer-is-worth-discussing/ Sugden would like to see a Western Premier League soccer revival
  3. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6634607/western-premier-league-officially-confirmed-to-return-in-2020/ Western Premier League officially confirmed to return in 2020
  4. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6644197/get-to-know-the-nine-clubs-for-the-2020-western-premier-league-season/ Get to know the nine clubs for the revived Western Premier League
  5. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6714610/south-dubbo-wanderers-left-down-and-out-by-covid-19-restrictions/ Wanderers all but certain to miss WPL start after restrictions take pre-season toll
  6. https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/6801455/its-disappointing-waratahs-fc-opts-out-of-2020-western-premier-league/ Waratahs FC won't play in the 2020 Western Premier League competition
  7. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6809366/western-premier-league-to-kick-off-on-july-4-panorama-away-at-dubbo/ Panorama away to Dubbo Bulls in opening round of Western Premier League on July 4
  8. https://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/6820178/1-1-draw-for-parkes-cobras-despite-first-half-dominance/ The Cobras first game in the WPL ends in a stalemate
  9. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6820448/opening-round-special-but-more-expected-after-disrupted-build-up/ WPL 2020: All teams expect improvement after COVID-affected build-up
  10. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6829117/panorama-fc-is-sunk-by-barnies-20-clinical-minutes/ WPL 2020: Barnstoneworth's strong start sets up 4-2 victory over Panorama FC
  11. https://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/6829997/cobras-upbeat-despite-unlucky-defeat-in-western-premier-league/#:~:text=AFTER%20a%20strong%20performance%20in,Woodward%20Oval%20on%20Saturday%20afternoon Parkes Cobras suffer unlucky 4-1 defeat against the Dubbo Bulls
  12. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6831278/late-rally-not-enough-for-macquarie-in-rain-affected-fixture/ WPL 2020: Macquarie United suffers 2-1 defeat at Lithgow
  13. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6817761/away-results-key-to-youthful-macquaries-hopes-crain/ WPL 2020: Dubbo's Macquarie United to start season in Orange
  14. https://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/story/6817794/football-is-back-your-western-premier-league-season-preview/ WPL season preview | A look at the seven clubs taking part
  15. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6903760/clinical-showing-puts-minor-crown-within-reach-for-macquarie/ Macquarie United in reach of Western Premier League minor premiership
  16. http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/NSW/2020/WDPLT.html 2020 Western Districts Premier League First Grade Table
  17. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6944217/fantastic-mr-fox-delivers-again-as-bulls-claim-western-crown/?cs=113 Scott Fox scores twice as Dubbo FC wins Western Premier League grand final
  18. https://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/story/6856215/workmens-ben-sheehan-sitting-third-in-the-wpl-golden-boot-race/ Lithgow Workmen's Ben Sheehan sits third place in the Western Premier League golden boot race
  19. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6852074/back-to-back-derby-wins-justifies-coachs-faith-in-his-macquarie-side/ WPL 2020: Jesse Spang scores hat-trick in Macquarie's win over Orana Spurs
  20. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6860853/hat-trick-boosts-spurs-to-a-triumphant-comeback/ Orana Spurs make confident return led by Grady's boot
  21. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6893509/spang-leads-another-rout-but-macquaries-keeping-a-lid-on-title-talk/ Macquarie United take another step towards minor premiership