1995–96 National Soccer League Explained

NSL 1995-96
League:National Soccer League
Sport:Soccer
Duration:1995–96
No Of Teams:12
Season:NSL season
Season Champs:Melbourne Knights
Season Champ Name:Champions
League Champs:Marconi-Fairfield
League Champ Name:Minor premiers
Top Scorer:Damian Mori (31)
Seasonslist:List of NSL seasons
Seasonslistnames:National Soccer League
Prevseason Link:1994–95 National Soccer League
Prevseason Year:1994–95
Nextseason Link:1996–97 National Soccer League
Nextseason Year:1996–97

The 1995–96 A-League season was the first year of a rebranded Australian National Soccer League (NSL) and the twentieth since the national league began in 1977. The competition was variously known as the A-League and the Ericsson Cup (as part of a sponsorship arrangement) at the time.

Background

After an attempt to reduce the number of NSL teams from 14 to 12, the Australian Soccer Federation announced that a new competition known as the A-League would operate in parallel to the NSL.[1] After a series of legal challenges, the A-League became the sole national league with largely the same composition of teams as the previous NSL season. The change was seen at the time as a rebranding rather than a new competition. Prior to the season beginning, the league announced a sponsorship agreement with Ericsson that was supposed to last until 2000, though was terminated a year early in mid-1999. The sponsorship led to the league being renamed the Ericsson Cup, though the A-League and NSL names were still used in various forms.[2] [3] [4]

The commencement of the season was delayed as relegated teams Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United obtained court injunctions to prevent the league going ahead. Eventually the injunction was lifted in the Federal Court of Australia to allow the league to start, albeit several weeks late.[5] [6]

Changes from 1994–95

Parramatta Eagles, Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United were excluded from the national league, while Newcastle Breakers returned after a one-season absence. The Canberra Cosmos entered the league for the first time.[7]

Sydney Olympic signed a deal with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to become known as UTS Olympic.[8]

After using penalty shootout to break ties in 1994–95, the draw returned for league play in 1994–95.

Overview

The league was composed of 12 teams. After 33 rounds, Marconi-Fairfield were crowned minor premiers. In the final series, Marconi-Fairfield and the Melbourne Knights contested the 1996 A-League Grand Final, with Melbourne Knights prevailing 2–1.[9] [10]

Teams

Prior to the start of the season, the Newcastle Breakers withdrew from the competition citing financial difficulties. The withdrawal of the Breakers left 13 teams, meaning each team had two byes for the season.[11] [12]

TeamHome cityHome ground
Adelaide CityHindmarsh Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Bruce Stadium
Falcons Park
Marconi-FairfieldMarconi Stadium
Melbourne KnightsMelbourne Knights Stadium
Newcastle BreakersNewcastleBreakers Stadium
South MelbourneMelbourne Olympic Park
Lakeside Stadium
Sydney UnitedSydney Edensor Park
UTS OlympicSydney Leichhardt Oval
West AdelaideAdelaide Hindmarsh Stadium
Wollongong CityBrandon Park

Regular season

League table

Finals series

Grand Final

See main article: 1996 National Soccer League Grand Final.

Individual awards

Damian Mori (Adelaide City)[13]

References

Notes and References

  1. News: New League Announced . The Age . 6 August 1995 . Schwab, Laurie . 6 September 2022. The federation would, in accordance with its articles of association, launch a new competition called the Soccer Australia A League, to kick off on 30 September. . Laurie Schwab.
  2. News: Cockerill . Michael . 16 December 1999 . Eve of extinction . 42. 6 September 2022. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. News: A-plus: Hill nets five-year sponsor . Cockerill, Michael . 5 October 1995 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216104108/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news951005_0034_3922 . 16 February 2015 . live .
  4. News: Stalled A-League gets key support . Cockerill, Michael . 5 September 1995 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216104105/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news950905_0011_4872 . 16 February 2015 . live .
  5. News: Court clears deck for A-teams . Cockerill, Michael . 20 September 1995 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216104111/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news950920_0121_2268 . 16 February 2015 . live .
  6. News: A-League far from the big league . Cockerill, Michael . 1 October 1995 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216141739/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&docID=news951001_0109_5800 . 16 February 2015 . Following an exhaustive and acrimonious legal process in which the lawyers (as usual) were the only winners, a revamped national competition - to be known as the A-League - will kick-off next weekend. . live .
  7. News: Schwab . Laurie . 1995-09-06 . Soccer's chiefs cross line in bid for change . 36 . The Age . 2022-09-06.
  8. News: Schwab . Laurie . 1995-10-08 . Olympic sets its sights . 69 . The Age . 2022-09-06.
  9. News: 4-1 win secures Marconi grand final spot . 19 May 1995 . The Age . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216162249/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960519_0172_7640 . 16 February 2015 . Minor premier Marconi will now meet defending champion Melbourne Knights in the grand final in Melbourne next Sunday in their fifth clash this season. . live .
  10. News: It's two in a row for Knights . Cockerill, Michael . 26 May 1996 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216084838/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960526_0010_1286 . 16 February 2015 . MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 2 (A Marth 58th A Cervinski 75th) bt MARCONI 1 (A Harper 80th). Referee: E Lennie. Crowd: 14,258 at Olympic Park. For once the game matched the occasion as the Melbourne Knights confirmed their favouritism with a stylish 2-1 win over Marconi-Fairfield in yesterday's A-League grand final. . live .
  11. News: NSL kicking uphill from start . https://web.archive.org/web/20150226071104/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news941018_0174_0949. 26 February 2015. The Age . 18 October 1994 . 26 February 2015 . Schwab, Laurie.
  12. News: Soccer puts a brave face on unsponsored league kick-off . https://web.archive.org/web/20150226071102/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news941018_0103_2984. 26 February 2015 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 18 October 1994 . 26 February 2015 . Cockerill, Michael.
  13. News: Mori tops soccer poll by record 186 votes . Schwab, Laurie . 21 May 1996 . The Age . 16 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216175310/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960521_0166_4400 . 16 February 2015 . Laurie Schwab . live .

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