State League South Australia Explained

Organiser:Football South Australia
Confed:AFC
First:
(as SA State League)
Teams:24 (28 in 2025)
  • SL1: 12
  • SL2: 12 (16 in 2025)
Promotion:National Premier Leagues SA
Levels:3–4
Domest Cup:National
Australia Cup
State
Federation Cup
Champions:SL1: Playford City (2024)
SL2: The Cove (2024)
Premiers:
SL2: Pontian Eagles (2024)
Tv:YouTube (SL1 only)
Website:footballsa.com.au

State League South Australia is a soccer league based in South Australia which consists of two divisions; SA State League 1 (SL1) and SA State League 2 (SL2). It runs as the second and third tiers of soccer in South Australia (third and fourth in Australia). It is conducted by Football South Australia, the state's governing body. After the reforming of the South Australian football league structure in 2012, the league increased its participants from 10 clubs to 16. Football South Australia announced a restructuring of the league format in South Australia for the 2016 to 2018 seasons, moving from a 2 tiered system to a 3 tiered system with the introduction of a new 3rd division (State League 2), which reduced the participants in the now State League 1 down to 12.[1]

A-League Youth team Adelaide United entered their youth team in the 2015 season.[2]

Change of format

The State League 1 was reduced from a 16 team competition to a 12 team competition from the 2016 season, as part of a restructuring of the league format, moving from a 2 tiered system to a 3 tiered system with the introduction of a new 3rd division called State League 2.[3]

State League 2 will be split into north and south conferences for the 2025 season.[4]

Current members

State League 1

ClubLocationHome Ground
MardenMarden Sports Complex
PlymptonWeigall Oval
Blair AtholRushworth Reserve
Cumberland UnitedA.A. Bailey Reserve
Fulham UnitedWest BeachWest Beach Parks Football Centre
Edinburgh NorthRamsay Park
Salisbury UnitedBurtonBurton Park Football Centre - Steve Jarvis Park
Vipers FCApex Football Centre
West Torrens BirkallaNovar GardensJack Smith Park
Sturt LionsEden HillsKarinya Reserve
West AdelaideChurchill Rd, KilburnKilburn Sportsplex
Western StrikersRoyal ParkCarnegie Reserve

State League 2

ConferenceClubLocationHome ground
NorthAdelaide AtleticoBlair AtholRushworth Reserve
Elizabeth GroveElizabethDauntsey Reserve
Gawler EaglesEvanston GardensKarbeethan Reserve
Ghan Kilburn CityFerryden ParkFerryden Park Reserve
Modbury VistaWynn ValeNewspot Stadium
Northern DemonsPort PirieByrne Park
Port AdelaideTaperooNgarrpadla Josie Agius Reserve
Salisbury InterSalisbury NorthUnderdown Park
SouthAdelaide Hills HawksWoodsideHawks Nest
Adelaide TitansFindonMatheson Reserve
Adelaide UniversityNorth AdelaideUniversity Ovals
Eastern UnitedAthelstoneAthelstone Recreation Reserve
Mount Barker UnitedMount BarkerSummit Sport and Recreation Park
Noarlunga UnitedMorphett ValeWilfred Taylor Reserve
Seaford RangersPort Noarlunga SouthKaringal Reserve
Western StrikersRoyal ParkCarnegie Reserve

Furthermore, the following clubs will be joining in 2026.

ClubLocationHome ground
Barossa UnitedNuriootpaHoffman Oval
Plympton BulldogsPlympton ParkPlympton Oval

Honours

2006–2012

The league was founded in 2006 with one division.

SeasonChampionsPremiers
2006Adelaide Cobras
2007Adelaide Comets
2008West AdelaideSalisbury United
2009Enfield CityEnfield City
2010Playford CityNoarlunga United
2011South AdelaideSalisbury United
2012Para Hills Knights

From 2013 to 2015, the State League was part of the National Premier Leagues South Australia system.

2016–2024

In 2016, a second division was introduced.

Champions!Season!Division 1!Division 2
2016Cumberland UnitedNoarlunga United
2017Sturt LionsSeaford Rangers
2018Adelaide RaidersAdelaide Victory
2019Cumberland UnitedAdelaide Hills
2020Sturt LionsEastern United
2021White CityAdelaide University
2022West AdelaideVipers
2023Adelaide Croatia RaidersSalisbury United
2024Playford CityThe Cove
Premiers!Season!Division 1!Division 2
2016Cumberland United
2017South AdelaideSeaford Rangers
2018Adelaide Blue EaglesPlayford City
2019Modbury JetsAdelaide Hills
2020South AdelaideAdelaide Cobras
2021West Torrens BirkallaPort Adelaide
2022Modbury JetsAdelaide Cobras
2023Adelaide Croatia RaidersSalisbury United
2024West Torrens BirkallaPontian Eagles

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: League structure confirmed for new Licence Period. Football Federation South Australia. 13 February 2015.
  2. Web site: Adelaide United seconds to play in state league in 2015. AdelaideNow. News Ltd.
  3. Web site: League structure confirmed for new Licence Period. Football Federation South Australia. 13 February 2015.
  4. Web site: Senior Men's State League 2 Competition Structure for Season 2025. Football South Australia. 10 September 2024.