National Second Tier beckons: NPL champions to battle for spot

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A new era for the National Premier Leagues (NPL) begins this week as the 2025 Men’s competition kicks off with a place in the inaugural National Second Tier (NST) competition up for grabs. 

As previously announced by Football Australia, eight invitational clubs comprised of the Member Federation NPL State Premiers* from their respective 2025 domestic seasons, will join the eight NST foundation clubs in a ‘Champions League’ format, kicking off on 10 October 2025.

The NPL Premiers will secure their place in the national competition based on sporting merit, which will further elevate the NPL and provide added excitement amongst the local football community. 

In line with the 2024/25 Domestic Match Calendar (DMC), the opening round will see Football VIC’s Melbourne Knights FC take on Heidelberg United FC at Tompsett Stadium on Thursday, 6 February  (7:30pm AEDT) in the first NPL match of the new season. 

The following day, Football NSW will commence its NPL Men’s season as Manly United FC host Central  Coast Mariners FC at Cromer Park on Friday, 7 February (7:30pm AEDT). 

Thursday, 13 February will see NNSW Football get underway, when Belmont Swansea United FC face Adamstown Rosebud FC at Blacksmiths Oval (7:45pm AEDT). 

Friday, 21 February marks the commencement of the NPL Men’s Competitions for Football SA and Football QLD, with Campbelltown City SC facing MetroStars SC at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre (8.00pm AEDT), and Gold Coast Knights FC taking on Lions FC at Croatian Sports Centre (8:30pm AEDT) 

Football TAS will commence their season with a double-header on Friday, 14 March (8.15pm AEDT) as  Glenorchy Knights FC face Clarence Zebras FC at KGV Park and Launceston FC take on Launceston United FC at Prospect Park (8.15pm AEDT). 

Football West will also start their league on Friday, March 14 when Bayswater City SC and Sorrento FC play  at Frank Drago Reserve (10.15pm AEDT), while Capital Football kick-off on Saturday, 5 April with fixtures to  be confirmed. 

The NPL Women’s Competition will be led by Football QLD, as Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC take on  Gold Coast United FC at Ballinger Park on Saturday, 8 February (6.00pm AEDT). 

NNSW Football will kick off their NPL Women’s season on Saturday, 15 February, with New Lambton FC  facing Charlestown Azzurri FC at Alder Park (6.00pm AEDT). 

Football NSW will follow with a packed opening round of NPL Women’s on Sunday, 9 March, featuring  seven fixtures across the state, with a 2024 Grand Final rematch between Macarthur Rams FC and APIA  Leichhardt FC at Lynwood Park (5.00pm AEDT) the highlight. 

Football SA get underway on Friday, 7 March with four matches featuring a clash between Adelaide  University FC and Adelaide City FC (6.45pm AEDT) at Service FM Stadium before Football VIC commences  on Friday, 14 March with two matches across the state including Bentleigh Greens SC v South Melbourne  FC at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex (6.15pm AEDT). 

Football West will begin their NPL Women’s competition on Saturday, 22 March with a match at Dorrien  Gardens Trinca Field between Perth SC and Fremantle City FC (8.00pm AEDT), while Capital Football kick off on Saturday, 5 April with fixtures to be confirmed. 

For all fixtures, results, and streaming information, please visit the respective Member Federation’s website.

NPL Men’s Start Dates: 

NPL Men’s Start Date Opening Match(es) all times shown in AEDT
Football VIC Thursday, 6 February 2025 Melbourne Knights FC v Heidelberg United FC at  Tompsett Stadium (7.30pm)
Football NSW Friday, 7 February 2025 Manly United FC v Central Coast Mariners FC at  Cromer Park Field 1 (7.30pm)
NNSW Football Thursday, 13 February 2025 Belmont Swansea United FC v Adamstown Rosebud  FC at Blacksmiths Oval (7.45pm)
Football QLD Friday, 21 February 2025 Gold Coast Knights FC v Lions FC at Croatian Sports  Centre Field 1 (8.30pm)
Football SA Friday, 21 February 2025 Campbelltown City SC v MetroStars SC at Steve  Woodcock Sports Centre (8.00pm)
Football TASFriday, 14 March 2025 Glenorchy Knights FC v Clarence Zebras FC at KGV  Park (8.15pm)
Friday, 14 March 2025 Launceston City FC v Launceston United FC at  Prospect Park (8.15pm)
Football WestFriday, 14 March 2025 Perth SC v Balcatta Etna FC at Dorrien Gardens Trinca  Field (10:00pm)
Friday, 14 March 2025 Bayswater City SC v Sorrento FC at Frank Drago  Reserve (10.15pm)
Capital Football Saturday, 5 April 2025 TBC

NPL Women’s Start Dates:

NPL Women’s Start Date Opening Match(es) all times shown in AEDT
Football QLDSaturday, 8 February 2025 Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC v Gold Coast United FC at Ballinger Park Field 1 (6.00pm)
Saturday, 8 February 2025 Brisbane City FC v Gold Coast Knights FC at Imperial  Corp Stadium Field 1 (6.00pm)
Saturday, 8 February 2025 FQ Academy QAS v Lions FC at Nudgee Recreation  Reserve Field 1 (7.00pm)
Saturday, 8 February 2025 Mitchelton FC v North Lakes United FC at Teralba  Park Field 1 (7.00pm)
Saturday, 8 February 2025 Eastern Suburbs FCv Souths United FC at Heath Park  Field 1 (8.00pm)
NNSW Football Saturday, 15 February 2025 New Lambton FC v Charlestown Azzurri FC at Alder  Park (6.00pm)
Football SAFriday, 7 March 2025 Adelaide University FC v Adelaide City FC at Service  FM Stadium (6.45pm)
Friday, 7 March 2025 Campbelltown City SC v Metro United SC at Steve  Woodcock Sports Centre (7.00pm)
Friday, 7 March 2025 Adelaide Comets FC v Flinders United FC at LJ  Hooker-Mile End Sports Park (8.45pm)
Friday, 7 March 2025 Salisbury Inter FC v West Adelaide SC at Service FM  Stadium (8.45pm)
Football NSWSunday, 9 March 2025 Macarthur Rams FC v APIA Leichhardt FC at Lynwood  Park Field 1 (5.00pm)
Sunday, 9 March 2025 Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Manly United FC at  Wanderers Football Park (5.00pm)
Sunday, 9 March 2025 Newcastle Jets FC v Northern Tigers FC at Lake  Macquarie Regional Football Facility (5.00pm)
Sunday, 9 March 2025 Illawarra Stingrays FC v Sydney University FC at  Macedonia Park, Berkeley Field 1 (5.00pm)
Sunday, 9 March 2025 UNSW FC v NWS Spirit FC at The Village Green  Synthetic (5.00pm)
Sunday, 9 March 2025 Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC v Bulls FC Academy at  Popondetta Park Field 1 (5.00pm)
Sunday, 9 March 2025 Gladesville Ravens FC v Sydney Olympic FC at  Christie Park Field 1 (5.10pm)
Football VICFriday, 14 March 2025 Bentleigh Greens SC v South Melbourne FC at  Kingston Heath Soccer Complex (6.15pm)
Friday, 14 March 2025 Spring Hills FC v Preston Lions FC at Springside  Recreational Reserve (8.30pm)
Football West Saturday, 22 March 2025 Perth SC v Fremantle City FC at Dorrien Gardens  Trinca Field (8:00pm)
Capital Football Saturday, 5 April 2025 TBC

*This does not include Football NT as they do not participate in an NPL Competition.

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