Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) is the governing federation for soccer in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is a Federation Member of the national governing body, Football Australia (FA). The Federation's origins date back to the formation of the Northern District British Football Association on 26 June 1887. To align with the international football identity, the federation was re-branded to Northern NSW Football on 25 October 2006.
Formation and early history The Northern British Football Association was formed at a meeting of clubs at the Criterion Hotel, Newcastle on Sunday 26 June 1887.Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) Tue 28 Jun 1887, Page 8
The clubs which formed the association were Minmi Rangers (1886), Hamilton Athletic (1886), Greta Blue Bells (1887), Carrington Black Watch (1887), Wallsend Rovers (1887) and Glebe Black Watch, later renamed Burwood United (1887).
It was part of the NSW Football Association before Sydney clubs broke away in 1958, leading to the creation of the Northern NSW Soccer Federation by Newcastle and Coalfields clubs.
In 1959 the Northern First Division Competition was established with 12 teams: Adamstown, Awaba, Blacksmith Rangers, Cardiff, Cessnock, Charlestown United, Lake Macquarie, Mayfield United, Merewether Advance, Newcastle Austral, Wallsend and West Wallsend.
Organisational changes In 1980, the Northern NSW Soccer Federation Ltd was registered as a company, and in 2006, it was rebranded to Northern NSW Football due to internal restructuring.
Membership structure NNSWF is the governing body for football in the northern regions of New South Wales and have seven member zones responsible for 208 football clubs.Northern NSW Football Members (accessed 2 March 2015)
The Zones are:
Football Far North Coast Football Mid North Coast Hunter Valley Football Macquarie Football Newcastle Football North Coast Football Northern Inland Football
Competitions and leagues + NNSW Men's Promotion and Relegation Level League(s)/Division(s) 1NPL NNSW 12 clubs ↓ 1.5 relegations 2Northern League One 10 clubs ↑ 1.5 promotions ↓ 1 relegations 3Zone League One 12 clubs ↑ 1 promotions ↓ 1 relegations 4Zone League Two 12 clubs ↑ 1 promotions ↓ 1 relegations 5Zone League Three 11 clubs 2025, 12 clubs 2026 ↑ 1 promotions National Premier Leagues Northern NSW The National Premier Leagues Northern NSW (NPL NNSW), is the premier competition in Northern NSW involving 12 clubs from within the Hunter Region. The competition consists of 1st Grade & Reserve Grade.
Northern League One The Northern League One is the second highest division in the NNSW league system involving 10 clubs from within the Hunter Region. The competition consists of 1st Grade & Reserve Grade.
Zone Leagues The Zone Leagues consist of three divisions Zone League One with 12 clubs, Zone League Two with 10 clubs and Zone League Three with 10 clubs.
NPL Women's NNSW The NPL Women's NNSW competition started in 2022 and is the premier women’s competition in Northern NSW involving 7 clubs from within the Hunter Region.
Regional Super League The NNSW Regional Super League was established in 2025 to create more competitive opportunities for regional clubs and players, provide a sustainable pathway for talented regional players and increase player retention and engagement.
The NNSW Regional Super League features teams from three of NNSWF's regional member zones.
The 2025 men’s NNSW Regional Super League
Inverell FC, Armidale City Westside FC, Woolgoolga United FC, Northern Storm FC, Urunga FC, Port United FC, Macleay Valley Rangers FC and Port Saints FC.
The 2025 women's NNSW Regional Super League
Tamworth FC, Oxley Vale Attunga FC, Armidale City Westside FC, Coffs City United FC, Urunga FC, Port United FC, Macleay Valley Rangers FC and Lake Cathie FC.
NNSWF Premier Youth League The NNSWF Premier Youth League has been designed to enhance the talented player pathway, enable more competitive football for young players and facilitate more games of like versus like for Under 18's, Under 16's, Under 15's, Under 14's and Under 13's.
All Premier Competitions clubs that meet the criteria, including regional football programs Mid Coast FC, North Coast Football and Northern Inland Academy of Sport Football Club (NIAS FC) are involved.
At the start of the season, the top four clubs from PYL B will join the eight clubs in PYL A to establish PYL 1.
The bottom four clubs in PYL B will join the eight clubs from PYL C to form PYL 2, prior to splitting into PYL A, B and C again halfway through the season.
Junior Development League The Junior Development League provides a pathway for talented junior players from U9’s to U12’s in the best possible learning environment. Clubs competing in the National Premier Leagues or the Northern League One competitions and regional football programs Mid Coast FC, North Coast Football and NIAS are involved.
The Junior Development League is non-competitive and focuses instead on individual skill development.
2026 Junior Development League - approved clubs Source: BoysGirlsClubJDL StatusClubJDL StatusBroadmeadow MagicGoldLake Macquarie CityGoldCentral Coast UnitedGoldMaitlandGoldCooks Hill UnitedGoldValentineGoldEdgeworthGoldAdamstown RosebudSilverLake Macquarie CityGoldCharlestown AzzuriSilver Lambton JaffasGoldNew LambtonSilverMaitlandGoldBroadmeadow MagicBronzeNew LambtonGoldKahibahBronzeNewcastle OlympicGoldNewcastle OlympicBronzeValentineGoldWestonGoldBelmont Swansea UnitedSilverSouth CardiffSilverToronto AwabaSilverAdamstown RosebudBronzeCharlestown AzzuriBronzeKahibahBronzeNorthern Inland RangersBronzeSingleton StrikersBronzeWallsendBronzeWest WallsendBronze
Past winners
Newcastle and Northern District – 1886 to 1927 SeasonPremiersChampionsScoreRunners upCup Winner1886Hamilton AthleticMinmi Rangers1–0Hamilton AthleticMinmi Rangers (Ellis Cup)1887Minmi RangersNo Finals heldMinmi Rangers (Ellis Cup)1888Minmi RangersMinmi Rangers (Ellis Cup)1889Minmi Rangers Wallsend Rovers1890Burwood UnitedMinmi Rangers2–1Burwood UnitedMinmi Rangers (Ellis Cup)1891Minmi RangersNo Finals heldBurwood United (Ellis Cup)1892Minmi Rangers Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup and Gardiner Cup)1893Minmi RangersMinmi Rangers (Ellis Cup)1894Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud Adamstown Rosebud (Ellis Cup)1895Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud Minmi Rangers (Ellis Cup)1896Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud5–1Merewether AdvanceAdamstown Rosebud1897Wallsend RoversWest Wallsend1–0Wallsend Rovers–1898West WallsendWest Wallsend2–0Minmi RangersMinmi Rangers1899West WallsendWest Wallsend1–0Adamstown RosebudWest Wallsend1900Wallsend RoversWallsend Rovers5–2West WallsendWest Wallsend (Ellis Cup and Gardiner Cups)1901 No Finals held West Wallsend (Ellis Cup and Gardiner Cups)1902West WallsendNo Finals held –1903Wallsend RoyalsWallsend Royals3–1Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud1904West WallsendNo Finals held –1905Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud7–3Adamstown Shamrocks–1906Merewether AdvanceAdamstown Rosebud2–1Merewether Advance–1907Pelaw MainPelaw Main Adamstown Rosebud (Gardiner Cup) Broadmeadow R.A. (Ellis Cup)1908Adamstown RosebudNo Finals held Adamstown Rosebud (Ellis Cup)1909Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud Adamstown Rosebud (Gardiner Cup)1910Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud –1911 EastMerewether AdvanceCessnock2–1Merewether Advance 1911 WestWallsend MazeppaWallsend Mazeppa2–0Minmi Starlights 1912CessnockCessnock1–0West Wallsend–1913Merewether AdvanceWest Wallsend2–1Merewether AdvanceMerewether Advance (Ellis Cup)1914Merewether AdvanceMerewether Advance3–0West WallsendMerewether Advance (Knockout Cup)1915Merewether AdvanceMerewether Advance2–1CessnockMerewether Advance (Kerr Cup)1916Weston Weston Bears –1917Wallsend Rovers / Weston AlbionWallsend Rovers2–0Weston Albion–1918Wallsend RoversWallsend Rovers4–0Adamstown RosebudWest Wallsend (Kerr Cup)1919West WallsendWest Wallsend4–1HamiltonWest Wallsend (Kerr Cup)1920West WallsendAdamstown Rosebud1–0Wallsend RoversWest Wallsend (Kerr Cup)1921West WallsendWest Wallsend2–0CessnockWest Wallsend (Gardiner Cup), Wallsend Royals (Kerr Cup)1922West WallsendWest Wallsend4–2CessnockWest Wallsend (Kerr Cup)1923Wallsend RoversWeston Bears3–1Adamstown RosebudWest Wallsend (Gardiner Cup), Cessnock (Kerr Cup)1924CessnockWest Wallsend3–1Wallsend RoversWest Wallsend (Gardiner Cup and Kerr Cup)1925West WallsendCessnock2–1Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud (Kerr Cup)1926West WallsendCessnock1–0West WallsendAdamstown Rosebud (Kerr Cup)1927CessnockCessnock2–0Adamstown RosebudCessnock (Kerr Cup)
NSW State League – 1928 to 1958 SeasonPremiersChampionsScoreRunners upCup Winner1928West WallsendNew Lambton1–0Adamstown Rosebud–1929CessnockAbedare2–0Weston–1930Adamstown RosebudNo Final SeriesAdamstown Rosebud (NSW State Cup)1931Weston (North) Leichhardt Annandale (South)Weston Bears West Wallsend (NSW State Cup)1932Wallsend (North) Concord (South)Wallsend Weston Bears (NSW State Cup)1933Wallsend (North) St. George (South)Wallsend –1934Adamstown RosebudNo Final SeriesWeston Bears (NSW State Cup)1935Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud –1936Weston BearsWeston Bears Weston Bears (NSW State Cup)1937GoodyearGoodyear Wallsend (NSW State Cup)1938GoodyearWallsend –1939GoodyearMetters Weston Bears (NSW State Cup)1940MettersAdamstown Rosebud –1941MettersWallsend –1942Wallsend (North)Leichhardt-Annandale (South)Wallsend Wallsend (NSW State Cup)1943WallsendWallsend Merewether (NSW State Cup)1944MettersWallsend Merewether (NSW State Cup), Wallsend (NSW State League Cup)1945Wallsend (North)Canterbury-Bankstown (South)Canterbury-Bankstown West Wallsend (NSW State League Cup)1946West Wallsend (North)Leichhardt-Annandale (South)Leichhardt-Annandale –1947Lake Macquarie City (North)Leichhardt-Annandale (South)Lake Macquarie City –1948Adamstown Rosebud (North)Leichhardt-Annandale (South)Adamstown Rosebud –1949Leichhardt-AnnandaleLeichhardt-Annandale –1950Leichhardt-AnnandaleLeichhardt-Annandale Wallsend (NSW State League Cup)1951WallsendWallsend –1952Wallsend (North)Granville (South)Granville West Wallsend (NSW State League Cup)1953East Lakes (North)Granville (South)Wallsend –1954Cessnock (North)Corrimal Rangers (South)Cessnock –1955Cessnock (North)Corrimal Rangers (South)Corrimal Rangers –1956Cessnock (North)Leichhardt-Annandale (South)Cessnock –1957Corrimal RangersWallsend West Wallsend (NSW State League Cup)1958EPT (Electrical Power Transmission)Leichhardt-Annandale Toronto-Awaba (NSW State League Cup)
Northern First Division – 1959 to 1997 SeasonPremiersChampionsScoreRunners upCup Winner1959WallsendWallsend4–0West Wallsend 1960CessnockCessnock2–0WallsendWallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup)1961AwabaAdamstown Rosebud2–0Lake Macquarie CityWallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup)1962Adamstown RosebudLake Macquarie City5–0AwabaLake Macquarie City (Ampol Cup), Cessnock (Craven Cup)1963WallsendAwaba4–1 WallsendWallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup), Austral United (Craven Cup)1964Lake Macquarie CityAwaba4–2WallsendWallsend Rovers (Ampol Cup), Austral United (Craven Cup)1965WallsendWallsend3–1Adamstown RosebudLake Macquarie City FC (Ampol Cup), Wallsend Rovers (Craven Cup)1966Adamstown RosebudAustral United2–1 Adamstown RosebudAustral United (Ampol Cup), Toronto Awaba (Craven Cup)1967Austral UnitedLake Macquarie City6–2 Austral UnitedBelmont Swansea