Northern League One is a semi-professional soccer league based in the Northern regions of New South Wales served as the second tier of Northern NSW men's soccer. The competition is conducted by Northern NSW Football, one of two organising bodies in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier Leagues NSW organised by Football NSW).
The league was formally known as the Northern Second Division (1959-1997) and subsequently the Northern First Division (1998-2013).
Format The competition consists of 10 teams, who each have a First grade and Reserve grade team. The regular season takes place over 18 rounds, with each team playing each other twice in a home and away format.
From 2024 promotion and relegation was reintroduced. The team in first place at the end of the league season are crowned premiers and promoted to the National Premier League (NPL). The team that finishes 11th in NPL Men’s NNSW will join the teams that finish second, third and fourth in Northern League One in a promotion/relegation play-off series to determine the 12th team in NPL Men’s NNSW.
From 2025 the team that finishes last (10th) is relegated to Zone League One, while the Zone League One champion is promoted to Northern League One with no play-off series.
History After Sydney clubs broke away from the NSW Football Association in 1958, the Northern NSW Soccer Federation was created by Newcastle and Coalfields clubs.
An 8-team Northern Division Two was established with: Austral Dutch, Courtaulds, Jesmond, Kahibah, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Whitebridge and Young Wallsend.
Current teams The following teams are competing in the 2026 season. ClubNickname(s)FoundedGroundLocationCapacityCessnock CityHornets1907CessnockTurner ParkCessnock500Dudley Redhead UnitedThistles1896Lake MacquarieLydon OvalDudley450Lake Macquarie CityLakes / Roosters1912Lake MacquarieMacquarie FieldSpeers Point400Newcastle Croatia 2023Lake MacqaurieLake Macquarie Regional Football FacilitySpeers Point500New Lambton FC Eagles1917NewcastleAlder ParkNew Lambton250Singleton StrikersWildhogs1978SingletonHowe ParkSingleton500South CardiffGunners / Southy1964Lake MacquarieUlinga OvalCardiff South500Toronto AwabaThe Stags1922Lake MacquarieLyall Peacock FieldToronto500WallsendRed Devils1887NewcastleThe GardensWallsend2,000West WallsendBluebells1891Lake MacquarieJohnston ParkWest Wallsend500
Honours NNSW Northern League 1 SeasonPremiersChampionsScoreRunners up2026Lake Macquarie CityNo finals series Played.2025Kahibah 2024Belmont Swansea United2023Toronto-AwabaWest Wallsend1–1 (4–2 )South Cardiff2022New LambtonBelmont Swansea United2–1New Lambton2021New LambtonNot Played due to COVID-192020New LambtonSingleton Strikers2–0New Lambton2019Cooks Hill UnitedBelmont Swansea United3–2Cooks Hill United2018Cooks Hill UnitedBelmont Swansea United4–2West Wallsend2017Cooks Hill UnitedCooks Hill United4–0Belmont Swansea United2016Lake Macquarie CityWallsend0–0 (4–3 )Belmont Swansea United2015ValentineWallsend1–0Valentine2014MaitlandMaitland3–1 Valentine
NNSW Northern First Division (1998–2013) SeasonPremiersChampionsScoreRunners up2013Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud2–1Maitland2012Lambton JaffasLambton Jaffas1–0Adamstown Rosebud2011Charlestown City BluesCharlestown City Blues1–0Lambton Jaffas2010Lake Macquarie CityCharlestown City Blues3–2Lake Macquarie City2009AzzuriMaitland1–0Azzuri2008Adamstown RosebudAdamstown Rosebud1–0Maitland2007West WallsendWest Wallsend4–1 (a.e.t.)Lambton Jaffas2006Dudley RedheadBeresfield United1–0Dudley Redhead2005Phoenix RangersPhoenix Rangers3–1West Wallsend2004Phoenix RangersPhoenix Rangers3–1West Wallsend2003Newcastle UniversityWest Wallsend2-JanDudley Redhead2002Toronto-AwabaDudley Redhead1–0Toronto-Awaba2001Lake Macquarie CityLake Macquarie City2–0Toronto-Awaba2000West WallsendWest Wallsend1–0Medowie1999West WallsendDudley Redhead4–0Budgewoi1998BudgewoiLambton Jaffas3–1Budgewoi
NNSW Northern Second Division (1959–1997) SeasonPremiersChampionsScoreRunners up1997South CardiffLambton Jaffas2–1South Cardiff1996Dudley Redhead South Cardiff 3–2 Budgewoi1995South CardiffNo Final Series1994WallsendWallsend2–0Broadmeadow Macedonia1993Newcastle MacedoniaCessnock City4–0Belmont Swansea1992Cessnock CitySingleton Strikers1–0Stockton1991Hamilton OlympicHamilton Olympic0–0 (3–0 (p))Lambton Jaffas1990Newcastle Croatia Lambton Jaffas 0–0 (4–3 (p)) Newcastle Croatia1989Edgeworth EaglesEdgeworth Eagles 3–2Belmont1988Cessnock CityCessnock City1–0Newcastle Macedonia1987StocktonCessnock City1–0Stockton1986StocktonCessnock City3–0Belmont1985WallsendBelmont1–0Wallsend1984Austral UnitedAustral United2–0Wallsend1983CardiffCardiff3–0Austral United1982Doyalson-Wyee RSLCardiff Doyalson-Wyee RSL1981Austral UnitedAustral United4–1Doyalson-Wyee RSL1980Dudley Redhead United Beresfield United 6–1 Belmont1979Hamilton Red StarWest Lakes 4–3Hamilton Red Star1978Belmont Swansea UnitedBelmont Swansea United1–0Belmont1977Cessnock CityBelmont Swansea UnitedCessnock City1976Central Coast United1975MaitlandCentral Coast United3–2Maitland1974Charlestown UnitedMaitland Charlestown United1973Edgeworth EaglesKotara South2–1Edgeworth Eagles1972Mayfield UnitedMayfield United3–1Cessnock City1971New Lambton SouthMayfield United2–0New Lambton South1970MaitlandMaitland2–1Charlestown RSL1969MaitlandMaitland2–1Mayfield United1968CardiffCardiff2–1Cessnock City1967New Lambton SouthMayfield UnitedNew Lambton South1966Belmont Swansea United1965Hamilton AzzuriSlavia United3–2Hamilton Azzuri1964Weston BearsWeston Bears2–1Dudley Redhead1963JesmondMayfield United7–2Jesmond1962MaitlandWhitebridge2–0 (a.e.t.)Maitland1961Merewether AdvanceMerewether Advance 6–4 Jesmond1960Jesmond1959WhitebridgeKahibah2–1Young Wallsend
Titles PremiersChampionsMaitland5Belmont Swansea United5Lake Macquarie City4Maitland5Belmont Swansea United3Cessnock City4Cessnock City3Lambton Jaffas4Cooks Hill United3Mayfield United4New Lambton3West Wallsend4West Wallsend3Cardiff3Adamstown Rosebud2Wallsend3Austral United2Adamstown Rosebud2Cardiff2Austral United2Dudley Redhead2Beresfield United2Edgeworth Eagles2Charlestown City Blues2Jesmond2Dudley Redhead2New Lambton South2Phoenix Rangers2Phoenix Rangers2Singleton Strikers2South Cardiff2Belmont1Stockton2Central Coast United1Toronto-Awaba2Cooks Hill United1Wallsend2Edgeworth1Azzuri1Hamilton Olympic1Budgewoi1Kahibah1Central Coast United1Kotara South1Charlestown City Blues1Lake Macquarie City1Charlestown United1Merewether Advance1Doyalson-Wyee RSL1Slavia United1Dudley Redhead United1South Cardiff1Hamilton Azzurri1West Lakes1Hamilton Olympic1Weston Bears1Hamilton Red Star1Whitebridge1Kahibah1Lambton Jaffas1Mayfield United1Merewether Advance1Newcastle Croatia1Newcastle Macedonia1Newcastle University1Valentine1Weston Bears1Whitebridge1
See also Northern Inland Football
References
External links Northern League One Division Home Page Northern NSW Football website Oz Football Northern NSW Statistics Oz Football Northern League One Champions Statistics