The 2008 TeleChoice Premier League season was the eighth season of the revamped NSW Premier League. This season also marked the promotion of two new teams, in the West Sydney Berries and the Macarthur Rams from the Super League (one division lower). This increased the teams competing in the competition from 10 to 12 teams and the number of rounds from 18 to 22 in the regular season.
The 2008 season officially began on 22 February and concluded with the grand final between Wollongong FC and the Sutherland Sharks on 7 September.
Before the start of the season, all the 2008 teams competed in the Johnny Warren Cup, the official pre-season tournament. On 16 February, Sydney Olympic defeated the Sutherland Sharks 2 goals to 1 at Seymour Shaw Park to win the Johnny Warren Cup.
Throughout the season many Premier League, Super League, Division One and Division Two teams competed in an FA Cup-style knockout competition in which the Bankstown City Lions and Sydney Olympic contested the grand final with Bankstown prevailing 3–1 winners.
Changes from Previous Season The number of teams competing increased from 10 to 12, with the inclusion of the West Sydney Berries and the Macarthur Rams. The regular season remained a home-away round-robin format, thus increasing the number of rounds from 18 to 22. The final series was therefore also adapted. The number of teams competing in the finals series increased from 4 to 5. The finals series used a 5-team McIntyre system to determine the champions.
Clubs Teams promoted from Super League: (After the end of the 2007 season.) West Sydney Berries Macarthur Rams
Teams relegated to Super League: (After the end of the 2007 season.) Nil
Club Ground Capacity A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers Lambert Park 7,000 Bankstown City Lions FC Jensen Oval 8,000 Blacktown City Demons FC Fairfax Community Stadium 7,500 Macarthur Rams Campbelltown Stadium 20,000 Manly United FC Cromer Park 5,000 Marconi Stallions FC Marconi Stadium 11,500 Penrith Nepean United FC CUA Stadium 21,000 Sutherland Sharks FC Seymour Shaw Park 5,000 Sydney Olympic FC Belmore Sports Ground 25,000 Sydney United FC Sydney United Sports Centre 12,000 West Sydney Berries FC Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre 18,000 Wollongong FC John Crehan Park 7,500
Regular season
League table
Results
Finals series
Qualifying Finals
Semi-finals
Preliminary final
Grand final
Gold Medal Dinner At the end of the season, Football NSW hosted the Gold Medal Dinner, where players, coaches and referees were awarded for their work throughout the Premier League season. Award Grade Name Club Player of the Year First Grade Brendan Gan Sutherland Sharks Andreas Golden Boot First Grade Robert Younis A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers Player of the Year 20's Daniel Rezo Sydney United Golden Boot 20's Brodie Mooy Marconi Stallions Goalkeeper of the Year First Grade Matthew Nash A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers Coach of the Year First Grade Brian Brown Sutherland Sharks Referee of the Year – Jonathan Streater –
All-Stars Team
Based on a points system in which all match reporters took part in during the course of the 22 rounds, eleven players were selected in various positions highlighting their performances for season 2008.
Goalkeeper: Matthew Nash (A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers)
Defence: Emmanuel Zunino (Sydney Olympic), Pedj Bojić (Sutherland Sharks), Danial Cummins (Wollongong FC), Shane Webb (Bankstown City Lions)
Midfield: Nahuel Arrarte (Marconi Stallions), Robbie Cattanach (Manly United), Brendan Gan (Sutherland Sharks), Christopher Boyle (Sydney United)
Attack: Robert Younis (A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers), Brad Boardman (Sutherland Sharks)
Coach: Brian "Bomber" Brown
See also NSW Premier League Football NSW
References
External links NSW Premier League Official website