The 1985 National Soccer League was the ninth season of the National Soccer League. The season was again played with two Conferences as separate leagues, followed by a conference playoff final. The Grand Final was won by Brunswick Juventus 2–0 on aggregate over Sydney City. The season began on 9 March 1985, and concluded on 8 September 1985. The league was known as the Olympic Airways Soccer League under a sponsorship arrangement with Greek airline Olympic Airways.
Teams Twenty-four teams competed in the league (twelve in the Northern Conference and twelve in the Southern Conference) – the sixteen teams from the previous season and eight teams accepted from their respective state leagues.
Stadiums and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order by conference. Team Location Stadium CapacityNorthern ConferenceAPIA LeichhardtSydney Lambert ParkBlacktown CitySydney Gabbie StadiumCanberra CityCanberraCanberra StadiumInter MonaroQueanbeyanSeiffert OvalMarconi FairfieldSydney Marconi StadiumNewcastle Rosebud UnitedNewcastleAdamstown OvalPenrith CityPenrithCook ParkSt George-BudapestSydney St George StadiumSydney CitySydney ES Marks Athletics FieldSydney CroatiaSydney King Tomislav ParkSydney OlympicSydney Pratten ParkWollongong CityWollongongWollongong ShowgroundSouthern ConferenceAdelaide CityAdelaide Olympic Sports FieldBrisbane CityBrisbane Spencer ParkBrisbane LionsBrisbane Lions StadiumBrunswick JuventusMelbourne Olympic Park No. 2Footscray JUSTMelbourne Schintler ReserveGreen GullyMelbourne Green Gully ReserveHeidelberg UnitedMelbourne Olympic VillageMelbourne CroatiaMelbourne Olympic ParkPreston MakedoniaMelbourne B.T. Connor ReserveSouth MelbourneMelbourne Middle ParkSunshine George CrossMelbourne Chaplin ReserveWest AdelaideAdelaide Hindmarsh Stadium
Head coach changes The Australian Soccer Annual 1985 reported seven managerial changes. TeamOutgoing head coachDate of vacancyPosition in the tableIncoming head coachDate of appointmentAdelaide City Frank Pimblett1985Pre-season Tony Lowndes1985Brunswick Juventus John Margaritis Tommy TraynorInter Monaro— Josef ProcopMelbourne Croatia Tony Vrzina Tommy CummingPreston Makedonia Frank McAleer Willie MurraySunshine George Cross Billy Wilkinson John GardinerWest Adelaide Sam Salabsides Neil McGachey
Regular season
League tables ; Northern Conference
Southern Conference
Results Northern Conference
Southern Conference
Finals series Northern Conference
Southern Conference
Grand Final
Brunswick Juventus win 2–0 on aggregate
Individual awards Award Winner Club National Soccer League Player of the Year Graham Honeyman West Adelaide National Soccer League Under 21 Player of the Year Alan Hunter Brisbane Lions National Soccer League Coach of the Year Eddie Thomson Sydney City
References
OzFootball Archives - 1985 NSL Season