The 2019–20 Gibraltar National League season was the first edition of the Gibraltar National League in Gibraltar, and the 121st edition of football in the territory overall. The league was announced in June 2018 when the Gibraltar Football Association decided to merge the Gibraltar Premier Division and Gibraltar Second Division at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.
On 1 August 2019, confirmation came that 16 teams would compete in the league.Key changes to the domestic league revealed to clubs Gibraltar Chronicle. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019. However, this number was revised to 14 teams after two withdrawals, as announced by the GFA eleven days later. The following day, the number of participants was further reduced to 13 when Leo withdrew from the competition.
COVID-19 pandemic would cause the season to be suspended in March 2020. The Challenge Group was abandoned, while the Gibraltar FA looked to conclude the Championship Group in some form. On 1 May 2020, the Gibraltar Football Association announced that the domestic football season had been terminated. After the league had discussions of whether the title would be awarded, the Gibraltar FA announced on 7 May 2020 the season was declared null and void; the title would remain vacant.
Format On 1 August 2019, the GFA confirmed details of the restructure of domestic football in Gibraltar, and the format of the a new 16 team league.Restructuring of the Domestic Men's Senior League Gibraltar FA. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019. By 12 August, the GFA confirmed two teams would not participate and 14 teams would contest the league. With Leo's withdrawal the next day, the league was reduced to 13. Teams will play one round of games as a single league, before splitting into two groups: the Championship Group contested by the top 7 sides, and the Challenge Group between the bottom 6 sides. The winners of the Challenge Group will receive the GFA Challenge Trophy and receive a bye to the second round of the next season's Rock Cup.
Teams
16 teams were initially expected to participate in the inaugural National League, with Hound Dogs dropping down to the 2019–20 Gibraltar Intermediate League, having been granted special dispensation by the GFA.
On 9 August, Gibraltar Phoenix withdrew from the league. Two days before, Gibraltar United were threatened with expulsion if they failed to repay debts by 12 August.
On 12 August, the GFA confirmed the withdrawal of Gibraltar Phoenix and Gibraltar United. The day after, Leo withdrew from the league too, after a takeover by King's Lynn Town owner Stephen Cleeve was blocked by the GFA. On 22 August, it was reported that Olympique 13 were at risk of withdrawing from the league, having forfeited their game against Europa due to a shortage of players.El Olympique no se presenta y apunta a otra retirada en Gibraltar EuropaSur (in Spanish). 22 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019. They were expelled on 11 September.
Teams with a blue background played in the 2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division. Teams with a red background played in the 2018–19 Gibraltar Second Division.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Club sponsor 2018–19 10th Joma GVC HoldingsChestertons 1st Joma 5th 2nd Admiral 2nd 8th 1st 9th 7th Manchester 62 Joma CEPSA GIB 4th 4th M Price 3rd
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment Boca Gibraltar End of contract 20 May 2019 Pre-season 24 July 2019 Europa Point 25 May 2019 20 June 2019Bula joins Europa Point Football Gibraltar. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019. Glacis United 25 May 2019 1 July 2019 College 1975 Resigned 25 May 2019 1 June 2019 Mons Calpe 28 May 2019 11 June 2019New Manager Announcement Mons Calpe on Twitter. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019. Leo Moved to Assistant Manager 15 June 2019 15 June 2019New technical team Leo FC on Facebook. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019. Resigned 19 June 2019 19 June 2019Jeff Wood takes over Man 62 Football Gibraltar. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019. Mons Calpe 10 July 2019 19 July 2019Gibraltar, español... y también valenciano Superdeporte. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019. 30 July 2019 1 August 2019New Head Coach Mons Calpe SC. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.Lynx Signed by Mons Calpe U23 1 August 2019 2 August 2019Glacis United Mutual consent 3 September 2019 11th 3 September 2019 Sacked 3 October 2019 5th 18 October 2019Mons Calpe 11 October 2019 6th 18 October 2019Boca Gibraltar Moved to Assistant Manager 18 October 2019 11th 18 October 2019Manchester 62 Mutual consent 21 October 2019 8th 5 November 2019David Wilson is new coach at Manchester 62 Gibraltar Chronicle. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.Europa Point Resigned 8 November 2019 10th 26 November 2019Boca Gibraltar 8 November 2019 8th 12 November 2019Lincoln Red Imps Mutual consent 19 December 2019BREAKING: Head coach and Club Part Ways Lincoln Red Imps FC. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019 3rd 4 January 2020Mons Calpe 1 January 2020 7th 1 January 2020Bruno's Magpies Resigned 3 January 2020 5th 3 January 2020Boca Gibraltar Mutual consent 9 January 2020 9th 9 January 2020College 1975 Sacked 1 February 2020 12th 1 February 2020
League table Data displayed was prior to the termination of the season. There were no official league games this season as all results were expunged.
Results
Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 JuanfriSt Joseph's242 Liam WalkerEuropa213 Kike GómezLincoln Red Imps154 Manu DimasEuropa145 Germán CortésBoca Gibraltar12 JuampeEuropa Alberto CaravacaLions Gibraltar BoroSt Joseph's9 Sergio Molina RiveroLincoln Red Imps9 GatoLincoln Red Imps
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date St Joseph's College 1975 7–0 (H) Mons Calpe College 1975 9–1 (A) Lincoln Red Imps College 1975 9–1 (H) Lincoln Red Imps College 1975 9–1 (H) Lincoln Red Imps Lions Gibraltar 7–1 (A) 4 St Joseph's Glacis United 8–1 (H) 4 St Joseph's Glacis United 8–1 (H) Boca Gibraltar College 1975 4–0 (A) St Joseph's Lions Gibraltar 4–0 (A) Europa College 1975 12–0 (A) Europa College 1975 12–0 (A) St Joseph's Mons Calpe 6–0 (A) Lincoln Red Imps Boca Gibraltar 8–1 (A) Europa Glacis United 6–2 (H) Europa Lions Gibraltar 5–0 (H) Lincoln Red Imps Lynx 5–0 (H) Lynx Bruno's Magpies 3–1 (H) Boca Gibraltar College 1975 7–5 (H) Boca Gibraltar College 1975 7–5 (H) 4 College 1975 Boca Gibraltar 5–7 (A) Lincoln Red Imps Lions Gibraltar 7–1 (H) Mons Calpe Manchester 62 11–1 (A) Mons Calpe Manchester 62 11–1 (A)
Clean Sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1 Jamie RobbaSt Joseph's7 Dayle ColeingEuropa2 Christian FraizMons Calpe64 Javi MuñozEuropa5 Kyle GoldwinLincoln Red Imps6 Bradley BandaLynx47 Francisco PérezLions Gibraltar3 Matt CaferBruno's Magpies Frank WarwickManchester 6210 Jordan PerezBoca Gibraltar2 Conor O'KeefeBruno's Magpies Ivan MorenoGlacis United Manuel SolerLincoln Red Imps
Awards
Player of the week
WeekPlayerClubReference1 Liam WalkerEuropa2 Marko MarciusLynx3 Jaron VinetMons Calpe4 Michael RuizGlacis United5 Sergio Molina RiveroLincoln Red Imps6 BoroSt Joseph's7 Idé GomesLincoln Red Imps8 LuismaLions Gibraltar9 JuanfriSt Joseph's
WeekPlayerClubReference10 JuampeEuropa11 JuampeEuropa12 Jamie RobbaSt Joseph's13 Julian Del RioLincoln Red Imps14 Kike GómezLincoln Red Imps15 Dylan HernándezLynx16 WillyEuropa17 Sunday EmmanuelLincoln Red Imps18 Liam WalkerEuropa
Monthly awards
MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthReferenceManagerClubPlayerClubAugust Albert ParodyLynx Alberto ValdiviaLynxSeptember Víctor AfonsoLincoln Red Imps Sergio Molina RiveroLincoln Red ImpsOctober Víctor AfonsoLincoln Red Imps JuanfriSt Joseph'sNovember Rafa EscobarEuropa Liam WalkerEuropaDecember Albert FerriLions Gibraltar Alberto CaravacaLions GibraltarJanuary Rafa EscobarEuropa Julian Del RioLincoln Red ImpsFebruary Rafa EscobarEuropa Dayle ColeingEuropa
End-of-season awards End of season awards were handed out by Football Gibraltar, the Gibraltar Football Association's official UEFA correspondents, on 28 May and 2 June 2020.
AwardWinnerClubNomineesRankPlayerClubManager of the Season Rafa EscobarEuropa 2 Raúl Procopio Baizán St Joseph's 3 Albert FerriLions Gibraltar 4 Albert ParodyLynxGoalkeeper of the Season Dayle ColeingEuropa 2 Jamie RobbaSt Joseph's 3 Kyle Goldwin Lincoln Red Imps 4 Bradley Banda LynxDefender of the Season Olmo GonzálezEuropa 2 Sergio Sánchez Europa 3 Ezequiel Rojas St Joseph's 4 Bernardo Lopes Lincoln Red ImpsMidfielder of the Season Liam WalkerEuropa 2 Christian Pecci St Joseph's 3 Alejandro Avilés Europa 4 Dan Bent Bruno's MagpiesStriker of the Season JuanfriSt Joseph's 2 Juampe Europa 3 Kike Gómez Lincoln Red Imps 4 Alberto Caravaca Lions GibraltarPlayer of the Season Liam WalkerEuropa 2 Juanfri St Joseph's 3 Juampe EuropaYoung Player of the Season Jayce OliveroEuropa 2 Ethan Britto Lincoln Red Imps 3 Jaron Vinet Bruno's Magpies Challenge Group Player of the Season Andre dos Santos Mons CalpeN/A Challenge Group Young Player of the Season Ayoub El Hmidi Mons CalpeN/AFans' Player of the Season Liam WalkerEuropa 2 Dayle Coleing Europa 3 Kike Gómez Lincoln Red ImpsFans' Young Player of the Season Ayoub El HmidiMons Calpe 2 Jayce Olivero Europa 3 Ethan Britto Lincoln Red Imps
Fans' Team of the Season
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Dayle Coleing Jack Sergeant Bernardo Lopes Olmo González Jayce Olivero Lee Casciaro Nacho Fernández Aymen Mouelhi Liam Walker Juanfri Kike Gómez
References
External links Gibraltar Football Association Gibraltar Football Association–Championship Group Gibraltar Football Association–Challenge Group