1995–96 National Soccer League

Australian soccer season November 2015 November 2015 NSL 1995-96 National Soccer League Soccer 1995–96 12 NSL season Melbourne Knights Champions Marconi-Fairfield Minor premiers Damian Mori (31) List of NSL seasons National Soccer League 1994–95 National Soccer League 1994–95 1996–97 National Soccer League 1996–97 The 1995–96 A-League season was the first year of a rebranded Australian National Soccer League (NSL) and the twentieth since the national league began in 1977. The competition was variously known as the A-League and the Ericsson Cup (as part of a sponsorship arrangement) at the time. Background After an attempt to reduce the number of NSL teams from 14 to 12, the Australian Soccer Federation announced that a new competition known as the A-League would operate in parallel to the NSL.New League Announced The Age 6 August 1995 Schwab, Laurie https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109035254/new-league-announced/ 6 September 2022 The federation would, in accordance with its articles of association, launch a new competition called the Soccer Australia A League, to kick off on 30 September. Laurie Schwab After a series of legal challenges, the A-League became the sole national league with largely the same composition of teams as the previous NSL season. The change was seen at the time as a rebranding rather than a new competition. Prior to the season beginning, the league announced a sponsorship agreement with Ericsson that was supposed to last until 2000, though was terminated a year early in mid-1999. The sponsorship led to the league being renamed the Ericsson Cup, though the A-League and NSL names were still used in various forms.Cockerill Michael 16 December 1999 Eve of extinction 42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109035410/eve-of-extinction/ 6 September 2022 The Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news951005_0034_3922 A-plus: Hill nets five-year sponsor Cockerill, Michael 5 October 1995 The Sydney Morning Herald 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216104108/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news951005_0034_3922 16 February 2015 live http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news950905_0011_4872 Stalled A-League gets key support Cockerill, Michael 5 September 1995 The Sydney Morning Herald 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216104105/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news950905_0011_4872 16 February 2015 live The commencement of the season was delayed as relegated teams Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United obtained court injunctions to prevent the league going ahead. Eventually the injunction was lifted in the Federal Court of Australia to allow the league to start, albeit several weeks late.http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news950920_0121_2268 Court clears deck for A-teams Cockerill, Michael 20 September 1995 The Sydney Morning Herald 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216104111/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news950920_0121_2268 16 February 2015 live http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&docID=news951001_0109_5800 A-League far from the big league Cockerill, Michael 1 October 1995 The Sydney Morning Herald 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216141739/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&docID=news951001_0109_5800 16 February 2015 Following an exhaustive and acrimonious legal process in which the lawyers (as usual) were the only winners, a revamped national competition - to be known as the A-League - will kick-off next weekend. live Changes from 1994–95 Parramatta Eagles, Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United were excluded from the national league, while Newcastle Breakers returned after a one-season absence. The Canberra Cosmos entered the league for the first time.Schwab Laurie 1995-09-06 Soccer's chiefs cross line in bid for change 36 The Age https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109035704/soccers-chiefs-cross-line-in-bid-for/ 2022-09-06 Sydney Olympic signed a deal with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to become known as UTS Olympic.Schwab Laurie 1995-10-08 Olympic sets its sights 69 The Age https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109038117/olympic-sets-its-sights/ 2022-09-06 After using penalty shootout to break ties in 1994–95, the draw returned for league play in 1994–95. Overview The league was composed of 12 teams. After 33 rounds, Marconi-Fairfield were crowned minor premiers. In the final series, Marconi-Fairfield and the Melbourne Knights contested the 1996 A-League Grand Final, with Melbourne Knights prevailing 2–1.http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960519_0172_7640 4-1 win secures Marconi grand final spot 19 May 1995 The Age 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216162249/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960519_0172_7640 16 February 2015 Minor premier Marconi will now meet defending champion Melbourne Knights in the grand final in Melbourne next Sunday in their fifth clash this season. live http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960526_0010_1286 It's two in a row for Knights Cockerill, Michael 26 May 1996 The Sydney Morning Herald 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216084838/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960526_0010_1286 16 February 2015 MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 2 (A Marth 58th A Cervinski 75th) bt MARCONI 1 (A Harper 80th). Referee: E Lennie. Crowd: 14,258 at Olympic Park. For once the game matched the occasion as the Melbourne Knights confirmed their favouritism with a stylish 2-1 win over Marconi-Fairfield in yesterday's A-League grand final. live Teams Prior to the start of the season, the Newcastle Breakers withdrew from the competition citing financial difficulties. The withdrawal of the Breakers left 13 teams, meaning each team had two byes for the season.http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news941018_0174_0949 https://web.archive.org/web/20150226071104/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news941018_0174_0949 26 February 2015 NSL kicking uphill from start The Age 18 October 1994 26 February 2015 Schwab, Lauriehttp://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news941018_0103_2984 https://web.archive.org/web/20150226071102/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news941018_0103_2984 26 February 2015 Soccer puts a brave face on unsponsored league kick-off The Sydney Morning Herald 18 October 1994 26 February 2015 Cockerill, Michael Australia 500 right Location of teams in 1995–96 season Australia -34.907722 138.570982 Adelaide City right Arrows 12x12 w.svg Australia -27.464821 153.009907 Brisbane Strikers left Arrows 12x12 e.svg Australia -38.21662 146.429254 Morwell Falcons right Arrows 12x12 w.svg Australia -34.907722 138.570982 West Adelaide left Arrows 12x12 e.svg Australia -34.404915 150.896868 Wollongong City bottom Arrows 12x12 n.svg Australia -37.749609 144.947780 90 Melbourne left Arrows 12x12 e.svg Australia -33.8679519 151.2100445 90 Sydney left Arrows 12x12 e.svg Australia -15.186013 117.212376 Melbourne teams:Melbourne KnightsSouth MelbourneSydney teams:Marconi-FairfieldUTS OlympicSydney United right TransparentPlaceholder.png #F9F9F9 Team Home city Home ground Adelaide City Adelaide Hindmarsh Stadium Brisbane Strikers Brisbane Suncorp Stadium Canberra Cosmos Canberra Bruce Stadium Morwell Falcons Morwell Falcons Park Marconi-Fairfield Sydney Marconi Stadium Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Stadium Newcastle Breakers Newcastle Breakers Stadium South Melbourne Melbourne Olympic ParkLakeside Stadium Sydney United Sydney Edensor Park UTS Olympic Sydney Leichhardt Oval West Adelaide Adelaide Hindmarsh Stadium Wollongong City Wollongong Brandon Park Regular season League table main WDL Q FS FS FS FS FS FS MAR, MEL, UTS, BRI, ADE, SYD, WES, SOU, CAN, MOR, WOL, NEW 15 9 9 65 40 17 6 10 54 35 8 11 14 48 61 17 9 7 58 35 17 8 8 50 28 9 8 16 35 65 4 5 24 35 77 14 4 15 50 56 14 12 7 47 33 17 8 8 55 41 16 5 12 49 43 5 5 23 31 63 C Adelaide City Brisbane Strikers Canberra Cosmos Marconi Fairfield Melbourne Knights Morwell Falcons Newcastle Breakers South Melbourne Sydney United UTS Olympic West Adelaide Wollongong City yellow1 Qualification for the Finals series 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. rsssf.com Finals series y 1 Melbourne Knights 1 2 (3) 2 Marconi Fairfield 0 2 (2) 3 UTS Olympic 0 0 (0) 5 Adelaide City 2 1 (3) 4 Brisbane Strikers 0 1 (1) 6 Sydney United 2 2 (3) Adelaide City 1 Sydney United 0 Marconi Fairfield 4 Adelaide City 1 Melbourne Knights 2 Marconi Fairfield 1 Grand Final 1996 National Soccer League Grand Final 26 May 199615:00 AEST Melbourne Knights 2 – 1 (report) Marconi-Fairfield Marth 58 Cervinski 74 Harper 78 Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne 14,258 Eddie Lennie Individual awards Johnny Warren Medal: Damian Mori (Adelaide City)http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960521_0166_4400 Mori tops soccer poll by record 186 votes Schwab, Laurie 21 May 1996 The Age 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216175310/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news960521_0166_4400 16 February 2015 Laurie Schwab live U-21 Player of the Year: Jim Tsekenis (West Adelaide) Top Scorer: Damian Mori (Adelaide City) – 31 goals Coach of the Year: John Perin (Adelaide City) Notes References - NSL Awards Australia - List of final tables (RSSSF) 1995–96 Category:1995–96 in Australian men's soccer leagues Australia