Association football in the Australian Capital Territory
Encyclopedia
Association football in the ACT
is predominantly amateur
with local competitions organised by Capital Football
involving teams from within the ACT and from the region of New South Wales
. Occasionally, teams based in the ACT have competed in interstate and national competitions.
compete in the W-League
, the national women's football competition, and were runners-up in 2008.
There is currently no ACT-based team competing in the mens A-League
national competition, a consortium failed in a bid to join the league for the 2010-11 season.
Previously, Canberra
-based teams of Canberra City
(1977–1986) and Canberra Cosmos
(1995–2001) competed in the National Soccer League
with limited success. The Canberra Eclipse competed in the Women's National Soccer League
from 1996 to 2000. Inter Monaro
, who competed in the NSL in 1985-86, are often referred to as an 'ACT' team although were actually based in Queanbeyan just over the border.
Canberra has been suggested as a possible location for a new franchise in an expansion of the A-League
for the 2008/09 season, along with Townsville, Wollongong, Hobart
, Geelong and the Gold Coast
.
A pathway for Canberran players into national level competition has been established through A-League
club . Manager Lawrie McKinna
has stated his intention to offer a trial with the Mariners to two players from the ACT Premier League each year, starting from 2007. Capital Football is also seeking to establish long-term agreements with for player pathways and competition matches. An A-League Preseason Cup group match between Sydney FC and was played in 2006
at Canberra Stadium
, and again in 2007
between Sydney and Central Coast. The Mariners will play two regular season matches at Canberra Stadium in 2009.
Capital Football also organises the Kanga Cup International Youth Football Tournament held annually in Canberra since 1991. The open invitation tournament caters for male and female players from ages 10 to 18, featuring teams from the Canberra region, across Australia and international teams.
, contested by amateur clubs from the local region. Premier League clubs are generally also required to field teams in age-limited divisions of Premier Pathway League and Premier U18. Below the Premier League is the State League consisting of Divisions 1 to 10. Masters divisions are also operated for players aged over 35 with three divisions and an over-45 league.
The Federation Cup is generally held as a pre-season cup for Premier League and higher level State League teams. Competing teams will be placed into pools, with the winner of each pool proceeding to a finals series.
A similar structure operates for women's football. The highest level is the Premier League, which is the elite division with Premier League Reserves and Premier League under-18 competitions also held. Below this, four State League divisions are played and also a Masters competition. Pre-season cups are also run annually, open for teams in all grades.
leagues are run for men, women and children, for all different skill levels including a Premier League for senior men and women.
(1988–94) and most recently Belconnen Blue Devils
(2000–05).
The football program
of the Australian Institute of Sport
is based in the ACT and draws on local and interstate players. The program is not affiliated with the Capital Football competitions, although non-competition matches are occasionally played against local club sides.
The AIS team competes in higher level leagues in other states, previously in NSW
and Victoria
and will play in the Victorian Premier League
in 2007.
. A senior ACT Rockets team has been formed in 2008 and 2009 for friendly matches against visiting teams, selected from players competing in the ACT Premier League.
Elite footballing programs aimed at talent identification and development are run through Capital Football with ACT Government assistance drawing on local players. The 'ACT Academy of Sport' provides development scholarships into men's and women's youth teams, and the 'Capital Football High Performance Program' runs programs for junior players.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
is predominantly amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
with local competitions organised by Capital Football
Capital Football
Capital Football is the trading name for the ACT Football Federation Incorporated, the state governing body for association football in the Australian Capital Territory...
involving teams from within the ACT and from the region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Occasionally, teams based in the ACT have competed in interstate and national competitions.
National Competition
Canberra United FCCanberra United FC
Canberra United Football Club is an Australian football club that competes in the W-League, the national women's competition. Based in Canberra, the club was formed in 2008 for the league's inaugural season...
compete in the W-League
W-League (Australia)
The W-League is the preeminent women's semi-professional football league in Australia. Established in 2008, it is composed of eight teams - seven of them are affiliated with seven of the Australian clubs currently in the A-League, with the eighth team based in Canberra...
, the national women's football competition, and were runners-up in 2008.
There is currently no ACT-based team competing in the mens A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
national competition, a consortium failed in a bid to join the league for the 2010-11 season.
Previously, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
-based teams of Canberra City
Canberra City SC
Canberra City Football Club, also known for some time as the Canberra Arrows, is an Australian football club based in Canberra in the ACT...
(1977–1986) and Canberra Cosmos
Canberra Cosmos
Canberra Cosmos FC is a defunct Australian association football club based in Canberra in the ACT. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1995/96 season until the end of the 2000/01 season, after which it folded, primarily due to financial difficulties...
(1995–2001) competed in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
with limited success. The Canberra Eclipse competed in the Women's National Soccer League
Women's National Soccer League
The Women’s National Soccer League was Australia's top women's football league and was the breeding ground of many of Australia's world-class players....
from 1996 to 2000. Inter Monaro
Inter Monaro
Inter Monaro SC is a defunct Australian football club that was based in Queanbeyan, NSW. Inter Monaro entere the NSW State League in 1977 after winning the ACT State League in 1976. In 1979 they won the NSW State League Grand Final...
, who competed in the NSL in 1985-86, are often referred to as an 'ACT' team although were actually based in Queanbeyan just over the border.
Canberra has been suggested as a possible location for a new franchise in an expansion of the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
for the 2008/09 season, along with Townsville, Wollongong, Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Geelong and the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
.
A pathway for Canberran players into national level competition has been established through A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club . Manager Lawrie McKinna
Lawrie McKinna
Lawrie McKinna is a Scottish-Australian former football player and formerly managed Chengdu Blades in China Super League.-Club career:...
has stated his intention to offer a trial with the Mariners to two players from the ACT Premier League each year, starting from 2007. Capital Football is also seeking to establish long-term agreements with for player pathways and competition matches. An A-League Preseason Cup group match between Sydney FC and was played in 2006
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
at Canberra Stadium
Canberra Stadium
Canberra Stadium is a facility primarily used for rugby league and rugby union games, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia...
, and again in 2007
A-League 2007-08
The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
between Sydney and Central Coast. The Mariners will play two regular season matches at Canberra Stadium in 2009.
Local Competition
Competitions operated through Capital Football are at various levels based on player ages, and generally are played from April to September.Junior
The ACT has a strong junior competition with a comparatively large number of registered players. Competitions are organised by age-group:- Rooball for Under-5/6 to Under-12 age groups, which is normally run in the actual clubs.
- Boys Junior leagues from the age of 13–17 years, with divisions 1-3 in most age groups.
- Girls Junior leagues from the age of 12–17 years, with divisions from 1-2 in most age groups.
Capital Football also organises the Kanga Cup International Youth Football Tournament held annually in Canberra since 1991. The open invitation tournament caters for male and female players from ages 10 to 18, featuring teams from the Canberra region, across Australia and international teams.
Senior
The highest football competition is the ACT Premier LeagueACT Premier League
The ACT Premier League, known as the Gatorade Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is an association football competition contested by clubs affiliated to Capital Football...
, contested by amateur clubs from the local region. Premier League clubs are generally also required to field teams in age-limited divisions of Premier Pathway League and Premier U18. Below the Premier League is the State League consisting of Divisions 1 to 10. Masters divisions are also operated for players aged over 35 with three divisions and an over-45 league.
The Federation Cup is generally held as a pre-season cup for Premier League and higher level State League teams. Competing teams will be placed into pools, with the winner of each pool proceeding to a finals series.
A similar structure operates for women's football. The highest level is the Premier League, which is the elite division with Premier League Reserves and Premier League under-18 competitions also held. Below this, four State League divisions are played and also a Masters competition. Pre-season cups are also run annually, open for teams in all grades.
Futsal
FutsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
leagues are run for men, women and children, for all different skill levels including a Premier League for senior men and women.
Interstate Competition
From time to time, ACT based clubs have participated in NSW premier competitions including Canberra City (1987), Canberra DeakinCanberra FC
Canberra Football Club is an Australian football club from the city of Canberra that competes in the ACT competitions including the ACT Premier League. The club was founded in 1958 as Canberra Croatia by local Croatian Australians, later taking the names HOPE, Croatia Deakin, Canberra Metro and...
(1988–94) and most recently Belconnen Blue Devils
Belconnen Blue Devils
Belconnen United FC, also known as the Blue Devils, are a football team in Belconnen, Australia. The club currently plays in the ACT Premier League.-History:...
(2000–05).
The football program
Australian Institute of Sport - Football (soccer)
The Australian Institute of Sport Football Program is an association football talent identification and player development program run by the Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra...
of the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
is based in the ACT and draws on local and interstate players. The program is not affiliated with the Capital Football competitions, although non-competition matches are occasionally played against local club sides.
The AIS team competes in higher level leagues in other states, previously in NSW
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and will play in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
in 2007.
Representative
ACT representative teams often compete at national junior level competitions. The playing strip yellow and blue with white trim, representing the colours of the ACT flagFlag of the Australian Capital Territory
The current state flag of the Australian Capital Territory was officially adopted by the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 1993....
. A senior ACT Rockets team has been formed in 2008 and 2009 for friendly matches against visiting teams, selected from players competing in the ACT Premier League.
Elite footballing programs aimed at talent identification and development are run through Capital Football with ACT Government assistance drawing on local players. The 'ACT Academy of Sport' provides development scholarships into men's and women's youth teams, and the 'Capital Football High Performance Program' runs programs for junior players.