Heritage Round takes centre stage this weekend
The ultra-impressive history of our PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clubs will be celebrated for the third successive season with this weekend’s ‘Heritage Round’ taking centre stage across various football pitches in Sydney and Wollongong.
Round 12 will see all six matches celebrate the wealth of history behind NSW football, and the contribution which those clubs have made to the football landscape since the start of the last century.
Club legends and epic matches will be celebrated during the week leading into Heritage Round, as well as on match days themselves.
Keep an eye out for a special colour piece on Sydney Olympic’s number one fan, Andrea ‘The Legend’ Hatziannnou, as Football NSW goes one on one with one of the greatest fans this country has ever seen since the old National Soccer League days – watch this space.
Some clubs will be playing in special "retro" jerseys such as the Rockdale City Suns as the whole of the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s competition gets behind Heritage Round, which continues to be a much loved date on the football calendar.
Football NSW Media Manager Mark Stavroulakis paid tribute to the clubs’ hard work in promoting the game and nurturing talent.
“It’s great that Football NSW honour these clubs who have given the game so much here in Australia and NSW, with the special Heritage Round initiative that commenced two seasons ago.
“Each club has played a pivotal role in the development of our game and we have seen so many past and present Socceroos stars come through these ranks.
“I wish all clubs the best of luck in what will be a monumental weekend of football for the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s competition.”
The 12 clubs will each look back at their history including:
• APIA Leichhardt Tigers, founded in and 1954 winners of the 1987 National Soccer League, under the guidance of Australian football legend Rale Rasic.
• Blacktown City, founded in 1953 and winners of the NSW Premier League Championship in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2016, the Premiership winners in 2015 as well as the Waratah Cup in 2006 and 2014.
• Bonnyrigg White Eagles, founded in 1968, and winners of the "treble": the NSW Premier League premiership, championship, and Waratah Cup in 1992, and NSW Premier League champions in 2001, 2013 and 2015 as well as winning the Premiership in 2014.
• Hakoah Sydney City East, formerly Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City, founded in 1939, made its way to the State Leagues in 1988 and have climbed the ladders slowly where they’ve taken out Premierships in the lower league competitions before winning promotion into the top flight in 2016.
• Manly United, founded in 2004, and winners of the Waratah Cup in 2011, and runners up in 2007, 2009, and 2014.
• Parramatta FC, founded in 1956 and winners of the NSW Premier League championship in 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, and 2002.
• Rockdale City Suns, founded in 1969, and NSW Super League champions in 2002 and 2006, and NSW Premier League champions in 1984.
• Sydney FC, founded in 2004, were part of the inaugural Hyundai A-League setup and have won 2 Hyundai A-League Premierships, 3 Championships as well as their PS4 NPL NSW Men’s squad winning promotion from the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 competition in 2016.
• Sydney Olympic, founded in 1957, and National Soccer League champions in 1990 and 2002, and NSW Premier League champions in 1980 and 2011.
• Sydney United 58, founded in 1958, and National Soccer League premiers in 1986, 1997, 1999, 2016 and champions of the inaugural National Premier Leagues in 2013 as well as picking it up in 2016 and taking out the Waratah Cup in 2015 and 2016.
• Sutherland Sharks, founded in 1930, and NSW Premier League champions in 1978, 1986, and 2009 – Ampol Cup winners in 1978, Tiger Turf Cup winners in 2009, Waratah Cup winners in 2012
• Wollongong Wolves, founded in 1980, and National Soccer League champions in 2000 and 2001, and NSW Premier League champions in 1987 and 2008.
Heritage Round 12 Fixtures
Saturday 27 May 2017
7:45pm – APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Sydney United 58 – Lambert Park
Sunday 28 May 2017
3pm – Sydney Olympic v Bonnyrigg WE – Belmore Sports Ground
3pm – Manly United v Sutherland Sharks – Cromer Park
3pm – Blacktown City v Hakoah Sydney City East – Lilys Football Centre
3pm – Wollongong Wolves v Parramatta FC – WIN Stadium
5pm – Rockdale City Suns v Sydney FC – Illinden Sports Centre
