Posts by Mark Stavroulakis
NSW to the World Cup: Six Local Products ready for 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup
New South Wales has once again stamped its mark on the global stage, with six players named in the Socceroos 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup squad boasting strong ties to the state from grassroots clubs through to elite NPL pathways. From suburban pitches to the world’s biggest tournament, each player’s journey reflects the strength of…
Read MoreRound 16 Preview – League One Women’s
Round 16 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition is a monumental weekend of action, with major implications for teams pushing for a place in the top four. There are six games to enjoy across Sunday, headlined by leaders SD Raiders FC hosting second-placed Marconi Stallions FC. Let’s get into the preview! Match of…
Read MoreRound 19 Preview – League Two Men’s
Battles between sides close to each other on the ladder at every level will see teams tested to their fullest in Round 19 of the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season. Match of the Round: Nepean FC vs Dunbar Rovers FC Friday, 12 June 2026 – 8pm, Jamison Park Nepean FC will hope to…
Read MoreRound 19 Preview – League One Men’s
Round 19 of the Football NSW League One Men’s season includes potentially our most important game yet alongside plenty of action elsewhere. So buckle up and make sure you clear your Friday night and weekend plans. Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans v Bankstown City; Friday 12 June, 8:15pm, Blacktown Football Park In terms of…
Read MoreNew Season, New Stars: 2026 Futsal Premier League Fixtures Released
Football NSW is set for another blockbuster summer of futsal with the release of the 2026 Futsal Premier League and Futsal Premier League Two fixtures, confirming Round 1 will kick off on Saturday 12 September 2026. The upcoming season is shaping as one of the biggest yet, with both competitions continuing to showcase a blend of established…
Read MoreRound 18 Review – League Two Men’s
Round 18 delivered a weekend full of fine margins, shock results, and movement across the FNSW League Two Men’s ladder. The Match of the Round saw Central Coast United FC produce a major upset over league leaders Mounties Wanderers FC, while the race for second place tightened further across a dramatic round of action. Match…
Read MoreKeith Pester awarded OAM in King’s Birthday Honours
Freshwater’s Keith Pester has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division, recognised among 949 Australians in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for his significant service to football administration. A long-standing figure in Northern Beaches football, Pester has dedicated decades to the game at both club and association level…
Read MoreRound 15 Review – League One Women’s
Round 15 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition was an action-packed weekend, with teams beginning to make their push toward the finals. There were six games to unpack from another Super Sunday of action. Our Match of the Round saw Blacktown Spartans FC and South Coast Flame FC go head-to-head. Let’s get into…
Read MoreRound 18 Review – League One Men’s
Round 18 was a round of fine margins in FNSW League One Men’s action across Friday and Saturday night. Our Match of the Round saw a spirited Bulls FC Academy comeback, while a top-three matchup took place at Jensen Park. Match of the Round: Hills United 2-2 Bulls FC Academy Bulls FC Academy came from…
Read MoreTeam Entries Locked In: Association Championships Set to Ignite Mudgee
The countdown is officially on, with participating associations now locked in and announcing their team entries for the inaugural Deploy Football NSW Association Championships, set to take over Mudgee from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 9 July 2026 at the Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex. The landmark three-day tournament will bring together the state’s strongest…
Read MoreJDL Futsal Cup Returns to Stanhope Gardens with Expressions of Interest Now Open
Football NSW is calling on all JDL clubs to register their interest for the upcoming 2026 JDL Futsal Cup, set to take place during the July school holidays at Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope Gardens. The tournament will be held across two action-packed days, with competition featuring: Tuesday 15 July: U9 Boys/Mixed & U10 Girls Wednesday…
Read MoreHills Football Celebrates Milestone 2026 Season with Eyes Firmly on the Future
The 2026 grassroots season has marked a significant milestone year for Hills Football, with the Association celebrating its 10-year anniversary while continuing to build a strong foundation for the future of the game across the Hills region. Led by CEO Jeremy Toivonen, Hills Football has combined reflection and forward planning in a year defined by…
Read MoreRound 18 Preview – League Two Men’s
Tight tussles in the battle for promotion will continue in Round 18 of the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season, with teams close to each other in league position facing off. Match of the Round: Mounties Wanderers FC vs Central Coast United FC Friday, 5 June 2026 – 8pm, Cook Park (Mt Pritchard) Mounties…
Read MoreRound 15 Preview – League One Women’s
Round 15 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition is another big weekend of action as teams build momentum for the second half of the campaign. There are six games to run the rule over, including the Match of the Round between Blacktown Spartans FC and South Coast Flame FC. Let’s get onto the…
Read MoreRound 18 Preview – League One Men’s
The big games keep on coming as we approach Round 18 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition with a Friday night Match of the Round and top three clash this weekend. Match of the Round: Hills United v Bulls FC Academy; Friday 5 June, 8pm, Valentine Sports Park Fresh off a big win last…
Read MorePlayer Wellbeing in Focus at Football NSW Club Capability Workshop
Football NSW has successfully delivered its fifth Club Capability Workshop of the 2026 season, with a strong focus on player wellbeing and retention headlining the latest online session. The workshop featured a detailed and highly engaging presentation from Dr Matt Whalan, who led an insightful discussion on “Player Wellbeing Programs – Keeping Players Playing.” The…
Read MoreCountdown on for inaugural Football NSW Association Championships
Excitement is building across regional New South Wales as Mudgee prepares to host the inaugural Deploy Football NSW Association Championships, set to take place from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 9 July at the state-of-the-art Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex. The new three-day tournament marks a major milestone for grassroots football in the state, bringing…
Read MoreVALE: Ray Sandell OAM
Football NSW is deeply saddened to acknowledge the passing of Ray Sandell OAM, a highly respected and widely admired referee, administrator, and lifelong servant of football in Australia. Born in 1932 in Staines, England, Sandell migrated to Australia in March 1954 after beginning his football journey in England, including time with the Chelsea FC reserve…
Read MoreWaratah Cup Semi-Finals Locked In for 2026 Showdown
The stage is set for a blockbuster conclusion to the 2026 Waratah Cup, with two high-stakes Semi-Finals confirmed featuring some of the biggest and most historic clubs in Football NSW Men’s National Premier League alongside a rising contender looking to shake the established order. With a place in the grand final on the line, four…
Read MoreRound 17 Review – League One Men’s
There were eight games and eight winners in Round 17 of FNSW League One Men’s action across this weekend. A weekend which saw plenty of movement up and down the table, with seven of the top eight in the standings following the round of action winning their games. Match of the Round: Hurstville Zagreb 1-0…
Read MoreRound 14 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
Round 14 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition delivered another exciting weekend of action across six contests, helping to further shake up the ladder. The headline act in Round 14 was the Match of the Round between Blacktown City FC and league leaders SD Raiders FC. Let’s get into the review! Match of…
Read MoreRound 17 Review – League Two Men’s
League leaders Mounties Wanderers FC continued to streak ahead and a new team rose into second following Round 17 of the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season. The Match of the Round this week saw the battle for second take yet another turn in the contest between Bankstown United FC and Fraser Park FC.…
Read MoreEight decades strong: Sydney University SFC celebrate milestone year
Sydney University SFC are celebrating their 80th year as a footballing institution, recognising players past and present while continuing to invest in the future in pursuit of further success. Established in 1946, Sydney Uni SFC has provided pathways for players to compete across Football NSW competitions, most recently featuring in League Two Men’s and the…
Read MoreVALE: Yiannis Xipolitas
Football NSW is saddened by the passing of one of the state’s most respected and decorated coaches, Yiannis Xipolitas. Born in Cyprus, Yiannis (John) enjoyed a distinguished playing career, featuring in the top tier of the Cypriot First Division with Olympiakos Nicosia. He was also capped twice for his native Cyprus before emigrating to Australia.…
Read MoreNew Futsal Referee Academy Set to Develop Australia’s Next Officials
Football Australia has officially launched the Football Australia Futsal Referee Academy (FAFRA), a new national initiative designed to strengthen the futsal referee pathway and create greater development opportunities for emerging officials aged 19–24. The inaugural program brings together seven referees from across the country who will undertake a structured development experience focused on technical refereeing…
Read More2026 Sapphire Cup Semi-Finals Locked In
The 2026 Football NSW Sapphire Cup Semi Final lineup has been finalised following two key results on Tuesday and Wednesday night, with Northern Tigers FC and Manly United joining Hills United FC and UNSW FC in the final four of the prestigious knockout competition. At North Turramurra Recreation Area on Tuesday night, Northern Tigers FC…
Read MoreLate Drama, Big Statements: NSW Clubs Lock In Australia Cup Round of 32 Places
Football NSW will be strongly represented in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32, with APIA Leichhardt FC, SD Raiders FC, Sydney United 58, and Sydney Olympic all securing their places following a gripping Round 7 of Preliminary Round action. The four NPL Men’s NSW sides ensured a full state representation in the national knockout…
Read MoreFIFA referee Andrew Best to lead Football Australia futsal education session
Football Australia will host a dedicated online education webinar for futsal match officials on Wednesday 3 June at 7:30pm AEST, as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening referee development across the country. The one-hour session, titled “Elevate Your Performance. Enhance Your Positioning. Connect with Your Refereeing Community”, is open to community match officials nationwide…
Read MoreRound 14 Preview – League One Women’s
Round 14 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition represents the start of the second half of the season and the push into the business end of the campaign, with teams fighting for finals spots. There are six games to savour across the weekend, including a top four clash, headlined by Blacktown City FC…
Read MoreRound 17 Preview – League Two Men’s
The Football NSW League Two Men’s competition continues to deliver in 2026 and Round 17 will be no exception, with the tight battle for second heating up and a top-of-the-table clash among the action. Match of the Round: Bankstown United FC vs Fraser Park FC Saturday, 30 May 2026 – 5pm, Padstow Park Bankstown…
Read MoreCustom Deploy match balls set for Football NSW Association Championships
Deploy, the naming rights partner of the inaugural Football NSW Association Championships, will further elevate the upcoming tournament by supplying custom-made official match and replica balls for the highly anticipated event. The Championships will be held in Mudgee from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 9 July 2026 at the state-of-the-art Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex. As part of its…
Read MoreRound 17 Preview – League One Men’s
There isn’t a lot to separate a lot of sides in the FNSW League One Men’s competition as we look ahead to round 17 this weekend. A round which puts four of the top five against teams in the bottom six, could we see an upset or two across the grounds this weekend? Match of…
Read More2026 Futsal Declaration of Leagues Announced
Football NSW has determined the composition of the 2026 Football NSW Futsal Premier League, Futsal Premier League 2 and AWD Futsal League Competitions to be as follows. Futsal Premier League Dural Warriors Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club Mascot Vipers Mountain Majik Futsal Club South Coast Taipans Sydney Allstars Sydney Futsal Club UTS Northside Futsal Club…
Read MoreRound 13 Review – League One Women’s
Round 13 marked the halfway point of the Football NSW League One Women’s competition, with several high-profile fixtures headlining the weekend. Six matches were played across Sunday, with top billing going to the Match of the Round between league leaders SD Raiders FC and second-placed Newcastle Jets FC. Let’s get into the review. Match of…
Read MoreRound 16 Review – League Two Men’s
Every home team was victorious to start the second half of the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season, with plenty of action across the round’s seven matches. The Match of the Round this week saw the battle for second take yet another twist in a dramatic affair between Central Coast United FC and Bonnyrigg…
Read MoreRound 16 Review – League One Men’s
Seven of the top eight sides in the FNSW League One Men’s competition dropped points in Round 16, which was highlighted by a number of surprise results. Let’s check out this weekend’s massive wrap up of matches. Match of the Round: Western City Rangers 0-2 Macarthur Rams Macarthur Rams claimed a season double over Western…
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