Posts by Mark Stavroulakis
Sapphire Cup Final locked in: UNSW FC to meet Manly United FC in historic decider
The 2026 Sapphire Cup Final is locked in, with two NPL Women’s NSW sides UNSW FC and Manly United FC set to battle for the first piece of silverware on offer in the season, with both clubs chasing their maiden Sapphire Cup title. The final promises a landmark occasion for both teams, who have each…
Read More2026 Waratah Cup Final Set: Sydney United 58 to meet APIA Leichhardt in heavyweight decider
The 2026 Waratah Cup Final is set, with two NPL Men’s NSW powerhouses Sydney United 58 FC and APIA Leichhardt FC set to battle for the first piece of silverware on offer in the new season. It promises to be a blockbuster final between two of the competition’s most successful and historic clubs, both with…
Read MoreAPIA storm into Waratah Cup final with dominant semi-final win
APIA Leichhardt are through to their second Waratah Cup final in three seasons after a 4-2 victory over SD Raiders at Lambert Park on Wednesday night. A brace from Oscar Gonzalez helped fire the hosts into the decider, while SD Raiders showed their quality throughout and ensured a competitive contest despite the final scoreline. The…
Read MoreSydney United 58 book Waratah Cup final ticket with gritty win over Olympic
Sydney United 58 weathered a late resurgence from Sydney Olympic as they secured a 5-2 triumph after extra time at Belmore Sports Ground on Wednesday night to book their place in the 2026 Waratah Cup final and chance to win it for the ninth time in the club’s history. The travellers were made to work…
Read MoreSecond-Half Surge Sends Manly United Into Sapphire Cup Final
Manly United booked their place in the Sapphire Cup final with a composed 2-0 victory over Northern Tigers at North Turramurra Recreation Area on Wednesday evening securing a historic first-ever final appearance for the club. After a tightly contested opening period, the match was ultimately decided by a dominant second-half performance from the visitors, who…
Read MoreUNSW FC reach first ever historic Sapphire Cup final
UNSW FC and Hills United played out a tightly contested, end-to-end battle, with UNSW FC securing a 2-1 victory and earning the club’s first-ever place in a Sapphire Cup final. Hills made a strong start, enjoying early possession, with Erin Tavares taking a solid pass in range before it was intercepted by the UNSW defence.…
Read MoreRound 20 Preview – League Two Men’s
A top-of-the-table clash and other crucial matches in the battle for promotion headline Round 20 of the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season, with plenty of teams still in the running looking to make the most of their opportunities. Match of the Round: Hawkesbury City FC vs Fraser Park FC Saturday, 20 June 2026…
Read MoreRound 17 Preview – League One Women’s
Round 17 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition offers up some fantastic clashes to enjoy across the weekend, including a pair of derby contests. There are six games to run the rule over for the upcoming round, including the Match of the Round between Marconi Stallions FC and Nepean FC. Let’s get onto…
Read MoreRound 20 Preview – League One Men’s
Round 20 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition sees eight simultaneous kick-offs take place this Saturday afternoon. With this the final round before the mid-year registration window opens, teams will be looking to build momentum heading into the final ten rounds of the season. Match of the Round: Hakoah FC v Northern Tigers Saturday…
Read MoreColedale Waves legend Trevor Deeming honoured with prestigious NSW long service award
Football South Coast Association’s Coledale Waves FC stalwart Trevor Deeming has been recognised with the prestigious Distinguished Long Service Award set be presented at the 2026 NSW Community Sports Awards at the Bankstown Sports Club on Monday June 29. Deeming will be honoured alongside 25 volunteers from across New South Wales, all acknowledged for more than…
Read MoreRound 19 Review – League One Men’s
Blacktown Spartans and Northern Tigers restored a gap between themselves and the chasing pack in Round 19 action in the FNSW League One Men’s competition across the weekend. Aside from those two results, Hills United moved to within a point of third while Canterbury Bankstown and Rydalmere Lions also picked up victories. Match of the…
Read MoreRound 16 Review – League One Women’s
Round 16 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition was a fantastic advertisement for the campaign, producing plenty of late drama, goals and action across Sunday evening. There were six games to review, headlined by the Match of the Round between SD Raiders FC and Marconi Stallions FC. Match of the Round: SD Raiders…
Read MoreRound 19 Review – League Two Men’s
Round 19 delivered shock results across the board, with no home winners recorded and the ladder in the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season tightening further. The Match of the Round saw the promotion battle take another twist as Dunbar Rovers FC overcame Nepean FC, while elsewhere the fight for second place continued to…
Read MoreAll Finals Live: Football NSW to Broadcast Inaugural Association Championships Showdowns from Mudgee
Football NSW will bring fans closer to the action than ever before confirming that all Finals matches of the inaugural Deploy Football NSW Association Championships will be broadcast live from Mudgee on Thursday 9 July 2026. Set to be staged at the Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex, the Finals of the Boys Under 13 and…
Read MoreCarbiz Named Naming Rights Partner of Football NSW Futsal Premier Leagues
Football NSW is proud to announce a new two-year partnership with Carbiz, Australia’s leading replacement car provider, in a significant boost for futsal across the state. Under the agreement, Football NSW’s premier futsal competitions will now be known as the Carbiz Futsal Premier League and the Carbiz Futsal Premier League 2, reflecting a shared commitment…
Read MoreBuilding from the Ground Up: Inside the Rams’ 2026 Surge
Perhaps the feel-good story of the Football NSW League One Men’s competition so far in 2026 has been the revival of the Macarthur Rams, who have gone from just surviving in the competition to sitting in a top four position. As such, on the back of a positive run of form, we thought we’d dig…
Read MoreFrom MLS to NSW: International Referee Exchange Boosts FNSW Pathway
Football NSW welcomed Michigan State University (MSU) on the 29th May for its inaugural visit to Australia as part of a broader international education exchange focused on refereeing development and pathway alignment. The 35-student delegation, undertook a three-week exchange program visiting organisations including Football NSW, Football Australia, Tennis NSW, Netball NSW and AFL Victoria, spent…
Read MoreNSW 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…
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