1981 National Soccer League

National Soccer League
Season1981
Dates14 February–13 September
ChampionsSydney Slickers (3rd title)
PromotedPreston Rams
Sydney Olympians
Wollongong Wolves
RelegatedBlacktown Demons
Matches240
Goals626 (2.61 per match)
Best PlayerBobby Russell
Top goalscorerGary Cole (16)
← 1980
1982 →
Any extra information here.

The National Soccer League 1981 season was the fifth season of the Australian National Soccer League (NSL). The league was known as the Philips Soccer League (PSL) in a sponsorship arrangement with Dutch electronics company Philips. The champions were Sydney Slickers, winning their third title.

Changes from 1980

The league increased from 14 to 16 teams prior to the 1981 season. Despite finishing second last—ordinarily a relegation position—in 1980, West Adelaide (known as Adelaide Hawks in 1981) were retained for 1981. Wooden-spooner St George were the only team to be relegated, with three new teams being introduced - Preston Makedonia (nicknamed Rams in 1981) Sydney Olympic (Sydney Olympians in 1981) and Wollongong City (Wollongong Wolves).[1]

Prior to the season commencing, in what was described as "Australianisation" of the national league, nicknames were imposed on the clubs, some of which were not popular with the teams themselves. Marconi President, Tony Labbozzetta expressed his dislike of the enforced nickname Leopards, suggesting "Call us Datsun", referring to a naming rights deal the club had made with the Japanese carmaker.[2][3] Along with the new nicknames, new macho logos were introduced. John Clark, a marketing executive at the Australian Soccer Federation, claimed that "we are not trying to take ethnicism out of soccer" and that they were trying to appeal to boys "not following in their fathers' footsteps, boys now into space invaders, Buck Rogers in the 25th century, who aren't following soccer."[4][5]

The league consisted of a double round-robin format, played between February and September. The league was required to finish by the end of September due to Australia's hosting of the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship in October.[6] Unlike the 1980 season, a post-season finals series was not held and the league championship was awarded to the team at the top of the table. The final series was reintroduced the following year.[7][8]

Teams

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 1981 National Soccer League
Team
Other names		CityStadium
Adelaide Giants
Adelaide City		AdelaideOlympic Sports Field
Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide Hawks
West Adelaide		AdelaideHindmarsh Stadium
Blacktown Demons
Blacktown City		SydneyGabbie Stadium
Brisbane Gladiators
Brisbane City		BrisbaneSpencer Park
Ballymore
Brisbane LionsBrisbaneRichlands Stadium
Canberra Arrows
Canberra City		CanberraBruce Stadium
Footscray Eagles
Footscray JUST		MelbourneSchintler Reserve
Heidelberg WarriorsMelbourneOlympic Park
Leichhardt Strikers
APIA Leichhardt		SydneyLambert Park
Marconi-Datsun Leopards
Marconi Stallions		SydneyMarconi Stadium
Newcastle KB RaidersNewcastleInternational Sports Centre
Preston Rams
Preston Makedonia		MelbourneConnor Reserve
South Melbourne Gunners
South Melbourne Hellas		MelbourneMiddle Park
Sydney Olympians
Sydney Olympic		SydneyPratten Park
Sydney Slickers
Sydney City		SydneySydney Athletic Field
St George Stadium
Wollongong Wolves
Wollongong City		WollongongWollongong Showground

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsRelegation
1Sydney City (C)3019565930+2943
2South Melbourne30131344127+1439
3Brisbane City30121173725+1235
4APIA Leichhardt30121173933+635
5Canberra City30137104132+933
6Brisbane Lions30111184133+833
7Adelaide City30136114642+432
8Heidelberg United30127114840+831
9Sydney Olympic30119104646031
10Newcastle KB United30118114141030
11Wollongong City30812103539−428
12Preston Makedonia3097143941−225
13Footscray JUST3097143248−1625
14Marconi Fairfield3097142345−2225
15Blacktown City (R)3069153247−1521Relegated to the 1982 NSW State League
16West Adelaide3054212657−3114
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ AwayAGAHBDBGBLCAFEHWLSMLNRPRSMSOSSWW
Adelaide Giants—2–10–01–03–21–01–33–10–00–14–11–02–03–10–11–2
Adelaide Hawks0–3—2–01–11–31–13–20–51–22–00–14–00–20–11–20–0
Blacktown Demons1–54–0—1–22–20–21–13–10–10–21–20–02–21–41–00–1
Brisbane Gladiators3–12–12–1—1–00–02–01–20–04–01–11–21–13–02–01–0
Brisbane Lions2–13–10–11–0—1–04–00–00–02–00–12–12–01–14–31–1
Canberra Arrows0–01–22–23–02–3—5–01–50–10–04–11–02–22–12–02–0
Footscray Eagles1–11–12–01–02–03–1—2–22–11–20–12–11–21–11–01–1
Heidelberg Warriors1–22–03–12–02–21–12–0—1–01–11–22–30–01–00–10–3
Leichhardt Strikers3–01–03–22–20–04–02–02–2—1–12–11–11–12–20–11–0
Marconi-Datsun Leopards1–41–00–11–12–10–21–33–10–2—1–21–01–12–11–01–1
Newcastle KB Raiders2–24–21–10–21–10–13–01–24–12–0—4–00–01–21–21–1
Preston Rams3–02–02–31–11–10–13–00–23–10–03–1—1–13–10–26–0
South Melbourne Gunners0–05–02–10–21–01–02–12–14–11–02–02–0—1–11–31–0
Sydney Olympians3–13–11–01–13–10–20–02–11–32–01–12–12–2—2–22–1
Sydney Slickers (C)5–31–01–11–11–13–23–01–03–05–04–12–01–15–4—1–0
Wollongong Wolves4–12–11–10–01–10–12–13–41–14–00–02–21–13–10–5—
Source: OzFootball
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Individual awards

Footnotes

  1. ^ Curran, Brian (1 November 1980). "Saints out of bigger PSL". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 70. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Schwab, Laurie (16 February 1981). "Hellas by any other name–No". The Age. p. 31. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Curran, Brian (29 January 1981). "Marconi seal $250,000 contract with car firm". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 32. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Larkin, John (6 August 1981). "Aussie image". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Schwab, Laurie (28 January 1981). "Giants, Wolves, Gunners and a Packer look". Soccer Action. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Bigger PSL will feel the squeeze". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 November 1980. p. 83. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Curran, Brian (3 November 1980). "Top-four scrapped in PSL shake-up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Grand final in Philips League". The Age. 21 December 1981. p. 19. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c "Russell is Soccer's top player". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 October 1981. p. 41. Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Schwab, Laurie (14 September 1981). "Cole again wins soccer goal title". The Age. p. 30. Retrieved 27 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

References

  • OzFootball Archives - 1981 NSL Season

See also

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