Changes to Senior NPLW Competition for Season 2020

Football Victoria (FV) today announced that Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC had not been offered a full NPLW license and would not participate in the NPLW’s top tier (including U19s) in season 2020.

The changes will see the NPLW’s Senior tier revert to an eight team, 21 game (plus finals) competition in season 2020.

As a result, Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC have both been offered the opportunity to continue to participate in Victorian Senior football at the State League 1 level. They can also continue to field their current U12, U14 and U16 junior teams in NPLW junior competitions in season 2020.

Both clubs are currently evaluating this proposal for senior and junior football and will advise FV of their desire to accept this offer by Friday, 30 August, 2019.

Should the clubs accept, their senior and U19 (reserves) teams will be added to the State League 1 tier of football and the NPLW junior competition will remain an unchanged 27-week season in 2020.

Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC will have the opportunity to re-apply for NPLW status for the Southern Melbourne and Geelong regions of Victoria in season 2021 as part of an open and transparent process for all FV clubs and interested parties, commencing in early 2020.

FV remains committed to the development of women and girls football in the region and is currently working with all stakeholders to ensure the right development programs are in place in 2020.

FV will also complete further consultation with Victorian football stakeholders on the optimum competition structure for junior girls football in the state in early 2020, with the new structure expected to be implemented in season 2021.

FV’s recently released Football Competition Review: Women and Girls’ full report can be accessed here.