Illawarra Premier League


The Illawarra Premier League is a regional Australian semi-professional association football league, comprising teams from the Illawarra, and South Coast regions of New South Wales. The competition is run under the Football South Coast body, an associate of Football NSW - a member federation of Football Federation Australia. It therefore fits below the national A-League and NSW wide divisions including National Premier Leagues NSW, making it a level 6 league in the Australian League System. The major sponsor for the Illawarra Premier League is the Illawarra Mercury and as such the competition is often referred to as the Illawarra Mercury Premier League.

History

The Illawarra Premier League was founded in 1977 with Berkeley taking out the inaugural championship, defeating Fairy Meadow 1-0 in the grand final. Fairy Meadow had won the inaugural Premiership.

Format

The competition consists of 12 teams from around the Wollongong, Illawarra, and South Coast regions of New South Wales. Each team plays each other twice, to form a 22-round, round robin format. 5 teams progress to a month-long finals series. The final two teams play-off in a grand final to determine the winner.

Clubs

The following clubs will participate in the 2019 Illawarra Premier League.
ClubLocationGround
Albion Park White EaglesAlbion ParkTerry Reserve
Bulli FCBulliBalls Paddock
Corrimal RangersCorrimalMemorial Park
Coniston FCConiston, New South WalesJJ Kelly Park
Cringila LionsCringilaJohn Crehan Park
Fernhill FCFernhillRay Robinson Field
Port Kembla FCPort KemblaWetherall Park
South Coast CroatiaKembla GrangeSir Ian McLennan Park
Tarrawanna BlueysTarrawannaTarrawanna Oval
Wollongong UnitedBerkeleyMacedonia Park
Wollongong OlympicWollongongHerb Clunis Oval
Woonona Sharks FCWoononaOcean Park

Honours

are the most successful Illawarra Premier League club, with 9 grand final wins, and 7 Premierships since the league's inception in 1977.
YearPremiersGrand Final Champions
1977Fairy Meadow Berkeley
1978Berkeley Tarrawanna
1979Fairy Meadow Fairy Meadow
1980Fairy Meadow Fairy Meadow
1981Shellharbour Workers Coniston
1982Wests/Figtree Wests/Figtree
1983Wests/Figtree Wests/Figtree
1984Fernhill FC Fernhill FC
1985Bulli FC Aris FC
1986Bulli FC Bulli FC
1987South Coast Croatia South Coast Croatia
1988Bulli FC Wests/Figtree
1989South Coast Croatia Wests/Figtree
1990Wests/Figtree Wests/Figtree
1991Wests/Figtree Balgownie Rangers
1992Coniston Makedonija Wests/Figtree
1993Cringila Lions FC Cringila Lions FC
1994Wollongong Olympic Cringila Lions FC
1995Port Kembla FC Port Kembla FC
1996Lysaghts FC Port Kembla FC
1997Lysaghts FC Lysaghts FC
1998Cringila Lions FC Wollongong White Eagles FC
1999Northern United Port Kembla FC
2000Port Kembla FC Port Kembla FC
2001Port Kembla FC Coniston Lions
2002Kemblawarra Port Kembla FC
2003Port Kembla FC Port Kembla FC
2004Port Kembla FC Port Kembla FC
2005Dandaloo FC Picton Rangers
2006Dandaloo FC Picton Rangers
2007Dandaloo FC Albion Park White Eagles
2008Albion Park White Eagles Albion Park White Eagles
2009Dandaloo FC Dandaloo FC
2010Port Kembla FC Dandaloo FC
2011Dandaloo FC Dandaloo FC
2012Dapto Dandaloo Fury FC Dapto Dandaloo Fury FC
2013Port Kembla FC Port Kembla FC
2014Bulli FC Dapto Dandaloo Fury FC
2015Dapto Dandaloo Fury FC Wollongong United FC
2016Kemblawarra Fury Albion Park White Eagles
2017Bulli FC Port Kembla FC
2018Bulli FC Bulli FC
2019Wollongong Olympic Corrimal Rangers

George Naylor Medalist

The George Naylor Medal goes to the player of the season.
YearWinnerRunner/s up
2016Shohei OkunoN/A
2017Guy KnightRicky Goodchild