The 2011 season was launched on St Patrick's Day, Thursday 17 March, at the Pullman Hotel among the Olympic and Show facilities at Homebush Bay in Sydney.

It will take some luck of the Irish to win this thing too! Twelve teams will vie for the title, and most if not all have real designs on winning through.

In attendance were coaches of most of the participating teams, as well as other selected players, FNSW officials, and media.

The Manager of Commercial Services, Tony Peters introduced Robert Sestan, Chairman of the Board of FNSW, who launched this year's competition.

Sestan proclaimed that "The NSW Premier League is the state’s premier football competition and features the top local talent NSW has to offer and it of course plays out as a pathway from local to national football. As we enter the 11th season of the NSW Premier League we can reflect on the past ten years of development and growth in the competition. Year on year the NSW Premier League is regarded as Australia’s number one nursery of talent producing tomorrow’s A-League stars.

"Players such as Panny Nikas (to North Queensland Fury), Matthew Ryan (Central Coast Mariners), Iain Ramsay (Adelaide United), Hirofumi Moriyasu (APIA Leichhardt Tigers), Mirjan Pavlovic (Wellington Phoenix) and Dimitri Petratos (Sydney FC) as well as coaches, such Phil Moss (Central Coast Mariners), have moved on from the 2010 NSW Premier League to leave a significant impression on the 2010/2011 Hyundai A-League season, Sestan added.”

Peters also interviewed former Manly United FC coach Phil Moss, who had returned from going so close for NSW football as Assistant coach with the Central Coast Mariners FC in Brisbane for the A-League Grand Final, and showed a promotional video with highlights from the past season.

(Tony Peters showing the video)

Season 2011 sees the return of Parramatta Eagles to the State’s top flight with a largely Super League sourced squad, and West Sydney Berries have been relegated to the NSW Super League.

The usual suspects in Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Sydney United, Blacktown City, Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic start each season with a strong case for a tilt at the title, though the likes of clubs such as APIA Leichhardt Tigers could state their own claims for a strong league run.

(Nick Rizzo (APIA player), Zlatko Joseski (Bankstown Lions player), Mark Crittenden (Blacktown), Jean Paul de Marigny (Sydney United), Craig Midgley (Manly United), and Luke Casserly (Marconi))

A number of A-League players have come to the NSW Prmier League this season: Brett Studman (Fury to Olympic), Ufuk Talay (Fury) and Mark Rudan (to Sydney United), Saso Petrovski (to Wolves), Panni Nikas (to Sutherland), as well as NYL players.

(Brian Dene (Parramatta), Lee Sterrey (Rockdale), Trevor Morgan (South Coast), Nick Stavroulakis (Sutherland player), Peter Tsekenis (Olympic), and Brian Brown (Bonnyrigg))

South Coast Wolves FC had just announced the signing and return to the Illawarra of former SFC, CCMFC, and NUJFC striker Saso Petrovski. Coach Trevor Morgan was elated with the late prized signing of Petrovski and is looking forward to what he can bring to the squad. Players like Saso are a substantial influence on the young players we have in our squad. If we want to be the premier team in the area we want to ensure we have the best young talent playing for the Wolves. We’re looking forward to not only what he can bring to the park but what experience he can pass on.”

Wolves 'keeper Brody Crane echoed his coaches assessment of Petrovski's impact, and also seemed to support the FNSW Chairman's contention about the great pathway the NSW Premier League is. He reflected on the great season that fellow gloves-man Mathew Ryan has had with Central Coast Mariners, going on from Premier League experience.

Could this be the best Premier League season yet? It will be one of the most competitive.

(South Coast Wolves goalkeeper Brody Crane)

Link: Fuller FNSW report

Round 1 of the NSW Premier League commences on Saturday the 26th of March with two matches highlighted before the remaining round ends on Sunday the 27th of March.

Saturday 26th March: Bankstown City FC v Marconi Stallions – Jensen Park – 7pm, Sutherland Sharks v Blacktown City FC – Seymour Shaw – 7pm

Sunday 27th March: Rockdale City Suns V APIA Leichhardt Tigers – Ilinden Sports Centre – 3pm, Parramatta FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles – Melita Stadium – 3pm, South Coast Wolves v Sydney Olympic – John Crehan Park – 4pm, Sydney United v Manly United – Sydney United Sports Centre – 4pm

View or download the fixtures here: NSWPL fixtures

Report and photos by Chris Dunkerley 17 March 2011

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