history of the A-league (part 1)

The Australian league of football (A-league) is only 5 years old begining in 2004, it was born out of the N.S.L (national soccer league). The first season or version as it called began with eight teams including one New Zealand team.

The eight original teams were Sydney F.C, Melbourne Victory, Queensland Roar, Perth Glory, New Zealand Knights, Adelaide United, Newcaslte Jets and Central Coast Mariners.

New Zealand's only team began with a shaky start to the A-league. After claiming the wooden spoon in the first a-league season and continuing bad performaces in the 2nd season. Rumurs started to surface that the FFA was planning on revoking the Knights licence due to poor attendance and performaces. The rumurs proved correct and it seemed the team would be replaced after the teams licence was revoked. However property developer Terry Serepisos single handly saved New Zealand soccer, paying to make the team a franchise in Wellington. And thus NewZealand Knights was reborn and became Wellington Phoenix.

Sydney F.C also known as the glamor club. Did not come directly out of N.S.L which had three Sydney based teams. All of which were divided racially Sydney City (Jewish team) Sydney United (Croatian) and Sydney Olympic (Greek). When the A-league was established there could only be one team per city. This was to stop the racial rivalry. Sydney got off to a great start winning the first season. They are still the closest team to defending there title coming third in the second season, Sydney might have done better but was deducted points for going over the salary cap the previous year.

Melbourne Victory A.K.A the big V is the most successful team in the history of the league. Becoming the first and only team to win the championship twice. The team also has a very inconsistent record coming seventh in the first season and came fifth in the third season. Melbourne is also a team with big rivalry's one with Sydney F.C which spawed in addition with the city rivialry which has existed for over 100years with matches between the teams consisting of bitterness and fighting. the other rivialry is between Adelaide United, in both of Melbournes winning years they faced Adelaide to take the cup in the 06/07 grand final a humililating 6-0 the second time round 08/09 it was only 1-0.

(The season starts late in the year usually August due to competition over grounds with other codes of football such as rugby it finishes in February. The current champions Melbourne Victory would are therefore discribed as the 08/09 champions.)