Big dreams, politics and a lot of money: How the NSL was born 

My parents took us kids to every Western Suburbs home match at Englefield Stadium (now a housing estate), kitted out with black and white scarves and beanies. Trouble is, my youngest brother and I were Marconi supporters. We did go to Marconi Oval (when it was adjacent to fields rather than houses) when Wests were playing interstate. Even went to away matches at Wollongong and Newcastle. I remember that first year 1977, there were football cards of all the players - but they came in cardboard sheets and we had to cut them up ourselves!. Good times...

FUN fact - Someone rescued the OG Aust Cup trophy from a dumpster a few years ago. Crazy what the game has been through here.

Good video mate. For the World Game! ❤

My First Football Games I attended was in 1995. NSL- Newcastle Breakers match (opponent unsure?) at Birmingham Gardens (Wallsend). I'd go with my Grandfather, we'd arrive early to watch the NYL games before too. And we would attend the home games regularly there each season. Newcastle United Jets Football Club supporter in the A-Leagues today.

I remember the NSL, I followed it from 1977 to the year 2000, until I gave up on it, as I could see that the game was on life support. The current A-League was doing well until about 2017, and sadly it’s been going downhill since, although at least the Socceroos have qualified for five successive World Cups. Correction, the old South Melbourne VFL team moved to Sydney in 1982, where they changed their name to the Sydney Swans.

Good video. Hope you can continue on from 1984 and describe the history and changes to the league until the formation of the A League. Could become a valuable reference source.

Well done on making this video, I didn't know they were considering a national league as early as the mid 60's. One small technicality, It was Fitzroy Alexander that was a foundation team from Victoria. They changed their name to Heidelberg for season 3 when the team relocated to that suburb.

I remember Perth Glory joining the league hosting Sydney Olympic in front of almost 7,000 in Perth. Perth’s crowds quickly accelerated and it was great to see as a Sydneysider. Some great moments. 2 sellout finals at Parramatta Stadium with Marconi vs Sydney Olympic, Wollongong coming back from 3-0 down to win it in Perth in front of 40,000, Brisbane winning it in a sellout at Lang Park (Suncorp). I wish Wollongong returned to the A-League instead of MacArthur. Then the Pratten Park “riot” and the dude with a cigarette holding up a photographer’s case! Sorry, I had to laugh.

Thanks for this video. Just to flesh out the catalytic moment that got the NSL started: you are correct to note that Victorian resistance to the national competition was a factor. My recollection was that the big ethnic-based clubs who were considered as viable candidates for the competition were concerned that the old Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF), who opposed the idea for the reasons you outlined here, would punish them if the national league failed. This would take the form of sending all clubs who went to the NSL back to the bottom tier (Metropolitan Fourth Division) should the NSL fall over. I was only a kid at the time but my memory is that South Melbourne Hellas, Fitzroy (as it was then) Alexander and Footscray JUST were considering making the move but were worried about the VSF policy. It was Mooroolbark United (you have mispronounced the club's name, by the way) who said yes to joining and this forced the hand of the other three. Mooroolbark ('The Barkers") had had a strong season the year before (1976), finishing in the top four and nearly beating JUST in the State League Cup (I was at the game as a spectator). The Mooroolbark president (whose name escapes me, I'm sorry to say. I want to say that his surname was Jones but I'm not sure that's right) was a keen supporter of the national league idea. Once Mooroolbark said it was in, the other top four clubs also committed. The clubs came to a compromise with the VSF that resulted in them fielding reserve side in the Metropolitan Third Division. Indeed, the Barkers went back to that division after falling out the the NSL after the first season. If I may, I'd go as far as to say that the NSL would not have started with a Victorian contingent in 1977 had it not been for Mooroolbark.

Love this sort of content. A history of the sport in Aus would be great!

Love story telling medium :) Would be great to see some representation of regional community clubs that have been powering along over the last 70-80 years!

Great video mate, was an awesome watch!

Great work mate. Love this content

Great video, would love to see more content like this

Good video, im sure warens book had a big impact on you making this video! :)

Finally someone giving us the facts.

You should do a vid on why it failed next.

How did you say Mooroolbark? Moo-rool-bark

Rale Rasic was a great coach

Lots of fruit shop owners poured their money into that ,Soccer was such an Ethnic game back then

This new soccer league will have five teams in NSW. This Australian new B League they most form NSW five teams and three teams from Victoria

first grand final was 1980

It's pronounced Moo-rule-bark

Marrelabark?

First in any sport? Did you forget the Sheffield Shield?

Terrible pronunciation of Mooroolbark and Pozniak... great video otherwise

Australian Football is the name of the indigenous Football code of Australian which is 3 years older than Association Football. You are refering to Soccer, just say Soccer

It's pronounced Moo-rule-bark