NewFM Football League

The NewFM Football League, NewFM First Division Football League or just the NewFM Division is an Australian football (soccer) league in the North of New South Wales. It is the second tier of football in the Northern New South Wales Football 2-tier system behind the NBN League. The players in the league are mostly semi-professional.

Format

The NewFM Division shares similarities with the way in which the NBN League is played, but it also has some differences. The competition is comprised of 12 teams, each of whom have a 1st Grade side, a Reserve side and a Youth side. The regular season takes place over 22 rounds, with each team playing each other at home and away. The team that finishes first at the end of the 22 rounds is crowned Minor Premier. The top 4 teams contest the Finals Series. This is a two-legged match where 1st plays 4th and 2nd plays 3rd. The teams that progress meet in the Grand Final and the winner of that game is crowned the Major Premier. In the 2007 season the Lambton Jaffas U19's were shaping up quite nicely to win the top honour, until a draw at Dudley stopped their squad from reaching the Finals Series. As a result Beresfield United found themselves inside the top 4 for the first time in over 20 years. Their Major premier dreams were silenced after 2 close defeats in the semi-final against Belmont Valentine. The Minor Premier of the League is promoted to the NBN League if the club meets the eligibility criteria. If so, the last placed team in the NBN League is relegated to the NewFM Division.

2009 Season Teams

* Adamstown Rosebuds "(Relegated from NBN State Football League after 2007 season)"
* Belmont Swansea Swans
* Beresfield United
* Cessnock Hornets
* Dudley Redhead United
* Highfields Azzurri FC "(Relegated from NBN State Football League after 2008 season)"
* Lake Macquarie City Roosters FC "(Relegated from NBN State Football League after 2008 season)"
* Lambton Jaffas
* Maitland Magpies
* Singleton Strikers
* Thornton Park Redbacks
* Wallsend Red Devils

References

* [http://www.northernnswsoccer.com.au/nnswhd/htstart.cl?PT= NewFM First Division Home Page]
* [http://www.northernnswsoccer.com.au/nnswsf/ Northern NSW Football Federation Main Site]