Northern NSW Football can confirm the final standings for its Premier Youth League Boys competition in 2023 and the new divisions for the 2024 season.
The PYL was introduced in 2023, designed to enhance the talented player pathway, enable more competitive football for young players and facilitate more games of best versus best and like versus like.
The transition has had an immediate positive impact on football in NNSWF youth boys leagues by increasing the overall number of matches played and the number of competitive matches for all players, as well as more matches of best.
In comparing the first season of PYL in 2023 to 2022, matches won by four or more goals has decreased by approximately 17 per cent, while matches won by six or more goals has decreased by approximately 13 per cent.
NNSWF General Manager Football Operations Liam Bentley was pleased with the positive success the introduction of the PYL has had for the region’s talented young players and their clubs.
“It has been fantastic to see the immediate impact the Premier Youth League has had on the quality and competitiveness of games,” Bentley said.
“More than one in three matches in the NPL NNSW Youth have resulted in a win or loss by four goals or more over the last four years, with one in five ending with a six or more goal difference over the same time period. That is an average of almost 200 matches every season which are not competitive.
“To work through this change with our clubs and come to and be in a position where there has been immediate and positive impact is fantastic.
“Congratulations to Newcastle Olympic FC for being crowned the inaugural Premier Youth Championships winners after finishing first in Division A.
“We give immense thanks to the club volunteers for their tireless work this year with the PYL competition increasing the number of matches from past seasons.”
At the start of the 2024 season, the top four clubs from PYL B in 2023 will join the eight clubs in PYL A to establish PYL Division 1.
The bottom four clubs in PYL B will join the remaining clubs from PYL C, and the reintroduction of Toronto Awaba into youth football, to form PYL Division 2, prior to splitting into PYL A, B and C again halfway through the season.
NNSWF has received feedback from clubs regarding the under-18s competition and is working on a solution that balances providing the right football experience to 16 to 18-year-olds and helping them connect with the senior match days within their clubs.
NNSWF will send out a survey to give parents, clubs and coaches the opportunity to give feedback on the competition and help plan for next year.
Final Standings for 2023:
| Division A | Division B | Division C | |||
1st | Newcastle Olympic FC | 1st | Lake Macquarie City FC | 1st | Kahibah FC |
2nd | Lambton Jaffas FC | 2nd | Mid Coast FC | 2nd | West Wallsend FC |
3rd | Broadmeadow Magic FC | 3rd | New Lambton FC | 3rd | Thornton Redbacks FC |
4th | Edgeworth Eagles FC | 4th | Cooks Hill United FC | 4th | NIAS Football Club |
5th | Maitland FC | 5th | Belmont Swansea United FC | 5th | Singleton Strikers FC |
6th | Valentine FC | 6th | Adamstown Rosebud FC | 6th | Cessnock City Hornets FC |
7th | North Coast Football | 7th | South Cardiff FC | 7th | Wallsend FC |
8th | Weston Workers FC | 8th | Charlestown Azzurri FC |
2024 Divisions:
PYL Boys Division 1 – Phase 1 2024 | PYL Boys Division 2 – Phase 1 2024: |
Broadmeadow Magic FC | Adamstown Rosebud FC |
Cooks Hill United FC | Belmont Swansea United FC |
Edgeworth Eagles FC | Cessnock City Hornets FC |
Lake Macquarie City FC | Charlestown Azzurri FC |
Lambton Jaffas FC | Kahibah FC |
Maitland FC | NIAS FC |
Mid Coast FC | Singleton Strikers FC |
New Lambton FC | South Cardiff FC |
Newcastle Olympic FC | Thornton Redbacks FC |
North Coast Football | Toronto Awaba FC |
Valentine FC | Wallsend FC |
Weston Workers FC | West Wallsend FC |
