Illawarra Premier League


The Illawarra Premier League is a regional Australian semi-professional association football league, comprising teams from the Illawarra, and South Coast regions of New South Wales. The competition is run under the Football South Coast body, an associate of Football NSW – a member federation of Football Federation Australia. It therefore fits below the national A-League and NSW wide divisions including National Premier Leagues NSW, The league sits at level 3 on the New South Wales league system, making it a level league 4 in the Australian League System. The major sponsor for the Illawarra Premier League is the Illawarra Mercury and as such the competition is often referred to as the Illawarra Premier League or South Coast Premier League..

History

The Illawarra Premier League was founded in 1977 with Berkeley taking out the inaugural championship, defeating Fairy Meadow 1-0 in the grand final. Fairy Meadow had won the inaugural Premiership.

Format

The competition consists of 12 teams from around the Wollongong, Illawarra, and South Coast regions of New South Wales. Each team plays each other twice, to form a 22-round, round robin format. 5 teams progress to a month-long finals series. The final two teams play-off in a grand final to determine the winner.

Clubs

The following clubs competed in the 2024 Illawarra Premier League
ClubLocationGround
Albion Park White EaglesAlbion ParkTerry Reserve
Bulli FCBulliBalls Paddock
Coniston FCConiston, New South WalesJJ Kelly Park
Corrimal RangersCorrimalMemorial Park
Cringila LionsCringilaJohn Crehan Park
Helensburgh ThistlesHelensburghRex Jackson Park
Port KemblaPort KemblaWetherall Park
Shellharbour FCBarrack HeightsBarrack Heights Sports Field
South Coast CroatiaKembla GrangeSir Ian McLennan Park
Tarrawanna BlueysTarrawannaTarrawanna Oval
Wollongong OlympicWollongongHerb Clunis Oval
Wollongong UnitedBerkeleyMacedonia Park

Honours

Port Kembla FC are the most successful Illawarra Premier League club, with 9 grand final wins, and 7 Premierships since the league's inception in 1977.
Source:

George Naylor Medalist

The George Naylor Medal goes to the player of the season.
YearWinnerRunner/s up
2016Shohei OkunoN/A
2017Guy KnightRicky Goodchild