Football Victoria (FV) today released its remaining fixtures for the upcoming 2020 NPL Victoria season.
Details of NPLW, NPL2 and the new NPL3 competitions are now locked away in-line with the new NPL Victoria structure, announced earlier this year. Today’s release also includes the NPL junior girls’ and junior boys’ fixtures (including the new JBNPL pre-qualification matches prior to commencing its inaugural season next year).
Victoria’s premier women’s competition, NPLW, comprises eight teams and 21 rounds from March 21 to August 30, 2020.
In Round 1 on Saturday afternoon (March 21), premiers, champions and Nike F.C. Cup winners Calder United kick off the season at home to Alamein FC, whilst Nike F.C. Cup runners-up Box Hill United host Bayside United at Wembley Park.
On Sunday afternoon (March 22), the newly-named FV Emerging hosts Heidelberg FC at Knox whilst FC Bulleen Lions and South Melbourne FC finish the round on Monday night (March 23) at the Veneto Club.
In NPL2 and NPL3, both competitions will feature 12 teams and 22 rounds across Victoria, starting on March 21 and finishing on September 6, 2020.
The NPL2 season kicks off on Friday, March 21, with Pascoe Vale FC at home to Moreland City FC. Pascoe Vale FC will be keen to get off to a flying start after being relegated last season.
Also on Saturday, Brunswick City SC hosts Moreland Zebras FC and Langwarrin SC is at home to Manningham United FC.
Outside of metropolitan Melbourne will see great action, with North Geelong Warriors FC hosting Northcote City FC at Elcho Park and Goulburn Valley Suns FC kicking off its campaign at John McEwan Reserve against FC Bulleen Lions, who just missed promotion to the top-flite in 2019.
On Monday night, freshly relegated Kingston City FC welcomes Werribee City FC to The Grange Reserve to finish the round.
In the new NPL3 tier, Round 1 will be an all Saturday affair on March 21, starting at another regional location. Ballarat City FC hosts Nunawading City FC at 2pm at Morsehead Park Stadium.
At 3pm, Murray United FC welcomes Box Hill United FC to the Albury–Wodonga border, Whittlesea Ranges FC meets Doveton SC at Epping Stadium and Springvale White Eagles FC hosts Melbourne Victory FC at White Eagles Stadium.
To finish the round, Geelong SC welcomes North Sunshine Eagles to Stead Park at 5.30pm and Melbourne City FC takes on Preston Lions FC at the Veneto Club at 6pm.
Football Victoria welcomes Preston Lions FC, Nunawading City FC, Doveton SC and North Sunshine Eagles FC into the NPL3 fold from state league competitions.
FV CEO Peter Filopoulos said the Victorian football community was looking forward to the new NPLW season and restructured NPL2 and NPL3 competitions.
“Victoria’s premier women’s competition continues to improve with several players being spotted and going on to bigger and better things. I’m sure 2020 will be no different and we can’t wait to see how teams try to edge past Calder United who took all before them in 2019,” Mr Filopoulos said.
“Equally, there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation about the new NPL2 and NPL3 competitions under the new structure. With two teams up and two teams down, and no promotion/relegation battles, it’s going to be on from Round 1 and we can’t wait to see what unfolds,” he concluded.
See the full list of all NPL Senior Men (inc U18 & U20), NPLW (inc U19) and Girls (U12, U14, U16), and NPL Junior Boys (U13, U14, U15 & U16), fixture details at https://ftbl.vc/38JvAut