NSW Sapphires FC
Full nameNSW Sapphires FC
Founded1996
Dissolved2005
GroundVarious (see home grounds for further info)
OwnerFootball NSW
NSW Institute of Sport
ChairmanUnknown
Senior Women's
Manager		Alen Stajcic
LeagueWomen's National Soccer League
20043rd (3)

The NSW Sapphires (formerly known as the NSW Institute of Sport) were a women's association football club that represented the State of New South Wales in the Women's National Soccer League which ran between 1996 and 2004. Throughout the 9 seasons that the competition ran, the Sapphires won 3 Championships and were also runners up on 3 occasions, making them one of the most successful teams in the short-lived league.

The NSW Sapphires had several players who would go onto represent the Matildas at international level, in addition to winning the prestigious Julie Dolan Medal.

History

With the foundation of the Women's National Soccer League in 1994, The NSW Institute of Sport was selected to be the representative for New South Wales and in particular Sydney. Later on in the competition, along with the other clubs they would drop their Institute of Sport names for NSW Sapphires, in favour of more marketable monikers.[1]

The Sapphires would be one of the strongest teams in the competition, winning their first silverware in the 1997–98 season,[2] with experienced Matilda Julie Murray winning the 1998-1999 Julie Dolan Medal.[3] The Spphires would go on to win 2 more championships during the 1999, and 2003 season, in addition to being runners-up in 3 consecutive season in 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03 losing each final 0–1, to Queensland Sting and Canberra Eclipse FC.[4]

The Sapphires would have further players represent them at the highest level in addition to being recognised for their contribution to the women's game, with Joanne Peters and Taryn Rockall receiving the Julie Dolan medal.[5]

Despite having been defunct for almost 20 years, Football NSW paid tribute to the success and history of the club by naming the new women's state knockout cup the Sapphire Cup.[6]

Notable Players

Australia Australia

Managers

NSW Sapphires were Alen Stajcic's first managerial job
Caption text
YearsName
2002-2004Alen Stajcic

Honours

  • WNSL:
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) WNSL Champions (3): 1997–98, 1999, 2003
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (3): 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03

References

  1. ↑ "History of the WNSL". Football Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Georgaras, Peter; Persoglia, Tony. "1997-98 Ansett Australia Summer Series". OzFootball. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Howe, Andrew (28 December 2020). "Women's National Soccer League Honour Roll". Official Westfield W-League 2020/21 Season Guide (PDF). Australian Professional League. p. 132 – via Andrew Howe.
  4. ↑ Cannuli, Cath. "Sydney FC will have to tackle demons from losing Grand Finals – I know, because I faced them down too". Keep Up. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Pisani, Sasha. "Roll of Honour: Every Dolan Warren winner in Aussie football history". Keep Up. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Stavroulakis, Mark. "FOOTBALL NSW ANNOUNCES NSW SAPPHIRE CUP". Football NSW. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Matildas beat NZ in final Cup warm-up". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
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