2008 NSW Premier League season


The 2008 TeleChoice Premier League season was the eighth season of the revamped NSW Premier League. This season also marked the promotion of two new teams, in the West Sydney Berries and the Macarthur Rams from the Super League. This increased the teams competing in the competition from 10 to 12 teams and the number of rounds from 18 to 22 in the regular season.
The 2008 season officially began on 22 February and concluded with the Grand Final between Wollongong FC and the Sutherland Sharks on 7 September.
Before the start of the season, all the 2008 teams competed in the Johnny Warren Cup, the official pre-season tournament. On 16 February, Sydney Olympic defeated the Sutherland Sharks 2 goals to 1 at Seymour Shaw Park to win the Johnny Warren Cup.
Throughout the season many Premier League, Super League, Division One and Division Two teams competed in an FA Cup-style knockout competition in which the Bankstown City Lions and Sydney Olympic contested the Grand Final with Bankstown prevailing 3-1 winners.

Changes from Previous Season

The number of teams competing increased from 10 to 12, with the inclusion of the West Sydney Berries and the Macarthur Rams. The regular season remained a home-away round-robin format, thus increasing the number of rounds from 18 to 22. The final series was therefore also adapted. The number of teams competing in the finals series increased from 4 to 5. The finals series used a 5-team McIntyre System to determine the champions.

Clubs

Teams promoted from Super League:
Teams relegated to Super League:
ClubGroundCapacity
A.P.I.A. Leichhardt TigersLambert Park7,000
Bankstown City Lions FCJensen Oval8,000
Blacktown City Demons FCFairfax Community Stadium7,500
Macarthur RamsCampbelltown Stadium20,000
Manly United FCCromer Park5,000
Marconi Stallions FCMarconi Stadium11,500
Penrith Nepean United FCCUA Stadium21,000
Sutherland Sharks FCSeymour Shaw Park5,000
Sydney Olympic FCBelmore Sports Ground25,000
Sydney United FCSydney United Sports Centre12,000
West Sydney Berries FCSydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre18,000
Wollongong FCJohn Crehan Park7,500

Regular season

League table

Results

Finals Series

Qualifying Finals

Semi Finals

Preliminary Final

Grand Final

Gold Medal Dinner

At the end of the season, Football NSW hosted the Gold Medal Dinner, where players, coaches and referees were awarded for their work throughout the Premier League season.
AwardGradeNameClub
Player of the YearFirst GradeBrendan GanSutherland Sharks
Andreas Golden BootFirst GradeRobert YounisA.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
Player of the Year20'sDaniel RezoSydney United
Golden Boot20'sBrodie MooyMarconi Stallions
Goalkeeper of the YearFirst GradeMatthew NashA.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
Coach of the YearFirst GradeBrian BrownSutherland Sharks
Referee of the Year-Jonathan Streater-

All-Stars Team

Based on a points system in which all match reporters took part in during the course of the 22 rounds, eleven players were selected in various positions highlighting their performances for season 2008.
Goalkeeper: Matthew Nash
Defence: Emmanuel Zunino, Pedj Bojić, Danial Cummins, Shane Webb
Midfield: Nahuel Arrarte, Robbie Cattanach, Brendan Gan, Christopher Boyle
Attack: Robert Younis, Brad Boardman
Coach: Brian "Bomber" Brown