The Waratah Cup is a knockout cup competition in New South Wales, run by the governing body of football in NSW, Football NSW. Teams competing in the Waratah Cup come from the National Premier Leagues NSW, NSW League One, NSW League Two, and numerous other semi professional & amateur association clubs within New South Wales. The Cup is held during the NPL NSW seasons. Since 2014 preliminary rounds of the Waratah Cup have been used to determine the NSW entrants to the national FFA Cup competition, now known as the Australia Cup.[1]

Waratah Cup
Founded1971
RegionNew South Wales
Number of teams159 (as of 2024)
Current championsAPIA Leichhardt (2024)
Most successful club(s)Hakoah Sydney City East (7 titles)
Sydney United 58 (7 titles)
WebsiteThe Waratah Cup
2024 Australia Cup preliminary rounds

History

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Federation Cup (1957–1966) and original Waratah Cup / Rothmans Cup (1970s)

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When the federation began in 1957, it held its first member cup competition, called the NSW Federation Cup. Canterbury-Marrickville were the inaugural winners of the competition with a 4–2 victory over Gladesville-Ryde. They retained the title the following year when they defeated Prague in the final. The tournament garnered sponsorship the following season and was named the "Ascot Thousand" for two years and the "Craven A Cup" for the next years. Due to lack of sponsorship, the 1963 tournament returned to the Federation Cup naming but was also known as the Henry Seamonds Trophy from 1964, named after the late NSW and Australian Soccer Federation president. The competition continued to run for a further four years in this manner before finally dissolving due to lack of interest. After ten editions, the final tournament was held in 1966. The winners that year were APIA Leichhardt. During this period, teams competed mainly from the first division with the best placed second division clubs during the season also gaining entry into the competition to create equal numbers for the knockout tournament.[2]

The NSW federation cup notion was re-introduced in 1971, under the banner of the Waratah Cup, with Sydney Hakoah winning the title. The 1972 edition was also held with 20 teams entering from across multiple levels of the soccer pyramid in NSW with four teams gaining entry from Northern NSW Football. There was no title held in 1973 but was re-introduced in 1974 sponsored by Rothmans. These tournaments garnered a lot of interest from many clubs with up to eight rounds being played before the quarter-finals in the 1976 edition.[3]

With many influential clubs departing the federation with the introduction of the National Soccer League in 1977, the idea of federation wide cup tournaments were abandoned until the 1990s. However, the pre-season Ampol Cup continued during this time, often with the NSL clubs competing against the First Division clubs in the federation. In 1990, a State Challenge Cup was held by teams from the First Division, paving way for the re-introduction of the Waratah Cup.

Rebirth (1991–1997) and re-introduction (2004–2013)

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In 1991, the Challenge Cup and the first division pre-season cup were replaced by the NSW Waratah State Cup. Little is known of the original format of the fledgling editions but by 1995, 99 teams were competing[4] and 94 in 1996.[5] In 1997, Wollongong Wolves FC won the final Waratah Cup before it was resurrected after six years in 2004.

Since this time, the competition has continued uninterrupted, save for the 2020 and 2021 editions that were cancelled due to COVID-19. The initial edition in 2004 was won by Sydney Crescent Star with an extra time win over fellow NSW Premier League team, Bonnyrigg White Eagles. In the following nine years, Sutherland were the only club to win the cup on two occasions (in 2009 and 2012) and the 2010 final was the only edition to be decided on penalties, with Marconi defeating Spirit FC after the match was still scoreless after extra time.

Current format (since 2014)

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Since 2014 the Waratah Cup has become part of the qualifying competition for the FFA Cup, now known as the Australia Cup. In 2014, seven teams qualified for the Round of 32.[6][7]

For 2015, the preliminary rounds of the 2015 FFA Cup replaced the early rounds of the competition; the 5 NSW qualifiers to the Round of 32 then competed for the 2015 Waratah Cup.[8]

Starting in 2015, the reigning champions of the National Premier Leagues qualified directly for the FFA Cup proper (round of 32). Blacktown City, Sydney United, and Wollongong Wolves won the NPL national championships in 2015, 2016, and 2019 respectively. Therefore the three teams were not required to participate in FFA Cup preliminary rounds in 2016, 2017, and 2021. They were also seeded directly into final rounds of the Waratah Cup in the respective seasons, along with the other FFA Cup qualifiers from NSW.[9]

From 2020 onwards, NSW qualification to the Round of 32 decreased to four slots instead of the previous five.

Format

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As the preliminary rounds form part of the Australia Cup, the competition proper starts with the four winners from the Australia Cup Preliminary Seventh Round.[10]

Phase Round Clubs remaining Clubs involved From previous round Entries in this round Teams entering at this round
Australia Cup
preliminary rounds
Round 2 174 132 N/A 132 National Levels 6+
Round 3 108 88 66 22 National Levels 4–5
Round 4 64 64 44 20 National Levels 2–3
Round 5 32 32 32 none N/A
Round 6 16 16 16 none N/A
Round 7 8 8 8 none N/A
Competition Proper Semi-finals 4 4 4 none N/A
Final 2 2 2 none N/A

Australia Cup qualifiers

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Since 2014, the Waratah Cup preliminary rounds have acted as qualifiers for the Australia Cup.

Year Australia Cup (formerly FFA Cup) Qualifiers
2014 7: Blacktown City, Hakoah Sydney City East, Manly United, Parramatta FC, South Coast Wolves, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58
2015 5: Balmain Tigers, Blacktown City, Rockdale City Suns, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58
2016 6: Blacktown City[a], Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Manly United, Marconi Stallions, Sydney United 58, Wollongong Wolves
2017 5: APIA Leichhardt, Bankstown Berries, Blacktown City, Hakoah Sydney City East, Hills Brumbies, Sydney United 58 [b]
2018 5: APIA Leichhardt, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Hakoah Sydney City East, Marconi Stallions, Rockdale City Suns
2019 5: Manly United, Marconi Stallions, Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sydney United 58, St George FC
2020 Waratah Cup and 2020 FFA Cup cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[11]
2021 5: APIA Leichhardt, Blacktown City, Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sydney Olympic, Wollongong Wolves[c]
2022 4: Bonnyrigg White Eagles, NWS Spirit, Sydney United 58, Wollongong United
2023 4: APIA Leichhardt, Inter Lions, Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sydney United 58
2024 4: APIA Leichhardt, Blacktown City, NWS Spirit, Rockdale Ilinden
Notes
  1. ^ Blacktown City qualified as 2015 National Premier Leagues Champions.
  2. ^ Sydney United 58 qualified as 2016 National Premier Leagues Champions.
  3. ^ Wollongong Wolves qualified as 2019 National Premier Leagues Champions.

Past finals

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Below is a list of all federation cup finals since the inaugural NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs season in 1957. Please note the name changes throughout the years, due to various reasons:

  • Federation Cup (1957–1966):
    • Also known as Ascot Thousand (1959–60), Craven A Cup (1961–62), Henry Seamonds Trophy (1964–66)
  • Waratah State / Rothmans Cup (1971–1972, 1974–1976) and Challenge Cup (1990)
  • Waratah Cup (1991–current):
    • Also known as Continental Tyres Cup (2004–2006), Tiger Turf Cup (2007–2009), McDonald's Cup (2010), TAFE NSW (2018–2019)
Year Winners (number of titles) Score Runners-up
1957 Canterbury-Marrickville 4–2[12] Gladesville-Ryde
1958 Canterbury-Marrickville (2) 3–2 Sydney Prague
1959 Hakoah 2–0 Sydney Prague
1960 Bankstown 1–0 Canterbury-Marrickville
1961 Hakoah (2) 2–0 Canterbury-Marrickville
1962 APIA Leichhardt 5–1 Canterbury-Marrickville
1963 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (3) 2–1 South Coast United
1964 St. George Budapest 4–3 South Coast United
1965 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (4) 3–1 Pan Hellenic
1966 APIA Leichhardt (2) 3–2 St. George Budapest
1967–1970 No competition held
1971 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (5) 3–2 South Sydney-Croatia
1972 St. George-Budapest (2) 3–2 Marconi-Fairfield
1973 No competition held
1974 South Sydney-Croatia 1–0 St. George-Budapest
1975 APIA Leichhardt (3) 2–0 Western Suburbs
1976 Hakoah Eastern Suburbs (6) 3–1 South Sydney-Croatia
1977–1989 No competition held
1990 Canberra Croatia 3–0 Sydney Macedonia
1991 Blacktown City 2–1 Avala
1992 Avala 4–1 Canberra Metro
1993 Blacktown City (2) unknown
1994 Bankstown City (2) 2–1 Sydney Olympic
1995 Sydney United (2) 2–1 Canterbury-Marrickville
1996 Sydney United (3) 2–1 (†) Parramatta Eagles
1997 Wollongong Wolves 2–0 Bankstown City
1998–2003 No competition held
2004 Sydney Crescent Star 2–1 (†) Bonnyrigg White Eagles
2005 Sydney United (4) 3–1 Belconnen Blue Devils
2006 Blacktown City (3) 2–1 APIA Leichhardt
2007 Wollongong Wolves (2) 3–2 Manly United
2008 Bankstown City (2) 3–1 Sydney Olympic
2009 Sutherland Sharks 2–1 Manly United
2010 Marconi Stallions 0–0 (†) Spirit FC
Marconi won on penalties 7–6.
2011 Manly United 4–0 Mounties Wanderers
2012 Sutherland Sharks (2) 4–1 APIA Leichhardt
2013 APIA Leichhardt (4) 3–0 Sutherland Sharks
2014 Blacktown City (4) 6–2 Manly United
2015 Sydney United 58 (5) 1–0 Blacktown City
2016 Sydney United 58 (6) 1–0 Manly United
2017 Hakoah Sydney City East (7) 3–1 APIA Leichhardt
2018 APIA Leichhardt (5) 3–0 Hakoah Sydney City East
2019 Marconi Stallions (2) 2–1 Sydney United 58
2020 Waratah Cup and 2020 FFA Cup cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[11]
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
2022 NWS Spirit 2–1 Sydney United 58
2023 Sydney United 58 (7) 3–1 APIA Leichhardt
2024 APIA Leichhardt (6) 3–0 Rockdale Ilinden

Source: OzFootball.net

Key
  • (†) after extra time (a.e.t.)

Performance by club

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All-time honour board
This list includes all Waratah Cup champions and runners-up since the inaugural New South Wales Federation of Soccer Clubs in 1957.[14]

Club Titles Years Runners-up Years
Sydney United 58 7 1974, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2015, 2016, 2023 4 1971, 1976, 2019, 2022
Hakoah Sydney City East 7 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1971, 1976, 2017 1 2018
APIA Leichhardt 5 1962, 1966, 1975, 2013, 2018 4 2006, 2012, 2017, 2023
Blacktown City 4 1991, 1993, 2006, 2014 1 2015
Bankstown City 2 1994, 2008 2 1990, 1997
Canterbury Bankstown 2 1957, 1958 4 1960, 1961, 1962, 1995
St George FC 2 1964, 1972 2 1966, 1974
Sutherland Sharks 2 2009, 2012 1 2013
Marconi Stallions 2 2010, 2019 1 1972
Wollongong Wolves 2 1997, 2007 0
Manly United 1 2011 4 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 1992 2 1991, 2004
Canberra FC 1 1990 1 1992
NWS Spirit 1 2022 1 2010
Sydney Crescent Stars 1 2004 0
Gladesville-Ryde 0 1 1957
Prague 0 2 1958, 1959
South Coast United 0 2 1963, 1964
Sydney Olympic 0 3 1965, 1994, 2008
Western Suburbs 0 1 1975
Parramatta FC 0 1 1996
Belconnen Blue Devils 0 1 2005
Mounties Wanderers 0 1 2011

Earlier NSW State Cups

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This table consists of finals of state cup competitions held by the New South Wales Soccer Football Association from 1885.[15]

Competition Year Winner Score Runners-Up
Rainsford Trophy 1885 Granville 3–1 Caledonian
Rainsford Trophy 1886 Granville 2–0 Canterbury
Rainsford Trophy 1887 Hamilton Athletic 4–1 Granville
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1888 Caledonian 4–2 Parkgrove
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1880 Pyrmont Rangers 1–0 Joadji
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1890 Pyrmont Rangers 3–1 Granville
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1891 Parkgrove 4–1 Pyrmont Rangers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1892 Minmi Rangers 3–0 Pyrmont Rangers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1893 Pyrmont Rangers 1–0 Minmi Rangers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1894 Pyrmont Rangers 7–2 Parkgrove
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1895 Balmain 4–2 Pyrmont Rangers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1896 Balmain 3–1 Pyrmont Rangers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1897 Balmain 2–1 Pyrmont Rangers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1898 Pyrmont Volunteers 3–2 Newcastle West
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1899 Pyrmont Rangers 5–2 Balgownie
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1900 West Wallsend 3–3,
4–1 (replay)
Pyrmont Volunteers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1901 West Wallsend 4–1 Balgownie
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1902 Pyrmont Rovers 3–1 West Wallsend
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1903 Pyrmont Rovers 4–2 Glebe
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1904 Granville 2–1 Glebe
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1905 Balmain 2–2,
2–1 (replay)
Rozelle
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1906 Glebe 3–2 Pyrmont Rovers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1907 Broadmeadows 0–0,
3–2 (replay)
Pyrmont Rovers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1908 Pyrmont Rovers 4–0 Glebe
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1909 Adamstown Rosebud 0–0,
3–1 (replay)
Pyrmont Rovers
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1910 HMS Powerful 2–0 Helensburgh
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1911 Balmain 2–1 HMS Powerful
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1912 Balmain 1–0 Sydney
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1913 Annandale 3–0 Newtown
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1914 Granville 3–1 Merewether Advance
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1915 Balmain 2–0 West Wallsend
1916–17 No tournament due to World War I
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1918 Weston 1–0 Balmain Kiora
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1919 Balmain Fernleigh 3–0 West Wallsend
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1920 Balmain Fernleigh 2–0 Granville
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1921 West Wallsend 3–1 Granville
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1922 Granville 1–0 West Wallsend
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1923 West Wallsend 0–0,
0–0 (replay),
4–4 (replay),
1–0 (replay)
Sydney
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1924 West Wallsend 3–0 Woonona
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1925 Adamstown Rosebud 2–0 Cessnock
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1926 West Wallsend 2–1 Adamstown Rosebud
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1927 Gladesville-Ryde 2–0 Granville
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1928 Thirroul Rangers 3–0 Pyrmont
State Cup Series 1928 Aberdare 2–0 Weston
State Cup Series 1929 Cessnock 2–0 Wallsend
State Cup Series 1930 Adamstown Rosebud 2–0 Cessnock
State Cup Series 1931 West Wallsend 3–0 Woonona
State Cup Series 1932 Weston 8–1 Adamstown Rosebud
State Cup Series 1933 St. George 3–3,
5–3 (replay)
Cessnock
State Cup Series 1934 Weston 5–1 Adamstown Rosebud
State Cup Series 1935 Metters 5–0 St. George
State Cup Series 1936 Weston 3–2 Metters
State Cup Series 1937 Wallsend 3–1 Weston
State Cup Series 1938 Metters 4–0 Adamstown Rosebud
State Cup Series 1939 Weston 2–2,
2–1 (replay)
Goodyear
State Cup Series 1940 Metters 4–2 Adamstown Rosebud
State Cup Series 1941 Leichhardt-Annandale 6–3 Granville
State Cup Series 1942 Wallsend 8–1 Gladesville-Ryde
State Cup Series 1943 Merewether 4–2 Woonona-Bulli
State Cup Series 1944 Merewether 6–3 Cessnock
State League Cup 1943 Leichhardt-Annandale 3–2 (a.e.t.) Adamstown Rosebud
State League Cup 1944 Wallsend 8–2 Gace Brothers
State League Cup 1945 West Wallsend 2–1 Metters
State League Cup 1946 Canterbury-Bankstown 4–1 Adamstown
State League Cup 1947 Corrimal 5–1 Canterbury-Bankstown
State League Cup 1948 Leichhardt-Annandale 4–2 Wallsend
State League Cup 1949 Leichhardt-Annandale 3–0 Granville
State League Cup 1950 Wallsend 5–2 Granville
State League Cup 1951 Granville 3–0 Mayfield United
State League Cup 1952 Wallsend 2–0 West Wallsend
State League Cup 1953 Auburn 1–0 Corrimal
State League Cup 1954 Corrimal Rangers 5–1 Leichhardt-Annandale
State League Cup 1955 Leichhardt Annandale 2–1 Granville
State League Cup 1956 Leichhardt Annandale 6–4 Corrimal Rangers
State League Cup 1957 Wallsend 0–0,
2–0 (replay)
Granville
State League Cup 1958 Toronto-Awaba 4–2 Wallsend

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NSW WARATAH CUP". Football NSW. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  2. ^ The NSW Soccer Year Book 1960. NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs via Robworth. pp. 21–25.
  3. ^ "1976 NSW Rothmans State Cup". socceraust.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. ^ "1995 Waratah Cup". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  5. ^ "1996 Waratah Cup". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  6. ^ "NSW WARATAH CUP". Football NSW. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  7. ^ "2014 Waratah Cup Match Schedule And Results" (PDF). Football NSW. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  8. ^ "FFA Cup - Football NSW" (PDF). footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Westfield FFA Cup 2016 Preliminary Draw Announced". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  10. ^ "NSW Waratah Cup". footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled". The World Game. SBS. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Federation Soccer Yearbook 1958" (PDF). Federation Soccer Yearbook. Sydney: N.S.W. Federation of Soccer Clubs. 1958. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Football NSW Cancel 2021 National Premier Leagues Season". Football NSW. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  14. ^ "SoccerAust: NSW Cup Winners". Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Australia - List of Regional Cup Winners". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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