2003–04 NSW Premier League season

The 2003–04 NSW Premier League season was the fourth season of the revamped NSW Premier League.

NSW Premier League
Season2003–04
ChampionsBankstown City Lions
PremiersBelconnen Blue Devils
PromotedSydney Crescent Star
RelegatedFairfield Bulls
Matches138
Goals407 (2.95 per match)
Top goalscorerMatthew Borg (19)

The Belconnen Blue Devils took out the minor premiership on 47 competition points, after having a superior goal difference over second placed St George Saints. However, the Devils lost two of three games in the finals series, including the grand final 2–0 to Bankstown City Lions. Thus, the Lions were the premiers for the 2003–04 NSW Premier League season.

Throughout the season many Premier League, Super League, Division One and Division Two teams competed in a newly formed FA Cup-style knockout competition called the Continental Tyres Cup in which the Sydney Crescent Star were crowned champions after defeating Bonnyrigg White Eagles in a penalty shootout at Gabbie Stadium.[1]

Clubs

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Regular Series

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Belconnen Blue Devils 22 14 5 3 47 26 +21 47 Qualified for the Championship Finals series
2 St George Saints 22 15 2 5 46 27 +19 47
3 Bankstown City (C) 22 12 2 8 40 33 +7 38
4 Blacktown City Demons 22 11 4 7 48 28 +20 37
5 Sydney Crescent Star 22 9 5 8 26 21 +5 32
6 Rockdale City Suns 22 8 6 8 34 36 2 30
7 Penrith Panthers 22 9 3 10 25 37 12 30
8 Parramatta Eagles 22 8 5 9 31 31 0 29
9 APIA Leichhardt Tigers 22 7 3 12 24 36 12 24
10 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 22 7 2 13 33 39 6 23
11 Central Coast United 22 5 4 13 25 47 22 19
12 Canterbury-Marrickville (R) 22 4 5 13 28 46 18 17 Relegated to Super League
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

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Home \ Away API BAN BEL BCD BWE CMO CCU PAR PEN ROC SGS SCS
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0–3 2–2 3–1 0–1 2–1 1–3 0–3 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–3
Bankstown City 1–2 0–2 3–2 3–0 0–1 1–0 4–1 1–2 1–0 0–2 2–0
Belconnen Blue Devils 2–2 2–1 2–1 3–1 4–1 3–1 1–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 3–1
Blacktown City Demons 0–1 4–1 2–1 5–0 3–3 0–1 4–1 1–2 4–2 0–1 1–0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 4–2 0–0 1–3 2–3 5–1 1–2 1–2
Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic 1–1 2–3 0–4 1–4 3–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 3–3 1–3 0–1
Central Coast United 0–2 2–4 1–3 2–5 0–5 2–2 3–1 0–0 0–1 2–3 0–3
Parramatta Eagles 2–0 3–4 2–3 0–0 2–0 1–2 3–0 1–1 1–3 2–1 0–1
Penrith Panthers 2–1 1–3 1–2 0–3 1–5 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 2–0
Rockdale City Suns 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–1 1–3 1–1
St George Saints 3–1 3–1 3–2 1–4 2–0 1–0 6–2 3–0 2–3 2–0 2–0
Sydney Crescent Star 2–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–2 3–0
Updated to match(es) played on 9 May 2004. Source: socceraust.co.uk
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Finals series

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Qualifying FinalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final
1Belconnen33Bankstown2
3Bankstown41Belconnen0
2St George11Belconnen
3Bankstown22St George1
2St George3
4Blacktown1
4Blacktown2
5Crescent Star0

Qualifying Finals

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22 May 2004 Elimination final Blacktown City Demons 2–0 Sydney Crescent Star Sydney, New South Wales
Saturday J. Maguire 44'
D. Hokin 80'
Report
23 May 2004 Qualifying Final St George Saints 1–2 Bankstown City Lions Sydney, New South Wales
Sunday A. Deur 85' Report R. Luksic 15'
M. Hoenslaars 80'

Semi-finals

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29 May 2004 Major semi-final Belconnen Blue Devils 3–4 (a.e.t.) Bankstown City Lions Canberra, ACT
Saturday A. Castro 44', 69'
Z. Josevski red-colored football 89' (o.g.)
Report Z. Babic 40', 87'
Borg 54'
R. Luksic 93'
30 May 2004 Minor semi-final St George Saints 3–1 Blacktown City Demons Sydney, New South Wales
Sunday G. Mendez 30'
S. Young 94'
C. Cevinni 98'
Report D. Hokin 22' (pen.)

Preliminary final

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5 June 2004 Belconnen Blue Devils 2–1 St George Saints Canberra, ACT
Saturday D. Macor 58', 78' Report G. Lagoudakis 84'

Grand final

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14 June 2004 Bankstown City Lions 2–0 Belconnen Blue Devils Marconi Stadium, Sydney
Monday Saso Boskovski 65' (pen.)
Lee Pietrukowski red-colored football 72' (o.g.)
Report Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Jonathan Streater

Gold Medal Dinner

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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
Gold Medal WinnerFirst GradeIllija PrenzoskiBelconnen Blue Devils
Golden BootFirst GradeMatthew BorgBankstown City Lions FC (19 goals)
Goalkeeper of the YearFirst GradeJohn CrawleyBlacktown City Demons FC
Coach of the YearFirst GradeChris TanzeyBelconnen Blue Devils
Referee of the YearJonathan Streater

See also

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References

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