Three NPL Victoria Teams Set To Join NSD

Avondale, Preston Lions and South Melbourne will make up three of the eight teams in the inaugural season of the NSD.

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

NPL Victoria sides Avondale, Preston Lions and South Melbourne will all be competing in the inaugural season of the National Second Division, Football Australia have confirmed.

The NSD, which is confirmed to begin in 2025, has announced that the three listed NPL Victoria teams will all have a spot in the league, along with APIA Leichhardt, Marconi Stallions FC, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, and Wollongong Wolves, all of the NPL NSW.

It comes after South Melbourne and Avondale played each other in the NPL Victoria Grand Final last September, with the latter winning 4-0 at Olympic Park.

Above: Avondale celenbrate after defeating South Melbourne in the NPL Victoria Grand Final.

The Preston Lions, meanwhile, finished eighth this past VPL1 season, formerly known as the NPL Victoria 2. They are, however, four time NPL Victoria Champions, with the most recent one coming in 2007.

While Avondale have never competed on the national level before, Preston has, most noticeably finishing runner up in 1987.

However, it's South Melbourne who boast the best national history out of the three teams, being four time champions and three time premiers of the old NSL. They also won the 1999 OFC Champions League, which saw them play Manchester United at the Club World Cup the following year.

Above: South Melbourne legend Paul Trimboli and Manchester United legend Andy Cole prior to South Melbourne's matchup against Manchester United in the 2000 Club World Cup.

The teams are expected to stay in their respective state leagues for the following season. The NSD is set to start in 2025.