National Football League (South Africa)
Encyclopedia
The National Football League (NFL) was the first professional association football league in South Africa
. It was established in 1959, and was accompanied by a NFL Division II and NFL Division III in 1961 (with rules for promotion and relegation between the leagues). The league was competitive during the apartheid era, and only white players were allowed to participate. When NFL folded after 18 years in 1977, it was superseded by a non-racial league. In practical terms, a merger happened between NFL (for whites) and NPSL (for blacks), to become the new common NPSL
.
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South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It was established in 1959, and was accompanied by a NFL Division II and NFL Division III in 1961 (with rules for promotion and relegation between the leagues). The league was competitive during the apartheid era, and only white players were allowed to participate. When NFL folded after 18 years in 1977, it was superseded by a non-racial league. In practical terms, a merger happened between NFL (for whites) and NPSL (for blacks), to become the new common NPSL
National Premier Soccer League (South Africa)
The National Premier Soccer League was the title of a South African association football league, between 1971 and 1995. During those years, the league however had three completely different organisations. In 1971-77 it was only for Black South African teams...
.
Winners
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Durban City (1) | Rangers Johannesburg Rangers Johannesburg Rangers FC is a South African football club based in Johannesburg.Rangers FC won the Castle Cup in 1959 and played the final in 1967. Their best season in the NFL was the inaugural season in 1959, when they finished Runners-up to Durban City... |
Durban United Durban United F.C. Durban United FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Durban United FC won the Castle Cup in 1972 and played in the final in 1977.... |
| 1960 | Highlands Park (1) | Durban City | Germiston Callies Germiston Callies F.C. Germiston Callies was a South African football club based in Germiston. Founded by Scottish immigrants in 1906.The clubs original full name was Germiston Caledonian Society Amateur Football Club, the name was changed when the club turned professional in 1959... |
| 1961 | Durban City (2) | Highlands Park | Germiston Callies Germiston Callies F.C. Germiston Callies was a South African football club based in Germiston. Founded by Scottish immigrants in 1906.The clubs original full name was Germiston Caledonian Society Amateur Football Club, the name was changed when the club turned professional in 1959... |
| 1962 | Highlands Park (2) | Southern Suburbs | Durban City |
| 1963 | Addington Addington F.C. Addington FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Addington won both the NFL and the Castle Cup in 1963, and the NFL again in 1969 .-History:... (1) |
Highlands Park | Durban City |
| 1964 | Highlands Park (3) | Durban City | Durban United Durban United F.C. Durban United FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Durban United FC won the Castle Cup in 1972 and played in the final in 1977.... |
| 1965 | Highlands Park (4) | Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... |
Durban City |
| 1966 | Highlands Park (5) | Port Elizabeth City | Durban United Durban United F.C. Durban United FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Durban United FC won the Castle Cup in 1972 and played in the final in 1977.... |
| 1967 | Port Elizabeth City (1) | Highlands Park | Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... |
| 1968 | Highlands Park (6) | Durban United Durban United F.C. Durban United FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Durban United FC won the Castle Cup in 1972 and played in the final in 1977.... |
Powerlines |
| 1969 | Durban Spurs Addington F.C. Addington FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Addington won both the NFL and the Castle Cup in 1963, and the NFL again in 1969 .-History:... (2*) |
Powerlines | Highlands Park |
| 1970 | Durban City (3) | Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... |
Maritzburg Maritzburg F.C. Maritzburg FC is a South African football club based in Pietermaritzburg.-Notable players: Ian Bender Keith Blackburn 4 apps. Bobby 'Red' Campbell 5 apps... |
| 1971 | Hellenic (1) | Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... |
Durban City |
| 1972 | Durban City (4) | Hellenic | Berea Park |
| 1973 | Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... (1) |
Highlands Park | Hellenic |
| 1974 | Arcadia Shepherds Arcadia Shepherds F.C. Arcadia Shepherds are a South African football club based in Arcadia, Pretoria that currently plays in the Vodacom League.-History:The club was founded in 1903, and was briefly renamed to Arcadia United in the seasons from 1963-68... (1) |
Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... |
Maritzburg Maritzburg F.C. Maritzburg FC is a South African football club based in Pietermaritzburg.-Notable players: Ian Bender Keith Blackburn 4 apps. Bobby 'Red' Campbell 5 apps... |
| 1975 | Highlands Park (7) | Hellenic | Maritzburg Maritzburg F.C. Maritzburg FC is a South African football club based in Pietermaritzburg.-Notable players: Ian Bender Keith Blackburn 4 apps. Bobby 'Red' Campbell 5 apps... |
| 1976 | Cape Town City Cape Town City F.C. Cape Town City FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town.Cape Town City won the NFL in 1973 and 1976, as well as the NFL Cup in 1970, 1971 and 1976.... (2) |
Highlands Park | Wits University |
| 1977 | Highlands Park (8) | Lusitano | Durban United Durban United F.C. Durban United FC is a South African football club based in Durban.Durban United FC won the Castle Cup in 1972 and played in the final in 1977.... |
- Note that Addington were known as Durban Spurs when they won their second championship.
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Individual Honours
| Year | Player of the Year | Footballer of the Year | Foreign Player of the Year | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Rocco Smith (Benoni United) | Les Salton (Durban City) 23 | ||
| 1960 | Malcolm Rufus (Durban City) | Les Salton (Durban City) 40 | ||
| 1961 | Les Salton (Durban City) | Les Salton (Durban City) 46 | ||
| 1962 | George Barratt (Durban City) | Peter McEwan (Germiston Callies) 42 | ||
| 1963 | Ken Denysschen (Durban City) | Bazil Johnson (Arcadia United) 43 | ||
| 1964 | Bobby Chalmers (Durban City) | Les Salton (Durban United) 42 | ||
| 1965 | Malcolm Rufus (Highlands Park) | Arne Bjørnstad (Boksburg) & Freddie Kalk (Highlands Park) 33 | ||
| 1966 | Freddie Kalk (Highlands Park) | Robin Lowe (Durban United) |  Kingdom of Scotland Willie McIntosh (Highlands Park) |
Walter da Silva Walter da Silva Walter Cesar Nogueira da Silva was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a striker. Active primarily in South Africa – scoring a total of 162 goals for Highlands Park, Powerlines, Hellenic and Berea Park – Da Silva was also a football manager, and had coached Orlando... (Highlands Park) 44 |
| 1967 | Bob Davies (Rangers) | Charlie Naude (Germiston Callies) |  Wales Bryan OrrittBryan Orritt Bryan Orritt is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as an inside forward or wing half. He made more than 200 appearances in the Football League, and was capped three times for Wales at under-23 level.... (Southern Suburbs) |
Jim Scott Jim Scott Jim Scott is a guitarist, singer/songwriter and composer in the genres of jazz, classical and folk music.-Life:Jim Scott has made it his business to create and perform music that celebrates peace, justice and the earth. He co-wrote the celebrated Missa Gaia - Earth Mass and many other pieces with... (Durban City) 27 |
| 1968 | Peter Hauser Peter Hauser Peter Benjamin Hauser played professional football for Blackpool before becoming player-manager of Chester in 1963... (Addington) |
Derek Smethurst Derek Smethurst Derek Smethurst is a retired South African soccer forward who played professionally in South Africa, England and the United States.-Bio:... (Durban City) |
 Austria Peter Rath (Powerlines) |
Stan Forster (Rangers) 32 |
| 1969 | Richard Allen Richard Allen - Arts :*Dick Allen , American poet, literary critic and academic*Richard Allen , British painter*Richard Allen , British novelist*Richard J... (Cape Town City) |
Frank Pereira (Powerlines) |  Kingdom of England Gary FranceGary France Gareth Lawton "Gary" France is a retired English association footballer who played as a midfielder. He played professionally in the Football League with both Burnley and Bury.-References:... (Cape Town City) |
Walter da Silva Walter da Silva Walter Cesar Nogueira da Silva was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a striker. Active primarily in South Africa – scoring a total of 162 goals for Highlands Park, Powerlines, Hellenic and Berea Park – Da Silva was also a football manager, and had coached Orlando... (Powerlines) 21 |
| 1970 | Archie Soekoe (Rangers) | Bennie Booysen (Southern Suburbs) |  Gibraltar Kingdom of England Tony MacedoTony Macedo Tony Macedo is a Gibraltarian former professional association football goalkeeper who spent nearly his whole career at Fulham. He played 346 league games and a total of 391 matches in all competitions. He ended his career in 1968 after suffering a string of injuries.He was born in Gibraltar in 1938... (Durban City) |
Jim Scott Jim Scott Jim Scott is a guitarist, singer/songwriter and composer in the genres of jazz, classical and folk music.-Life:Jim Scott has made it his business to create and perform music that celebrates peace, justice and the earth. He co-wrote the celebrated Missa Gaia - Earth Mass and many other pieces with... (Durban City) 31 |
| 1971 | George Eastham George Eastham George Edward Eastham, OBE is an English former footballer. He is known for playing for Newcastle United, Arsenal and Stoke City, as well as a non-playing member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad... (Hellenic) |
Ronnie Mann Ronnie Mann Ronnie Mann is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2003, Mann has mostly fought in England and Japan.... (Durban City) |
Kingdom of Scotland Ben Anderson Ben Anderson Benjamin or Ben Anderson may refer to:*Benedict Anderson , professor emeritus of International Studies at Cornell University*Ben Anderson , Australian actor*Ben Anderson , television personality and reporter for the BBC... (Cape Town City) |
Jim Scott Jim Scott Jim Scott is a guitarist, singer/songwriter and composer in the genres of jazz, classical and folk music.-Life:Jim Scott has made it his business to create and perform music that celebrates peace, justice and the earth. He co-wrote the celebrated Missa Gaia - Earth Mass and many other pieces with... (Durban City/Durban United) 22 |
| 1972 | Trevor Gething (Berea Park) | Wilf de Bruyn (Hellenic) | Kingdom of England Johnny Haynes Johnny Haynes John Norman "Johnny" Haynes was an English footballer, best known for his 18 years at Fulham. He played a club-record 658 games and scored 158 goals for the club between 1952 and 1970... (Durban City) |
Wilf de Bruyn (Hellenic) 26 |
| 1973 | Ian Bender (Durban Celtic) | Hennie Joubert (Highlands Park) | Kingdom of England Peter Withe Peter Withe Peter Withe is a much-travelled English footballer who played as a striker, between 1971 and 1990... (Arcadia Shepherds) |
|
| 1974 | Steve Wegerle Steve Wegerle Steve Wegerle is a former professional soccer player.Wegerle was voted Player of the Year is South Africa in 1974. He then joined Coventry City F.C. in 1975, but made no first team appearances... (Arcadia Shepherds) |
Steve Wegerle Steve Wegerle Steve Wegerle is a former professional soccer player.Wegerle was voted Player of the Year is South Africa in 1974. He then joined Coventry City F.C. in 1975, but made no first team appearances... (Arcadia Shepherds) |
 Jersey Dave HusonDave Huson Dave Huson is a retired Channel Island football player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... (Hellenic) |
|
| 1975 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||
| 1977 |
List of Clubs
| Club | Location | Seasons | Name changes, mergers etc. |
| ADDINGTON | Durban | 1962-68= | (=Durban Spurs) |
| ARCADIA SHEPHERDS | Pretoria | 1959-62; =69-77 | Merged with ISCOR Pretoria (=Arcadia United=) |
| ARCADIA UNITED | Pretoria | 1963-68= | Merger of Arcadia Shepherds and ISCOR Pretoria (=Arcadia Shepherds) |
| BENONI UNITED | East Rand | 1959-63 | Merged with Brakpan United (=East Rand United) |
| BEREA PARK | Pretoria | 1960-64; 70-76 | Merged with Pretoria City |
| BLOEMFONTEIN CITY | Bloemfontein | 1963-66; 69-71 | |
| BOKSBURG | East Rand | 1960-67; 74 | |
| BRAKPAN UNITED | East Rand | 1959-63 | Merged with Benoni United (=East Rand United) |
| CAPE TOWN CITY | Cape Town | 1962-77 | |
| DURBAN CELTIC | Durban | 1972-74= | (=Pinetown Celtic) |
| DURBAN CITY | Durban | 1959-77 | |
| DURBAN RAMBLERS | Durban | 1963 | |
| DURBAN SPURS | Durban | =1969 | (Addington=) Merged with Durban United (=Durban Spurs United) |
| DURBAN SPURS UNITED | Durban | 1970= | Merger of Durban Spurs and Durban United (=Durban United) |
| DURBAN UNITED | Durban | 1959-69; =71-77 | Merged with Durban Spurs (=Durban Spurs United=) |
| EAST LONDON CELTIC | East London | 1969-70 | Merged with East London City (=East London United) |
| EAST LONDON UNITED | East London | 1971-77 | Merger of East London Celtic and East London City |
| EAST RAND UNITED | East Rand | 1964; 66 | Merger of Benoni United and Brakpan United |
| GERMISTON CALLIES | East Rand | 1959-77 | |
| GUILD APOLLO | West Rand | 1976= | Merger of Jewish Guild and Johannesburg Corinthians (=Roodepoort Guild) |
| HELLENIC | Cape Town | 1964-77 | |
| HIGHLANDS PARK | Johannesburg | 1960-70; =73-77 | Merged with Powerlines (=Highlands Power=) |
| HIGHLANDS POWER | Johannesburg | 1971-72= | Merger of Highlands Park and Powerlines (=Highlands Park) |
| ISCOR PRETORIA | Pretoria | 1961-62 | Merged with Arcadia Shepherds (=Arcadia United) |
| JEWISH GUILD | West Rand | 1971-75 | Merged with Johannesburg Corinthians (=Guild Apollo) |
| JOHANNESBURG CITY | Johannesburg | =1960-61 | (Northern United=) Merged with Marist Brothers AFC |
| JOHANNESBURG CORINTHIANS | Johannesburg | 1967-69 | Merged with Jewish Guild (=Guild Apollo) |
| JOHANNESBURG RAMBLERS | Johannesburg | 1960-62 | Merged with Rangers Johannesburg |
| JOHANNESBURG WANDERERS | Johannesburg | 1962-65 | Played in the NFL 2nd Division as Southern Albion |
| LUSITANO | Johannesburg | 1973-77 | |
| MARIST BROTHERS AFC | Johannesburg | 1960-65 | Merged with Johannesburg City |
| MARITZBURG | Pietermaritzburg | 1968-77 | Played in the Natal League as Durban Municipals 1953-67 |
| MARITZBURG CELTIC | Pietermaritzburg | 1959 | |
| NORTHERN UNITED | Johannesburg | 1959= | (=Johannesburg City) |
| OLYMPIA | East Rand | 1965-67 | |
| PINETOWN CELTIC | Durban | =1975 | (Durban Celtic=) |
| PORT ELIZABETH CITY | Port Elizabeth | 1964-73 | |
| POWERLINES | East Rand | 1968-70 | Merged with Highlands Park (=Highlands Power) |
| PRETORIA CITY | Pretoria | 1959 | Merged with Berea Park |
| RANDFONTEIN | West Rand | 1959-61= | (=West Rand United) |
| RANGERS JOHANNESBURG | Johannesburg | 1959-77 | Merged with Johannesburg Ramblers |
| ROODEPOORT GUILD | West Rand | =1977 | (Guild Apollo=) |
| SHAMROCKS | Pietermaritzburg | 1975-76 | |
| SOUTHERN PARK | Johannesburg | 1959-60= | (=Southern Suburbs) |
| SOUTHERN SUBURBS | Johannesburg | =1961-72 | (Southern Park=) |
| WEST RAND UNITED | West Rand | =1962-63 | (Randfontein=) Played in the NFL 2nd Division as Florida |
| WESTVIEW APOLLON | Port Elizabeth | 1966-67 | |
| WITS UNIVERSITY | Johannesburg | 1976-77 |