The 1995–96 A-League season was the first year of a rebranded Australian National Soccer League (NSL) and the twentieth since the national league began in 1977. The competition was variously known as the A-League and the Ericsson Cup (as part of a sponsorship arrangement) at the time.
Background
After an attempt to reduce the number of NSL teams from 14 to 12, the Australian Soccer Federation announced that a new competition known as the A-League would operate in parallel to the NSL.[1] After a series of legal challenges, the A-League became the sole national league with largely the same composition of teams as the previous NSL season. The change was seen at the time as a rebranding rather than a new competition. Prior to the season beginning, the league announced a sponsorship agreement with Ericsson that was supposed to last until 2000, though was terminated a year early in mid-1999. The sponsorship led to the league being renamed the Ericsson Cup, though the A-League and NSL names were still used in various forms.[2][3][4]
The commencement of the season was delayed as relegated teams Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United obtained court injunctions to prevent the league going ahead. Eventually the injunction was lifted in the Federal Court of Australia to allow the league to start, albeit several weeks late.[5][6]
Changes from 1994–95
Parramatta Eagles, Melbourne SC and Heidelberg United were excluded from the national league, while Newcastle Breakers returned after a one-season absence. The Canberra Cosmos entered the league for the first time.[7]
Prior to the start of the season, the Newcastle Breakers withdrew from the competition citing financial difficulties. The withdrawal of the Breakers left 13 teams, meaning each team had two byes for the season.[11][12]
Adelaide City
Brisbane Strikers
Morwell Falcons
West Adelaide
Wollongong City
Melbourne
Sydney
Melbourne teams: Melbourne Knights South Melbourne Sydney teams: Marconi-Fairfield UTS Olympic Sydney United
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: rsssf.com Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions
^Schwab, Laurie (6 August 1995). "New League Announced". The Age. Retrieved 6 September 2022. The federation would, in accordance with its articles of association, launch a new competition called the Soccer Australia A League, to kick off on 30 September.
^Cockerill, Michael (16 December 1999). "Eve of extinction". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 42. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
^Cockerill, Michael (5 September 1995). "Stalled A-League gets key support". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
^Cockerill, Michael (20 September 1995). "Court clears deck for A-teams". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
^Cockerill, Michael (1 October 1995). "A-League far from the big league". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015. Following an exhaustive and acrimonious legal process in which the lawyers (as usual) were the only winners, a revamped national competition - to be known as the A-League - will kick-off next weekend.
^Schwab, Laurie (8 October 1995). "Olympic sets its sights". The Age. p. 69. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
^"4-1 win secures Marconi grand final spot". The Age. 19 May 1995. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015. Minor premier Marconi will now meet defending champion Melbourne Knights in the grand final in Melbourne next Sunday in their fifth clash this season.
^Cockerill, Michael (26 May 1996). "It's two in a row for Knights". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015. MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 2 (A Marth 58th A Cervinski 75th) bt MARCONI 1 (A Harper 80th). Referee: E Lennie. Crowd: 14,258 at Olympic Park. For once the game matched the occasion as the Melbourne Knights confirmed their favouritism with a stylish 2-1 win over Marconi-Fairfield in yesterday's A-League grand final.