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The Black Diamond Football League is situated on the east coast of Australia in the state of New South Wales, north of Sydney and covers an area of more than 150 lineal kms from Woy Woy in the South to Nelson Bay in the north. The Singleton Club is 40 minutes drive west of Newcastle.
It was formed at the end of the 1999 season with a combination of clubs from the Central Coast and Newcastle Football Leagues.
The league comprises 10 clubs. In 2009 eight in First Grade, ten in Reserve Grade and nine in the Under 18 competition. Plans are for 10 clubs in each grade in 2010.
Six of the clubs are Hunter based whilst another four are on the Central Coast. The most northern club in the league is Nelson Bay, Singleton is the most Western and the most southern is Terrigal Avoca
Not all clubs field three grades but the league has given those clubs which don’t, a time frame in which to work towards a full complement.
The initial premier in the League was the Terrigal-Avoca Panthers in 2000 then West Newcastle Wallsend Demons in 2001, Cardiff Hawks in 2002, Newcastle City Blues in 2003 and the Hawks again in 2004, 2005 & 2006, Killarney Vale in 2007 and Newcastle City in 2008.
The premiership trophy in the league is the Black Diamond Cup which was first played for in 1888 and won by the Wallsend Club. The trophy is said to be the oldest Australian sporting trophy still being contested. It even outdates cricket's Sheffield Shield.
The League has an Umpires Association and both the Central Coast and Newcastle have junior competitions. This group forms a region which in total fields 83 teams with approximately 2,000 players registered.
It is administered by an independent Board of Management who oversee all aspects of the competition.
The day to day activities are managed by a part time general manager. It is one of the league's goals to have this position revert to full time.
|
Year
|
President
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General Manager
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Premier
|
B & F
|
Votes
|
Goalkicker
|
Goals
|
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2000
|
David Phillips Chris Arnold
|
Michael Coligan
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Terrigal Avoca
|
Troy Bayliss (C)
|
18
|
Maurice Goolagong (T-A)
|
73
|
|
2001
|
Chris Arnold
|
Greg Stewart
|
West Newcastle- Wallsend
|
Shawn Simpson (C)
|
20
|
Maurice Goolagong (T-A)
|
135
|
|
2002
|
Chris Arnold
|
Greg Stewart
|
Cardiff
|
David Hamilton (T-A)
|
20
|
+Maurice Goolagong (T-A) David Healey (C)
|
102
+114
|
|
2003
|
Barry Leacy
|
Greg Stewart
|
Newcastle City
|
Jason Coulloupas (NC)
|
16
|
Maurice Goolagong (T-A)
|
124
|
|
2004
|
Ian Granland OAM
|
Greg Stewart
|
Cardiff
|
Jason Coulloupas (NC)
|
22
|
Maurice Goolagong (T-A)
|
123
|
|
2005
|
Ian Granland OAM
|
Garry Burkinshaw
|
Cardiff
|
Clint Austerberry (KV)
|
24
|
Maurice Goolagong (T-A)
|
88
|
|
2006
|
Ian Granland OAM
|
Garry Burkinshaw
|
Cardiff
|
Clint Austerberry (KV)
Angus Darling (TA)
|
23
|
Michael Ryan
|
95
|
|
2007
2008
|
Ian Granland OAM
Steve Smith
|
Scott Ledwidge
|
Killarney Vale
Newcastle City
|
Tim Sheldon (C)
Luke Rawnsley (NC)
|
20
|
Courtney Knight (NC)
Michael Ryan (C)
|
118
110
|
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