A History of Relegation and Promotion - Keith Roberts

Promotion and relegation have been part of the football scene world wide for many years. Locally, in Tasmania it has existed in a somewhat stop start fashion. Doubtless to operate successfully there needs to be a broad base of clubs, something of a pyramid structure which feeds aspiring clubs to the top. Unfortunately Tasmania with its small club numbers has more often than not seen an inverted pyramid with little support in its base.

However, despite some shortcomings promotion and relegation has been pursued in a variety of formats. Only the State and Premier South leagues have seen promotion and relegation. In earlier times entry into the Premier league was by application or by the wish of the controlling body to increase (or at times decrease) the number of clubs in the Premier league. Clubs withdrew or disbanded in the years prior to 1940 and a new aspirant stepped up to fill the gap with varying success.
The increasing numbers of players and clubs after 1946 permitted a growth in the Premier league despite the at times fleeting nature of some teams. Migrant inspired clubs were accepted on formation into the top league, some lasted, whilst others faded away.

Growth.

Caledonians (Scotland) 1951, Juventus (Italy) 1956, Rapid (Austria) 1958, Croatia (Croatia) 1960, Olympia (Greece) 1962, and White Eagles (Poland) 1964, were some of the most notable examples, the first three clubs going direct to the top flight. Croatia and City United moved up to replace Kingston and Hollandia who withdrew to lower leagues at the close of 1960. Olympia and Wayatinah came up for season 1962 when a 10 team competition was deemed to be “the way to go”. The first straight swap between a relegated and promoted club occurred at the close of season 1962. University in last spot were replaced for season 1963 by Division 1 winners Inter. Finally White Eagles were promoted for 1964 to the Premier league when two clubs were disbanded and the hapless Metro pushed out as it was back to 8 teams.
Once more it was 10 teams for 1965, again Metro and University found themselves on the way up only to be both demoted at the close of the season with the 8 teams supporters back in vogue.
Luck now played a part in the relegation stakes, first in 1966 South Hobart were bottom but the Division 1 league was won by Caledonians Reserves, Rapid also escaped the drop in 1967 when Hobart Rangers merged with Caledonians, the vacant place for some reason being taken by University over the Division 1 winners Metro.

Play-Offs.

The close of the following season saw a new way of deciding promotion matters, the play-off system being introduced. Metro defeated University 4-2 on aggregate to take their spot in the Premier league for 1969. Despite being last that season they held of the University challenge with a 3-3 score line. University tried again the following years but this time it was White Eagles who denied them promotion with a 2-2 draw.
However, University were not to be denied as the 10 team league was back on the agenda and they together with Dnipro made it to the top for 1972. The last of the play-offs saw Dnipro survive 4-2 over the colourful Malaysian Tigers.

The play-off system was now put to bed and automatic promotion and relegation was to be strictly adhered to with the continuation of a 10 team top structure. South Hobart (1973) were the victims of the new system with Taroona being the first club to try their luck at staying up. South Hobart soon returned to the Premier level as Taroona quickly disappeared. Eastern Suburbs took University’s position but like Taroona before them soon found they were swapping back with their earlier victim.


North.

No fixed promotion and relegation system appears to have operated in the Northern leagues. The formation of a Combined league in 1969 saw the ebb and flow of clubs as some disbanded and others were promoted to build up the league to 12 teams prior to the State league of 1978. The reformed State league North of the mid 80s saw the inclusion of new clubs who in the main have remained to form the nucleus of today’s Northern competition.

STATE LEAGUE ONE.

For season 1978 it was the new all state league with five south and five northern clubs for the start of this new experiment. Hobart Juventus was the notable absence from the league but with promotion in the air for the top southern and northern clubs their appearance was but delayed.
But South Hobart instead took the Division 1 title with Burnie in the north. However, promotion failed to materialise with a Reserve state league being preferred. Burnie and Hobart Juventus made it to the State league for 1980 with Hobart Olympia and Launceston United going for the drop. South Hobart took White Eagles place for season 1981 with fortune favouring Ulverstone who stayed up as St Leonards declined promotion.
However, the State league despite its high standard did not last and the Premier North and South State leagues re-appeared for the period 1982 to 1987.
Automatic.
The new 8 team league with a quite viable Division 1 beneath was made even more competitive with automatic promotion. South Hobart and White Eagles went out in the seasons 1982 and 1983. South Hobart failed to regain their place whilst White Eagles took two seasons to come back up. Phoenix came and went, with University and Metro dropping in the following seasons. Surprisingly Howrah and Hobart City stayed up until the later made a hash of things by walking off the field during a match. The State league was back the next season for 1988 so that City were lucky just drop one rung.

STATE LEAGUE TWO.

The ten team State league was to remain the same for its first two seasons. Like all the best laid plans things went awry from season one (1988). George Town withdrew after on only one season (Caledonians last), then Launceston did likewise in 1989 (Croatia Glenorchy last). Burnie were moved into the league, but no team from the South was invited so a 9 team league eventuated. Burnie promptly came last in 1991 and were quickly moved back to Division 1 North to leave an 8 team State league.
There now seemed to be no mechanism for entry into the State league as Hobart Olympia occupied bottom spot for 2 seasons (1992-1993).
The season 1994 saw yet another proposal, this time for a Summer State league, Ulverstone reduced the northern participation to 2 clubs but Riverside Olympic and South Hobart were accepted making for an odd 9 teams. Devonport did not like the new set up which had some clubs operating all year round. They withdrew from the summer league but at least it was now 8 teams. That did not last long as the summer format came to grief and competition returned to the winter set-up of 10 sides with the acceptance of Devonport (back in the fold) and Launceston for 1996. The play-offs were back again this time to commence in 1997 with a triangular series between the bottom State league side and the champion Division 1 North and South clubs.

University won the triangular series with Riverside Olympic dropping out of the State league. Clarence were the successful play-off team at the close of season 1998 with Launceston departing the scene.

As you Where!

Devonport once again withdrew from the league which was now all southern clubs except for Launceston City (previously Juventus), it’s not a surprise that the State league folded after 1999 and reverted to the North/South structure. Metro were the beneficiary from the change being moved to the Premier South league which remained at an odd 9 sides.
Division 1 club DOSA now applied and were accepted for 2001 to be the tenth league side. However, despite a lot of enthusiasm DOSA spent a miserable 3 seasons anchored at the foot of the league before being removed in 2003.
The league remained at 9 clubs for the next two seasons before Hobart United were given the approval to move up after taking out the lower leagues. This decision came with return of the play-off for the third time with Hobart United falling at the first hurdle when they lost their play-off against Taroona.
Seasons 2007 and 2008 saw first Metro defend their position against Beachside, and then New Town Eagles from 8th spot shrug off Hobart United. However, the Premier South league was now to be 8 teams with the automatic removal of the bottom two clubs Metro and Taroona at the close of 2008.

The future is to be a 8 team league with automatic promotion and relegation. History suggests there could be a change in a few seasons time?


CLUB MOVEMENTS 1920-
YEAR CLUBS UP DOWN
1920 4 St George Disbanded
1921 3 Hobart Disbanded
1922 4 Cadburys Application
Sandy Bay Application
1923 4
1924 4 Hobart Ath Application Cadburys Withdrew
1925 4 Corinthians Disbanded
1926 4 Cadburys Application Cadburys Disbanded
1927 3
1928 3
1929 3
1930 4 Navy Ath Promoted
1931 5 Cascades Application
1932 5 Hobart Ath Disbanded
1933 4
1934 4 Navy Ath Withdrew
1935 3
1936 3 Cascades Disbanded
1937 3 West End Promoted
1938 3
1939 3 West End Disbanded
1946 4 Metro Application
Hobart Utd Application
1947 4
1948 6 Waterside Wks Promoted
ANM Application
1949 8 Wanderers Application Waterside Wks Disbanded
Titan Promoted
1950 7 Hobart Utd Disbanded
1951 7 Caledonians Application
1952 7 Titan Disbanded
Wanderers Withdrew
1953 6 Bronte Park Application Sandy Bay Disbanded
1954 8 Wanderers Re-accepted Bronte Park Withdrew
Hollandia Application Bohemians Disbanded
Bohemians Application
1955 6
1956 9 Juventus Application Wanderers Withdrew
Hydro (H Rgs) Promoted
Kingston Promoted
1957 8 ANM Withdrew
1958 8 Rapid Application
1959 8 Hollandia Withdrew
Kingston Withdrew
1960 8 Croatia Promoted City Utd Disbanded
City Utd Promoted
1961 8 University Promoted Juventus Withdrew
1962 10 Olympia Promoted University Relegated
Wayatinah Promoted
Juventus Re-accepted
1963 10 Inter Promoted Inter Disbanded
Wayatinah Disbanded
Metro Relegated
1964 8 White Eagles Promoted
1965 10 University Promoted University Relegated
Metro Promoted Metro Relegated
1966 8
1967 8 Hob Rangers Merged
1968 8 University Promoted University Relegated
1969 8 Metro Promoted
1970 8



YEAR CLUBS UP DOWN
1971 8
1972 10 University Promoted
Dnipro Promoted
1973 10 Sth Hobart Relegated
1974 10 Taroona Promoted Taroona Relegated
1975 10 Sth Hobart Promoted University Relegated
1976 10 East Subs Promoted East Subs Relegated
1977 10 University Promoted
1978 10 STATE LG
1979 10 Olympia Relegated
Lton United Relegated
1980 10 Hob Juventus Promoted White Eagles Relegated
Burnie Promoted
1981 10 Sth Hobart Promoted
SOUTH
1982 8 Sth Hobart Relegated
1983 8 University Promoted White Eagles Relegated
1984 8 Phoenix Promoted Phoenix Relegated
1985 8 White Eagles Promoted University Relegated
1986 8 Howrah Promoted Metro Relegated
1987 8 Hobart City Promoted
1988 10 STATE LG George Town Withdrew
1989 10 Burnie Promoted Lton United Withdrew
1990 9
1991 9 Burnie Relegated
1992 8
1993 8 Ulverstone Withdrew
1994 9 Sth Hobart Application Devonport Withdrew
Riv Olympic Application
1995 8
1996 10 Devonport Re-accepted
Lton United Re-accepted
1997 10 Riv Olympic Relegated
1998 10 University Promoted Lton United Relegated
Devonport Withdrew
1999 9 Clarence Promoted
SOUTH
2000 9 Metro Application
2001 10 DOSA Application
2002 10
2003 10 DOSA Relegated
2004 9
2005 9
2006 10 Hobart Utd Promoted Hobart Utd Relegated
2007 10 Taroona Promoted
2008 10 Taroona Relegated
Metro Relegated
2009 8 Taroona Promoted University Relegated