National Super League

This article is about the Trinidadian association football league. For the Kenyan association football league, see Kenyan National Super League.
National Super League
Country Trinidad and Tobago
Confederation CONCACAF
Founded 2003
First season 2003
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 2
Relegation to CFA Premier Division
EFA Premier Division
Eastern Counties Football Union
NFA Premier Division
SFA Premier Division
Tobago Premier Division
Domestic cup(s) FA Trophy
League cup(s) Super League Cup
Current champions WASA (2012, 2nd title)
Most championships Joe Public (4 titles)
2013 National Super League

The National Super League is a league for semi-professional association football clubs in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the second-highest division of the Trinidad and Tobago football league system. The league currently comprises 12 teams and operates on a system of relegation. Although the Super League champion of each season can apply for membership in the TT Pro League, the two leagues do not operate on an automatic promotion and relegation system. Seasons run from July to February, with teams playing 22 regular season matches. The league is sponsored by bmobile and is therefore officially known as the bmobile National Super League.[1]

The league was founded in 2003 to allow the best teams from association football to play in a semi-professional environment, as they prepare for life in the professional game.[1] The first season took place in the same year beginning with eleven teams. As of the 2012 season, there have been a total of 36 distinct teams that have taken part in the Super League, but only six have won the title: Crab Connection, Joe Public, Police, T&TEC, WASA, and the Trinidad and Tobago U20 team.[2] WASA are the current league champions, who claimed their second title in 2012.[3]

The winners of the National Super League may apply for promotion at the end of each season to the TT Pro League. Potential promoted clubs must be elected by Pro League members. As a consequence, there is no guarantee that winning the Super League will result in promotion. In the first ten seasons, the Super League has provided the Pro League with four teams – Superstar Rangers, Police, Joe Public, and T&TEC.[4]

History

Super League Champions[2]
Season Winner
2003 Crab Connection
2004 Joe Public
2005 Joe Public
2006 Police
2007 WASA
2008 Trinidad and Tobago U20
2009 Joe Public
2010 T&TEC
2011 Joe Public
2012 WASA

Competition format

The league comprises 12 teams, consisting of teams from each of the country's six regional football association leagues. Over the course of a season, which runs annually from July to February, each team plays twice against the others in the league, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of 22 games played each season. Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. The teams are ranked in the league table by points gained, then goal difference, and then goals scored.

At the end of the season, the league champion may apply for promotion to the TT Pro League. However, potential promoted clubs must be elected by Pro League members. As a consequence, there is no guarantee that winning the Super League will result in promotion. The bottom two teams are relegated to the third tier in the league system comprising the six regional leagues and are replaced by the top two finishers in a promotion playoff contested between the six regional champions.

Cup competitions

In addition to competing in the annual Trinidad and Tobago Football Association Trophy, Super League clubs are also invited to enter the Classic (currently called the TOYOTA Classic) organised by the TT Pro League. The National Super League organises one knock-out cup competition: the Super League Cup. The League Cup was established in 2004 and is open to all Super League clubs.

Sponsorship

The National Super League has been sponsored since its inception in 2003. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

2003–2005: All Sport (All-Sport National Super League)[2]
2006–2013: bmobile (bmobile National Super League)[1]

Clubs

A total of 36 distinct teams have played in the National Super League since its inception in 2003, however, only six have won the league title. In addition, only WASA have been members of the league since its inception.

The following 12 clubs competed in the National Super League during the 2013 season.

Club Founded Joined Location Stadium Capacity League Titles Last Title
1.FC Santa Rosa 1992 2012 Arima Stadio di Rosa 0
Biche United 2012 Biche Biche Recreation Ground 0
Club Sando 1991 2003 San Fernando Manny Ramjohn Stadium 10,000 0
Defence Force Super League 1973 2003 Chaguaramas Hasely Crawford Stadium 27,000 0
Eagles United 2011 Chaguanas Woodford Lodge Recreation Ground 0
1976 FC Phoenix 1976 2004 Scarborough Canaan Ground 0
Joe Public 1996 2004 Arouca Marvin Lee Stadium 6,000 4 2011
Real Maracas 2011 Saint Joseph Maracas Recreation Ground 0
Siparia Spurs 2012 Siparia Palo Seco Velodrome 10,000 0
Stokely Vale 2011 Plymouth Plymouth Recreation Ground 1,000 0
WASA 2003 Saint Joseph WASA Grounds 2 2012
Westside Superstarz 2010 Diego Martin Saint Anthony's College Ground 0

Top scorers

Season Scorer Club Goals
2003
2004
 Jamaica Roen Nelson Joe Public
30
2005
 Jamaica Roen Nelson Joe Public
22
Jamaica Carlington Smith Joe Public
22
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
 Trinidad and Tobago Kevon Neaves T&TEC
19
2011
 Trinidad and Tobago Brent Antoine Joe Public
14
2012
 Trinidad and Tobago Troy Thompson Westside Super Starz
16

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "TSTT sponsors bmobile Super League". Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday). 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "Trinidad and Tobago - List of Champions". Radek Jelínekm, Hans Schöggl and RSSSF. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  3. ↑ "WASA FC crowned 2012 Super League champs". Kevin Sunich (T&T Newsday). 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  4. ↑ "bmobile stays with Super League". T&T Newsday. 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2009-10-11.

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