Brisbane City FC


Brisbane City Football Club is an Australian semi-professional football club based in Newmarket, Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1952, the club competed in the National Soccer League until the 1986 season where they were relegated back to State League Competition. Brisbane City currently compete in the National Premier Leagues Queensland, with home matches played at Spencer Park.

National Soccer League

In 1977 City became a foundation member of the National Soccer League. City's first match was a 0–1 defeat to Marconi at Perry Park on 3 April 1977 in front of a crowd of 5,214
Despite struggling in the first two seasons, including finishing bottom, they won the NSL Cup in those two years. In 1977 City defeated Marconi 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, and the following year they overcame Adelaide City 2–1. Both matches were played in Brisbane. City's third NSL season saw a much improved 4th-place finish which saw them qualify for the Top Four round robin series where they reached the Grand Final, losing to Sydney City 2–1 on aggregate.
1980 saw a reversal in fortunes with only four league wins recorded, but 1981 saw a battle for the NSL title, eventually finishing third, 8 points behind Champions Sydney City, with striker Paul Wilkinson weighing in with 12 goals. In those days the NSL compelled clubs to change any ethnic titles in their name, and as such City were occasionally referred to as Brisbane Gladiators around this time.
The following two seasons were a struggle, bottom of the table in 1982 was followed by third bottom in 1983, with city rivals Brisbane Lions bottom. It was tough times for NSL football in the city. For the following three seasons the NSL was increased in size but divided into two Conferences, with City finding themselves in the Southern Division alongside the Melbourne and Adelaide clubs. Fortunes didn't improve however and in 1987 with a return to a single division NSL and a reduction in clubs, City were relegated along with Brisbane Lions to the Queensland State League where they remain today bringing to an end nine successive seasons at national level.
The very last NSL match at Spencer Park took place on 8 September 1986, a 0–0 draw with Sunshine George Cross in front of only 838 fans
NSL Statistics by Season
SeasonPldWDLGFGAPtsTable Position
197726861230352210th of 14
197826731629491714th of 14
19792614573830344th of 14
1980264101229361812th of 14
198130121173725353rd of 16
1982305111432552116th of 16
198330891333503314th of 16
198428851521392111th of 12
198522651125421711th of 12
198622371218461311th of 12

=Games Played, =Wins, =Draws, =Losses, =Goals For, =Goals Against, =Points, =Southern Conference

Players

First-team squad

Notable former players

;Australia
;England
;Northern Ireland
;Scotland
;Papua New Guinea
;Malaysia