Australia Cup (1962–1968)
The Australia Cup was an annual knockout soccer competition in men's domestic Australian soccer. First played during the 1962 season, it is the first national soccer competition in Australia.
| Organising body | Australian Soccer Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 |
| Abolished | 1968 |
| Region | Australia |
| Most successful club(s) | Sydney Hakoah (2 titles) |
The inaugural season of the tournament was contested by biggest teams from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Newcastle. In 1963 the Australia Cup grew to take in teams from throughout Tasmania, and from 1964 Perth and Canberra clubs were represented, giving the competition a truly national feel.
Played throughout football's first real boom period in the 1960s, the Australia Cup was a refreshing competition for the sport. Though as the tournament grew, interstate travel provided difficulties and the decision was taken to abolish the Australia Cup after the 1968 season. However, the new national stage in which the tournament provided fuelled an expansionist desire across the big state league clubs ultimately leading to the creation of Australia's first national league in the 1970s, the National Soccer League.
In its seven-season run, six clubs from around Australia won the tournament, with Sydney Hakoah the only team to win it on two occasions.