SAASL Competition History & Winners in South Australia
SAASL Awards & Winners
SAASL Challenge Cup
First played in 1966, it is conducted throughout the year with all League teams being involved. The Challenge Cup is for senior (first) teams.
The Coca Cola sponsorship of the Challenge Cup was the longest sponsored competition in SA, being for 39 years from 1966 to 2005.
The Competition is conducted on a knock out basis, with the losers being eliminated and the winners proceeding to the next round. Matches are by random draw. This process culminates in a Cup Final, which are held as a prestige event, the Cup Final Day, generally on the last Sunday in September.
Since 2008, The Player of the Match is awarded the Templin Medal in recognition of the outstanding contribution and service by Mr. Templin.
Winners
Templin Medal – Challenge Cup – Player of the Match
Rudi Templin migrated to Australia in 1954 from Frankfurt, Germany, and in the 1960s was the Secretary of SA Tramways Soccer Club.
He was a founding member and the treasurer of the Sunday Industrial Soccer League in 1965.
Mr. Templin was responsible for the name change to the South Australian Amateur Soccer League in 1966.
He filled the position of General Secretary from 1966-1970, and subsequently the President’s position from 1971-1977, Mr. Templin re-joined the League as a Committee Member in 2001.
Mr. Templin was awarded Life Membership to the South Australian Amateur Soccer League in 1969.
The Templin Cup is a preseason Cup that was conducted from 1975 to 1986and reintroduced in 2015.
The Templin Medal, was introduced in 2008, which is awarded to the Player of the Match in the Challenge Cup Final, is named in recognition of his service to the Amateur Soccer League.
Mr. Templin was inducted into the South Australian Hall of Fame (Roll of Honour – Meritorious Contribution) in 2006, for his involvement with soccer/football as a player and administrator.
A member of the SAASL Management Committee until the end of season 2009, Mr. Templin’s contribution to Amateur Soccer in the early years laid the foundation for the success of the League as it is today.
Winners
Alex Cichanowski Challenge Shield
Alex Cichanowski was born in Belarus in 1944 and later migrated to Australia in 1952.
Mr. Cichanowski was involved with USC Lion Soccer Club from a young age and was a player and coach. His involvement in the club led him to represent USC Lion at the SAASL meetings. In mid-1971, when SAASL was in financial difficulty that he put his hand up and took on the role of General Secretary. He was able to negotiate through the difficulties and has since created a financially stable low-cost competition that saw SAASL grow under his continuous stewardship to become the largest senior amateur men’s competition in South Australia.
Mr. Cichanowski abilities in sports administration were recognised with his appointment to the South Australian Soccer Federation (SASF) as Chairman from 1982 to 1987 and again in 1990. In addition he was a board member/director of the SASF – 1978-1981, 1989 and 1991. His work with the SASF was while he was also the General Secretary of the SAASL, all as a volunteer while working full time and supporting a young family.
Mr. Cichanowski was awarded a Life Membership of SAASL in 1979 and a Life Membership of the SASF in 1988. In 2003, he was also inducted into the South Australian Soccer Hall of Fame (Hall of Honour – Outstanding Contribution).
In the early days, the administration of the League was run of Alex’s home, supported by his wife Ann and the Management Committee. It was soon became evident that they League needed more space and permanent base.
Mr. Cichanowski negotiated with the SASF to move the administration to Hindmarsh Stadium, with the redevelopment in 1992, then moved the offices on Port Road. His vision to find a home for SAASL finally happened in 1996 when the SAASL headquarters and Administration was established at the Grange Reserve partnering with the Grange Cricket Club and the City of Charles Sturt.
The Alex Cichanowski Shield was introduced in 1984. This was a competition between the Sunday First Division Champions and the Coca Cola Cup Winners. The competition was an annual match played prior to the commencement of each season. The inaugural winner was Tea Tree Gully who beat Salisbury Inter.
It was later changed to be played between the Sunday Premier and Saturday Premier Divisional Winners from the previous year, but still a match held prior to the commencement of each season.
Mr. Cichanowski held the position of the General Secretary until his passing in December 2017, he was very well respected by all and a true gentleman.
Winners
H. J. Templin Cup
H. J. (Rudi) Templin was a founding member and Treasurer of the Sunday Industrial League in 1965 and had the foresight to seek to change the name to the South Australian Amateur Soccer League in 1966 to make the League more inclusive and inviting to all communities across South Australia.
Mr. Templin served as General Secretary from 1966 to 1977 and was the President from 1971 to 1977.
In 1975, the H.J. Templin Cup was introduced, which was summer or pre-season competition. All amateur clubs could apply to take part by only a required number were selected to actually compete; usually between eight and twelve clubs. Ten leading clubs were invited to take part in the inaugural year with the winners being M.U Findon who beat Parafield Gardens in the final.
Mr. Templin re-joined the League as a Committee Member in 2001 to 2009, he was inducted in the South Australian Hall of Fame (Roll of Honour – Meritorious Contribution in 2016, for his involvement with soccer/football as a player and administrator.
After several years, the Templin Cup was reintroduced in 2015 as a pre-season invitational cup series. In recognition of Mr Templin’s contribution to the League.
Winners
SAASL Reserve Cup
Was first played in 1968, it is conducted throughout the year with all League teams being involved.
The Competition is conducted on a knock out basis, with the losers being eliminated and the winners proceeding to the next round. Matches are by random draw. This process culminates in a Cup Final, which is held as a prestige event, the Cup Final Day, generally on the last Sunday in September.
Since 2008, The Player of the Match is awarded the Coppola Medal in recognition of the outstanding contribution and service by Mr. Don Coppola. Mr. Don Coppola served on the SAASL board, DC Chairman was awarded SAASL Life Membership in 1977.
Winners
Coppola Medal – Reserve Cup – Player of the Match
Don Coppola was a member of the Management Committee from 1983 to 2015, he was part of the Disciplinary Committee from 1974 until 2001.
Mr. Coppola was made a Life Member in 1974.
This award was named after Mr Coppola in 2008 to acknowledge his contribution to the League.
Winners
Over 35's Cup
The Over 35’s Cup was established by the SAASL at the request of the participating Clubs and forms a part of the conclusion of the Season at the Cup Final Day.
The Over 35’s division of the League Competition was established in 2009 to support the Clubs that sought to keep their player numbers when they finished playing in their Senior and Reserves.
While initially established as a social competition, the Over 35’s has continued to grow from its inception into a well supported and recognised competition.
Winners
Bailetti Medal – Sunday Premier Division – Player of the Year
Named after GulioBailetti, who was inducted as a life member in 1992. He was a committee member, sponsor and supporter with this contribution to the game across SA well recognised.
He was honoured in 1991 with life membership to the League.
The Player of the Year for the Sunday Premier Division award was renamed in 1994 to honour Mr Bailetti’s contribution to the Amateur League and to Soccer in South Australia.
Winners
Rossi Medal – Saturday Premier Division – Player of the Year
The Player of the Year for the Saturday Premier Division was recognized in 1994 when the Rossi Medal was introduced for the player of the year award.
Mr. Rossi was a member of the Committee and held various roles – Committee Member, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. He was awarded a Life Membership in 1969 for his dedicated work and involvement in the advancement of amateur soccer.
Winners
Cox Medal – Sunday Division 2 – Player of the Year
Robert (Bob) Cox’s involvement with the South Australian Amateur Soccer League spanned over 45 years.
He contributed to the game as a coach, a player and an administrator.
Mr Cox represented the State, as a player, on a number of occasions.
As a player, his highest individual achievement was to be voted the Best and Fairest player of 1967.
In 1969, Mr Cox took on the role as an Accident Fund Secretary for the SA Amateur Soccer League until the end of season 2010. Bob was voted onto the Board of Management in 1983.
In 1972 Mr Cox was awarded life membership of the Amateur League.
The Player of the Year Award covering our Sunday Division 2 was named the Cox Medal, in honour of Mr Cox’s outstanding service to the League.
In 2005, Mr Cox was inducted into the South Australian Soccer Hall of Fame (Roll of Honour – Meritorious Contribution).
A member of the SAASL Management Committee until his passing at the end of season 2010, Mr Cox’s tireless contribution, in all aspects, to Amateur Soccer shaped the League into the success it is today.
Mr Cox was very well respected by all, a true gentleman, who on his retirement from employment continued on the SASSL Management Committee supporting the new Administration structure until his passing, and he will be sorely missed.
Winners
Karschimkus Medal – Saturday Division 2 – Player of the Year
Werner Karschimkuswas a founding member of Bridgewater Soccer Club (Now called Stirling Districts) in his 30 years of involvement he held the following positions at the Club – Player, Committee Member, Secretary, and President.
In 1990 Mr. Karschimkus received the inaugural SAASL Meritorious Service Award. This award was established to allow clubs to publicly acknowledge the contribution of individuals who have made to the success and wellbeing of their respective clubs.
This medal was introduced in 2007, to acknowledge the 30 years by Mr Karschimkus to the League and the Club.
Winners
Bailey Medal - Sunday Division 3 - Player of the Year
William (Bill) Bailey was a member of the Management Committee from 1978 to 2019, he held various roles during his membership –
Registrar – 1979 to 1996
DC Chairman – 1980
Vice President 1980 – 1996
President from 1997 to 2018
Mr. Bailey was awarded a Life Membership in 1986.
This award was named after Mr Bailey, in 2015 to acknowledge his long standing and valuable contribution to the League. Mr Bailey retired as President in 2018.
Winners
Gossland Medal – Saturday Division 3 – Player of the Year
Iain Gossland was a member of the Management Committee from 1975 to 2002, President from 1978 to 1996, initiated the formation of the SA Amateur League Referees Association in 1978, appointed Interim Chairman 1978 and Referee Appointments Secretary 1978 to 1993. Member of the SASF Board 1982 to 1991 and member of the SASF Players Appeals Committee in 1992 and First President of the Australian (National) Amateur Soccer Association 1997.
He was inducted into the Roll of Honour for Distinguished Contribution in 2008 by the FFSA.
He was awarded with Life Membership in 1982 from SAASL.
As President, Mr Gossland opened the new SAASL Administration Complex at Grange Recreation Reserve in 1996.
Winners
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