Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

2007–08 A League

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Season
  
2007–08

Period
  
2007 – 2008

Goals scored
  
223

Best goalkeeper
  
Michael Theoklitos

Champion
  
Newcastle Jets FC

Matches played
  
111

2007–08 A-League

Champions
  
Newcastle Jets (1st title)

Premiers
  
Central Coast Mariners (1st title)

AFC Champions League
  
Newcastle Jets, Central Coast Mariners

Top goalscorer
  
Joel Griffiths (12 goals)

Similar
  
2014–15 A‑League, 2015–16 A‑League, 2016–17 A‑League

The 2007–08 A-League was the third season of the Australian A-League soccer competition since its establishment in 2004. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by Sydney FC !Sydney FC and Adelaide United !Adelaide United playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and the Socceroos competing in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

Contents

Based on their A-League 2006-07 season performances Adelaide United !Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory !Melbourne Victory competed in the 2008 AFC Champions League, making it two consecutive seasons in the competition for Adelaide United !Adelaide United. Based on the 2007–08 season of the A-League, the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets qualified for the 2009 AFC Champions League, as the competition's Premiers and Champions respectively.

Changes included:

  • The New Zealand Knights, who folded at the conclusion of the 2006–07 season, were replaced by Wellington Phoenix !Wellington Phoenix.
  • An increase of the squad size, from 20 to 23 players, increasing the salary cap from A$1.6 million to A$1.8 million.

    • Foreign players

    The following do not fill a Visa position:
    1Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian Residency (and New Zealand Residency, in the case of Wellington Phoenix);
    2Australian residents (and New Zealand residents, in the case of Wellington Phoenix) who have chosen to represent another national team;
    3Injury Replacement Players, or National Team Replacement Players;
    4Guest Players (eligible to play a maximum of ten games)

    Pre-Season Challenge Cup

    The pre-season cup competition was held in July and August in the lead up to the start of the A-League season. The opening round began on 14 July 2007. The competition featured a group stage, with three regular rounds, followed by a two-week finals playoff.

    The pre-season cup was won by Adelaide United !Adelaide United at the final on 12 August 2007.

    Regular season

    The league season took a triple round-robin format over 21 rounds between 24 August 2007 and 20 January 2008 with each team playing the other seven teams three times.

    League table

    Updated to games played on 20 January 2008
    Source: theworldgame.sbs.com.au
    Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
    1First place through to fourth place qualify for the 2008 A-League Finals Series.
    2First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage.
    3Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
    4Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the 2009 AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

    Leading scorers

      Goal scored from penalty kick

    Attendance

    The attendance records of each of the teams at the end of the home and away season, does not include finals series attendances.

    * Adelaide United played a one off match at the Adelaide Oval against Sydney FC in their Round 18 match. This is why Adelaide United's Highest single attendance exceeds the capacity of Hindmarsh Stadium.

    Disciplinary

    The Fair Play Award was awarded to Newcastle Jets, the team with the lowest points on the fair play ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season.

    Awards

  • The Premiers' Plate was awarded to Central Coast Mariners !Central Coast Mariners, who finished on top of the ladder after 21 rounds.
  • The Championship Trophy was awarded to the Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets.
  • The Johnny Warren Medal was awarded to Joel Griffiths from the Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets for the best player in the league.
  • The Coach of the Year was awarded to Gary van Egmond of the Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets.
  • The Wooden Spoon was awarded to Wellington Phoenix !Wellington Phoenix, who finished last on the ladder after 21 rounds.
  • The Joe Marston Medal was awarded to Andrew Durante of Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets.
  • The Reebok Golden Boot was awarded to Joel Griffiths of Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets for scoring twelve goals at the end of the home and away season.
  • The Rising Star award was awarded to Bruce Djite of Adelaide United !Adelaide United.
  • The Fair Play Award was awarded to the Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets for the lowest number of yellow, direct red and 2nd caution red cards accumulated.

    • References

    2007–08 A-League Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA