Hakoah FC earns promotion to top NSW youth league

Hakoah FC last weekend earned promotion next season from the NSW State Youth League 2 to the top division, returning there after a five-year absence, a feat celebrated at a special reception by the club.

After the last round of the 2025 regular season, Hakoah finished first on the club championship ladder, which is based on each of the 16 clubs’ four best-performing Youth League 2 teams, with only the top two clubs earning promotion.

The Hakoah FC U18s, U16s and U13s finished in the top four in their competitions – the U18s earning a premiership – and all three of those teams will play in the upcoming finals series.

The promotion marks a remarkable comeback for the youth teams at one of Australia’s oldest football clubs, with a proud Jewish heritage, which will celebrate its 85th anniversary next year.

Hakoah’s youth and SAP program president Ofer Greenberg reflected on the challenging journey that began during the pandemic five years ago, when the club was relegated from the top division due to a change introduced to the competition’s structure.