Mirabella Cup
Encyclopedia
The Mirabella Cup is a football (soccer) knockout-cup competition held between men's clubs in Victoria, Australia
, organised by the Football Federation Victoria
. It was to be unique in Australian Football in that the competition was to integrate clubs from the national top level league, the A-League
, with the state system below. However, the Football Federation Australia
later withdrew their permission for Melbourne Victory
and Melbourne Heart to take part in the competition while the first rounds of the inaugural competition
were already ongoing, citing confusion of fans in marketing and as yet unannounced national knockout cup competition.
and Melbourne Victory FC.
The stage one of the cup is a knockout stage for Victoria's amateur clubs, and takes place within the FFV’s Zone structure (8 metropolitan and 4 regional Zones). Victoria's semi-professionals leagues, the Alanic Victorian Premier League and State League One clubs, join the competition in the second stage. Heart and Victory were initially planned to enter in the quarter final stage before the FFA's reversal of permission for the A-League club's participation.
Matches are drawn randomly within the Zone structure.
Home teams are responsible for paying the referee's fees and for arranging the event day requirements when fixtured at their ground. Teams reaching the semi finals share in a $50,000 prize pool.
The 2011 competition began on 19 March and finished prior to the start of the A-League season.
Only one team may be entered from each club. Registration for the 2011 competition closes on the 4th of March.
, ran from as early as 1909, when it was first won by Carlton United. It was in recess from 1996, except for the year 2004. Victorian clubs from all divisions were eligible to participate, however, unlike the Mirabella Cup, clubs from the then national top league, the NSL, were excluded between 1977 and 1984.
The competition was announced on the 14th of February 2011 by FFV President Tony Dunkerley at the PFA's Alex Tobin Medal ceremony, and was held for the first time in 2011.
The competition's naming rights were given to its sponsor, Mirabella International, which signed up for sponsorship rights for 10 years. Sales and Marketing Manager of Mirabella, Joe Mirabella, was then also a member of the Melbourne Heart board. Mirabella was previously an investor for Melbourne Victory.
In May 2011, with the first rounds of the inaugural competition
already underway, the FFA
reversed its decision to allow Melbourne Victory
and Melbourne Heart to take part, citing confusion of fans in marketing an as yet unannounced national knockout cup competition, which the FFA themselves described in a press conference announcing their reversal as still being in a stage of consideration, and not yet having a viable plan.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, organised by the Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria is the state governing body for football in Victoria, Australia. It is affiliated with Football Federation Australia, the sport's national governing body....
. It was to be unique in Australian Football in that the competition was to integrate clubs from the national top level league, the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, with the state system below. However, the Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
later withdrew their permission for Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and Melbourne Heart to take part in the competition while the first rounds of the inaugural competition
2011 Mirabella Cup
The 2011 Mirabella Cup was the first edition of a football knockout-cup competition held between men's clubs in Victoria, Australia. It was to be unique in Australian Football in that the competition was to integrate clubs from the national top level league, the A-League, with the state system below...
were already ongoing, citing confusion of fans in marketing and as yet unannounced national knockout cup competition.
Format
The Mirabella Cup is a knockout competition, open to all Football Federation Victoria (FFV) men's clubs and, initially, to the two Victorian Hyundai A-League clubs, Melbourne Heart FCMelbourne Heart FC
Melbourne Heart FC is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2008, the club has competed in the A-League, the highest division of football in Australia, since its inaugural 2010–2011 season. It is the twelfth club to have played in the league...
and Melbourne Victory FC.
The stage one of the cup is a knockout stage for Victoria's amateur clubs, and takes place within the FFV’s Zone structure (8 metropolitan and 4 regional Zones). Victoria's semi-professionals leagues, the Alanic Victorian Premier League and State League One clubs, join the competition in the second stage. Heart and Victory were initially planned to enter in the quarter final stage before the FFA's reversal of permission for the A-League club's participation.
Matches are drawn randomly within the Zone structure.
Home teams are responsible for paying the referee's fees and for arranging the event day requirements when fixtured at their ground. Teams reaching the semi finals share in a $50,000 prize pool.
The 2011 competition began on 19 March and finished prior to the start of the A-League season.
Regional Challenge Cup
The highest finishing two regional teams play off for the Regional Challenge Cup, played as a curtain-raiser to the final.Registration
There is a sliding fee for teams to enter the competition.| Team | Entry fee |
|---|---|
| Clubs from State League 2 and down | $200 |
| State League 1 and Alanic VPL teams | $500 |
| Hyundai A-League clubs | $2,000 |
Only one team may be entered from each club. Registration for the 2011 competition closes on the 4th of March.
History
The previous club knockout cup in Victoria, the Dockerty CupDockerty Cup
The Dockerty Cup is a football competition held between clubs in Victoria, Australia. It is named after Harry Dockerty, a former president of the Victorian Soccer Federation. It has been in recess since 1996, except for the year 2004...
, ran from as early as 1909, when it was first won by Carlton United. It was in recess from 1996, except for the year 2004. Victorian clubs from all divisions were eligible to participate, however, unlike the Mirabella Cup, clubs from the then national top league, the NSL, were excluded between 1977 and 1984.
The competition was announced on the 14th of February 2011 by FFV President Tony Dunkerley at the PFA's Alex Tobin Medal ceremony, and was held for the first time in 2011.
The competition's naming rights were given to its sponsor, Mirabella International, which signed up for sponsorship rights for 10 years. Sales and Marketing Manager of Mirabella, Joe Mirabella, was then also a member of the Melbourne Heart board. Mirabella was previously an investor for Melbourne Victory.
In May 2011, with the first rounds of the inaugural competition
2011 Mirabella Cup
The 2011 Mirabella Cup was the first edition of a football knockout-cup competition held between men's clubs in Victoria, Australia. It was to be unique in Australian Football in that the competition was to integrate clubs from the national top level league, the A-League, with the state system below...
already underway, the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
reversed its decision to allow Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and Melbourne Heart to take part, citing confusion of fans in marketing an as yet unannounced national knockout cup competition, which the FFA themselves described in a press conference announcing their reversal as still being in a stage of consideration, and not yet having a viable plan.
Original Intended Format (2011)
| Round | Clubs remaining | Clubs involved | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues/Teams entering at this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone Playoffs | 130 | 104 | n/a | 104 | Victorian State League Division 2 Victorian State League Division 3 Victorian Provisional Leagues Victorian Metropolitan Leagues Regional Leagues |
| Zone Semi Finals | 50 | 48 | 24 | 24 | Victorian Premier League Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League... Victorian State League Division 1 Victorian State League Division 1 The Victorian State League Division 1 is the second tier association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and the third nationally, including the A-League... |
| Zone Finals | 26 | 24 | 24 | none | none |
| Super 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | none | none |
| Quarter-Finals | 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | Melbourne Heart Melbourne Heart FC Melbourne Heart FC is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2008, the club has competed in the A-League, the highest division of football in Australia, since its inaugural 2010–2011 season. It is the twelfth club to have played in the league... Melbourne Victory |
| Semi-Finals | 4 | 4 | 4 | none | none |
| Final | 2 | 2 | 2 | none | none |