Background:

The ASA's new National Football Competition, the Hyundai A-League was launched at Darling Harbour, Sydney on Monday 1 November 2004 and was shown live at 12.30pm on Fox Sports & Sky News. The competition starts R1 on Friday 26 August 2005, with a pre-season comp starting late July, and CWC qualifiers in May. The season concludes with R21 on 5 February, 2006 and Grand Final on 4 March 2006. It is expected that the Premiers and 2nd team will enter the 2006 Asian Champions League.
[ A-League launch ... ]

The 8 teams announced were:

Adelaide United FC, Central Coast Mariners FC (Gosford), NZ Knights FC (Auckland NZ), Queensland Roar FC (Brisbane), Melbourne Victory FC, Newcastle United FC Jets, Perth Glory FC, Sydney FC.

BOTN A-League web page fans feedback]

Market: ADELAIDE

Team Name: Adelaide United Football Club
Colours: Red - with blue and yellow
Coach/s: John Kosmina, Assistant Aurelio Vidmar
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium (Adelaide) - capacity 16,000
Players: Carl Veart, Ross Aloisi, Angelo Costanzo, Mike Valkanis, Richie Alagich, Kristian Rees, Aaron Goulding, Lucas Pantelis, Chad Bugeja, Robert Bajic (gk), Matthew Kemp, Michael Matricciani (U20), Louis Brain, Travis Dodd, Qu Shengqing (ex China), Adam van Dommele, Robert Cornthwaite, Tony Hatzis (U20), Daniel Betrame (gk), and Fernando Rech. Aurelio Vidmar retired.
Contact: www.adelaideunited.com.au
Contact Fans:The Stand - Fans Web Site
Significant news: Hosting a four club tournament in February. Background - News on 30 September was that fax was sent to ASA from Pickard via Picca withdrawing their bid. On 7 October Adelaide United held a meeting with ASA at SA Premier Mike Rann's office and agreed to sign up!

Market: BRISBANE (Queensland)

Team Name: Queensland Roar Football Club (Was Queensland Lions SC)
Colours: Orange and blue
Coach/s: Miron Bleiberg
Stadium: Suncorp Stadium
Players: Karl Dodd, Tom Willis (gk), Royce Brownlie, Scott Higgins, Chad Gibson, Jordan & Tyler Simpson (both U20), Matt McKay, Remo Buess (from Swiz), Massimo Murdocca, Jason Kearton, Jonathan Richter, Josh McCloughan, Todd Gava, Warren Moon, Reece Tollenaere, Ben Griffin (U20), Tae-Yong Shin and Hyuk Su-Seo (ex Korea), and Alex Brosque. Stuart McLaren and Reinaldo (pronounced Hay-Naldo) Elias da Costa, signed on short term contracts tpo cover injury.
Contact: www.brisbanelions.com.au and www.qldroar.com.au
Significant news: Backed by the QLSC registered club. The team as Brisbane Lions in 2004 were runaway winners of the Brisbane based Qld State League. Accepted over the NSL team Brisbane Strikers! Season Preview: (BOTN - Vitor Sobral)

Market: CENTRAL COAST (NSW) - only regional bid

Team Name: Central Coast Mariners Football Club
Colours: Yellow and navy blue
Coach/s: Lawrie McKinna (Manager) and Ian Ferguson (Coach), with Alex Tobin (Development Coach)
Stadium: Central Coast Express Advocate Stadium, Gosford - capacity nearly 20,000
Players: Andre Gumprecht, Michael Beauchamp, Damien Brown, Paul O'Grady, Noel Spencer, Tom Pondeljak, Alex Wilkinson, Matt Osman, Dean Heffernan, John Crawley (gk), Nick Mrdja, Andrew Clark, Wayne O'Sullivan, Nigel Boogard (U20), Danny Vukovic (gk)(U20), Adam Kwasnik, John Hutchinson, Stewart Petrie, Leo Carle and Russell Woodruffe (U20). Former Northern Spirit skipper Noel Spencer has been announced as the Central Coast Mariners inaugural Hyundai A-League captain. Goalkeeper Matthew Trott, former Leeds midfielder/striker Jamie McMaster, and ex AIS midfielder Brad Porter signed on short term contracts to cover injury.
Contact: President: Ian Kiernan, Executive Chairman: Lyall Gorman, CEO: John McKay. Web site: www.ccmariners.com.au
Contact fans: CCMFC Fans Forum and 'Marinators' - fans Web Site
Significant news: Training started on 1 March 2005 at Mingara and CCEAS. Hosted CWC qualifier in April-May, coming 2nd to Sydney FC, and did well in 7s Tournament in Hong Kong (beating Manchester United).
BOTN September 2004 - Central Coast Deserves A National Football Place
BOTN March 2005 - Central Coast Get Serious

Market: MELBOURNE

Team Name: Melbourne Victory Football Club
Colours: Navy blue and white
Coach/s: Ernie Merrick
Stadium: Olympic Park - capacity 18,000.
Players: Archie Thompson, Kevin Muscat, Michael Ferrante, Vince Lia, Michael Theoklitos, Mark Byrnes, Simon Storey, Chris Tadrosse, Andy Vlahos, Steve Pantelidis, Daniel Piorkowski, Kristian Sarkies, Adrian Leijer, Geoffrey Claeys (Belg), Ricky Diaco (U20), Daniel Alssop - others tba
Contact: CEO Gary Cole. Web Site: http://www.mvfc.com.au
Significant news: Nil
Season Preview: (BOTN - Alan Clark)

Market: NEWCASTLE

Team Name: Newcastle United Jets Football Club
Colours: Light Gold with dark blue
Coach/s: Richard Money, with Jean Paul Marigney assistant.
Stadium: Energy Australia Stadium, Broadmeadow - capacity changed in rebuild - about 20,000
Players: Ante Milicic, Nick Carle, Craig Deans, Andrew Durante, Liam Reddy, Jade North, Stuart Musialik (U20), Steve Eagleton, Jobe Wheelhouse (U20), Richard Johnson, Labinot Haliti, Franco Parisi, Matt Thompson, Paul Kohler, Guy Bates (ex UK) released (replaced by Vaughn Coveny), Mark Bridge, Brett Studman (U20), Ned Zelic, Tarek Elrich and Andy Petterson (gk).
Contact: www.newcastleunited.com.au
Significant news: Owner Con Constantine on 12/11/2004 announced five player signings, including that of current Qantas Socceroo striker Ante Milicic, as well as unveiling an addition to their logo and name – The Jets. There was continual 'kite-flying' about Terry Venables as Manager, before eventually Richard Money signed.
Season Preview: (BOTN - Robert Szomolnoki)

Market: NEW ZEALAND

Team Name: New Zealand Knights FC (formerly Football Kingz)
Colours: Black with white & gray
Coach/s: Football Manager - John Adshead
Stadium: North Harbour likely, 'though other NZ grounds may be used.
Players: Danny Hay (now released), Noah Hickey, Danny Milosevic (gk, Aus), John Tambouras, Frank Van Eijs, Darren Bazeley, Joshua Maguire (Aus), Naoki Imaya (Aus/Japan), Glen Moss (gk), Neil Emblen (UK), Sean Devine, Steve Fitzsimmons (Aus), Zenon Caravella (Aus), Cole Tinkler, Jeremy Brockie, Simon Yeo (UK) (now released), Ben Collett (UK), Ronnie Bull (UK) (released), Joshua Rose (Aus) and Chinese Olympic team player Xiaobin Zhang.
Contact: http://www.knightsfc.com
Significant news: tba

Market: PERTH

Team Name: Perth Glory Football Club
Colours: Purple with orange and white
Coach/s: Head Coach: Steve McMahon; Assistant: Alan Vest; Football Director - Mich d'Avray
Stadium: Members Equity Stadium - capacity 16,000
Players: Stuart Young, Henry Fa'arado, Daniel Vasilevski, Hiroyuki Ishida, Naum Sekulovski, Ante Kovacevic, Nick Ward (U20), Jamie Harnwell, Bobby Despotovski, Scott Miller, Matt Horsley (now retired), Simon Colosimo, David Tarka, Milan Jovanic (S&M) (U20), Damian Mori and Billy Celeski (U20)
Contact: www.perthglory.com.au
Significant news: Glory were slow in recruiting. Mitch d'Avray will be a sort of director of coaching and a head coach appointed. Owner Nick Tana was said to be unhappy with many of the same franchise matters as Adelaide were.

Market: SYDNEY

Team Name: Sydney Football Club (ie. Sydney FC)
Colours: Sky Blue and Navy blue, with red, orange and white trim.
Coach/s: Pierre Littbarski. Ian Crook is the Assistant Coach.
Stadium: Aussie Stadium (SFS) - capacity 42,000
Players: Clint Bolton (gk), Alvin Ceccoli, Saso Petrovski, Robbie Middleby, Andrew Packer, Steve Laurie released, Steve Corica, Mark Rudan, Jacob Timpano (U20), Mark Milligan (U20), Wade Oostendorp (U20), Justin Pasfield (gk) (U20), Alejandro Salazar (20yo midf/striker from USA released), David Zdrilic, Ufuk Talay, Iain Fyfe, David Carney, Terry McFlynn, Matthew Bingley and Dwight Yorke (UK & Marquee player), 'Kazu', John Buonavoglia.
Contact: Chairman Walter Bugno, CEO (now Football manager) Andy Harper - Sydney FC Web Site
Contact fans: Sydney Unofficial web site & Fans Forum
Significant news: Background - Training commenced on 28th February 2005. The coach has been signed, in Pierre Littbarski.
Season Preview: (BOTN - Stephen Webb)