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More than 60 players in the A-League started life in the state competition and FFA CEO Ben Buckley was at the NSW launch to spotlight its importance to the national league.

Former NSWPL prodigies Terry Antonis and Mitchell Mallia from Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners’ Hayden Morton and Kwabena Appiah-Kubi graduated to the A-League from local clubs like Sutherland Sharks and Parramatta FC.

The highlight of the launch - MC'ed by Fox Sports presenter Adam Peacock - was a special celebrity match with each player representing a NSW Premier League club.

Stars including Mark Rudan, Ufuk Talay, Alex Tobin, Sash Petrovski, David Zdrillic, Peter Katholos, Paul Wade, Robbie Stanton, Craig Foster, Peter Tsekenis, Luke Casserly, Pablo Cardozo,Francis Awaritefe and Jean Paul de Marigny took part in the match officiated by Kris Griffiths Jones.

Football NSW CEO Eddie Moore hailed the impact NSW Premier League had on the sport in Australia.

“The hotbed of talent we see week in, week out at the highest level in this state is virtue to the hard work and efforts of each club’s emphasis on youth development as well as the quality of coaching which has enhanced via Football NSW’s coaching education programs,” said Moore.

“From there, many have gone on and have represented the country at both youth and senior levels.

"This was evident with the celebrity match that took place as 14 players with a combined total of 264 Socceroos appearances.”

More than 200 players are registered semi-professionally at the NSWPL's 12 clubs - and the new season promises to be an exciting year.

It comes on the back of a memorable 2011, climaxing in a stunning Grand Final when Sydney Olympic were crowned Champions and completed the double in front of a record 10,000-plus crowd at Belmore Sports Ground.

This season the NSW Premier League welcomed Blacktown Spartans to the competition after the club won promotion by being crowned NSW Super League Premiers last season.

They will challenge Sydney United, Marconi Stallions, Sutherland Sharks, Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Blacktown City for the title this season.

But they will also face stiff opposition from the likes of Rockdale City Suns, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Manly United, South Coast Wolves and Parramatta FC who will all look towards bettering their positions for 2012 in a tightly fought league.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LAUNCH