The WPL ran from 1994 until it collapsed at the end of the 2012 season after Westside Panthers (Dubbo), Barnstoneworth United (Orange) and Dubbo Bulls all pulled out in quick succession leaving just three teams in the competition.

Bathurst '75 was the most successful club in the competition's 19-year history, winning six grand finals and featuring in another five grand finals.

'75 won its first of three consecutive championships in 1996, before winning back-to-back from 2002-2003.

The club's last title came in 2005, with a 1-0 win over Dubbo Bulls at Alec Lambert Field, which was the last time a Bathurst team were crowned champions of the WPL.

Midfielder Scott Mutton - who had spent a majority of his career playing for '75 in the NSW State League competition - had decided, alongside several of his teammates, to come back and play in the WPL to finish his career off.

"Most of those players [in the squad] were State League players that were coming back at an older age," he said.

"We were just coming back at an older age to play out the rest of our time. We'd all played together a lot at the State League level for '75.

"I enjoyed coming back playing. We had older legs but we all had experience."

Bathurst had the first chance on goal from a penalty kick, but Darren Smith failed to convert after just seven minutes.

Despite missing their opening chances, '75 hit back six minutes later with striker Alan Lippiatt finishing off some impressive build-up play for a 1-0 lead.

Bathurst maintained their lead into half-time, with Matt Press and Kerry Johns the standouts.

Dubbo tried hard in the second half and never once gave up, but time beat them, with '75 holding on.

Kerry Johns was named best on ground for '75, while defender Steven Logue claimed the honours for the runners-up.

'75 would go on to lose the next three grand finals, to Orange Waratahs in 2006 (on penalties) and 2007, and to Westside Panthers in 2008, following a penalty shoot-out after the scores finished locked at 3-all at the end of extra-time.

The WPL was meant to return this year after an eight-year hiatus, but the coronavirus has delayed the competition's kick-off.

The competition is set to feature one Bathurst team - Panorama - as well as a team from Lithgow (Workmen's FC), two from Orange (Barnstoneworth United and Waratahs), three from Dubbo (Dubbos Bulls, Macquarie United and Orana Spurs) and one team from Parkes (Cobras).