| National Soccer League Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | Australia |
| Dates | 21 March – 20 September 1981 |
| Teams | 36 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Brisbane Lions (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Heidelberg United |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 35 |
| Goals scored | 114 (3.26 per match) |
| Attendance | 93,903 (2,683 per match) |
The 1981 NSL Cup was the fifth edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia.
Marconi Fairfield were the defending champions, having defeated Heidelberg United to win their first title in the previous year's final, but they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Brisbane Lions.
Brisbane Lions defeated West Adelaide 3–1 in the final to win their first NSL Cup title.[1]