Football registrations for Season 2017 have opened across Northern NSW today with anticipation high for another record season in the wake of 2016’s positive growth.
Overall, Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) recorded another year of growth last year on the back of solid gains in 2015, with a 6.46% increase in 2016 to over 64,000 registered players across its seven Member Zones, eclipsing the 2015 growth figure of 6.33%.
In 2016, on the Far North Coast, Junior (8-11yrs) numbers jumped 2.49%, with female participation up 3.89% despite a small decline in overall participation of 0.53% to a total of 6,903 registered players in the region.
The ‘world game’ continues to surge not only across Northern NSW but also nationally, with the Australian Sports Commission confirming football’s rightful place as Australia’s number one club based participation sport in research released in December 2016.
Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland is proud of the games continued growth and presence in every community across Northern NSW.
‘The total number of registered players in Northern NSW has grown by 42% in the last decade to a record figure of 64,186 players for 2016.’
‘Aside from the international profile of the game, key drivers for this growth continue to be football’s appeal as a great game and its attractiveness to all ages and abilities for men, women, boys and girls, with huge growth in the number of females participating.’
‘It also reflects the accessibility of the game, with over 230 clubs across Northern NSW including 25 here on the Far North Coast.’
‘Its appeal is also attributable to the great value for money and affordability for those seeking to participate in sport, something that we have achieved through the stabilisation of registration fees by sound financial management and the support of major financial partners in Community Football such as the Newcastle Permanent Building Society,’ Eland concluded.
Registration information, including a full list of local club contact details is available on the Northern NSW Football website at www.northernnswfootball.com.au
