Football Far North Coast continues to work with clubs to get players on the field of play for season 2022, from the weekend of Friday night 29th April, Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May.
Team nominations are close to being finalised across the 24 clubs and although many thousands of families across the region continue to grapple with the loss of homes, jobs and an unimaginable impact on daily life, the resilience of country people is again demonstrating the very best qualities of people, as the community aims to rebound from the devastation experienced as a consequence of two major floods in a short period of time. Enthusiasm remains high for the season to kick-off, with players, coaches, match officials, club volunteers and parents, all wanting season 2022 to start.
This season will necessarily be constructed to respond to deliver a reasonable balance of participation within the constraints caused by loss/damage of fields and field lighting in many cases, at least a month of available weekends and of course, the usual variables that even a normal season brings? A strong focus on participation will be the theme for season 2022, despite Football Far North Coast formulating junior competitions (ages 12-16) and senior leagues, all having pointscores and finals series planned this year. Our youngest players, being miniroos (ages 5-11) will no doubt show the way for us all, to demonstrate that enjoyment, friendship and respect for each other, are values that sport should promote. We urge everyone to embrace the opportunity to be involved with football and celebrate the experience, whether there is success (in the form of winning a trophy) or as it is for most people, being part of a team, a club and part of the football community.
With over 200 competition teams (junior and senior) and more than 300 miniroos teams across the 24 clubs now nominated, season 2022 is starting to take shape after the recent obstacles that saw the game stalled for a while. Female football is again confirming the rise and rise of girls and women wanting to play the game, with 65 girls only junior teams, from ages 5 to 16 ready and excited to get on the pitch and 43 senior women’s teams nominated across five senior leagues. Football will welcome 8 teams to the premier league this season and welcome Maclean FC into that competition for the first time. This is anticipated to bring more excitement and depth to the top flight of female football in the region and we wish the Bobcats an enjoyable season. The ongoing strong support for female football within the region is welcome news in advance of Female Football Week that will proceed between 6th and 15th May and of course as we get ever closer to the historic FIFA Women’s World Cup that will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Advice about team gradings and MiniRoos pools will be distributed to clubs next week along with information that is relevant to various competition formats, with the initial stage of fixtures for all senior leagues, junior competitions and MiniRoos published to the FFNC website in due course.
Good luck to every participant, thank you to club volunteers, to match officials, to supporters and let’s make 2022 a year of football.
