Narrabri and Wee Waa soccer teams could be playing in July

As reported by The Courier in recent weeks several community sports including rugby union and rugby league could make their highly-anticipated returns to the field in July and it appears soccer could be another.

Northern Inland Football has been in contact with Narrabri’s junior and senior clubs and a July restart date has been discussed.

That could see the return of Narrabri Junior Soccer, which includes Narrabri and Wee Waa teams, and the Namoi Soccer League senior competition, which is made up of two senior teams from both Narrabri and Moree and one team from Wee Waa.

NIF sent out a form for all Namoi Soccer League teams to complete regarding a possible season structure and a Zoom meeting is expected to be organised in the coming weeks to expand those discussions.

Meanwhile Northern NSW Football, said that it was continuing to work together alongside its seven member zones and clubs to plan the resumption of community soccer, positioning the sport to commence after the Federal and State Government health authorities deem it safe.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that the National Cabinet had agreed to principles in relation to sport, NNSWF chief executive David Eland said NNSWF and Football NSW were collaborating to develop a set of guidelines that will support the commencement of community football as soon as possible across the state.

“Northern NSW Football and Football NSW have already commenced working together with our member zones and club delegates to develop state-wide guidelines and recommendations to assist guide clubs and participants to get back on the park,” Eland said.

“This is certainly a step forward for community football, we’re all looking forward to the day football may resume.”

NNSWF has continuously monitored developments and has been in constant contact with FFA and governments to ensure that soccer in Northern NSW will only return to the field when it is deemed safe to do so.

“We recognise that participants in Northern NSW Football administered competitions and those implemented by our seven member zones are eager to know that football will be ready to recommence and that will happen once health authorities give the go ahead,” Eland said.

“Playing football will provide significant social and mental health benefits to our participants and we will be ready to go at the earliest possible opportunity.”

NNSWF said it would continue to monitor any changes made by the NSW Government in relation to the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 which is currently preventing sport from being conducted and expires at midnight on June 29.