NIF wound up, Northern NSW Football takes control

Northern NSW Football is now directly responsible for the administration, growth, development and promotion of soccer throughout the Northern Inland region following last Thursday’s final meeting of Northern Inland Football.

Representatives from NNSWF, Football Australia, Newcastle Jets and Northern Inland Academy of Sport were on hand as member clubs formally approved the NIF board’s motion to wind up NIF and establish a new, unincorporated body in its place.

NNSWF chief executive David Eland said NNSWF and Football Australia were committed to realigning the game in the Northern Inland region.

“It’s our obligation,” he said.

“We are responsible for football across northern NSW, including the Northern Inland. It is not the role or responsibility of any independent entity.

“It is NNSWF and Football Australia’s responsibility to lead a united, sustainable and inclusive sport which has the capacity to thrive and build clubs which form the foundations of their communities.

“NNSWF looks forward to working directly with clubs and stakeholders towards the goal of unifying the region’s largest club-based sport.”

NIF competitions administrator Toby McVey will remain onboard as NNSWF’s Northern Inland regional coordinator.

Last Friday, a range of programs designed to provide the community with opportunities to participate in sanctioned soccer activities aligned to the game in Northern Inland, northern NSW and Australia were launched.

They included a new, centralised MiniRoos hub at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Armidale and a partnership with Northern Inland Academy of Sport which will deliver Player Development Programs aligned to the NNSWF Talented Player Pathway across the New England and North West regions in Tamworth, Gunnedah, Inverell and Armidale.

NNSWF will also appoint a MiniRoos development officer in the Northern Inland to promote the game and assist volunteer coaches.

Eland thanked NIF’s volunteer board of directors, led by chairman Phil Davis, for their commitment to the game and reiterated that the door was not closed on disaffiliated clubs.

“I again extend an invitation to those disaffiliated clubs to affiliate with the new unincorporated body and reunite our great game,” Mr Eland said.

“But we can’t and won’t just sit on our hands. We are determined to hit the ground running and tangibly demonstrate our commitment to grow, develop and promote the game.”