The NSW Government last week extended the lockdown in regional New South Wales by six days. If the situation with the pandemic improves or stabilises, the NSW Government may end the lockdown in regional NSW at midnight on Friday August 27, allowing football to be played on and from Saturday August 28.
North Coast Football (NCF) has released plans for the resumption of football, superseding plans released earlier last week.
Community football for players aged five to 60 plus will resume Saturday August 28, with a mix of the final round of competition matches or the start of the semi-finals.
MiniRoos football (five years to 11 years) will conclude on Saturday August 28, should the lockdown be lifted.
Coastal Premier League will resume on Saturday August 28, with three matches in first grade and three matches in reserve grade postponed from earlier in the season.
National Premier League Youth will train on the resumption weekend and resume play on Sunday September 5, with North Coast at home to Broadmeadow Magic FC.
Junior and senior grand finals will be played at C.ex Coffs International Stadium in the south and Barry Watts Oval Maclean in the Clarence.
Community football, involving juniors in the Coffs and Clarence, will have their grand finals on September 10-11 (excluding 17 Boys). Senior grand finals will occur in the Clarence on September 11. Senior grand finals in Coffs will happen on September 17-18 (including 17 Boys).
The CPL grand final will be moved back a week to cater to the first grade’s two lost weeks. It will now be held at C.ex Coffs International Stadium on Saturday September 18.
In Coffs, masters football (over 30’s women and 35’s men) have had their grand finals moved to Friday September 17.
Andrew Woodward, General Manager, North Coast Football, said there was a strong want in the football community to conclude the season with finals. We’re within touching distance of the finish. If it is COVID-19 safe to do so, we would like to be back on the pitch as soon as possible. We’re ready to go.
“Community sport is the fabric of regional communities and is essential to the mental health of young people. The sooner we’re back on the pitch, the happier and healthier we will be”.
Football Resumption Plan
Division Lockdown ends Friday 27/8
Date of next and future play
Coastal Premier League Three matches Sat 28/8
Full round (first grade only) Wed 1/9
Two matches Sat 4/9
Semi finals 11/9
Grand final 18/9
MiniRoos (5 to 11) Final round Sat 28/8
Masters (Coffs) – Men’s Over 35, Women’s Over 30
Regular season: Mon 30/8, Thu 2/9 & Mon 6/9
Semi finals Thu 9/9 (or Fri 10/9)
Grand Finals Fri 17/9
Juniors – Coffs Semis starting Sat 28/8: 12B1D, 13B, 14B, 14G, 15B (three week finals)
Final matches 28/8: 12B2D, 12G1D, 12G2D, 16B, 16G (two week finals)
Grand finals: 11/9
17B Final matches 30/8
17B (three weeks finals including GF on 17/9)
Juniors – Clarence Final round: Sat 28/8
Two week finals series starting Fri 3/9 and Sat 4/9
Grand finals Fri 10/9 & Sat 11/9
Seniors – Coffs
1D Women, 2D Women, 2D Men, – Final round Sat 28/8, then three week finals including GF on Sat 18/9
3D Men – one match to go on 28/8, then three week finals including GF on Sat 18/9
Seniors – Clarence
2D Men, 3D Men and 2D Women, one round to go then two week finals including GFs on 11/9
Zone championships
Juniors TBA 18/9 at Coffs Sport and Leisure Park. Seniors cancelled.
National Premier League Youth schedule
Training: Sat 28/Sun29
R20: Sunday, 5 September 2021 (NCF at home to Broadmeadow Magic)
R21: Saturday, 11 September 2021 (NCF away to Newcastle Olympic)
R22: Sunday, 19 September 2021 (NCF at home to Lake Macquarie City)