Touch football staying alive in CQ

A jump-start rural touch football competition is making great strides but needs help to continue

RACING AWAY: 2019 was a huge season for Moura Touch Football and 2020 is shaping up to be another big one.

THE future of touch football in Moura appears to be bright as participation numbers and interest continues to grow.

2019 was a landmark year for touch football in Moura with the formation of an official competition which saw three seasons played throughout the year with around 60 players competing on a weekly basis.

Nick Ein from Moura Touch Football had his expectations smashed in February of 2019 when six teams signed on for the inaugural season.

“It used to be social touch in Moura for a lot of years and the numbers dwindled, so the decision was made to do up a competition,” Ein said.

“The amount of people we got in the first season was fantastic and everyone really enjoys it.

“I’m hoping we can go on for many years.”

The first season was a trial season, according to Ein, held from February-March and with its success a second season followed (April-August) and a third (October-November) after that.

“This year we will likely do one giant season of 22 weeks,” Ein said.

“With a longer season there can be a two-three week break to account for school holidays and there can be some bigger prizes at the end.

“I imagine there’ll be eight to 10 teams this year.”

Ein has played for the Dawson Valley Drovers rugby union side for 12 years and having touch football in Moura is crucial for him and his teammates.

“Most of our team is from Rockhampton so we’d only get six or seven for training if we’re lucky here in Moura,” Ein said.

“Touch football offers that extra night of fitness, two 20 minute halves take it out of you.

“I can’t see why we can’t have this touch footy competition be like Theodore’s who have run theirs successfully for a long time.”

Moura Touch Football have their first AGM on January 28 and Ein said he needed more helpers to make the competition sustainable.

“We have a $4000 profit at the moment,” Ein said.

“We didn’t start this for profit, we did this for people to get out and have fun and get fit.”

Ein said there was a team from Theodore possibly playing in his competition in 2020 and, as a result, Ein was suggesting a Theodore v Moura rep game midway through the year.

The AGM will be at 6pm, January 28 at the Moura Tavern.

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