Football NSW’s new North West league to compete with Sydney Hills FA competitions
FOOTBALL will kick off in a new direction in the Hills from next April when the Football NSW-sanctioned North West Football League gets under way in direct competition with the fledging Sydney Hills Football Association competitions.
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FOOTBALL will kick off in a new direction in the Hills from next April when the Football NSW-sanctioned North West Football League gets under way in direct competition with the fledging Sydney Hills Football Association competitions.
That’s the ambitious plan set out by Football NSW, who confirmed the new league will be in place for the 2017 winter season.
Currently teams in the Sydney Hills FA are unable to take part in events run by FNSW including the annual Football4All which caters for people with disabilities.
The NWFL will also affect the Granville and Districts Soccer Football Association (GDSFA) with Rouse Hill Rams saying it will leave it to join the new NWFL.
“We are absolutely happy with this league as this is exactly what we wanted,” Rams spokeswoman Emma Ashley said.
“We were ready to join SHFA until FootballNSW said it would not be a part of the football family.”
GDSFA president Sebastian Tas said negotiations are continuing with Football NSW and nothing is certain at this stage.
“We are having ongoing discussions with Football NSW regarding the North West Football League and we are hoping for a good and positive outcome.
“Nothing has been set in concrete and we hope within the next two months we can come to an agreement with Football NSW to what is the best way forward.
“We want football to the winner.”
Sydney Hills FA’s successful season
SHFA president Craig Gough said it “has been an extremely successful season for us as an association” with more 7,000 players and around 20,000 in their whole football group, while saying they would like to open a dialogue with the FNSW.
“Footballers in the Hills District have requested their own association established by their own Hills Clubs to manage football for the Hills Community,” Mr Gough said.
“The proposed league appears to only cater for current and former clubs who are or have been registered with GDSFA who reside within the Hills District and does not allow for any of the newly formed Hills clubs or future growth from within the Hills District.”
“It has been an extremely successful season for us as an association, our clubs and players and all parties are very happy with the way our first season of competition is going.
“Some of the stand out success stories is the strong camaraderie between our clubs and players across the region and we are achieving nearly 100 per cent of matches being refereed with three officials on each match.”
“We have more than 7,000 individual players and when considering coaches, managers siblings and family members we have a Hills community of football participants of around 20,000 people.
“With the success of the 2016 season and ongoing inquiries we are receiving we are expecting to have significant growth in 2017.”
“Looking into the future with regard to growth in football in our ever expanding north west growth corridor, the Hills community requires its own football association elected by the Hills district clubs to manage football for the Hills community.
“Our clubs and our association have a strong desire to be part of the FNSW framework, same as all other associations and we would warmly welcome any opportunity to discuss this openly with FNSW.”
“Ultimately, the Hills community wants to have a Hills Association elected by the Hills Clubs to manage football for the Hills community.”
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams, a vocal backer of the SHFA, said they cannot be happier with their first season.
“The SHFA has exceeded expectations and it is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best run football associations in the country,” Mr Williams said.
“The SHFA is not in any way run by draconian regulations and we have no intention of working together with Football NSW unless they are willing to sanction our association.”
Football NSW wants a local competition
Football NSW says the new North West Football League comes after months of discussions about travel distances.
“After many months of discussions, hearing about issues surrounding travel and the distances players and parents are required to travel to play games, it was agreed that the best way to provide an enjoyable football experience for the many interested participants, was to provide a local competition for them,” Football NSW said.
“The key point is that the competition is local and will dramatically decrease the distance and time that players and parents have to travel,
“The league will be run by a group within Football NSW and competition management staff will be answerable to the Chief Executive Officer and ultimately the FNSW Board.”
“Being affiliated to the state body, it provides opportunities for state representation, player, coach and referee education, development and advancement pathways.
“Football NSW stresses that players, parents and clubs requested a local league and local football opportunities that were sanctioned and affiliated with the state governing body. This will be provided by the North West Football League.”
Granville association loses seven clubs
In letters circulated to member clubs in recent weeks, Football NSW said that Granville association has lost seven clubs to “an affiliated body established and operating within their historical boundaries.
However, Football NSW told the Rouse Hill Times the North West Football League will provide opportunities for state representation, player, coach and referee education, development and advancement pathways.
“Football NSW stresses that players, parents and clubs requested a local league and local football opportunities that were sanctioned and affiliated with the state governing body — this will be provided by the North West Football League,” a FootballNSW spokesman said.
“Football clubs and the many thousands of players will be able to register and participate in the new competition.
”The North West Football League will be run from within the offices of Football NSW at Glenwood. There will be a dedicated team of professional football administrators who will have, like all other FNSW affiliated bodies and Leagues, access to the various departments within FNSW — including Media and Marketing, Legal, Football and Competitions.
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