Stanthorpe Football finals in disarray because of hard border closures

The recent hard border closures have impacted sports across the region with the Stanthorpe Football season comp hanging on by a thread.

Stanthorpe Football competition Ballandean Ladies team. Photo: Contributed

The hard border closure has thrown the Stanthorpe soccer finals season into disarray with teams forced to forfeit as players are stuck across the border.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding this season, many of the Football Stanthorpe competition teams have had to overcome challenges like a lack of continuity in the lead up to and during finals.

Of the six clubs that compete in the competition, president Cameron Gow said Tenterfield was unable to play finals with its squads living in NSW.

“They didn’t have enough players to compete,” he said.

Stanthorpe Football competition Ballandean Junior Colts team. Photo: Contributed

Gow said the Ballandean Fillies under 14s ladies were also significantly affected and forced to forfeit their semi-final match with half of their team living over the border.

“Of all the teams and clubs, the Ballandean Filles are the worst impacted and upset,” he said.

Despite losing half of their team, Gow said they were able to play with six players rather than a full team of seven last weekend with some younger players from the above age group moving up.

“The put up a valiant effort, and they did end up losing, but tried to be competitive under the circumstances with the lockdown in NSW,” he said.

Football Stanthorpe president Cameron Gow says players have been missing from all teams due to the hard border closure. Photo: NRM

Gow said all other divisions and squads had taken the border closures in their stride, with one or two players missing from each team.

“Despite Covid the clubs have done extremely well, and it shows that we can run a successful season during Covid,” he said.

Gow credited the players’ ability to continue to play hard-fought matches and keep in the spirit of the game while adjusting to the new normal, for the reason the season or finals weren’t scratched.

The significant impact on the season comes as last year’s season was cancelled because of Covid.

The grand final games start on Saturday at the International Club Oval, with kick-off at 9am.

Originally published as Stanthorpe Football finals in disarray because of hard border closures